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	68k	Aaron Ward was born at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 10 October 1851. Appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1867, he graduated in June 1871 and was assigned to USS California on the Pacific Station for the next two years. He then had duty with the Hydrographic Office in Washington, D.C., punctuated by brief service in USS Brooklyn from late 1873 to February 1874. During 1875-1876 Ward, now in the rank of Master, served on the European Station in USS Franklin. His next assignment, at the U.S. Naval Academy in 1876-1879, was followed by service in the training ships New Hampshire, Portsmouth, and Saratoga that lasted until mid-1883. Lieutenant Ward was ashore at the New York Navy Yard and at the Torpedo Station, Newport, Rhode Island, for two years. He went to the Pacific Station in 1885 in USS Hartford and remained there in USS Iroquois and USS Monongahela until mid-1889. Lieutenant Ward had Naval Attaché duty in Europe during the first three years of the 1890s, was an officer in the cruisers New York and San Francisco into the middle of the decade and then was assigned to the New York Navy Yard. During the Spanish-American War in 1898 he commanded the gunboat Wasp and was Executive Officer of USS Panther for the next year. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander during this time. From the end of 1899 until September 1900 he served in the Far East, mainly as Assistant Chief of Staff and Aide to the Asiatic Station's commander. Ordnance duty followed at the New York Navy Yard, accompanied in September 1901, by promotion to Commander. Early in 1902 Ward returned to Asiatic waters, where he commanded the gunboats Yorktown and Don Juan de Austria. After further work at the New York Navy Yard, Captain Ward was Chief of Staff to Commander Asiatic Fleet and, from March 1907 until May 1908 was Commanding Officer of the armored cruiser Pennsylvania. Serving ashore at New York and Washington, D.C., for the next three years, he attained the rank of Rear Admiral in January 1910. From April 1911 until August 1912 he commanded divisions of the Atlantic Fleet, flying his flag in the battleships Minnesota and Florida. His final year of active service was spent at New York. Retired in October 1913, upon attaining the age of 62 years, Rear Admiral Aaron Ward died on 5 July 1918 and was buried at Brooklyn, NY. Digital ID: ggbain 16873, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.		Bill Gonyo
	130k	February 9, 1945 photo of the ship in a typical Sumner class light-minelayer conversion. Torpedo tubes and depth charge throwers have been removed to compensate for mines and mine handling equipment. Mines were stored on two sets of tracks running along the main deck. The starboard track is visible here, empty of mines at this time.		-
	382k	Photo #: NH 62572. USS Aaron Ward (DM-34) in the Kerama Retto anchorage, 5 May 1945, showing damage received when she was hit by several Kamikazes off Okinawa on 3 May. Collection of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.		Tony Bush
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CDR William Henry Sanders Jr.    Oct 28 1944 - May 3 1945 (Later RADM)

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