The next morning, as the Marines began their bloody but victory is battle for Iwo Jima, the men of the BLESSMAN held burial-at-sea services for those shipmates who were never to sail again.
Then began the long cruise, made under tow, to Saipan. The BLESSMAN’s crew lived in more like soldiers than sailors on this trip. With all the cooking facilities demolished, the crew built a fireplace on the fantail and they are cooked all their meals; eggs, hash, and beans every day.
The repair officers at Saipan and thought little of the practicality of restoring the ruined ship. While they were making their estimates, the BLESSMAN’s crew was busy. In a few days they had made such rapid strides that the repair officers had to revise their estimates. Originally they had decided that the ships structure was worthless--now, however, they decided that her spirit was in valuable. She was patched and returned to the Mare Island Navy Yard to be placed in fighting trim to return to the war.
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