James served as a Coxswain, U.S.S. Laffey (DD-724), U.S. Navy during World War II.

He resided in Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota prior to the war.

James enlisted in Navy on December 12, 1942 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He reported for duty on the Laffey on February 8, 1944.

The Laffey on April 16-17, 1945, while assigned to radar picket station 1 about 30 miles north of Okinawa, was successful in repulsing an air attack which downed 13 enemy aircraft.

During this attack, however, the Laffey was badly damaged by four bombs, six kamikaze crashes, and strafing fire that killed 32 and wounded 71. And still the "U.S.S. Laffey" survived the attack!

On the morning of April 16, 1945, 21 year old " Coxswain James W. LaPointe " from South Dakota was a gunner in " Mount 53 " aboard the USS Laffey.

He and the rest of the " Mount 53 " crew fought feverishly to stop the onslaught of suicide attackers. The number seven Kamikaze, a Japanese VAL was hit by one of " Mount 53's " five inch guns, altering it's path.

Instead of a direct hit the VAL grazed the mount causing a gasoline fire and exploding fragments which wounded " LaPointe " and
Calvin Cloer.

Cloer was sent for treatment, but " LaPointe " stayed at his station refusing treatment.

The number ten attacker, which was another VAL, rammed the starboard part of " Mount 53 " killing Chester Flint.

Shortly after at 8:47 am the eleventh suicide bomber, a VAL or JUDY, hit " Mount 53 " directly. It's bomb blew up killing six including " James M. LaPointe ".

After being wounded previously " LaPointe " stayed at his station to defend his shipmates, his ship and his country. For his sacrifice
that day he was awarded two purple hearts and the Silver Star.

James was one of those "Killed In Action" in this attack during the war.

He was awarded a "Silver Star" and the Purple Heart with one Oak Leaf Cluster.

Service # 7309455

James was buried at sea.

He also has a "cenotaph" in the Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, South Dakota.
" Click Here " for that record.

Son of Mr. & Mrs. James LaPointe who resided in Pine Ridge, South Dakota.

( Bio by: Russ Pickett )

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Historical Notes:

The Laffey earned the nickname: " The Ship That Would Not Die " !

The Laffey, after the April 16th attack, was then taken under tow and anchored off Okinawa on 17 April 1945 and eventually, with some repairs, arrived at Tacoma, Washington on May 24th where it was fully repaired and returned to service on September 9, 1945.

The Laffey went on to participated in Operation Crossroads, the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll, took part in the blockade of Wonsan in Korea during the Korean War, and participated in what was known as the Cold War and finally decommissioned on March 9, 1975. She was the last of the Sumner class destroyers to be decommissioned.

The Laffey received the " Presidential Unit Citation " and " 5 battle stars " for World War II service, the Korean " Presidential Unit Citation " and " 2 battle stars " for Korean War service, the " Meritorious Unit Commendation " during the Cold War, and the Battle " E " during all three conflicts.

The U.S.S. Laffey (DD-724) was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1986, at which time she was recognized as the only remaining US-owned Sumner-class destroyer, and for her spirited survival of the kamikaze attack in April, 1945. She is now a museum ship at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, alongside two other US National Historic Landmarks: the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Yorktown and submarine U.S.S. Clamagore.

Also Note: In 2007, the attack on Laffey was recreated using computer graphics for the History Channel series Dogfights. The episode first aired on July 13, 2007.

In May 2018, it was officially announced that Mel Gibson would direct a major feature film about the attack on Laffey titled Destroyer.

( Notes by: Russ Pickett )

James served as a Coxswain, U.S.S. Laffey (DD-724), U.S. Navy during World War II.

He resided in Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota prior to the war.

James enlisted in Navy on December 12, 1942 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He reported for duty on the Laffey on February 8, 1944.

The Laffey on April 16-17, 1945, while assigned to radar picket station 1 about 30 miles north of Okinawa, was successful in repulsing an air attack which downed 13 enemy aircraft.

During this attack, however, the Laffey was badly damaged by four bombs, six kamikaze crashes, and strafing fire that killed 32 and wounded 71. And still the "U.S.S. Laffey" survived the attack!

On the morning of April 16, 1945, 21 year old " Coxswain James W. LaPointe " from South Dakota was a gunner in " Mount 53 " aboard the USS Laffey.

He and the rest of the " Mount 53 " crew fought feverishly to stop the onslaught of suicide attackers. The number seven Kamikaze, a Japanese VAL was hit by one of " Mount 53's " five inch guns, altering it's path.

Instead of a direct hit the VAL grazed the mount causing a gasoline fire and exploding fragments which wounded " LaPointe " and
Calvin Cloer.

Cloer was sent for treatment, but " LaPointe " stayed at his station refusing treatment.

The number ten attacker, which was another VAL, rammed the starboard part of " Mount 53 " killing Chester Flint.

Shortly after at 8:47 am the eleventh suicide bomber, a VAL or JUDY, hit " Mount 53 " directly. It's bomb blew up killing six including " James M. LaPointe ".

After being wounded previously " LaPointe " stayed at his station to defend his shipmates, his ship and his country. For his sacrifice
that day he was awarded two purple hearts and the Silver Star.

James was one of those "Killed In Action" in this attack during the war.

He was awarded a "Silver Star" and the Purple Heart with one Oak Leaf Cluster.

Service # 7309455

James was buried at sea.

He also has a "cenotaph" in the Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, South Dakota.
" Click Here " for that record.

Son of Mr. & Mrs. James LaPointe who resided in Pine Ridge, South Dakota.

( Bio by: Russ Pickett )

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Historical Notes:

The Laffey earned the nickname: " The Ship That Would Not Die " !

The Laffey, after the April 16th attack, was then taken under tow and anchored off Okinawa on 17 April 1945 and eventually, with some repairs, arrived at Tacoma, Washington on May 24th where it was fully repaired and returned to service on September 9, 1945.

The Laffey went on to participated in Operation Crossroads, the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll, took part in the blockade of Wonsan in Korea during the Korean War, and participated in what was known as the Cold War and finally decommissioned on March 9, 1975. She was the last of the Sumner class destroyers to be decommissioned.

The Laffey received the " Presidential Unit Citation " and " 5 battle stars " for World War II service, the Korean " Presidential Unit Citation " and " 2 battle stars " for Korean War service, the " Meritorious Unit Commendation " during the Cold War, and the Battle " E " during all three conflicts.

The U.S.S. Laffey (DD-724) was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1986, at which time she was recognized as the only remaining US-owned Sumner-class destroyer, and for her spirited survival of the kamikaze attack in April, 1945. She is now a museum ship at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, alongside two other US National Historic Landmarks: the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Yorktown and submarine U.S.S. Clamagore.

Also Note: In 2007, the attack on Laffey was recreated using computer graphics for the History Channel series Dogfights. The episode first aired on July 13, 2007.

In May 2018, it was officially announced that Mel Gibson would direct a major feature film about the attack on Laffey titled Destroyer.

( Notes by: Russ Pickett )