Ferrara was blown from the hatch of No. 3 gun and into the Pacific Ocean. When his senses returned to him, his ship was on the dark horizon. As he fumbled with the heavy coat he was wearing, he went under the water twice. He could not work the zipper. The skin on his hands was scorched and loose, making them useless. The jacket he had worn to keep warm was turning into an anchor around his neck and the salt water was stinging his wounds as he tried to remain above the water. Finally, the waves tore the weighty coat from his body, and after 45 minutes of dog paddling in the water, he was rescued by a transport.

Joe was treated in four different hospitals for his extensive burns..but his military career was over. What he didn't know then was that No 3 gun was put out of action and all 8 of his shipmates that manned that station were killed instantly. Joe Ferrara was the only survivor from Mount 3.

Joe never saw any of his shipmates again until 51 years to the day of the Kamikaze attack on the Macomb. After retirement, Joe thought alot about the attack and his days aboard the Macomb. When a friend told Joe that the Macomb held reunions, he jumped at the chance to visit with his shipmates.
When Joe Ferrara walked into the Macomb reunion, many folks thought they saw a ghost. Some believe he had died in the explosion. Joe states, " It was the most emotional event that I can remember. You see old men hug and kiss--the emotion is hard to describe. Joe Ferrara plans to attend upcoming reunions as best as he can.

Macomb's Gun 3 after the attack. 

-Copyright 2009, USS Macomb Association and Rich Angelini. Story provided from tale by Joe Ferrara that was originally composed by Phillip Chase.