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VXA-A XXXXA, XXXX X-X: xg.XX.XXAX XLXXXXQ ., XX XAMXSMX-1,X.s 9 M ,,XRNfaRPLBL1SH1 G Paducah, Kcnluck CO PA 10 Turn ers 'hirner Publishing Company 412 Broadway P.O. Box 3101 Paducah, KY 42002-3101 C5025 443-0121 D Copy1ightQ 1995 Turner Publishing Company. This book or any part thereof may not be reproduced without the written consent of Turner Publishing Company. Turner Publishing Company Staff: Editor: Erik Parrent Designer: Herbert C. Banks II Author: Pat Martin Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 95-61935 ISBN: 1-56311-252-3 P Printed in the United States of America. 5 Additional copies may purchased directly from ' TurnerPublish1n Company pp do T L- K' W W ' 4 f W ff w W f f mm f ff www f f W, Q I Q 2 ma, , f7 f fwfy ' ' I I ff A , ' W4 ff ,X f f vw ', ff W0 f ,wwf , M , ,I .L WW ,fW7 ' fyffifz f 1, f Wm V W fi! fix fi' ff ,H wc , W 4 f VW fm, ,' MN K ,W f 71 ,J af. , P fx F ASSE E ., Sh cw? ff f 56? .. six X R w ww.. 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X x Q W ,, X , WAX v, , X, M x X -X X is XWNJ R -vmgmtg X .X- Z .V E X 5 R E XA X ,T , X K Q X +16 wx s .QF X kai 5 ST 01- 6 Q mem, 0 4' at A H gf.-F' va G H-'nur 1 M - w 'K L A Q? 496 oshns OWN' NTRODUCTION ww ' A., , Zz T cy if Q DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY 'Q uss CALIFORNIA CCGN 367 A M? W af ' I FPO AP 96662-1 163 IN REPLY REFER TO: ,VI N I October 11, 1994 Dear USS CALIFORNIA QBB-44, Crewmembers, Relatives and Friends, USS CALIFORNIA is still at sea! At this writing USS CALIFORNIA QCGN-363 is operating in the Western Pacific as a member of Task Group 70.4, the USS KITTY HAWK Battle Group. The past few days we have been operating east of Okinawa, in waters probably not unfamiliar to you. CALIFORNIA has been deployed to the SEVENTH Fleet since late June, and God willing, we expect to return home to Bremerton just before Christmas, 1994. During this deployment we have made port calls to places you might remember: Singapore, Yokosuka, Japan, Chinhae, Korea, Hong Kong, and Buckner Bay, Okinawa. Unlike you, we haven't been called on to repel an attack or attack an enemy, but like you, we have kept our systems ready and our powder dry. You would be very comfortable with the 45 officers, 49 chief petty officers, and 523 sailors in today's CALIFORNIA--because they are very much like you, displaced about a half a century. Despite the technological changes in the ship, sailors are still sailors: They work hard, they goof off, they get dirty, they look sharp, they joke around, they become very serious at their jobs, they always have fun on liberty, and they have pride in their ship and in themselves for the job they know they are doing. As we are proud of the job you did in your CALIFORNIA, you have every right to be proud of what today's CALIFORNIA sailors are doing. The biographies and stories in this book give a human face to the histories of the War in the Pacific. They give us a glimpse of the hardships, fears, successes and joys that made up your lives in USS CALIFORNIA QBB-441. We in USS CALIFORNIA QCGN-36, are conscious of the heritage you have left us, and pray that we will always be worthy of your name. God's speed, Fa' Winds, and Following Seas, 4 Y A. WALLACE Captain, U.S. Navy Commanding Officer 5 msgs. PUBLISHER, S MESSAGE 1 KL Ia! I All Turn erfp ' q5o2y443-0121 Po. Box 3101 15021443-0128 Paducah, KY 42002-3101 The American fighting spirit is justly respected around the globe. Gur refusal to accept defeat, under all but the bitterest of circumstances, is the stuff of legend. The battleship USS Calyfornia is uniquely symbolic of this spirit. Commissioned in 1921, she set sail with a promise of hope in a world that thought it had fought the War To End All Wars. That promise was broken in the early morning light of December 7, 1941, when the Calqfornia was among the proud vessels mercilessly hammered by the Iapanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. But like the phoenix, the fiery bird of myth, the Calfornia rose from the ashes, and after major reconstruction, sailed again, to deal blow after grievous blow to the Iapanese until the Allies emerged from World War II victorious. Our thanks go out to Mr. Harold Bean, Tumer Publishing's contact with the USS Cal Qfornia Veterans' Association. While this book addresses the other vessels that carry the proud name Calyfornia, its main concerns are the battleship and crew that contributed to some of the greatest naval battles ever fought. To you and your fallen shipmates, this book is dedicated. Sincerely, Dave Turner President Publishers of America's History X XX ' , N X X W Sw SX .. Q 'XS 'F X x X X S MX as X KX Ame X S .S SX gf X X Q .M - X V? 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USS CALIFORNIA CBB-449 I1vTR0DUCT101v Califomia is that state in the far-western United States which is called the Golden State, which was admitted to the Union as the 31st State on September 9, 1850. It is widely know for its great natural beauty, its highly produc- tive farms and factories, and its innovative so- cial and political ideas. California is depicted as a fabulous land of opportunity. The state has lured millions of migrants since the mid- 19th century, when gold was discovered there, and by the late 1970s jit was the nation's most populous state. The state is named after a fic- tional island of great wealth described in a novel which was published about 1500 by the Spanish writer Ordonez de Montalvo. The name was probably first applied to the south- em tip of Baja California by the Spanish ex- plorer Heman Cortes. Califomia has approximately 1,348 kilo- meters or 838 miles of coastline along its west- ern edge bordered by the majestic Pacific Ocean. Major California ports of Los Ange- les, San Francisco, Oakland, and San Diego give access to this vast waterway. These ports give the state an opening to the Pacific islands including Hawaii, the Philippines, Guam, Solomon Islands, Japan, Okinawa, and of course, Asia itself. Many of these names would become well known from their key roles which they would play in World War II. California is the nationis most populous state. It had a resident population of 29,760,021 at the time of the 1990 census, with a population growth rate of more than 25fZn during the 1980s as compared to the national growth rate of 9876. California has had a high rate of population growth ever since it became a state in 1850. In the post-World War II era, the highest growth rates of about 50'Zi occurred in the decades of 1940 to 1950 and 1950 to 1960. The people of Califomia are diverse with the majority of the inhabitants being white, but there are significant comrrrunities of minority groups. These include Asian Americans, His- panic Americans Cknown as Chicanosj, African Americans, and 242,164 American Indians tnearly lfk of the state's populationj. A reflec- tion of its people is Califomia's excellent edu- cational institutions and its rich cultural life. All of Califomia's larger cities support institutions devoted to learning and the arts. California has the most productive economy of any U.S. state. Its modem eco- nomic growth began in the second half of the 19th century, and the greatest spurt came after 1940. Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, manufacturing, communication which includes computer technology as well as motion pic- ture entertainment, and transportation have all flourished in California. Many new innova- tions have come from Califomia where cities such as Berkeley on the San Francisco Bay have boasted their motto as being The City Where Things Happen First. Indeed many things have started in California and eventu- ally made there way across the nation and into the cities, communities, and homes ofAmeri- cans everywhere. Not only has Califomia been a pace setter for the United States but for the world because of its vast influence economi- cally and especially through the entertainment media. Califomia's economy improved greatly during World War II, as the state became a major center for building aircraft and ships. The battleship Calyfbrnia CBB-443 was the fifth, largest and most famous ship to carry that name, although not the last. The USS Calyfor- nia was christened in honor of Califomia who became the 31st state joining the Union on September 9, 1850, less than two years after the discovery of gold at Sutter's mill which brought the former Mexican territory the great ugold rushn and the forty-ninersf' These were the original 'fforty-niners not to be confused with the San Francisco Forty-niners of National Football League glory and fame. The USS Calqfornia CBB-445 was affec- tionately nicknamed The Prune Barge, and she was sometimes called the Golden State Battlewagon. She was the pride of America and fleet flagship in the years before World War II. Despite a near fatal setback at Pearl Har- bor on December 7, 1941, she was put back into service in time to help finish the Pacific con- flict, remaining at all times a worthy- symbol of the people whose spirit is exemplified in their state motto: Eureka, or 'SI Have Found It. It is only fitting that such a influential and strong state would have such a powerful battle- ship to carry her name on the high seas. This is her history. However, it is not just a story of heavy armored conning towers, anti-aircraft guns, catapults, and fantails. It is a story of her crew. The brave men and women who built, served, and serviced her as they braved storm tossed seas and terrifying battles. All in all the USS Calyfornia is a large piece of floating steel lifeless on her own. But, the people, the crew gave her life and gave her a significant place in history. NAVAL VESSELS AND BATTLESHIPS The word naval which comes from the Latin nave, ship,', originally had no intrinsic military connotation. A naval architect, for example, is still simply a designer of ships without reference to their types or uses. Nev- ertheless, in modern English, a naval vessel operated by uniformed personnel. This dis- tinction, which excludes privately owned war- ships while encompassing unarmed vessels operating under governmentally sanctioned military authority, is a relatively recent one. In the period before the rise of the modern Navy, the term naval vessel was roughly syn- onymous with warship. A navy consists of the ships, crew members, and related person- nel and equipment maintained by a country for purposes of war. EARLY NAVAL DEVELQPMENT In the Western world navies originated with Athens, whose fleet blocked an invasion by the Persian king Xerxes I at the Battle of Salamis in 480 BC. Rome employed its navy to help destroy Carthage during the Punic Wars C264-146 BCD. More than a century later, at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC, a Roman fleet defeated that of Mark Antony, ensuring the dominance of Octavian and laterAugustus. For a thousand years after the fall of Rome, Euro- pean nations displayed little interest in main- taining navies. The threat of Turkish expan- sion into the western Mediterranean finally forced Spain and the Italian state to forge a fleet that checked the Turks at the Battle of Lepano in 1571. In the following century, Portugal, Spain, Holland, and Britain acquired or consolidated overseas empires, the protection of which re- quired navies. The Spanish Armada challenged England for dominance of the Atlantic in 15 88. and Spain's defeat contributed to the emerg- ing importance of Britain's Royal Navy. The British victory over the Dutch in the Anglo- Dutch Wars in 1652 through 1674 established Britain as the leading sea power of the world. The only serious contender to Britain was France, a rival repeatedly beaten during the Seven Years' War in 1756 through 1763. the French Revolutionary Wars in 1792 through 1802, and the Napoleonic Wars in 1803 through 1815. -.1-. .- tn-, .-Q. -v 1 '. U Ap au. -.. 1. 'Ihr -., .ns-' A ' ..,,.... ,U ' i .. -4 1 , -s. up . -- ., ' ,, F- 7- , .. , a .-...i.l P M V, N-F t. 4.--as ,, - ' ii 'T A look at the California in its early days. f Co1tr'tes.x' QfC.J. Lcctl -.--v . lg ,-y v w iii W W EQ, 'N 'M We tg 7,, il . v., 'UQ ,, .4-H! 'Q -f , ,Q ,Af assi... California Marines On a hikefrom San Pedro, CA to Redondo, CA. 1922. fCourtesy of C.J. Lee.l On October 21, 1805, at Cape Trafalgar off the Spanish coast, Admiral Horatio Nelson decisively defeated the French fleet of Admi- ral Pierre de Villeneuve. Nelson's victory eliminated France as a major naval power. For almost 100 years Great Britain remained the world's foremost sea power, commanding vir- tually every ocean on the globe. Not until the rise of the German navy under Emperor Will- iam II ruling from 1888 through 1918 did a serious rival to British maritime preeminence appear. N INETEENTH- C ENTUR Y TECHNOLOGICAL TRANSFORMATION During the Pax Britannica of 1815 through 1914, the navies of the Western powers and Japan underwent a fundamental technological transformation. In the mid-19th century, Eu- ropean navies began to experiment with steam propulsion, rifled breech-loading cannons, tur- rets, and protective armor plating. The experi- mentation followed a general pattem whereby after one nation had developed a bigger gun, a rival nation would develop heavier armor plat- ing, and a third would build faster ships. By 1890, when the German emperor initiated Germany's serious bid for naval greatness, the sail-driven, wooden, broadside-firing man-of- war that had been the mainstay of major Euro- pean navies since the 1600s had been replaced by the steam-driven, heavily armored, heavily gunned, turreted BATTLESHIP. A decade later, in 1902, the German threat to Britain's maritime predominance was so great that Brit- ain was forced to concentrate many ofits capi- tal ships in home waters. To offset this reduc- tion in overseas naval strength, Britain signed an alliance with Japan in 1902 and effected a diplomatic rapprochement with the United States from 1898 through 1902. U . S . DEVELOPMENT The 19th-century American naval experi- ence differed markedly from that of Europe. The American Revolution had bequeathed a strategic heritage of commerce raiding and coastal defense, as distinguished from the fleet engagements between large capital ships char- acteristic of British and, to a lesser extent, French strategy. When the United States was pitted against a stronger power, as in the Quasi- War with France in 1798 through 1800 and the War of 1812, commerce raiding proved the most effective strategy. The U.S. Navy also scored impressive successes in single-ship ac- tions between frigates, fast ships mounting about 50 guns. Only when facing a decidedly inferior power did the United States employ the British policy of attacking the enemy's fleet and blockading, bombarding, and invading a hostile coast. The United States was able to fight in this British fashion during the Mexi- can War of 1846 through 1848, the Civil War in 1861 through 1865, and the Spanish-Ameri- can War in 1898. By the time of the Spanish-American War the United States had developed a new navyw composed of steam-driven, steel-hulled cruis- ers and battleships. U.S. naval captain Alfred Thayer Mahan, lobbying for a naval policy modeled on the British example, published his first books on sea power in 1890 and 1892. These books were widely read throughout the world,.and they helped insure international adoption of a strategy of capital-ship engage- ments, followed, if necessary, by amphibious landings. Commerce raiding in its modern guise- that is, by means of submarines- never achieved great popularity among the 20th-century naval strategists of the United States, Great Britain, Germany, or Japan. WORLD WAR I By the period of World War I, the United States had adopted the strategy and technol- ogy of the leading European naval powers. Whereas in the 19th century the United States had spread its thin allotment of frigates around the world in small squadrons designed to pro- tect overseas Americans and their commerce in periods of peace, the Navy in the early 20th century concentrated its battleships and their supporting cruisers and destroyers in an Atlan- tic battle fleet. The Panama Canal was be- gun in 1904 largely to insure unfettered move- ment of the fleet to the Pacific to protect the West Coast, Hawaii, or the Philippines from an enemy- envisioned always to be Japan. This battle fleet, however, saw little significant action in World War I. The most important tasks proved to be the convoying of merchant ships threatened by German U-boats. Destroy- ers, the most effective escorts of convoys, de- termined the outcome of the naval struggle in the Atlantic. The great duel between the Brit- ish and German battle fleets at Jutland in 1916 had little impact on the course of the war. After World War I the leading naval pow- ers reverted to the prewar pattern and launched a costly shipbuilding race. When the U.S. Congress proved reluctant to appropriate funds for a naval arms race, Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes convened the Washington Con- ference in 1921 to 1922 to curtail the contest. Hughes managed to secure an agreement limit- ing the tonnage and construction of capital ships- generally defined as battleships- by the major navies of the world. The U.S. Navy was given parity with the Royal Navy of Great Britain. Japan ranked next as a world naval power, and France and Italy fell far behind. In the 1920s and 1930s several unsuccess- ful attempts were made to extend the tonnage limits to smaller ships such as cruisers, destroy- ers, and submarines. In 1935, Germany began full-scale rearmament, and the next year Ja- pan renounced the Washington treaty. A new naval race began, focused once again on the battleship. WORLD WAR II U.S. Naval strategy in World War II was determined by the Japanese naval air attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, l941g most of the battleships of the U.S. Pacific Fleet were destroyed or severely damaged, including the USS Calnfornia CBB-445. Aircraft carriers, previously considered valuable mainly as scouts for battleships, now emerged as warships in their own right. The Pacific Fleet's carriers, which had been at sea during the Japanese attack, survived as the backbone of American Naval power in the Pa- cific. The Pacific war became a combination of engagements between aircraft carriers, as at Midway in June, 1942, and amphibious as- saults, the latter beginning at Guadalcanal from August, 1942 through February, 1943, and cul- minating with Iwo Jima in February through March, 1945 and Okinawa in April through June, 1945. The last two invasions were prepa- rations for a final assault upon the Japanese home islands, an attack rendered unnecessary by Japanls capitulation following the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In the Atlantic, Allied naval strategy in- volved the convoying of merchant ships threat- ened by German submarines and amphibious landings in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, and France. No significant engagements took place between capital ships. FROM THE GRIZZLY BEAR - ON BOARD THE USS CALIFORNIA , DPLCEMBER 20, 1921 lN0te.' The Grizzly Bear was the daily newsletter producer! by the crew on board the .shipj DOES RQMANCE EXIST IN THE NEW NAVY? HA newcomer in the service remarked in our hearing recently that there is no more ro- mance in the U.S. Navy. We take issue with that hasty statement. There is romance in the U.S. Navy to- dayg not, perhaps, the romance of days gone by, but the new romance of a more compli- cated time to which we have not yet adj usted ourselvesg The romance of speed and power and modern miracle, the romance of disput- ing the skies with the petrel, the albatross and the sea gullg the romance of disputing the depths of the sea with the life that lies below. f'Man makes his own romance: the op- portunities are all around him and in infinitely greater riches today than in any other time in history. This is the age of steel and electricity in the U.S. Navy, as in the old days it was the age of wood and sail. The motive power still skies, only it is Electra that is enthroned in- stead of Boreas. But Neptune still rules the waves as he ruled them when Jason sailed from Iolcus in Thessaly, or when the galleys of Venice went forth to war upon the Landlocked Sea, or when Spain sent her galleons across unknown waters to carry the Cross and Sword to heathen peoples- to bring back blood-stained cargoes of gold and silks and precious stones. '4Wood is a kindlier fabric than cold steel- or so we think who have not yet adjusted our- selvesg and we miss the sails our youth ro- mantically conceived as the motive power for ships. A man may have served on a sailing ship, but he is so constituted that his traditions die hard, and somehow as his battleship glides effortlessly along he looks aloft for the spread of snowy canvas that should be there, but is not, and never will be again. Adjustment will come, howeverg in fact, it is on the way, and will be fully here as soon as we fit ourselves to the new era. There are many little things in the U.S. Navy to help, the least of which are the old traditions that still cling to even the latest type of superdreadnaught. Here and there throughout the ship there are quaintly named ujim-hick- eys and one hears odd phrases that recall days when the fighting ships of our U.S. Navy were making imperishable history. f'They have almost obliterated the memory of sails on a battleship by the mechanics of the fighting-mastf you would need a lively imagi- nation to rig a suit of sails on that lattice work! But they call it a mast.,' And while no frigate or corvette ever sported a smokestack, we yet cling to the old Hgun ports. 4'When the admiral comes aboard ltis side boys that line up to do him honor, although the boys are long past the age of marbles and their tooties are no longer bare as they used to be when Captain John Paul Jones came aboard his good ship Bon Homme Richard and a bos'n still pipes him over the side. We may quench a thirst at one of the new- fangled bubblejet affairs that modern hygiene says are better than the old battered panniken, but we still go to the 'fscuttlebuttv for a drink. And if we get a tummy ache from unwise in- dulgence in an up-to-date battleship chow of cucumber salad washed down with lemonade and topped off with ice cream Cshades of the ,salt-horse kegj it is to the sick bayv that we carry our groans. NA while back some official busy-body who never used bil ge-water for a chaser after a beaker of alky, nor ever had tar rubbed in his hair, tried to have the U.S. Navy Hmodemizew its time-honored nomenclature by changing, for instance Htopsidel' to Hupstairsj, but he got properly squelched. Hang on to the old names. They are links to the great past. The shades of John Paul Jones and Farragut still make their rounds of ships of the U.S. Navy Calthough they must miss the van- tage of the old poop deckj, if it be true that folks come back to visit again scenes and things they loved in the flesh, and so long as the shades of those beloved heroes of our U.S. Navy would the quarter-deck, be sure the U.S. Navy will have its romance. 4'All we need to get in touch with the new romance is the spirit. This has nothing to do with wood or steel, nothing to do with sails or turbines, but it has to do with men. They say the old breed is dying out- that the men of today are not like the men of yesterday, but in the essentials this is not true. If one thinks that U.S. Navy men today are flabbier of fibre and less able to Hstand the gaff' than the salty breed of other days, he must have slept through the exalted and heroic deeds of our U.S. Navy dur- ing the late war. The men of today have a different view- point form that which the men of the past had, they are the product of far different conditions than those which obtained in the days of John Paul Jones and Farragut. In all the essentials of red-blooded manhood the men of today are as strong and fine as the mighty men of old, What is needed is that they play the game hard as it was played in the old days, and that they take the same pride in their craft of man-ol-wars-men. f'Machinery in the LIS. Navy today does much of the work that of old was done with muscle- and thereinlies the danger. Flabbj. muscles mean flabby souls. A Navy is not a thing of wood and sail, not a thing of steel and juice, but a might mechanism fabricated of men. -Ed Gallahern THE CALIFORNIA l' I dreamt I saw thy awful form Athwart the horrid ranks of war. I saw thee plunge into the storm And blast its hideous clouds ajar. I heard thy dreadful thunder roar, Thy lightning shocks of shot and shellg While all the land shrieked red with gore. And all the seas yawned down to Hell. Almighty Guardian of our fate! Great God, whose goodness we pursue! Preserve the fortunes of our State And grant my dream may not come true! Give us the work for social zeal. Which prospers fair and happy life, And from mad strife sustain our vveal! The world has had enough of strife. Sail, Calpfornial Sail and be Defender of our blessed landf Protect our rights on every sea And prove our worth to every strand! Sail for the coming Golden Age. When love shall reign and war shall cease: And let thy frightful powers of rage Expire in universal Peace! -Albert Rupp, the slzzpycml poet. The Griggly Bear . December 20. l92l as K'omnzzuzic'r1rim1.v group lf'S,X' 'r Q' 5 X .. -X it 'T-stiff . , . C zlrlr mm it t7lll'ft'N'X' of lolm llfri'lzt'll l .4 ,g 3'- it it Q1 if Il lil! I' it U :ig all-M We -amz 1. .V 1? -it rw! 19 -EFA E i Wall' ti-H ' .eff 9 il F' Y - x -fix g ar iw A 5' Q we , f, f .-- X ts r ff' - vs. Wx x X Si.. X fg x f,ff, r -,jf Sass? X W :Ng ts, x ss . js.: Q - ,f ffm USS California leading a battleship division in maneuvers ojfSan Diego, 23 October 1926. Overhead is a Douglas torpedo plane. lCourtesy ofHarold Bean.l At the close of World War ll, the U.S. Navy was incomparably the world'S strongest. Britain's Royal Navy, while still a major force, did not have the economic and industrial foun- dation ofthe U.S. Navy. Gradually, as its em- pire broke up, Great Britain reduced its over- seas naval operations. THE NUCLEAR AGE The U.S. Navy's only serious rival was the U.S. Air Force. Air Force lobbyists argued that future wars would be won with nuclear bombs, a strategy in which the U.S. Navy had no role because nuclear bombs were at that time too large and heavy to be carried by carrier- based aircraft. The U.S. Navy between 1947 and 1950 countered with plans for esupercamersr but was unsuccessful. NA VAL VESSELS There were six naval vessels to honor the State of California. They were the screw-sloop, the annored cruiser, the large converted steam yacht, the small converted steam yacht, the battleship, and the nuclear guided missile cruiser. The symbol of naval warfare from the turn of the century until World War ll was the dreadnought BATTLESHIP, named for HMS Dreadnought, the first of its kind, launched in 1906. This type of battleship, with a turret- mounted main battery consisting of a limited number of the largest guns that could be mounted and dispensing with secondary arma- ment, dominated naval warfare until the sub- marine and the aircraft carrier reached matu- rity. Battleships grew steadily in size and power, and sophisticated fire-control systems with optical ranging and electrical control were adopted, battleships continued to look much like the HMS Dreadnought, however, until they were retired in the 1950s. The battleship, an armored fighting ship of the largest and most powerful class, emerged in the 1870s as a separate and distinct class. lt could defeat anything else afloat, and it domi- nated naval warfare for seven decades until World War ll, during which the biggest battle- ships of all were built. lt name is derived from the line-of-battle ship in the time of sailing vessels, when ships went into combat in a line- ahead tcolumnl formation. The battleship was developed in the mid- 19th century when armor was applied to the hulls of warships- a step taken in response to the introduction of the shell-firing cannon. De- signers experimented with various armament and protection methods. At first, mixed arma- ment was use. French battleships, in particu- lar, resembled weird floating castles from which turreted guns of all sizes jutted out in every direction. Early battleship design cul- minated after 1900 in the creation of the dreadnought battleship. On the dreadnought, major secondary annament was dispensed with to make room for larger guns. It carried a uni- form main battery of the largest guns that could be mounted. Battleship strength was considered a ma- jor component of national power, and nations expended enormous efforts to build the most powerful vessels possible. The result was con- tinuous development. Larger and faster battle- ships were built, with improved armor protec- tion and increased offensive power. The gen- eral trend was toward larger guns, fewer in number and mounted in larger turrets. Design- ers sought the greatest destructive power while conserving weight. The British ship HMS Dreadnought, which put to sea in 1906, displaced some 22,000 tons at full load, had a speed of 21 knots, and mounted ten 12-inch guns in five turrets. The British Queen Elizabeth class, launched in World War I, displaced some 33,000 tons at full load, could make about 25 knots, and mounted eight 15-inch guns in four turrets. De- velopment reached its peak in World War II with the American Iowa class and Yamatos. The USS Iowa, fully loaded, displaced some 56,000 tons, mounted nine 16-inch guns, and could make 33 knots. Yamato, although slower with a maximum speed of 27 knots, displaced nearly 73,000 tons, making it the largest battle- ship ever built. The USS Calzfornia QBB-443 displaced 32,600 Cnormall or 35,190 tons Cfull loadj with a best trial run of 21.46 knots and a main ar- mament- her reason for being- consisting of a dozen separately sleeved 14-inchl50 caliber 81.7-ton guns mounted in superfiring triple turrets, two forward and two aft. All U.S. Navy battleships were decommis- sioned in 1958 as the development of long- range missiles threatened even the most pow- erful ships. The USS New Jersey returned to service briefly during the Vietnam War as a specialized land-bombardment vessel. ln 1981, Congress appropriated funds for recommis- sioning of the USS New Jersey and three other battleships as part of a general naval buildup. During the Persian Gulf War in 1991, the USS Wisconsin and the USS Missouri were used to shell hardened targets in Kuwait, firing cruise missiles as well as guns. The USS New Jersey was decommissioned in 1991, and both the USS Missouri and the USS Vldsconsin were decom- missioned in 1992 as a result of a reduction in military budgets. The USS Iowa had been de- commissioned in 1990 following an explosion in one of her gun turrets. This ended an era of battleship history which included the distin- guished service of the USS Calhfornia CBB-445. ln their period of dominance, battleship fleets were screened by squadrons of armored cruisers and unarmored destroyers. The cruis- ers of the two World Wars were essentially small, fast battleships with lighter armor and guns and assumed an antisubmarine role equal in importance to their function of screening the main fleet. Aircraft carriers, used tentatively in World War 1, became major capital ships in World War ll, deploying powerful squadrons of dive bombers, torpedo bombers, and fighters. Car- riers dominated fleet actions in the Pacific and were also important elsewhere. Today, carrier- centered task forces are a major component of the U.S. Navy. Submarines played a pivotal role in the Atlantic in World War I and in all oceans in World War II, antisubmarine warfare absorbed an increasingly large proportion of military re- sources. This trend is very much evident to- day and has been accelerated by the appear- ance of nuclear-powered submarines. Radar, sonar, and sophisticated electronic sensors be- came part of naval warfare, and smaller anti- submarine vessels such as frigates and cor- vettes were designed. Amphibious warfare, important from Napoleonic times, gained renewed importance in World War II. Britain and the United States developed highly specialized vessels for am- phibious -warfare, notably the LST Clanding ship tankl for putting armored vehicles ashore on unprepared beaches. Tracked amphibious- assault vehicles were developed, along with specialized ships to carry them. Vessels of these types, recently joined by the helicopter assault carrier, continue to play an important role in the wor1d's major navies. Since World War II, naval forces have been profoundly affected by the appearance of nuclear weapons, nuclear propulsion, and guided missiles. The nuclear-powered ballis- tic-missile submarine is now considered a capi- tal ship in the navies of the United States, the Soviet Union, Great Britain, and France. All of these navies also have nuclear-powered at- tack submarines. Ships of all types are now armed with guided antiship missiles whose range and power have rendered guns essential obsolete as a means of engaging major naval units. The nuclear guided missile cruiser, Calyfornia CCGN-365 is an example of the evolution of U.S. Navy ships and modern Navy tactics which accompany the new technology. Ac- tive, electronic defenses have replaced passive armored protection. Antiaircraft missiles have assumed the main burden of protection of in- dividual ships from air attack, supplementing carrier-based interceptor aircraft, themselves armed with missiles, in the defense of carrier task forces. While enormously increasing the offensive potential of naval forces, nuclear weapons have also complicated the problem of fleet defense, calling into question the con- cept of massed task forces. THE FIRST FOUR CALIFORNIA SHIPS THE S CREW-SLooP CALIFORNIA The first naval vessel to honor the State of California was a Civil War-designed sloop- of-war launched at the Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Navy yard on July 3, 1-867. It was originally christened the Minnetonka. The Minnetonka 's completion was slowed by post- war govemment economies. On May 15, 1869, the vessel's name was changed to Calyfornia and she was finally commissioned on Decem- ber 12, 1870 with Captain J .M.B. Clitz as the commanding officer. The Calyornia displaced 2,354 tons and as the first Calnfornia was 313 feet, six inches long which was a little under one-half the length of the USS Calyfornia CBB-445. Her beam was 46 feet with a draft of 17 feet two inches. Ship-rigged with sails, as well as a coal-burning steam engine which turned a single propeller, the sloop could make 12 knots speed under the very best of conditions. Her armament of 23 guns was mixed: two 100- pound rifles, one 60-pound rifle, a pair of 20- pound rifles, and 18 smooth bore nine-inch cannons. Her complement was 325 officers and men. The Calyfornia reached San Francisco via the Straights of Magellan on July 30, 1871. There she became the flagship of Rear Admi- ral John A. Winslow, whose USS Kearsarge had sunk the Confederate Alabama off Cherbourg, France, in 1864. Following a year- long cruise to Hawaii, Chile and Columbia, the sloop retumed to Mare Island, where she was turned over to Rear Admiral A.M. Pennock, commanding the North Pacific Squadron and Civil War fleet captain of the Navy's Missis- sippi Squadron. In November, 1872, Admiral Pennock took the Calqfornia out to Hawaii once more, this time to supervise the protection of American interests in Honolulu. The ship re- turned to San Francisco in May, 1873, where she was decommissioned. Two years later, in May, 1875, the Calqfornia was sold. THE ARMoREo CRUISER CAL1FORN1AfSAN D1EGo KA CRXCA-61 The second Calnfornia CACR-65 was the last of three armored cruisers authorized by the Naval Building Act of March 3, 1899, and the one designated to be built on or near the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Sponsored by Miss F. Pardee, daughter of California Governor George C. Pardee. The ship was sister to the Pennsylvania CACR-45 and West Virginia CACR-51. The California CACR-63 was launched on April 28, 1904, at the San Fran- cisco yards ofthe Union Iron Works. Follow- ing a delay in the completion of her outfitting caused by the great Earthquake of 1906, the cruiser was commissioned on August 1, 1907 with Captain V.L. Cottman in command. In a gleaming coat of white and spar color, the 53.8 million Caljornia displaced 13,680 tons with a normal load. She was 503 feet 11 inches long with a beam of 69 feet seven inches and a mean draught of 24 feet one inch. Ar- mor on the mail belt ran five to six inches, de- pending on location, while steel protection on the turrets was six inches, with nine inches on the conning tower. Her main armament con- sisted of four eight-inch guns in twin turrets, one forward and one aft of the superstructure. The secondary defenses featured 14 six-inch guns arranged in easements, seven to a side, plus 18 three-inch quick-firer guns and two 18-inch submerged torpedo tubes. Two three- inch anti-aircraft guns would be added in 1917. The two-shafted vertical reciprocating engines and BW, type WT, coal-fired boilers gave 23,000 indicated horsepower, sufficient for a seldom-achieved speed of 22 knots. Bunker space was provided for 2,075 tons of coal. Though the vessel was originally equipped with two military masts, the foremast would be removed in 1911 and replaced by a cage mast which, together with four funnels, proved the ship's most distinguishing features. Berths were provided for 47 officers and 782 enlisted personnel, although in the years before World War I, the ship would be lucky to have 370 volunteer bluejackets, including flag comple- ment and United States Marines. Following the Shakedown cruise, Captain Cottmanls proud new vessel took part in a May, 1908, San Francisco naval review. Shortly af- terward, the Calgfornia became the flagship of Rear Admiral Giles B. Harber, commander in chief of the Pacific Fleet. That fall, she ac- companied the U.S. Armored Cruiser Squad- ron on a short Pacific cruise to Hawaii and Sa- moa. The cruiser would spend much of her early career as a flagship in the Far East and Pacific, serving on those routine training and flag-showing cruisers common to many Ameri- can vessels prior to World War I. ln early 1910, the CalUfornia's top two officers were rotated. Their replacements were destined to achieve illustrious naval stature. The new captain was Captain Henry T. Mayo. He would become commander in chief of the Atlantic Fleet in 1917 while the new Execu- tive Officer, Commander William V. Pratt, would be named Chief of Naval Operations in 1930. In the summer of 1910, the Calnfornia returned to the West Coast for a year of over- haul and what seemed to her crew as never ending drills which included division maneu- vers, target firing, director drills and night mock attacks by torpedo boat flotillas. Both Mayo and Pratt were transferred to other com- mands in the early part of 1911. In December, 1911, the Calyfomia departed Mare Island for Honolulu and in March, 1912. she continued westward for a brief tour on the Asiatic Station, visiting ports in China, Japan, and the Philippines. By August, she was back in San Francisco, from where she was ordered to Corinto, Nicaragua, to protect American lives and property dtuing a time of internal political disturbances. When the Nicaraguan troubles ended, the cruiser resumed her training off the West Coast, often slipping down to Mexican wa- ters when Mexico faced internal strife. On September 1. 1914, the Calnfornia was renamed the San Diego. in order to permit as- signment of the state name to the newly au- thorized battleship. Thereafter. the cruiser con- tinued her intermittent service as fleet flagship until a boiler explosion forced her into Mare Island for repair. The ship remained in re- duced commissionl' through the summer of 1915 after which time she resumed her flag- ship status until February 12, 1917. when she was placed in reserve. The San Diego is reserve status lasted less than two months. She was returned to full com- mission on April 7, 1917. She immediately began operations as flagship for Commander. Patrol Force. Pacific Fleet. On July 18. 1917. the now largely obsolete warship was ordered. via the Panama Canal. to the East Coast. This N 32. R . N M Fi: .um mtlai if 'Nat if Wir 'fig fm, 'Psi I 32? n. . .. v--. vi T' . 'av-. E' s. L 1 . Nlg. 1 C H' ' '54 -'- .at , .apr . ... we .. .Zn- ' fr .'r-ra .i 1. fpiff' . f-gt.: ..1 2. sl 3- my - .... . .. 1 .Kill ,v 1 dl - ,Y-'e ..1. ff I H. '41 arf. lrix if A 31335: 1, -wifi: an ,..m' 'F' rfimi ,if-. .ir if rfb- .. -F' . ft-'ft , +15-ff -TI fr, ef W ' I sw, .A v. ' aff i' ,. -ts . ' wild: wr' 3-if 't rf if ar'-'B' was the first time she had left the Pacific Ocean. The San Diego joined Cruiser Division Two at Hampton Roads, Virginia, on August 4, 1917, and within a few days, began a month's long duty as flagship for Commander, Cruiser Force, Atlantic Fleet. The essential duty now set aside for the San Diego was to join her sister ships in the coastal escort of convoys through the first dan- gerous leg of their passages to England and France. Throughout the fall and winter and into the spring of 1918, the armored cruiser, basing at either Tompkinville, New York, or Halifax, Nova Scotia, safely conducted her charges out to meet their open-ocean escorts in the storm-ridden and submarine-infested North Atlantic. During those months, she put in a single overseas trip, to LaCrosie, France, in November, 1917. ln April, 1918, the German admiralty elected to launch a concentrated campaign against United States shipping in the Ameri- can waters. Consequently, it ordered seven of its largest U-boats, including four of the con- verted Deutschland-class mercantile subma- rines, to ply Yankee waters at staggered five to six week intervals between mid-April and late August. Employing torpedoes, gunfire and, more importantly, mines laid in random fields, these enemy boats harassed coastal shipping and disturbed the convoy people in the Navy Department, although the effort would actu- ally have no lasting impact on the American war effort. One of the U-boats sent to operate off the East Coast during this German offensive was the converted Deutschland-class giant U-156. Among the locations her skipper chose to drop his many mines were the shipping lanes along Fire Island, on the Atlantic side of Long ls- land, New York. There, southeast of Sandy Hoof off the Fire Island light, the San Diego, enroute to New York from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, hit one of the mines on July 19, 1918. Although the cruiser sank only 28 min- utes after the great explosion rocked her hull, only six crewmen perished. There were 1,183 survivors which were quickly picked up and removed to safety. The San Diego, representative of the Golden State of California for more than ten years, was gone. She was the largest United States Navy warship lost to enemy action dur- ing World War I. Perhaps, it would have com- forted the widows, family, and friends of her dead sailors to know that, within two months, the U-boat that had sown the mine that claimed the San Diego and the lives of some of her crew would also be sunk- ironically by an Ameri- can mine. Retuming to Germany at the end of September, 1918, the 1,512-ton, 213 foot U- 156 struck a United States Navy mine while attempting a passage through the North Sea Mine Barrage and sank. There were only 26 crew members who survived. THE LARGE CONVERTED- YACHT CALIFORNIMHA UOLI K S P-24 9 J In response to the demand of a rich pa- tron, Clara B. Stocker, the Brooklyn firm of Robbins Drydock Company built a steam yacht in 1903. This elaborately appointed vessel dis- placed 299 tons and was 21 l feet long. It had a 22-foot beam and an eight-foot draft. On trial runs she proved herself a fast steamer at 19 knots. Mrs. Stocker was well pleased with her acquisition and christened her Hauoli, which is the Hawaiian word for delight, The yacht was employed for parties and pleasure cruises. Sometime before 1917, the ship's name was changed to Calqfornia for some unknown reason. When the United States joined World War I, the U.S. Navy found itself with a pressing need for escort, patrol, and dispatch vessels. Learning that Mrs. Stocker was willing to sell the Calqfornia, fleet representatives purchased the vessel in August, 1917, taking her into the Navy as the third Caljornia the same month the former Calyfornia, now San Diego, arrived in Virginia. Outfitted at the New York Navy Yard, the yacht was converted into a patrol vessel, she was painted gray and armed with two six-pound cannons and a pair of machine guns. The new Calgfornia was designated SP- 249 and commissioned the day before Christ- mas. The Lt. j. g. W. Applebye-Robinson, U.S. Naval Reserve Force, was the commanding officer. The Calqbrnias first year was passed as a patrol vessel in New York harbor. There word reached her on February 18, 1918, that some- body in Washington had noted the state name of California was reserved and she would have to be rechristened. Accordingly, Calyfornia CSP-2495 became the Hauoli once again. Her wartime service occasionally took her outside the harbor transporting passengers to and from convoys, but all-in-all, her World War I opera- tions were routine and without incident. On January 28, 1919, the Hauoli was transferred to special duty and began her most significant service. For the next seven months, she was assigned to the experimental use of Thomas A. Edison. The famous inventor was then engaged in a series of anti-submarine warfare experimentsg listening devices of his design were installed in Hauoli and tested in and around New York harbor. Before demobi- lization cut short the experiments with the gun- boat, she was withdrawn from Edison and de- commissioned on October 8, 1919. On Sep- tember 7, 1920, the little warship was sold to the Denton Shore Lumber Company in Tampa, Florida. THE SMALL C ONVERTED-YACHT CALIFORNIA TSP-6472 The fourth Calgfornia was also a steam yacht, built in San Francisco in 1910. Some- time before 19l7, the 84-ton, 58-foot vessel, which could make 9.2 knots full throttle, passed into the hands of the San Francisco Bar Pilot's Association. She was loaned to the U.S. Navy on the outbreak of war and was commissioned as SP-647. This Caljornia served on local patrol until she was returned to her owners at the end of 1918. THE BUILDING OF THE USS CALIFORNIA CBB-441 CREATION The General Board, that senior U.S. Navy council which set the characteristics to which all American warships were designed between 1910 and 1945, laid great importance on the ability of pre-World War II battleships to op- erate together as a fleet, especially in the Pa- cific. This view was operationally held by all Navy leaders from the chief of naval opera- tions downwards. As far as possible, these people insisted that successive designs be given similar speeds, radii of action, and handling! survivability qualities. This orderly process was not lost on U.S. lawmakers, who continu- ously specified in their battlewagon authori- zation acts that new ships carry as heavy ar- mor and as powerful armaments as any vessel of their classf' Indeed, the General Board al- ways advocated dreadnoughts which would equal or outclass the latest of Britain, Germany, or Japan. The General Board characteristics drawn up in 1910 called for oil-burning battleships which featured all-or-nothing armor, i.e., heavy steel along the waterline and over vital areas and little medium-weight protection, machinery for 21 knots, and a dozen 14-inch rifles in triple turrets. On March 3, 1915, with World War I then seven months old and Japan restless in the Pacific, Congress authorized President Woodrow Wilson to acquire two more battleships in addition to the three of the New Mexico class allowed the previous year. Whatever came, American leaders would have the Navy, the nation's first line of defense, ready. Authorized as Battleship No. 44, the Cali- fornia, and her sister the Tennessee fNo. 435, were, with only minor changes, a duplication of the three New Mexicos. Janes Fighting Ships called their design practically identicalf' Congress, in allowing the pair, had specified that neither exceed a delivery cost of 557.8 mil- lion, less armor and armament. Total cost for the ship was 512.75 million. While that still seems like a lot of money, and in 1915 dollars it was, these ultimates in strategic weaponry for their day were each completed for slightly over 45 percent of the 1981 projected cost of reactivating the World War II New Jersey CBB- 62J for service with today's fleet. Indeed, BB- 441s cost would be only 25.64 percent of the 55200 million price of her successor, GCN-36. Calling her the most powerful battleship in the world, officials of the Bureau of Con- struction and Repair on October 28, 1915, as- signed the task of building the Calyfornia to the Mare Island Navy Yard in Vallejo, Califor- nia. There the keel was laid on October 25, 1916, a few days short of six months follow- ing the Battle of Jutland. The first frames were up within weeks, and as inspectors checked the progress through 1916-1919, thousands of builders, when not building more urgently re- quired escorts and merchantmen, worked on the hull. As the time of launch approached, the craft, its hull and decks in place, was nearly 55 percent complete. The christening of the California was set for November 20, 1919, just over a year after the Armistice ended the war. In the ancient ceremony, the sponsor, Mrs. Barbara Stephens Zane, daughter of California Governor Will- iam D. Stephens, surrounded by prominent U.S. Navy and civilian officials including her father, smashed the traditional champagne bottle across the bow. This signal Sent the ship sliding down greased ways into San Pablo Bay. The huge vessells outfitting would continue apace for two and a half more years as the main belt armor was installed, the turrets built and guns installed, and the superstructure com- pleted, including provisions for her already- determined role as a fleet flagship. Finally, early on a warm August 10, 1921, the spar- kling new battleship, her gleaming brass pol- ished and gray paint still fresh in places, was ready to join the U.S. Navy. Just after noon that sunny August day, the remainder of the shipis 57 officers, 70 Marines, and 1,026 bluejackets came aboard and, after stowing their gear, assembled at divisional parade on the quarter-deck aft. The national ensign was hoisted at the flag staff, the com- mission pennant was broken out at the main truck, and a band played the 'fStar Spangled Banner. The commandant of the Mare Island yard then tumed the ship over to Captain Henry J. Ziegemeier, who in turn read aloud his or- ders and a salutatoty telegram from Governor Stephens. Following a short address to the crew of his new command, the skipper ordered the first watch set. Divisions were marched forward and within an hour the Calpfornia was opened to a throng of visitors. PHYSICAL APPEARANCE A capital ship like the Calgfornia had a long sweeping top deck, covered with teak which enlisted men were expected to swab', Cscrubj white, and a raised 'ffo'c,sle for the half length fotward. Out of these rose the masts and funnels, the topside bridgework, and other structures collectively known as the superstruc- ture. From the main deck, too, rose the bulky main turrets, holding the 14-inch guns. Each was mounted on top of roller-path bearings within a fixed armored tube called a barbette. The hull, with its distinctive clipper bow, was very similar to that of the New Mexico Lv, al- though there were no recesses for casemates as the five-inchers were spotted strategically in 'fdry positions at upper deck level. Other features included the introduction of turbo- electric drive, the improvement of underwater protection, more elaborate bridgework, and the return to twin funnels. Displacing 32,600 Cnor- malj or 35,190 tons tfull loadj, the new dreadnought had an overall length of 624 feet six inches C600 feet at the waterlinej, a beam of 97 feet four inches, and a mean draught of 30 feet six inches, which could be extended to a maximum draught of 35 feet six inches. In layman's terms, the Ccilifbriiici was a bit longer than two football fields and as tall as an eight- story building. The California, like the 7lffzfzc'.s'.s'ecf and the succeeding three units of the Culnraclo-class, was known as an electric-driven ship. The main power plant consisted of eight electri- cally-controlled, oil-burning Bureau Express boilers with a combined total heating surface of50,984 square feet, exhaust from which rose through the flue gas ducts to the two slim fun- nels directly overhead. Located in separate wa- tertight compartments tfour to port and four to starboardj under central control abeam the en- gine room, these boilers produced the steam which, in turn, powered a pair of large Gen- eral Electric turbo-electric geared turbines, ar- ranged in tandem of the centerline controlled by mechanical governors from one small room, the two three-phase, 15,000 kva main genera- tors Ccoupled to the turbinesj sent a total of 6,800 volts to the ship's four 4,300 kilowatt alternating-current motors, each of which was attached to a single propeller shaft. The total estimated weight of all this machinery was 1,805 tons. The electric motors of BB-44 were de- signed for 24 and 36 poles and featured squir- rel-cage winding for starting and wound-rotor for running. At 170 rpm C0.98pD, each motor developed 6,800 horsepower. The 1921 battlewagon gave a total designated shaft horsepower of 28,500 Ccompared with the 1920 destroyer Pruizrs QDD-3475 27,500j, which was sufficient for Captain Ziegemeier's best trial run of 21.46 knots. The Calyfornialv nor- mal fuel-oil capacity was 2,200 tons Cover 600,000 gallonsj with a maximum of 3,328 tons, enough for an approximate range of up to 4,000 miles. Fuel consumption, at 17 knots, was 1.07 lb.!s.h.p. The shipls tactical diam- eter Cturning radiusj, with screws tuming for- ward and full helm, was 700 yards. Course direction was controlled via a single rudder. The arrangement, thickness, and extent of the Calyfornia s armor was basically similar to that of the New Mexicos, although the layout was somewhat modified and uriderwatr:r gl tection was significantly irriproved. tier ri and that of her sister, being the first omit a Hpost-Jutlandll design. A waterline hell of li inch steel was designed to effectively rexist the penetration ofa 14-inch shell fired from 14 000 yards. Extending nine feet above the water- line and eight and one-half feet below, this neit- thickest abreast the turret magazines and ami Tl- ships machinery spaces- tapered to eight. inches toward the ends fand at its lower edge, closing with transverse armored bulkheads Designers, continuing the 'all-or-nothing pro- tection concept begun with the Netada WEB- 36j, agreed that, given stability requirements. thick armor could H01 also be placed over the top deck. Instead, they would continue to mini- mize the effects of Nplunging fire' by provid- ing BB-44 with enough cover to absorb frag- ments from exploding shells. The deck armor extended over the machinery areas and steer- ing gear, the outboard strakes of the upper deck were covered with one and one-half inches. the main deck amidships by three and one-half inches, and the outboard strakes of the lower deck by one and one-half to two inches. To prevent flue gasses from filling the ship in battle, the boiler uptakes received 15 inches at the upper deck. To aid in torpedo protection. the C algor- nia featured a 17-foot protective layer in-board of her belt. This layer was divided on each side of the hull by three unpierced longitudi- nal bulkheads, each covered by one-quarter inch steel plate. The larger outer bulkhead was divided into five compartments inside the shipls skin, of which the three center ones were filled with fuel oil while the two outer ones were left as air spaces. Theoretically. the skin would cause an incoming tin fish ttorpedo' to explode and rupture. The compressed air in the first void would tend to absorb the expand- ing gasses vented into the ship by the explo- sion and distribute their force against bulkhead ,. fx . :SMA ,fe I 4' X? 7 ,I o . ,j il fl .lolin l,l'lUlllll'fIl4Qll'fIIII6'l'l1'l-fll Ctipltizii Hn'wt'i't1iit1' Ulitipfiiiit lx1'iit'ti!v. itbiirtt'.vx' i'fl.lilfJ!I I we 1 S, QF-Q wish mm' is .'!t fr-fits fix- A 'AM' J M 'rt-. I I Wi -l'Ki.:t-, R 3323 'M' , W writer .ea - if fm' 55. f, . k. 1 r' -. R. .J . N, Mx . f 'tv , ...- .. X. '- ., Q f., Number One. The oil in three center compart- ments would, according to the design, take up much of the shock by its inertia and, by its in- compressibility. cause bulkheads, two, three, and four to help withstand the shock simulta- neously. with bulkhead Number One. Com- partment E was left as a compressible void so that bulkhead Number Five would not share in withstanding the major shock, but serve as a tiooding boundary in case bulkheads two, three, and four were ruptured. The oil in the center compartments, incidentally, was a part of the dreadnought's fuel, but could be replaced by water as it was consumed. Some felt that water would serve even better than oil in the ship's center compart- ments, as it could absorb more of an explosion's terrific heat, thus reducing its in- tensity. At Pearl Harbor, the oil arrangement worked well as the chief salvage officer, Cap- tain Homer N. Wallin, testified: The two tor- pedo hits were the most serious damage sus- tained .... In each case the inboard bulkhead was practically intact .... Caliornia was well designed entirely able to withstand the pun- ishment received on 7 December. Elsewhere, the main battery was also well covered. The face of each 14-inch turret re- ceived 18 inches of steel while the sides and rear had eight inches and the roof five inches. The 411 tons of barbette armor for each 1,127- ton turret was reduced in thickness as it de- scended behind the main belt, running 14 inches on the exposed sides, 16 inches on the tube, and 14 inches on the crown. Protection for the conning tower, from which the ship would be controlled in a surface gunner ac- tion, and the main armament directors, was 16 inches thick, but was much reduced for the high-angle directors. The Calyfornialv main armament, which was her reason for being built, consisted of a dozen separately sleeved 14-inch!50 caliber 81.7-ton guns mounted in superfiring triple tur- rets, two forward and two aft. Each of these rifled guns, some 46 inches in diameter at the breech, had a maximum 30 degree elevation and could fire a 1,500 pound armor-piercing CAPJ shell to the 34,000-35,000 yard range Cap- proximately 19-20 milesj at an average rate of fire of 1.5 per minute! The battleship's secondary armament Cchanged several times before the attack at Pearl Harborj initially comprised fourteen five- inchl51 caliber single-purpose anti-destroyer guns distributed seven to a side. Four were in open top deck mounts, two forward and two aft between the funnels, with ten in second deck casemates. Additionally, four semi-automatic three-inch!50 caliber guns were carried for anti- aircraft protection, as well as a battery of sa- luting cannons, a field piece of amphibious exercises, various machine guns and small arms. In 1922, the two five-inchers located between the funnels were removed and four more three-inch anti-aircraft pieces were added. All of the anti-aircraft guns were re- placed in 1929 to 1930 by eight five-inch!25 caliber guns while in 1936, anti-aircraft pro- tection was augmented by the receipt of addi- tional light machine guns. A pair of submerged 21 -inch torpedo tubes aboard on commission- ing day were found unworkable and were re- moved in 1937. As built, the Calqfornia sported a pair of 140-foot lattice, or cage, masts which sup- ported large fire control, or fighting, tops. With a large diameter at the base providing sup- port, each mast was formed from two inclined sets of steel tubing Cclamped together at inter- sectionsj which made up rigidity-assuring sets of triangles. The enclosed mast tops housed the main and secondary control stations, the latter one level below the former. Comple- menting the main battery rangefinder atop the bridge, one was placed on a mainmast plat- form in 1927 while the secondary directors continued in their platform locations, one on either side of the lower level of the tops. In support of communications gear, each mast also featured large yardarms and hinged top- masts with small yardarms. A platform encir- cling the main mast carried four large search- lights. Range clocks were also carried fore and aft of the lower levels of the tops Cone facing the bow and one the sternj which could be used by admirals with, or independently of, the bear- ing scales painted on the sides of turrets II and III to mass fire Cin poor visibility or smokej for devastating effect. These two masts were the ship's most distinguishing pre-war charac- teristics and as they were also fitted aboard her sister and the Colorados, distinguished them from the rest of the battleship force as mem- bers ofthe Big Five. In 1929 and 1930, an aircraft catapult was fitted on the fantail, serviced by a simple der- rick Clater replaced by a cranej. Another cata- pult was fitted atop turret III to be serviced by the cranes which also handled cargo and the small boatsfbarges stacked amidships. The three aircraft canied would vary in type, but were always stowed atop the catapults. Following the Washington Treaty of 1922, the U.S. Navy, with the limited peacetime fund- ing available, began the reconstruction of its active battleships, the more elderly first. Funds for the modernization of the Calpfornia and Tennessee were authorized in April, 1939, but in view of the situations in Europe and the Far East, it was decided to hold off their rebuild- ing. With minor improvements, the two ships would be held in a state of readiness in case war threatened. When on October 20, 1942, the CalU'or- nia arrived at the Puget Sound Navy Yard at Bremerton, Washington, from Pearl Harbor, she appeared somewhat similar to her pre-De- cember 7th silhouette, even her cage masts and catapults were gone. At Bremerton, the ship would undergo permanent repairs to damages suffered in the Japanese raid and would be completely and thoroughly modernized. So extensive was her outward transformation to be that she would become practically a new ship. Due to higher priorities, however, this rebuilding was often interrupted and finally set back by several months. Steel-helmeted yard workers cut the ship clean of superstructure and secondary guns, stripping her completely down to second deck level. With only the original hull, main bat- tery, and propulsion plant retained, her almost total conversion was begun practically from scratch. As opposed to the riveting employed in her creation, the Calfornia lv new work was all welded, bringing a weight savings which doubled in thickness, her hull received deep eight-foot three-inch bulges on both sides, which gradually tapered toward bow and stem. These blisters formed a kind of second hull, covering the entire side armor from be- low the waterline to the upper deck, providing increased stability and better anti-torpedo pro- tection. Intemal compartmentalization was re- arranged and improvedg new fire mains, 154 miles of new electric cable, a new ventilation system and new fuel lines were added while fuel storage capacity was extended. The hull construction, by the way, widened the dreadnought's beam to 114 feet, a girth which would prevent her from ever passing through the Panama Canal again. The most striking innovation was made in the battleship's superstructure. The heavy armored conning tower, stacks, etc. were all removed. A compact superstructure of stan- dard design was built, able to provide essen- tial ship and gunnery control facilities while offering as little interference as possible in the fields of fire of the ship's now-essential anti- aircraft guns. A low tower foremast supported a main battery director and bridges, boiler up- takes were trunked into a single stack which was faired into the afterside of the foremast, the whole forming a compact block. A low structure was set just abaft the stack in the lo- cation once occupied by the after cage mast to accommodate the after 14-inch director. These changes gave the old lady a look similar to the newer battleships of the South Dakota class. Before Bremerton, Washington, the Cali- fornia wore navy-gray number three paint. In order to disguise her somewhat for Japanese sea and airbome marksmen, she was now given one of the Navy's standard camouflage schemes, or measures, which at range and in various weather and lighting conditions would change her profile. The measure cho- sen for the Calyfornia was No. 32, the me- dium pattern systemf' Under this arrangement, she was painted in dazzle-pattem with pale gray, haze gray, and navy blue applied to hori- zontal surfaces and decks. The ship's identifi- cation numbers were painted on the hull fore and aft, but were purposely made very small. Based on war experience, the Navy in- sisted that the CalU'ornia's secondary and anti- aircraft armament be substantially increased from what it had been previously. Accordingly, the casemated five-inch!51's, and the five-inch! 25's were replaced by sixteen five-inch!38 cali- ber superiiring dual purpose guns in eight twin mounts, four to a side on the f'02 deck. For close-in anti-aircraft defense fourteen qua- druple 40mm Bofors mounts and 52 twenty millimeter Oerlikon machine guns were fitted, including three atop turret Number Three. Gunnery control and radar equipment were modernized andfor initially installed. Two Mark CMKJ 34 main battery directors, with MK Eight fire control radars and assorted gunfire computing equipment, were placed aboard while four FD instruments were ar- ranged around the superstructure for the five- inchers. In addition, a type SK-2 radar aerial was mounted on the forward pole mast while an SP antenna was attached to the tall main mast. These mechanical eyes of the Calgfor- nia gave her scanning capability to 60,000 yards, precision ranging to 44,000 yards, and the ability to Hshoot at night almost as well as by day. Finally, the prewar catapults on Turret III, or the high catapult and the fantail, which were removed at Pearl Harbor, were replaced by a single catapult on the fantail, serviced by a crane. The Calqfornianreceived four new Vought OS2U Kingfisher observation air- craft, sometimes affectionately known as the ship's Quarter-deck Messerschmidtsf' Re- built, reconditioned, and bearing no resem- blance to her former self, the battleship stood out of the yard at the end of January, 1944. 'GON THE AIR,, FROM THE C UB, WEEKLY NEWSPAPER OF THE USS CALIFORNIA IBB-442: The familiar announcement, 'This is the RBO Network and your station aboard the USS Calafornia CBB-445, which you hear daily over your favorite RBO outlet, has a story behind it. With the arrival of the ship in Philadelphia, the RBO Network will conclude almost two years of continuous operation. It has been a source of pleasure and entertainment for ev- ery man aboard, since the early days of its in- ception in January of 1944. At that time, Chet Smith of the Band, the man behind the voice and the man most re- sponsible for the existence and development of the network, used his own turntable and microphone to broadcast records, a few hours a day, from the Warrant Officers' Mess. Chet has since expanded the service into a full-time radio program. Through the efforts of Chaplain Kenealy, a complete studio was constructed on the sec- ond deck near the library and chaplain's of- fice, a large and varied selection of record- ings were purchased, introduced to the RBO Network. As a result the crew could listen to the popular programs heard regularly over the air back in the United States. Bob Hope, Fred Allen, Jack Benny, the Great Gildersleeve, Edgar Bergen, and Charlie McCarthy have give us all many a laugh, -and at times when a laugh was priceless. All kinds of music, clas- sical, semi-classical, and popularg long-hair, swing, and jazzg military bands, dance bands, and name bands, -all have contributed via the RBO to make life more livable aboard the Prune Barge. Several home-talent programs, originated by members of the crew, have proved to be very successful. One of the most popular is Bob Norman's Ranch Rhythms request pro- gram. Another is Dick Cunningham's Latin American Quarter Hour, in which he broad- cast for a different Cfictitiousj sponsor each week. Mickey Pallamary conducts another program entitled, News of Your Name Bandsf, And there are two request programs daily. Each Saturday night the Prune Barge Hit Parade presents the most popular requests of the previous weekg and the 'fPrune Barge Command Performancen brings back the high- lights of several weeks' programs. During war days, when direct radio news was difficult or impossible to get, a popular program was Fa- ther Kenealy's newscast and commentary each night before taps. The most recent addition to the schedule is the broadcasting of the USS Calzfornia Dance Band Concerts from the quarter-deck. The RBO Bulletin Board, in the starboard mess hall, carries pictures of the stars featured each day on the Armed Forces Radio Service programs. This is handled by Ed Bitting of the band, who also assists Chet in tabulating the requests for records, planning the programs and announcing. Chet Smith's initiative and industry and his contribution to morale were not overlooked by Captain Brewer who, be- fore leaving the ship, wrote a letter of com- mendation Cpublished in the last issue of The Cubj for insertion in Chet's service record. f'There was the night at Espiritu Santo when they were to play for the U.S. Army's 27th Division. The transportation arrived too late, so they played for a nearbyOCB battalion, and the following night, escorted by an apolo- getic 27th Division corporal, they made the camp and entertained eight thousand wildly cheering GIs. No one has kept an account of the total number of soldiers, sailors, and Marines our band has entertained. They have played as many as three engagements in one day, and to groups ranging from a few hundred to six, seven, and eight thousand. And they have played in the desolate places where relaxation was most needed. It was grand work. And, as any man in the band will tell you, it was grander fun. The host outfit would usually provide sandwiches, beer, cokes, of gedunks of some kind after the show. But the greatest thrill was the sheer joy of sharing, with great numbers of swell GI guys, the music and fun of the United States of America which we were lucky to have aboard the USS Calyfornia CBB-445. Below is a partial list of engagements played during the past two years by your Prune Barge Boilermakers: Bremerton: Craven Center Receiving Station Port Orchard Center USO Bremerton USO Seattle USO Tacoma Servicemen's Center Melody Lane Club Long Beach: YMCA San Francisco: Old Saint Mary's USO Oak Street Stage Door Canteen Palace Hotel Dance Pearl Harbor: Navy Yard Workers Recreation Center LST 227 Engebi Island USS Hector USS Jacob Land USS Castor USS McKee USS Harrison Eni wetok: Espiritu Santo: USN Base Hospital tt 3 USN Base Hospital 4? 6 USA Evac. Hospital it 22 USA Evac. Hospital 14 25 Recreation Center CB Theatre CPO Club Main Red Cross Center Aessi Island Theatre Two Bottle Tavern USS Briareus Naval Advanced Base Naval Repair Base United State Army Theatre USA 27th Division AES Radio Station Espiritu: USS Custer USS Sierra USS Hogan Bay USS Salamana Bay USN Base Hospital if 15 USN Main Base USN Seaplane Base CB Number ll CPO Club Manus: Palau: USS Prometheus Ulithi: APA 104 APA 226 Leyte: CPO Club Okinawa: USS Arkansas USS Leon Tsuken Shima Island Wakayama: USS Makin Island Singapore: British General Hospital Padang Field Concert USA Signal HQ Dance Colombo: ComSec Hall Dance. The band looks forward to playing its last out-of-the-United-States engagements in Capetown, South Africa. But O.I. LOld Inde- fatigableb Hartman is slaving away. night and day, preparing new arrangements and new numbers for the last leg of our trip to the United States. Following a series of in and out sea tri- als and exercises off San Pedro and a final Bremerton check of her machinery. the USSCa1ifornia CBB-445 arrived in Hawaii in mid-May, ready to go to war. USS C.-11.11-'aR,v1A CBB-441 1921-1941 QINCLUDING PEARL H,ARBORl The LSS Califim11'a tBB--1-ll after her conirnissioning at Mare lsland on August 10. 1921 with Captain H.J. Ziegenreier. United States Nay y. in cornmand with her shakedown cruise and official trials successfully completed was their assigned as the flagship ofthe United States Pacific Fleet. From 1922 until 1931 the Ctrlirorrria was the flagship ofthe Battle Fleet ofthe United States Fleet, participating in Joint Arrny-Navy exercises. battle and fleet exer- cises. and tactical exercises. Tlre California Cub, Weekly Newspaper af rlre L'.S.S. Califirrrria, Volume IV Number 7, reported on March 2, 1923, 'fThe Cruise of 1923: These notes are a little cold now but when you send the CUB home as you should do this article will be very interesting to the folks back home. Nine battleships and part of a train left San Pedro the eighth of February and a couple of days later were joined by thirty-seven de- stroyers and seven submarines from Magadalena Bay. Maneuvers were immediately begun. The various units took up their respective po- sitions as though cruising in time of war. ln fact. this is what this cruise is for- training for war. During the morning, battleships separate about ten miles, four in one column and five in the other. and theoretically. pound each other to pieces with fourteen inch shells while the five and three inch guns bend all their efforts on the destroyers. submarines. and train ships. Torpedoes are ruthlessly launched at any ship that comes within range. No more ideal con- ditions for gunnery training can be found than this since these are the exact conditions of a major engagement. By the afternoon the battle- ships are brought together again for maneu- vers. This is when experience in ship control, and tactics and signal is developed. Also, it is a pretty sight to see all the ships swing into position at the same time. Everyone who is not busy below decks seems to be interested in watching the afternoon maneuvers. Not only are the battleships busy at train- ing all day but are also the destroyers, subma- rines, and train ships. Part of the time the de- stroyers and submarines take up positions of protection to the battleships. At other times they must make targets of the battleships and approach unawares and launch phantom tor- pedoes. The train ships have practices of their own in keeping distance and maneuvering to avoid imaginary torpedoes. 'fAt night time the fleet is gathered to- gether in night cruising formation. The entire fleet is darkened and a little later there is search- light drill. At one minute the fleet is in utter darkness not even the lighted end of a ciga- rette can be seen. The next instant a blazing mass of searchlight beams burst into the air- two hundred rays at least. It beats a fourth of July celebration to see all these beams playing about. Few people will ever witness a scene like this. Aerial View of fill' balllzfship USS Cvllllfllflllll. fCi0lll'll'.S'-V ofHurnlrl Bearrl All these maneuvers and drill offer a world ofexperience to the officer and men. Of course, only real training can be accomplished at sea, ln port many conditions have to be as- sumed which make the drill monotonous and mechanical. But now we have opportunity for practical training. The necessity for these long cruises is shown in the number of minor mishaps that, though slight in nature, cause ships to tempo- rarily lose position in formation, which must be exact. ln reviewing these various mishaps it is seen that lack of long cruises and training at sea are the causes of most. A long trip like this from San Pedro to Panama is rare and it is no wonder some were not prepared for the strain of continuous steaming. A man on board the Nicholas was sick with the flue and had a temperature of 104.6 degrees. He was transferred by boat to the Mercy. lsnlt it convenient to have a first class hospital along with us? The dope from the C in C U.S. Fleet is that all ships except the Calyfomia, Camden, and submarines will be assigned outside an- chorage at Panama. HURRAH for the FLAG- SHIP. The C in C U.S. Fleet is Admiral H.P. Jones. The California Cub from which the pre- vious article is quoted was published by the Crew ofthe USS Calijirrnia. In 1923, Captain L.A. Bostwick was commanding. Lieutenant N.C. Gillette served as editor of the Cub. As- sistant Editors included Lt. Qj.g.J Kelley, En- sign Moore. Ensign Ashley, Ensign Jasperson, Ensign Howell, Ensign Leppert with art pro- vided by Y. Murphy. The paper varied in length usually approximately four to eight pages which were eight and one-half by eleven inches in size and printed by the Star dia Herald in Panama. Republic of Panama. lt is certain that these issues were hungrily read far and wide, especially by family members. friends and fi- ancees of crew members eager to learn oftheir loved one's adventures on the high seas aboard the California. All crew were encouraged to participate by submitting ideas and material for publication. Boldly printed on the bottom of the page was: Ifit interests you it will interest the crew drop it in the boxf, Some articles had practical value as this one titled, 'fAmusc-:ments in Panama : 'Drinking booze and kindred vices are not amusements. They are vices. Don't say that there is nothing else to do. Listed below are a few places you can visit that will give you more enjoyment than lapping up poisonous bever- ages at fancy prices. uCaptain Dickes has secured the informa- tion below and has made arrangements so that this trip can be carried out. A vote of thanks for our chaplain. All Hands!!! Hear This!!! 'fThis is additional information for you to tuck away and use as needed. After practically a full days work the information has shaped up in this manner: At present. liberty is not allowed after 1:00 P.1VI. With liberty this late. it makes it impossible for anyone to make the sight-seeing trip across the Isthmus, but the permission of the Commander-in-Chief U.S. Fleet has been granted- later a Fleet Order will be published and in the possession of all ships, stating that trips for the full day may be ar- ranged for- allowing ships to send these par- ties, with the understanding that the number leaving in the party cannot number more than the regular allowance for the day and is NOT in excess of the daily allowance, that is, if the ship's allowed liberty is 300, and 300 desire to make the Colon trip, then there will be no fur- ther liberty granted from the ship that day. A special train can be arranged for, from Balboa station for 5100.00 The regular fare of men in uniform, from Balboa to Colon is 51.40 each way, 52.80 round trip, thus if in a ship's party there are 100 men, the cost would be for each man: 53.80, if 200 men went the price would 'be for each man: 33.30. The special train is about the only way the trip can be made by the men in the fleet, for the reason that it would be impossible to get the men in from the outer anchorage in time for the regular train leaving at 7:05 a.m., and the extra cost for the special train, divided among so many amounts to so little. It takes about one and one-half hours to make the trip across. By special train, a stop can be made at Gatun Dam for two hours, giv- ing you all a chance to see the wonderful locks and the great spillway. Leaving Balboa by 8:15 a.m., and stopping Gatun, would bring you into Colon by 11:45 a.m., just in time for lunch. Starting out on your si ght-seeing journey there about 1:00 p.m., this would give you three hours in Colon, your train leaving at 4:00 p.m., getting back to Balboa at 5:30 p.m. Pay day will be here in a few days, so get your party up, say of a hundred or more, and get your money in the hands of the Chaplain, or whoever the Commander may select, and make the trip. You will never regret it. Another One!!! In the Chaplain's office you will find a circular for distribution which will give you a lot of information in regard to what to see. Maps will be found there also. GO GET 'EMI ll Another One!!! The big Y.M.C.A. is not more than ten minutes walk from where we are tied up, where a great welcome awaits you. Across the street from the f'Y,' is the Knights of Columbus Building, where a similar welcome awaits. Just this side of these is the fine Balboa Restau- rant, and O' Boy!!! I sure did get a good feed there last night, and this side of that is the Ca- nal Zone Club House. Look up the jitney fares in the information list to be found in the Chaplain's office. There are a lot of other things but space won't allow. What about Panama City? See the folder in the Chaplain's officef' During this period she underwent several Navy Yard overhauls. From July through Sep- tember, 1925, the Battle Fleet with one divi- sion of light cruisers from the Scouting Fleet, made a very successful cruise to Australia and New Zealand, via Samoa. This visit did much to cement the friendly relations existing be- tween the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Subsequent to commissioning, official tri- als, and shakedown training, the California CBB-443 was made the Battleship Force, Pa- cific Fleet. In 1922 the Pacific Fleet was re- designated the Battle Fleet C renamed the Battle Force in 19315, United States Fleet. For the next two decades, the battleship divisions of the Battle F1eet!Battle Force were to include the preponderance of the Navy's strength and for most of those years, the Calgfornia contin- ued her flagship duty and a magnificent flag- ship she was, the pride of the fleet with her spit, polish, and fearsome armament. Peacetime service involved an annual cycle of maintenance, training, and readiness exercises. Each year, the great gray vessels took part in competitions in engineering per- formance and gunnery as well as an annual fleet problem which was a war gamef, Begin- ning with Fleet Problem I in 1923 and con- tinuing through Fleet Problem XXI in April, 1940, the flagship, naturally, held a prominent position in these battle exercises. Meanwhile, her individual proficiency was immediately shown. The prized Battle Efficiency Pennant, the 'fMeatball, hoisted aboard in 1921 through 1922 in recognition of the ship's having the highest combined total score in gunnery and engineering competition. During the competi- tive year 1925 through 1926, the Calyfornia had the highest aggregate score in the list of record practices fired by her guns of various caliber and won the Gunnery NE, for excel- lence. From July to September 1925, she led the Battle Fleet and a squadron of light cruis- ers on a successful good will tour to fm -.train and New Zealand. ln 1927, 1930 and 1,115- 1 the Golden State namesake partif..pate'.i rr: Presidential fleet revievvs. Throughout the 1930-,, in the Pacific and occasionally the Atlantic, the California LUVJ' tinued her training and flagship rhissioh Fx- ercises were met and dignitaries were reeei ed on board, including adrnirals changing their commands. Cities along the American coast celebrating centennials or other festi H2112 often found the great dreadnought holding open house in their ports. Somewhere along the line in those years, fleet bluejackets came to nick- name her the HPrune Bargefl because, ff. rote Admiral Wallin years later, Hthat state produced a large quantity of prunes for export' Com- plimentary or not, suitable or not, the sobri- quet would stick throughout the remainder of the Caliornia lr career. Fleet Problem XXI was conducted in Ha- waiian waters during the spring of 1940. At the end of the exercise, the Battle Force did not, as was its practice, return to San Pedro. In hopes that a strong signal might deter Japa- nese Far Eastern expansion. President Roosevelt, over the objections of CINCLS Admiral James O. Richardson tshortly there- after relieved by Admiral Husband E. Kimmel i. ordered his battleships to remain based at Pearl Harbor that summer. The following spring. the Calyfornia was overhauled at Puget Sound and after a week of liberty for the crew in San Fran- cisco, departed the West Coast once again on April 15, 1941. From late 1940 to December 7. 1941. the f'Prune Barge, with time out for two trips to 3.1. fl s 'Rf - .. . ...as -5 .- XS' ,ws in . s ..........-'i-'-' 1939-19-10 USS Chliforriiti iiwxrlirzxc mini. lflU1l!'It'.YY Qfl Uzfmi Hiii'r.'r'ti.w, i we U U54 I l 5 I ,ff JL ' USS California KBB-442 radio gang at the Moose Lodge on Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA. lCourtesy of Wayne Lindalzll Califomia fthe last in October, 19413, carried out a schedule of training, basing on Pearl Harbor. steaming with various task forces and groups in the Hawaiian operating area. Com- manded by Captain Joel W. Bunkley and fly- ing the flag of Commander, Battle Force, Vice Admiral William S. Pye, the dreadnought led a number of two-week evolutions at sea, each followed by a week in port for upkeep. These exercises were executed under combat condi- tions. Battle stations were maintained watch- on-watch as evasive actions were practiced for simulated enemy attack. Gunnery, damage control, and fire drills were constant. The last of Admiral Pye's cruises occurred during the first week of December, 1941, at its conclu- sion, the overdue battlewagons put into Pearl Harbor. maneuvering up around Ford Island and down to the southeast side to a series of masonry mooring quays often known as battleship row. Japanese secret agent Takeo Yoshikawa reported the units of the Battle Force late on December 6, 1941. Torpedo nets, he noted, were not spread and aerial surveillance had been non-existent. The Calnornia lay moored at Quay F-3, the row's southernmost, with some 40-60 feet of water under her keel. Like her sisters astern, she lay in Readiness Condi- tion Three lor X j- two machine guns manned and two five-inch guns prepared with ready ammunition and crews. Fuel and food were onboard and the engine room was on twelve-hour notice. It being a weekend. many of her officers and men, including Captain Bunkley. Admiral Pye, and the executive of- ficer. Commander Earl E. Stone, were on lib- erty ashore. Those left onboard played cards, napped. or read under the watchful eye of the capable Lieutenant Commander M. N. Little, the ships first lieutenant and acting commander. 'flt is a well-known fact. although never admitted. that battleships carrying admirals' flagsf' wrote Samuel Eliot Morison in the first volume of his semi-official history, although taut and smart in appearance, were commonly inferior to others in readiness and material con- dition. Such was the case aboard the Calnfor- nia: her material condition as to watertight integrity was bad. According to a variety of experts, the f'Prune Bargel' would be lost, as Bureau of Ships War Damage Report Number 21 of November 28, 1942 has it recorded, be- cause 'fmanholes Con the double bottomj left open and loose manhole covers on the port side of the third deck and because most of the watertight fittings on the third deck and below were open .... Why watertight integrity was so poor remains a controversial issue. In his January 26, 1942 after-action report, Captain Bunkley stated that a material inspec- tion of the Calnfornia was imminent and that normal preparations required a thorough vent- ing of tanks and voids. This view, reported and repeated by Monson and others as recently as Doctor Gordon W. Prange in his massive At Dawn We Slept, may not be accurate. The 1946 Joint Congressional Committee on the Inves- tigation ofthe Pearl Harbor Attack examined the manholelinspection question closely. A schedule of major inspections noted on page 1677 of its Hearings does not list the 'fPrune Barge. A statement on page 5351 ends, the logs of the U.S.S. California, Maryland, Nevada, and Tennessee have been examined for any record of inspections, and for any ref- erences conceming watertight integrity prece- dent to or in preparation for any inspections on 5, 6, and 7 December 1941, with negative results. The Bureau of Ships never learned for certain how many manhole covers were off or loose at the time of the Japanese raid and evidence provided by the captain varies sub- stantially from that found during salvage op- erations. Whatever the exact number and the reason for them, this weakening of the ship's defenses. even if regarded as a minor oversight, would turn out to be a serious matter- one so serious that it meant the difference between the Calnfornia s survival and her loss. It was a typical Sunday morning, on De- cember 7, 1941. The battleships were moored in their as- signed berths in Pearl Harbor and along the southeast side of the Ford Island, NAS. The USS Calnfornia was moored southemmost and alone. Next came the USS Oklahoma and the USS Maryland with the USSMaryland in- board. Astem of them to the north was the USS Tennessee, and the USS West Wrginia with the USS Tennessee moored inboard. Next astern was the USS Arizona with the USS Ves- tal a repair ship, moored alongside outboard. The USS Pennsylvania was across the harbor in dry-dock Number One in the Navy Yard with the USS Cassin and the USS Downes ahead of her in the same dry-dock. The Cruisers, the USS San Francisco and the USS New Orleans were in the Repair Ba- sin and the USS Phoenix was moored north- east of Ford Island, NAS. The USSSI. Louis , the USS Honolulu and the USS Helena were in docks at the Navy Yard. The USS Raleigh and the USS Detroit were moored on the north- west side of Ford Island, NAS, and the USS Utah directly behind to the south. Twenty-nine destroyers were to the north and east of Ford Island. The USS Shaw was in a floating dry-dock with the USS Sotoyomo, a tug boat. The USS Bagley was moored at the Navy Yard for restricted availability. Else- where in the harbor were five submarines, a gun boat, ll minesweepers, 23 auxiliary ships, nine minelayers, the Coast Guard ships and many smaller craft, making a total of 96 ships in the harbor. The total of all types of Naval units present at Pearl Harbor or within three miles of the Island of Oahu was 157. Very little was stirring aboard the ships. On the USS Tennessee a few crew members sipped coffee and relaxed. A Boatswain's Mate on the USS Arizona was standing by the rail checking the condition of the shipls sides. On various other ships, including the USS Cali- fornia, men were readying the details for mom- ing colors. A small boat shoved off from the Merry Point landing. On Pearl Harbor the moming sun rose gleaming on the harbor wa- ters as it broke over the Koolau Mountains and Diamond Head. The 0800 hours to 1200 hours watch was eating breakfast on the USS Oklahoma and, on other ships, gun crews were wiping the moming dew from the anti-aircraft batteries. It was quiet and the church bells from ashore called the 8:00 olclock Mass. It was 0755 hours. Just before 0800 hours on December 7, 1941, warplanes from the six carriers of Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo's First Air Fleet commenced their well-planned attack. Shortly thereafter, radios were calling in plain English: f'Air Raid Pearl Harbor- This is No Drill! The Japanese dive bombers swarmed across Ford Island, NAS loosing their bombs on aircraft and hangars. The aircraft tiashed apart and started to burn. On the USS West Virginia, what was thought to be an internal explosion in the USS Calqfarnia, with an almost simultaneous ex- plosion near the USS Oglala and the USS Hel- ena, caused the Fire and Rescue Party to be called away. This brought hundreds of men and officers topside, undoubtedly saving many of their lives. At this point it seemed that the attack had started everywhere at the same time. Moored alone made the Calyfornia vulner- able from all directions to the attacking planes. At 0800 hours, the General Alarm was sounded when it was determined that the ship was be- ing attacked by the Japanese. Personnel in the Flag Communication Station watched as the first torpedo hit. 4 At 0805 hours, fwo explosions rocked the Calgfornia setting off an ammunition magazine killing 50. seamen. Oscar Svensen, a young Gunners Mate, with the responsibility to take the magazine temperature, a daily routine, was up early and had drawn the keys to the magazines. The early rounds in the magazines were finished well before the attack began. Had this not been so, he would have been in the area of the bomb hit in that magazine. Immediately after the attack alarm sounded aboard the Calnfornia, but before the maximum degree of watertight integrity could be set, even so far as the ship's bad material condition would permit, the Japanese were on her. About 0805 hours as the ready machine guns opened fire on planes attacking up the line, a low-flying Nakajima B5N Kate,' ap- proached from the direction of Merry Point, banked steeply, and launched a torpedo. With a clearly-visible bubble track, the fish sped into the port beam below the armor belt at frame l0l tTur'ret IIIJ, lifting a heavy column of water alongside with the force of the explo- sion. The Seaplane tender Acocet CAVP-45 moored at the NAS Dock, Ford Island, took the plane under fire with her two three-inchersg the Kate', burst into flames and crashed adja- cent to the Naval Hospital. Simultaneously, a second torpedo hit the port side, again below the armor belt, at frame 52 Cbetween Turret II and the Bridgeb. Due to the unbuttoned condition of the f'Prune Barge, the two torpedo hits 'fproved to be far-reaching and disastrous. Although neither hit punched completely through the ship's well-designed torpedo bulkheads, their wallop began a port list which, but for prompt counterflooding by Reserve Ensign Edgar M. Fain, might have capsized her. The forward torpedo, which ripped open a 24 by ten foot hole, allowed salt water to contaminate the fuel linesg before they could be cleared, all power and light was lost. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Little was everywhere, encouraging the men and issuing emergency orders. The anti-air- craft guns were firing with ammunition brought up by hand. Toward 0825 hours, Commander Stone appeared on the bridge, the first of the Calyfornias top officers to get back. Admiral Pye, though not tactically in control of the ship, was speeding toward the dock with the man- ager ofa local hotel while Captain Bunkley, st i -li ' -.tv ll W' Y ll -ti When the USS Caldarnia was hir, it set ojjfan ammunition magazine killing 50 men. She listed 8 degrees and began I0 settle. Ajier repairs the Calnfornia rejoined Ihejleet in 1944. lC0urresy afH.A. Lang! caught by the raid in his swimming trunks near the pool of the Halekulani, was also enroute. Just as Commander Stone and Lieutenant Little were conferring on the torpedo hits, Japa- nese Val', dive bombers and several Zero fighters turned their attention to the flagship. After a stick of bombs dropped alongside, a huge 250 kilogram missile hit the starboard upper deck level at frame 60 and passed through to explode on the armored second deck, setting off an anti-aircraft ammunition magazine, killing 53 men. A second bomb rup- tured the bow plates while near-misses caused fragmentation damage to the funnels and star- board anti-aircraft batteries. Strafing from the attacking enemy aircraft wounded a number of crewmen. Smoke from the bomb which blew the ammunition locker infiltrated the second and third decks. Acrid fumes found their way into the forward engine room, via the ventilation system, delaying efforts there to clear the fuel lines of water from the torpedo hit. Neverthe- less, tremendous efforts by damage control parties restored light and power which helped control several fires by the time Captain Bunkley returned aboard. However, before he could issue orders to unmoor and get under way on the four available boilers, another crisis erupted. Around 1000 hours, burning oil from other ships drifting down the harbor engulfed the Calyforniais stern. Captain Bunkley ordered Abandon Ship, but within 15 minutes, the wind blew the burning oil pool clear. The skip- per ordered all hands to return on board. but not all would and those who did. did so very slowly. After witnessing an officer on shore begging a group of men, Yeoman Durrel Conner, still aboard, had an idea which helped. Noting that the national ensign had yet to be raised this day, he and another seaman hoisted the colors on the fantail. A cheer went up from the men on shore and soon many were hurry- ing back. Unfortunately, by this time the situ- ation was beyond repair. Although gas powered pumps were bor- rowed from other ships and the minesweepers Bobolink CAM-209 and Wrea KAM-521 came alongside to apply their pumps. the Caldarnia was slowly sinking. Even though the fires were put out, there was now no watertight integrity below the second deck. Flooding caused by a combination of battle damage, non-closure of watertight fittings, and rupture of ventila- tion ducts,', could not be halted. Thus. the ef- fort to stop the sea water entering her great gashes amounted to 'fsimply pumping Pearl Harbor through the ship. Calnfornia rolled to an eight degree list and started to settle. A scheduled inspection had reduced the watertight integrity by having many lower deck hatches open. This accounted for the immediate flooding that required quick action with counter-flooding measure to cause the ship to settle evenly and to prevent it from capsizing. Bomb hits started fires and burning oil on the water erupted into a blazing wall of fire surrounding the ship. Although the crew was ordered, at this point. to abandon ship. when the fire fighting equipment from the Ford ls- land. NAS was employed. the fires were re- duced and the abandon ship order was canceled and the crew returned. Despite valiant efforts. Caliyivrnia settled into the mud. .The holes in the hull were too big to permit control of the flooding and at- tempts to keep the ship afloat were met with defeat. Despite three days ofattempts to save her. the California. though partially afloat. contin- ued to settle. Adequate pumping. wrote her salvage supervisor in 1968. if it could have been supplied at the time. would have kept the vessel afloat. Neither the giant pumps re- quired nor sufficient divers were available for the task and late on Wednesday night. Decem- ber l0th. the battleship came to rest in about lo feet of soft mud. With a list to port of some five and one-half degrees and a draft of about -13 feet forward and 57 feet aft. only her masts .ii I ,J 5 -A Qi-Q lj , .QW .Q- KM 22 -X . fn Yi AUC uf wr,- r fr SE' tiilw E iii: ,wg . eff ,,. .r j ,:AA are Q W. if and superstructure rose above the waves. As observers noted Thursday rnoming, the sea had closed over the port side forward and over Turret IV on the quarter-deck. Of the 120 of- ficers and 1.546 crewmen aboard on Decern- ber 7th. six officers and 92 men were killed or missing in action with another three officers and 58 crewmen wounded. It was a devastat- ing loss. After two happy decades of smooth sailing. Pearl Harbor marked a sudden and bitter end for the Golden State Battlewagon. Veteran Chuck Sharman recounted his experience at Pearl Harbor in his eye-witness account: My buddy, Bob Mitchell, and I had some good luck in the summer of 1940 and again in December of 1941. A week or two before we were to report aboard ship for duty in July of 1940. our orders were changed from the USS Arizona to the USS Calnfornia. We became signalmen on the USS Calnfornia CBB-445. On the morning of December 7, 1941, I was relieving the watch on the signal bridge shortly before 8:00 a.m. I heard the engines of several planes, looked up, and saw three planes wing over and start to dive just forward of our bow. Even as I saw their bombs fall, I thought they must be our own planes. Not until the explosions of the patrol plane hangers on Ford Island, and I saw the red meatballs on the wings, did I realize that the planes were Japa- nese aircraft. My buddy and I made it through the at- tack. However, our families in Tacoma, Wash- ington, were notified that we had been killed- in-action and they proceeded to have memo- rial services for us at our church and at the VFW. where a year or two before we had played in the marching band. In a few weeks' time they learned we were alive after all, and removed our names from the Memorial Pylon in town. About a week after the Japanese attack, word was passed that most of the USS Cali- fornia si gnalmen were to be transferred to four heavy cruisers. They were the USS Vincennes, the USS Chicago, the USS Astoria, and the USS Portland. We were allowed our choice of ship. Mitch and 1 decided we wanted to be on a ship named for a city close to our home town, so the Chicago and Wncennes were im- mediately eliminated. That left the Portland and Astoria. Both were cities in Oregon, but we thought that Portland was closer to Tacoma than Astoria was, so we went aboard the Port- land, the only one of the four cruisers to sur- vive the war. Only afterjoining her crew did we discover she was named for Portland, Maine, Q Portland, Oregon! Following the battle of Midway, Bob Mitchell was transferred to the USS Atlanta, where he was wounded when she was sunk off Guadalcanal in November, 1942. Later he served on the destroyer USS Hahford, finish- ing the war as chief quartermaster. 'fln January, 1943, I left the Portland and went to the USS Crescent City, an APA. Sev- eral months later I was on the Lunga Point Tower on Guadalcanal. During that time the Hahfora' came out from the United States and took station off Lunga Point, making runs north through the Solomon Islands. I had not seen Mitch for many months and finagled my way on board for a good visit of several days. 'fLater in the year of 1943, I went back to the United States and was part of the commis- sioning crew of the USS Van Valkenberg. When the war ended, I was teaching NAN Sig- naling School in Pearl Harbor where it all be- gan on that unforgettable day aboard the Cali- forniaf' And then Veteran Frank M. Murphy re- counted his personal encounters at Pearl Har- bor on uthe day of infamy : Y sf if 4 . Q 21, f'No,, Wx 4 , , . , 1 1 ea 1 I r W s 5 Q39 ia s . 'Url' -snug. 7 f , 'f f 'M , ' t... A 1 7 4 rm.. -P ,-- :ur -. .ts ,r ., ff t - ' f . , We r.. -- e ' 7 A z sv-'Q -Q-f-f ... 7 f , 2' H 'S' M' W , of A-gig, f ass' dn- Q 'Te 1... 'f f , W 'WW f M1-'1 ' ' r 0 Al anchor in Long Beach CA., during a Santa Anna high wind storm, weathering it out. lCourtesy of Robert Gardner J f'Nearing the end of my enlistment, I had orders in hand to proceed to the nearest port in the Continental United States for discharge. I could practically smell the creosote and sage in Arizona. I planned on one more liberty in Honolulu, so Clinton Zachary and I went ashore from the USS Phelps about 0730 hours to hang one on for the last time. The calendar affirmed the date to be Sunday, December 7, 1941. Hlmpatiently we waited at the liberty land- ing for a bus into Honolulu, and idly glanced at a group of planes flying in unusually low. We joked, 'Sunday is a hell of a day to prac- tice, but that's the Navy for you.' We noticed some of the planes carried torpedoes and saw them dropped on battleship row. Laughingly we joked that the torpedomen would have to work to overhaul them. Natu- rally, we thought they were exercise heads. All at once it struck us the USS California CBB- 44J listed unnaturally and its boats were fall- ing off the boat deck. Smoke began to fill the sky, too. 'fAs the first planes passed overhead, we had waved at the pilots and they waved back. Suddenly, one plane dipped our way and ma- chine-gunned the dock. This wasn't an exer- cise, something terribly was wrong! f'Now we noticed various ships in the har- bor began firing anti-aircraft and machine guns, and we noticed the planes coming in had a big red ball on the wings. Zack and I started to run to the half completed receiving station, but three machine gun bullets tore into my right lower leg. It seemed inconceivable how they hit me when my skinny legs moved faster than light! We found the medics at the receiving station and they bandaged my leg. The firing had slacked off some, so Zack and I liberated an empty whale boat and mo- tored out to see what had happened. We picked up an engineer on the dock. I was the boat cox'un and Zack was the bow hook. Out on the water, we noticed several men swimming between the USS Arizona and Ford Island, so we headed for them. The planes roared over us and one made a direct hit on the USS Arizona. She exploded with a hell of a roar and with a huge fireball. I had my hat tipped back and it burned my hair, eyebrows and eyelashes off. The force of the explosion pushed me against the tiller, a two-inch piece of polished brass pipe. Unbelievably, I bent it with my hip. We retrieved a boat load of swim- mers and took them to the landing. Many Japanese planes filled the sky with firing from them, and from our ships, too. Zack and I made numerous trips, picking up as many men as we could find. The water, black and murky with oil and debris from the damaged ships, and the sky filled with black, choking smoke from the fires, made it seem like Hell, only we were still alive. We saw the bomb that got the USS Penn- sylvania, and the USS Cassin, and the USS Downes, which were all in dry dock. The USS Oglala, the oldest mine layer in the U.S. Navy, had tied up at the dock and was sunk. Because of its age, we always said it sank from fright and wouldn't credit the Japanese with it. Sunday, December 8, 1991 lrmpla- lhulx la-lo I I Pearl arbor Survivors Gather T J R ' ' FREDRICKSBURG CAP? - Pearl Harbor sur- vivors, their families and friends gathered Satur- day to remember the Japanese sneak attack 50 years ago that plunged their lives into chaos and the nation into war. It was Pearl Harbor that catapulted the nation into war and changed history forever. said U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio. Smith handed out commemorative medals to the survivors in a ceremony at the only museum in the nation dedicated toward chronicling the Pacific theater during World War II. Several hundred people attended the ceremony in the Garden of Peace at the Admiral Nimitz Museum. Chester William Nimitz was named commander-in-chief of the Pacific after the Japa- nese attack that killed more than 2,400 service- men and crippled the U.S. Navy. A World War II vintage training plane flew over the ceremony as the crowd paused silently at the exact moment of the attack. Fifty-four survivors, or their family members, received the medals. They lined up beside a Japanese midget submarine that ran aground 50 miles from Pearl Harbor during the attack. The submarine was later sent stateside to drum up sales of national war bonds. The survivors displayed mixed emotions about the anniversary and the nation's current relation- ship with Japan. Fifty years have passed and we should forgive and forget, said Joseph Berry, who lives near Lake Buchanan. Berry was on the USS Helena. But George Grobe, another survivor who lives in Blanco, said he keeps remembering what they did to us. I don't forgive to easily, he said. Grobe was aboard the USS Maryland drinking coffee when the bombs started falling. The battleship was tied to the USS Okla- homa, he said. She took all the fish ttorpedoesl that were intended for us. F , n Sneak Attack 'U . . 1 -if . E-if eff' 4 1' V E i WM , iii!! X vi ' Jflgk, C iilii. l I 1 , T iffilililis.. ' ' . ' . ifiuiisiw iif' 'Lili -llli ' ' ..i+Q1W'l'l'. 1Afl fw+Wl J . + . ii, J tiiil liii, M J l'J fiilll'i m lii'irs.ii illiil 'llili.,ilM . AP Laserphoto Elmer Childress Wipes Away Tears Sue Thornton of Kingsland attended the eer- emony to receive a medal for her husband. George Lee Thornton, who died in 1982, Thorn- ton had served on the USS California, We should never forget Pearl Harbor and what they did to us, she said. Elmer Childress of Kerrville said he doesn't hold a grudge against the Japanese, but disagrees with people who believe the U.S. should apolo- gize for dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. - -- By this time. the USS Nevada, although damaged. got underway along with several destroyers. Almost all the battlewagons were burning and sinking. With screws chuming slowly. the USS Nevada made its way toward the harbor entrance. They realized they couldn't make it. would sink and block the channel. so they backed it up, under full power, into a cane field opposite the Hospital Point. Our ship. the USS Phelps, with a skeleton crew, managed to get underway and out to sea, which left Zack and me, at the moment, without a ship. We continued fishing sailors from the oily water. mainly survivors back of the USS Ari- gona after it had been hit. ln the murky water, all we could see was part of some sailor float- ing, and would grab an arm or leg or uniform and haul him into our boat. One time, Zack leaned over and grabbed a sailor's head and lifted it up. There was no body. After we pulled as many men as could be found from the water, we put ourselves un- der the command of the senior shore patrol officer who had us carry dispatch to the ships and various other craft still afloat. We were darned scared after dark because everyone was frightened and trigger happy. We flashed our running lights and hollered our identifications: then came alongside looking into an arsenal of rifle muzzles. How we slept, or whether we slept that night escapes my mind entirely, I can't recall. The next day, December 8th, we carried more messages around the harbor, including offic- ers so they could assess the damage and make preparation for repairs. How long the USS Phelps stayed out on sea escapes my memory, too. Time seemed to stand still after the awful event of December 7th. We kept on working and stayed in the Receiving Station until the USS Phelps returned, but my mind blocked out just about everything that we did. 'fOf course, with our country at war, dis- charge from the U.S. Navy was just a memory. The Battle of the Coral Sea followed as did Midway and on and on .... UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET BATTLE FORCE, BATTLESHIPS USS CALIFORNIA IBB-441 PEARL HARBOR, TH. DECEMBER 22, 1941 'fFrom: Commanding Officer To: Commander-in-Chief, United States Pacific Fleet HSubject: Report of Raid CRevisedJ, De- cember 7, 1941. Reference: tal CinCPac Despatch 102131 of December, 1941. tbl C.O. California Serial Number 1002 of December 13, 1941. 1. Since submitting reference tbl, addi- tional infomiation has become available from a study of individual reports received from personnel of this ship and therefore makes de- sirable the submission of this revision of ref- erence tbl. 2. A complete report of damage is in the process of preparation as exact information in the premise becomes available. HAIR RAID ENGAGEMENT, DECEMBER 7, 1941 NARRATIVE Prior to the air raid by the Japanese Air Forces on December 7, 1941, the USS Cali- fOrnia CBB-445 was berthed at Fox-Three, star- board side to with boiler number one in use for auxiliary purposes. The Material Condi- tion ofthe ship was X-ray except voids A- 146- V, A-148-V, A-184-V, A-186-V, A-188-V, A- 137-V, A-139-V, B-119-V, B-123-V, and B- 109-V, which were open preparatory to com- plete necessary maintenance work. The ship was fueled to 95 per cent capacity. Four hun- dred rounds of fifty calibre ammunition were at machine guns number one and number two. Fifty rounds of five inch anti-aircraft CA.A.J ammunition were in the ready boxes. All other ammunition was in the magazines. Guns num- ber one and number tow had been designated as the ready guns. All five inch!25, three inch! 50 and anti-aircraft CA.A.J fifty calibre machine guns wee completely ready for use and ready to load in all respects. The battery was not manned except machine guns number one and number two. The ship's senior line officer aboard was Lieutenant Commander M.N. Little, U.S. Navy, Lieutenant H.E. Bernstein, U.S. Navy, was the officer with the Head of Department duty. The attack was marked initially by the bombing of facilities of the Naval Air Station, Ford Island, and a strafing of the ship at 0735 hours. The General Alarm was sounded and General Quarters was ordered. Main Control was ordered to make all preparations for get- ting underway and by 0800 hours the main and auxiliary steam lines were warmed. f'The ship's company went promptly to their battle stations, with the stations above deck under a strafing attack. Condition Zed was ordered set. Communications wee estab- lished between Conn, Fire Control, Central Station, and Main Control, and their subsid- iary stations. Before the strafing attack was over the torpedo planes commenced their at- tack on the battleships moored at the inter- ruptedquays. By 0803 hours, fifty calibre machine guns number one and number two opened fire and were shortly followed by number two and num- ber four five inch anti-aircraft CA.A.J guns. The shortage of ammunition immediately available at the guns was acute, and orders were issued to ammunition parties to expedite the service of it to the guns. Before the foregoing order could be ex- ecuted the ship was struck at 0805 hours with three torpedoes, two at about frame 110 on the port side, the other at about frame 47 on the port side. These torpedoes struck almost si- multaneously and their effect due to the incom- plete setting of Condition Yoke and Zed proved far reaching and disastrous. The ship com- menced listing to port and the Commanding Officer ordered counter-flooding to limit list to four degrees. Forward in the vicinity of Forward Ord- nance Repair, by the rupture of fuel tanks, the third deck commenced flooding with fuel. The strength of the fumes were such as to overcome the ammunition party attempting to expedite the delivery of ammunition. The rupture of fuel oil tanks forward introduced water into the fuel system and before it was cleared, light and power were lost on the ship at a critical time. The flooding of compartments in closeprox- imity to the torpedo hits prevented the neces- sary access to make possible some control of damage. The instantaneous flooding of compart- ments on the third deck directly inboard of the forward torpedo hit was probably due to the fact that the man-holes to five C51 voids in that area were open. The voids noted in paragraph one were opened in order to inspect for pos- sible leakage from fuel tanks, which had been filled when the ship fueled to 95 per cent ca- pacity. The five C57 voids, however, on the star- board side were closed by repair parties, the five C55 voids, however, on the port side were still open when the torpedo striick. The fuel oil tanks between the inner and outer voids were probably ruptured by the explosion and the oil probably driven up through the open men-holes of the voids into the spaces directly above them. The Port Thrust Block Room C-106-E flooded rather rapidly after the torpedo hit at frame number 110, due to either a ruptured deck or bulkhead, or both. The compartment was evacuated and a hatch in the trunk leading to it was dogged down. The pressure under this hatch was such, however, that the hatch was bulging and it is very probable that it car- ried away, flooding the Engineeris store room and gyro compass room C-304-A, which is im- mediately above the port thrust block room. No other main machinery spaces were flooded immediately subsequent to the torpedo hits. The Center Motor Room was eventually flooded by the ventilation duct carrying away. The cause, therefore, of the flooding of the compartments in line with the after torpedo hit is not clearly established. There appears good reason to believe that either the tank tops of the fuel oil tanks in that area were ruptured or that the man-hole covers were blown off or buckled and that again the longitudinal bulk- head between the third deck spaces directly over the fuel tanks and the living spaces in- board on the third deck were either ruptured or severely strained and leaking. The preva- lent opinion among the men stationed on the third deck during the engagement, all of whom were driven out by the flooding and oil fumes, seems to be that flooding subsequent to the torpedo hit was probably through ventilation systems, few of which were secured. The time available between the sounding of the General Alarm and the time the repair party personnel in the third deck areas were forced to evacuate their stations was totally inadequate for any- thing like complete setting of Conditions Yoke and Zed. Only the most obvious openings such as doors and hatches could be secured and in some cases, even this was done in darkness and in the presence of heavy oil fumes which spread through the entire third deck area rap- idly after the torpedo hits. This flooding through ventilation systems is probably due in part to failure to close the deck and bulkhead fittings of the systems and in part to the rup- ture of ventilation ducts themselves. In one case at least, that of the Center Motor Room, it was definitely established before the area was evacuated, that the ventilation duct itself was ruptured and water pouring through the open- mg. f'The general floodingon the second deck and into the Machine Shop flat from that deck was due to the effect of the bomb hit at 0830 hours which hit abreast casemate number one at frame 59, penetrated the main deck and ex- 'ploded an the second deck, and which com- pletely destroyed the watertight integrity of the first and second decks between frames 26 and 100 approximately, and between the second deck and the machinery spaces tthird deckj reached by the large centerline hatch about frame 65. f'About 0810 hours Fire Control ordered all five inch!51 personnel to assist in the five inch anti-aircraft CA.A.J ammunition service. About 0815 hours Control ordered turret crews to assist in five inch anti-aircraft tA.A.j am- munition supply. The effectiveness of Turret I and II was restricted in this capacity for access handling room access, trunks, and subsequently access via the forecastle and the third deck was blocked by the fire that developed from the bomb hit at 0830 hours. Turret III personnel advanced along the partial flooded starboard ammunition passageway to frame 48. Oil was leaking through the door of frame 48. The fumes of fuel oil in Compartment A-51 made it untenable. In the meantime an additional group was organized, Ensigns H.C. I ones, W.F. Cage, and I.W. Jeffery, to assist further in the ammuni- tion supply. Repair V sent a party to assist this supplyf' UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET BATTLE F ORCE, BA TTLESHIPS USS CALIFORNIA IBB-441 PEARL HARBOR, TH. DECEMBER 22, 1941 HSubject: Report of Raid tRevisedJ, De- cember 7, 1941. About 0810 hours the light and power was off the ship. Ammunition was obtained from A-231 U2-M and passed into Handling Room A-233-M and up Hoists Number ll, Number 21, Number 13, and Number 23 by hand operation. Men in this vicinity were overcome with fuel oil fumes and had to be removed. Gunner J.C. Pharris, with replace- ments from the broadside guns, succeeded in removing the overcome men and getting sixty- two rounds from magazines to the guns. En- sign E.R. Blair obtained, with a ten had work ing party, 1,600 rounds belted fifty calibre machine gun ammunition from the fifty cali- bre magazine in the torpedo hold forward be- fore that compartment flooded. No further ammunition thereafter was available or ob- tained from the ship's magazines during the engagement. The ship was badly shaken by either a near bomb hit or torpedo hit at 0820 hours. Main radio room was flooded and abandoned. Compartment A-518 started to fill with fuel. NThree dive bombing attacks were made between 0815 hours and H923 rio succezaivley lrorri the xtarboair i ahead, and from port bow The 1 near hits along starboard :ide eau .ed sized holes Ltfflldfullifl between the armor and gallery deck. Uri the dive horririiri tack, at 0830 hours. a hit was made ah casemate number one, frame 59. penetr the main deck and explosed ora the second on the starboard side, This hit started a amidships on the second deck between a 51 to 77, main deck, frames 51 to ar casemates number three. number ri' aff , l' I W , A L. ... li f T A A f A R A .- . . X I X . I X! ,QILMFW J ng -x ffl .L . M' 17 -,--1-Q USS Calhfornia band, 1937. fC0urIesy QfJ0e Let'e1zg.l Bfllfffitllijl Ci'z1frfoi'i1i'41. fClUllI'ff'.X'Y rif'1'sfr1m!r1' Hcrzirl is fbi: TN 'Ns E .. ln., 'K N. Wi-ro REMEMBERS PEARL HARBOR by Joseph A. Ryan They came on a serene Sunday morning, From carriers anchored secretly at sea. Winging to Hawaii, without warning, Couriers of death by perfidy. In two successive, savage waves The sneaky bastards came In Bombers and Zeros - fantasizing glory - Destined for eternal shame. In the Sabbath quiet below them, In peaceful repose, their targets lay, Pearl Harbor, Hickam, Wheeler Field, Schofield Barracks. ASLEEP! NOW, TORPEDOES AND BOMBS AWAY! I In two hours the carnage was completed, The 'fDastardly deedn was done, The gloating bastards flew back to their carriers, To toast the Emperor and the Rising Sun. Back clouds billowed over Pearl Harbor. Hickarn, Schofield and Wheeler lay gored. But out of the death and destruction, The Spirit of America roared. . Pearl's ships, once proud, were in ruins. Their sailors entombed, forever, under the sea, Their souls and the souls of their loved ones, VW11 remember Pearl Harbor for all eternity. number seven. This fire remained largely un- controlled due to the loss of pressure on the fire main and the lack of sufficient fire extin- guishers to cope with it until the tugs came alongside at about 1015 hours to supply fire protection and assistance. A horizontal bombing group had, at 0825 hours, dropped four bombs which fell harm- lessly between the bow and the Northern quay of berth Fox-two. 'fLight and power, with the pressure on the fire main were restored at about 0845 hours and maintained until 1000 hours. Such resto- ration was effected by lighting off the after four boilers with cold oil and natural draft. During this process the after plant was iso- lated and was ready in all respects for getting underway at about 0910 hours. The Engi- neering Plant was secured on orders to aban- don ship. f'At 0845 hours, Cammander E.E. Stone, Executive Officer, returned to the ship and as- sumed command ofthe ship, and Commander Battle Force returned aboard. f'At 0900 hours, Captain J.W. Bunkley, Commanding USS California CBB-445 re- tumed aboard. Lieutenant Commander O.F. Naquin, the Engineer Officer, and Lieutenant Commander K.V. Dawson, the Gunnery Of- ficer, returned aboard about 0905 hours. At 1002 hours, the Captaij, with the ap- proval of Commander Battle Force, due to the enveloping flame from fuel oil fire on the sur- face of the water, orderedc the ship to be aban- doned temporarily. At 1015 hours, the order to abandon ship was cancelled, flames from the water having cleared the ship, and battle stations topside were manned and a large number of men re- turned from the bach to resume work. A large number remained to procure fire fighting equipment on Ford Island. The fire aboard the ship was fought with all available fire equip- ment on board and such that was obtained from Ford Island- and extensive salvage operations of movable gear was started. The ship was listing about 8 degrees to port. The engineer- ing plant suffered no mechanical or electrical casualty that would have prevented its opera- tion during the engagement. The fire in A-611, however, produced such heat and smoke in the forward engine room as to make its operation possible only with great difficulty. Damage Received- Personnel Officers Five C55 killed. Six C65 wounded. Men Forty-eight C483 killed. Fifty-eight C585 wounded. Forty-five C451 missing. KC UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET BATTLE FORCE, BA TTLESHIPS USS CALIFORNIA CBB-442 PEARL HARBOR, TH. DECEMBER 22, 1941 Damage To Enemy At 0830 hours shot down an enemy dive bomber with forward machine guns, which crashed in flames. 'fAt 0832 hours, one enemy plane shot down over Ford Island by either own fire or that of another ship. f'Distinguished Conduct- Personnel The following named men and officers were outstanding in their work during the battle at Pearl Harbor, T.H., December 7, 1941 in the ammunition supply and in removing the wounded: Ski Lman, J.H., Commander CSCJ, USN Cage, W.F. Ensign, USNR Pharris, J.C. Gunner, USN Newman, J., C.S.K. CPAJ, USN Pearson, G., C.S.A. CPAJ, USN Keener,J.C.,S.K.lc.,USN Bell, C.R., G.M. 5c., USN Nix, J.P., Sea.lc., USN Doran, G.P., Sea. 2c., USN Jeffery, I.W., Ensign, USNR CDeceasedJ Jones, H.C., Ensign, USNR CDeceasedJ Underwood, R.C., C.G.M. CPAJ USN Reeves, T.J., C.R.M. CPAJ USN CDeceasedJ O'Connell, W.F., G.M. lc., USN London, J.F., S.K.lc., USN Cleveland, E., Sea. lc., USN Bonthius, R.C., Sea, 2c., USN For outstanding work in removing the wounded trapped in either closed compart- ments or in compartments on fire: Hall, B.C., Ensign, USN Walker, W., Jr., Ensign, USN Settle, R.L., Ensign, USN Champion, C.H., Ensign, USN Gunnels, C.W., Ensign, USN Rudden, T.J., Jr., Ensign, USN Canfield, R.B., Ensign, USNR Lyden, C.J., Ensign, USNR Osmon, S., Boatswain, USN Price, E.V., C.E.M., USN Belden, E.W., M.M. lc., USN Bezvoda, S.F., E.M. lc., USN Illian, E., E.M.lc., USN Hall, C.H., Ensign, USN Kirkpatrick, R.D., Jr., Ensign, USN McGrath, T.P., Ensign, USN Lewis, W.A.J., Ensign, USN Nicholson, A.T., Jr., Ensign, USN Fain, E.M., Ensign, USNR La Barre, C. A., Ensign, USNR Taylor, L. S., Ensign, USNR Miller, R.W., Chief Electrician, USN Campbell, E.R., C.E.M. CAAJ, USN Bly, C.L., M.M.lc., USN Maxwell, G.R., E.M.lc., USN Alford, L.B., E.M.lc., USN Ward, D.E., B.M.2c., USN Isenhour, R.A., M.M. 2c., USN Minckley, R.F., E.M.2c., USN Franck, D.E., E.M.3c., USN Litz, C.L., E.M.3c., USN Greenbaum, H., E.M.3c., USN Garoutte, J.H., F.lc., USN Toth, H.J., F.2c., USN Pluard, F.D., F.3c., USN Samuel, H., F.3c., USN Nunnelley, L.E., F.3c., USN Brooks, W.M., M.Att.lc., USN Celesteine, B., M. Att.lc., USN Fleming, C.H., M.M. 2c., USN Koepplinger, C.F., Bmkr., 2c., USN Streeter, C.L., E.M.2c., USN Coon, R.V., E.M.3c., USN Waite, J.E., E.M.3c., USN Wilson, K.L., E.M. 3c., USN Rountree, W.H., F.lc, USN Gary, T.J., Sea. 2c., USN CDeceasedJ Galyean, C.W., F.3c., USN Ebberson, L.F., F.3c., USN Bottolfson, R.L., F.3c., USN Bacot, J.D., M.Att.lc., USN Wallace, H., Jr., M.Att.2c., USN For obtaining ammunition from other ships while under fire: Applegate, H.A., Pay Clerk, USN Pavlin, B.F., E.M.3c., USN For treatment of the wounded although bumed about the face and the arms from fires nearby his station: Jewell, J.D., Commander, CMCJ, USN Fleming, W.S., B.M.lc., USN, Gun Captain of five inchl25 gun number four, who, al- though wounded, continued to direct his gun crew and by his coolness and example, under fire, instilled confidence in the men about him. Baldwin, R.M., C.Y. CPAJ, USN, for his outstand- ing work in performing his duties of Damage Control Officer in a very efficient manner while the First Lieutenant commanded the ship. OPERATIONAL HISTORY F RoM SALVAGE TO DECOMMISSION, I 942- I 94 7 The USS Calqfornia CBB-445 was berthed at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor on that fateful December 7, 1941 day, the day of the merci- less Japanese attack. Atthe time when the bombing attack was launched against the Na- val Air Station, General Quarters was ordered. Before anti-aircraft batteries could be supplied with sufficient ammunition the ship was taken under strafing attack. Concurrently, torpedo planes commenced their attack on the battle- ships and the USS Calgfornia CBB-445 was struck with three torpedoes, two amidships and one forward, causing the ship to list. Forward, because of the rupture of fuel tanks, the third deck commenced flooding with fuel. The strength of the fumes was such as to overcome the ammunition party attempting to expedite the delivery of ammunition. Water entered the fuel lines causing loss of light and power at this critical time. The flooding of compart- ments in close proximity to the torpedo hits prevented the necessary access to make pos- sible some control of damage. Three dive bombing attacks were made, coming succes- sively from the starboard bow, from ahead, and from the port bow. The explosion of near hits along the starboard side, from ahead, and from the port bow. The explosion of near hits along the starboard side caused minor sized holes in the hull, and a hit abreast casemate number one penetrated the main deck and exploded on the second deck, on the starboard side. This hit started a fire arrridships which remained largely uncontrolled due to the loss of pressure on the fire main. The attack left the USS Calgfornia CBB-445 listing eight degrees to the port side. Five officers and forty-eight enlisted men were killed, forty-eight enlisted men were missing, and six officers and fifty-eight enlisted men were wounded as a result of that attack. During the attack, the USS California CBB-445 downed one aircraft and assisted in shooting down another. By Thursday of the following week, December 11, 1941, the USS Calgfornia CBB-443 was sitting on the bottom due to flooding. Having been pumped free of water and re- floated the USS Calyfornia CBB-445 entered dry-dock on April 9, 1942. Underwater repairs were effected and on June 7, 1942 she left dry- dock under her own power once again. It was not until October, 1942, however, that she was underway from Pearl Harbor en route to the Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, for reconstruction and rearming with a new sec- ondary dual purpose battery of sixteen five inch, thirty-eight caliber guns. Many of those examining the wreckage in the port at the close of 1941 were appalled. CINCPAC Admiral Chester W. Nimitz thought WMM' Q, ' 4 we 4. 9 Z W, at Wwwk Q Q! WW Motor launch - Captain Lv gig crews ofthe BB-44. fCourtesy ofjoe Lorenz., several of the sunken ships were finished. Despite the carnage, plans were made to raise as many of the ships as quickly as possible in an enterprise which, when completed, would prove one of the engineering Hmiraclesn of the Second World War. As the new year of 1942 dawned, efforts to get the USS Calyfornia CBB-445 up were begun under the able general direction of Pearl Harbor Navy Yard salvage boss Captain Homer N. Wallin, with Lieutenant W. L. Painter the Prune Bargew project officer. They, together with the shipls Acting Captain, Commander J. F. Warris, various divers and salvage experts, and all of the ship's ratings not yet transferred, quickly recognized one important fact- the slow sinking meant that the USS Caljornio CBB-445 was not badly damaged below the wa- terline. It was then decided to re-float the dam- aged port side. Using an untried idea, the seals on the subsequently-built patches would be made of tremic cement, the underwater kind used for bridges and dry-docks. To make the re-floating job easier, the first step would be to lighten the ship. Commander Warris and 500 bluejackets began the awesome task of clearing the USS Calgfornia CBB-445. Nine of the twelve 14- inch guns were removed Cthose in turret num- ber four were underwater and therefore notre- movableb, as were the broadside guns, the ship and flag towers, the catapults, cranes, boars, anchors and anchor chain, and the main mast, which was cut off at its base. Meanwhile, en- gineers and divers, mainly from the Pacific Bridge Company, built wooden fence-like cof- ferdams, which were placed around the quar- ter-deck and in the forecastle area. When huge deep-well centrifugal pumps arrived, and as divers plugged the leaks, the huge electrical machines, with power from Ford Island. pushed out thousands of gallons of water. As the pumps gradually lowered the wa- ter level, workmen cleaned out the refuse cont- partment by compartment. Regular and can- teen stores plus 14-inch and lesser shells and powder were removed. Personal property was put under guard and classified infomation was turned over to the proper authorities. About 200,000 gallons of free oil was collected. Meanwhile, Commander Hyman G. Rickover became involved in a plan which could allow 50 General Electric specialists and more than 100 Pearl Harbor electricians to reclaim and recondition the ship's various electric motors and electric-drive machinery. Rotten stores were flushed out and with great dignity. a num- ber of bodies of the crew were sent ashore for identification and proper burial. ln a pleasant surprise, it was found that the work of plug- ging the leaks was so successful that the over- flow from the pumps was greater than the in- flow of sea water. This good news meant that. with additional plugging. it would be possible to raise the dreadnought without patches over the torpedo damage. The USS California tBB-4-ll carrie atioat on an even keel on March 24. 19-12. her draft being about 40 feet. Once the colferdams were struck off. she was placed in Dry-dock Num- ber Two on April 9. 1942, where she was wel- comed by Admiral Nimitz. who had come down personally to witness the event. The USS Calijinrnici QBB-4-ll was bruised but not bro- ken: battered but unbowed. She would sail and fight again. The USS Cc1liforn1'clfBB--l-ll remained in dock until .lune 7, 1942. ln the dock, perma- nent structural repairs were made to almost all of her damage. After a few trials to test her power and seawotthiness, Commander Warris vessel departed Pearl Harbor under her ow n power on October 10. 1942. A week later. she met the brand new destroyer USS LitiIIXt'l'UOI'f QDD-6085, and arrived at the Puget Sound Nayy Yard on October 20, 1942. Captain Henry P. Burnett. who had .rs- sumed command in October. 19-13. began .1 - s--X . rigid tutrttulum of statrtlartlt:ation trials .rs soon as the newly --motlernifed old battleship 'Ss ,Y 5 Q, ,rj 5 4 ig ,- -K Jw ft 1 if. 5' . - . - . ..i . '4' j, sg, ' , -milli- ,if 4. ASW Jw We -gf dj , wi X. sf- 'ii' ffl-f 6 we 'J QOBB1 got under way forthe first time on Janu- ary 31. 1944. Taking her down the coast to San Pedro. the skipper oversaw gunnery and rnaclrinery tests. maneuvering and radar drills. conducted by the thousands of new oliicers and ratings. many draftees or reservists fresh from continental training stations. Searrranship drills. first aid and fire fighting lectures, and more gurrnery were the order of the day, but in those first weeks. the newness of the crew caused many a drill to go awry. On May 5, 1944. after an engine check. she steamed to Pearl Harbor. FromJanuary 19. 1944 until May 5, 1944, the USS California QBB-445 underwent post repair trials. shakedown, operational training, and post-shakedown availability. On May 5, 1944. she departed for Pearl Harbor where she joined the Battleship Division Two on May 10, 1944. On May 31. 1944, she was again under- way for Roi. Kwajalein Atooll, from whence after a two day layover she was underway on June 10. 1944 for the bombardment of Saipan, Marianas Islands. She was once again back in full service, back in the fight for freedom. The Prime Barge. the Golden State Battlewagon was back to bring retribution to her attackers at Pearl Harbor. Mooring at 'fFox Threefl the same place in which she was savaged on December 7, 1941. the USS Calyfornia CBB-441 was soon assigned to Fire Support Group One CTask Group 52.173, under the able command of Rear Admiral Jesse Oldendorf. After a week of intensive short bombard- ment rehearsals off Maui and Kahoolawe, Ad- miral Oldendorfs heavies departed Hawaiian waters for Kwajalein. At that central Pacific site, the ships would prepare for Operation Foragerf' commanded by Vice Admiral Rich- ard K. Tumer. On June 10, 1944, the Prune Barge and her task group left Roi anchorage. All rumors as to the former flagship's destina- tion ended when the executive officer, Com- mander F. R. Bunker came on the public ad- dress system with a message from the skipper. The ship's objective was the Saipan Island in the Marianas. On June 14, 1944, as an element of Fire Support Unit One, the USS California CBB- 44J was again in action, which resulted in the death of one seaman, and the wounding of an officer and eight seamen. Action continued until June 22, 1944. Reveille sounded aboard the USS Calyfor- nia QBB-441 an hour before dawn on June 14, 1944. Clothed in fresh garments, many men were at their stations before general quarters was sounded. Rounding Saipan's northem tip as the sun rose, Captain Burnett's vessel launched her float planes for air spotting and gingerly maneuvered into position off Garapan, the islandls capital. With directors on target and the main batteries trained out, the standby buzzer went off in the turrets. Then, at pre- cisely 0548 hours, the USS Calyfornias high capacity CHCJ bombardment shells began crashing home against the enemy batteries and supply dumps inland of the selected landing area- the southern portion of Saipan's west coast- in support of minesweepers carrying out an assault sweep of the landing zone. The USS Maryland CBB-465 drew fire from a con- cealed battery on a tiny islet off Tanapag harbor, but she, together with gunners on the USS Cali- fornia CBB-445 quickly put it out of business. At 0430 hours on June 15, 1944, the pre- landing bombardment of Saipan began. In a new target off the town of Charon Kanoa, a tall sugar mill smokestack was chosen as a base sight in the USS Caljornia Ls preparatory soft- ening of the beach. Her aerial spotters calling corrections, salvo after salvo departed the big guns while tracers from her 40mm projectiles drifted into the beach to disappear in clouds of dust, blossoms of fire. Oldendorf's ships lifted their fire at 0630 hours for an air strike and then recommenced until, with the Second and Fourth Marine Divisions landing craft within a thousand yards of the beach at 0812 hours, the three flares of the cease fire signal appeared in the air. The naval bombardment had proved to be less than a total success and many Japa- nese positions were not damagedg the leathernecks', would face extremely tough going. .Sleamlnf under fullpower and blowing lubes - removing WUT b'4lld'W7 in bmlff M555 bl' MOWIWL' live steam inlo rombuslmn heads. fCoarles'y 0fR bW' Gardngnl Cannonading became a routine call fire pastime for the USS California CBB-449 dur- ing the remainder of the Saipan operationg one sailor called the practice a Navy-sponsored farm project that simultaneously plows the fields, prunes the trees, harvest the crops, and adds iron to the soil. There was one night of excitement, however, which should have bro- ken the routine. On the evening of June 16, 1944, the Japa- nese 136th Infantry Regiment as part of a gen- eral counteroffensive and backed up by armor of the 9th Tank Regiment, moved against the positions of the 6th Marines. This, the first sizable Japanese tank attack of the Pacific Is- land fighting, brought emergency calls to the duty ship USS Caljornia CBB-445. Firing both star and explosive shells, Captain Bumett's gunners helped the U.S. Marines tum back determined enemy charges which left 700 enemy soldiers dead and 31 lightlmedium tanks knocked out. A decided victory won through a cooperative and determined effort. As part of the plan which brought the Japa- nese tanks into the USS Caljornias range, Japanese admirals attempted a naval relief of the Marianas. Departing the beaches at day- light on June 17, 1944, the USS CalU'ornia CBB-445 joined Odendorf's task group in pa- trolling west of Saipan. Over the next three days, planes from Task Force 58 wiped out the Imperial naval air force in what American car- rier men later called the Marinas Turkey Shoot? Released, the USS CalU'ornia CBB- 44J retired to Eniwetok where her battle dam- age of June 14, 1944, was repaired by mid- July. At Guam on July 19, 1944, the USS Cali- fornia CBB-44J and her sister ship, the USS Tennessee, took up their labors as the heavy fire support units in Rear Admiral Richard Connolly's Southern Attack Force. From early on July 20, 1944, until 0830 hours the follow- ing morning. the two Pearl Harbor veterans assisted in the pre-invasion pounding the island's northwest coast. On July 20, 1944, the USS Caljornia CBB-443 was at Guam, firing upon targets of opportunity in support of the landing on Guam. Three days later she was conducting similar operations at Tinian. Heavier guns on nearby Tinian Island joined in and soon geysers were appearing in the wa- ter alongside the USS Calzfornia CBB-445. Then a shell from one of those concealed bat- teries hit on the dreadnought's upper deck aft, penetrating to explode. Damage control par- ties reacted quickly, and as the duel continued, crewmen learned that one of their comrades had been killed and 14 wounded. Late that aftemoon collecting the OS2U planes, the USS Calgfornia CBB-441 took up her night station west of Saipang there her officers and men could reflect on how this war had become such a serious business so quickly. Late on July 21, 1944, after the U.S. Marines were ashore, the sister ships, Calyfornia and Tennessee, re- tumed to Saipan to rejoin TG 52.17. The USS Calyfornia CBB-441 next provided cover for underwater demolition teams recon- noitering the landing area. As the USS Caljor- nia CBB-445 closed the beaches to within 3,000 yards to ply her five-inch and 40 mm projec- tiles, Japanese defenders began a murderous small arms and mortar attack on the frogmen. Tinian is separated by a three-mile chan- nel from Saipan. On July 23, 1944, the USS CalU'0rnia CBB-441 and the USS Tennessee, directed by Rear Admiral Howard F. Kingman, bombarded coastal defenses near Tinian Town as a diversion for the main landing further north. After the leathernecks hit the beach, the two ships alternated call fire duty through the remainder of the month as U.S. Marines and warships pushed the Japanese toward an- nihilation on the high ground of the islandis southern tip. On July 31, 1944, the USS Calqfornias guns fell silent as a command message came aboard: Your mission com- pleted. .Proceed anchorage. Sorry we could not find more targets for you.', The USS Caliornia and the USS Tennes- see were almost immediately switched back into the Guam fight, where they provided fire from August 2-8, 1944, before anchoring at Eniwetok on'August 9, 1944. Three days later, the sister dreadnoughts joined a small task force steaming for Espiritu Santo, New Hibrides. With the men on the ships anticipating a well-earned bit of rest and relaxation, pollywogs by the hundreds were initiated into the deep in the salty presence of King Neptune and his royal partyi' in the tra- ditional equator-crossing ceremonies, held on August 21, 1944. USS CALIFORNIA CRossEs EQUATOR, AUGUST 21, 1944. A CEREMONY OF THE AGESH KFROM THE CUBI The exact time and source of the begin- ning ofthe ceremony in 'Crossing the Line' is unknown. It is known, however, that ceremo- nies took place long ago when the ships crossed the thirtieth parallel, and also when going through the Straits of Gibraltar. These early ceremonies where of the roughest sort and were, to a great extent, supposed to try the crew to detemiine whether or not the novices on their first cnlise could endure the hardships of life at sea. The Vikings were reported at an early date to carry out these ceremonies on crossing certain parallels. It is highly probable that the present day ceremony was passed on to the Angles, Saxons, and Normans from the Vi- kings. At an earliest date, ceremonies of propi- tiation were can'ied on. Neptune, the mytho- logical god of the seas, was appeased by the seamen, and marks of respect were paid those of his underwater domain. It is plausible that a part of the ceremony grew out of traditions of other days, even though sailors had come to doubt the existence of Neptune. Nevertheless, Neptunus Rex is today the Royal Majesty who rules in the Seas, who officiated at the cer- emony when we crossed the Line on August 21, 1944, and to whom we all as his faithful subjects and true Shellbacks pay allegiance. KING NEPTUNE REIGNS At 0800 hours on the morning ofAugust 21, 1944 all divisions were mustered to wit- ness the arrival of His Royal Highness, Nep- tune Rex andthe members of his Royal House- hold and Court. They were received on board with due respect and honors and as the ship crossed the line at latitude 00 degrees 00 min- utes, longitude 81 degrees 12 minutes and 12 seconds, the saluting battery was fired to Neptunus Rex. After parading to the quarter- deck, King Neptune addressed the Captain, Captain Burnett. 'Captain Burnett, greetings to you and your worthy ambassadors and welcome to My Royal Domain. I have received a very serious report of last night's inspectionf Turning toward Davy Jones, he asked, 'Davy Jones, where are the findings of that inspection?' Davy J ones gave him a document. His Royal Highness again addressed the Captain, 'Captain Burnett, you are charged with suffering your ship to enter My Royal Domain with a full cargo of common polly- wogs. This is a very serious breech of seafar- ing tradition, yes an unpardonable offense, and in view of the fact that you yourself are an ac- credited shellback makes your offense doubly serious. Therefore, I, Neptunus Rex, ruler of the Raging Main, do hereby relieve you of your command until such a time that every last land- lubber, hack driver and pollywog has been trans- formed into a worthy shellback. I have spokenf 'Admiral Tobogaj he ordered his Royal Admiral, 'you will immediately assume com- mand ofthe USS Calyfornia, you will have the Royal Ensign broken at the main truck, you will set a course and a speed in keeping with safe navigation until ordered otherwise. Bear a hand now., 'Davy J onesf His Majesty commanded, 'you will summon the Royal Police Force and gather in all the culprits and suffer them to appear before the Royal Justice Court for such punishment as they may prescribef 'Captain Bumett, you and your worthy ambassadors are cordially invited to witness the aforementioned transformationj he invited. 'Let us proceed forward now., From: Secretary to His Royal Highness, Neptunus Rex. To: Commanding Officer, United States Ship Calyfornia Subject: Instructions for entering the Domain of King Neptune. l, Greetings, Sir, to you and to all other shellbacks under your command. 2. The Commander-in-Chief of the United States Fleet having recently been in consultation with his Most Royal and Exalted Highness and having laid before His Majesty facts concerning the 'state of the United States Navy' under his command, the King, Neptune Rex himself, has directed me, his personal Sec- retary, to appear before you this date. as you are to enter His Realm, to advise and to in- struct you as to his wishes. lt appears that a very serious situation has arisen in the Navy of the United States. Under your direct and personal command, Sir, there are an alarming number of tadpoles, pollywogs, landlubbers. sea-lawyers, would-be sailors who doubt the existence ofthe Equator- a real line- and, more serious still, who doubt the existence of the Kingdom of his Exalted Majesty, Neptunus Rex. The presence on board such a splendid ship of men so ignorant, so conceited, so lack- ing in experience, is a never ceasing source of concem and grave danger, both to the ship and to all loyal subjects of His Majesty. 3. This situation must be corrected at once. These would-be sailors must be con- vinced- must be converted into seamen wor- thy to be admitted as all sailors should desire to be admitted, as subjects of His Royal High- ness. Due preparations have been made for the transformation of these poor misguided souls into honorable subjects of His Exalted Majesty. Following the traditions of the ages, a solemn and a high initiation has been ar- ranged in order that the mysteries of the An- cient and Royal Order of the Deep may be made known to these malingerers and delin- quents- that they too may be made worthy to take their places with me and be able to hold communion with the Noble Order of Shellbacks. 4. Heed, therefore, the following Order and Command: - On the morrow, 21 August, 194-4, on or about 0800 hours, as you enter the Kingdom of His Royal Majesty, you will heave-to and take on board His Royal and Exalted Highness. Neptunus Rex, the members of His Imperial and Royal Household and Court, and his reti- nue of faithful and loyal subjects who accom- pany him. Immediately after his arrival His Royal Majestyis Court will convene on the USS Calnfornia. You are directed to have ap- pear before that Court any and all those under your command, or who may be passengers or serving on board the ship which you command. or who may be passengers or serving on board the ship which you command, who are unable to produce due evidence to the effect that they are members of the Ancient and Royal Order of Shellbacks. 5. Advance information has reached me concerning certain individuals on board your ship who as pseudo or amateur sailors are not worthy to enter His Majesty's Realm. To each of them I bear a summon. in the name of Neptunus Rex, to appear before His Court. Failure to comply with His Command will arouse the wrath of the King and mean dire consequences for all those who disregard his Orders. Thus saith and so commandeth his royal highness, his exalted majesty - Neptune Rex. 6. His Majesty asked that l convey through you to Rear Admiral Richard Connolly his cordial greetings and a hearty welcome upon his return to His Majesty's Kingdom. ls! Davy Jones, Secretary to His Royal Highness. After the summons had been given. the Royal Mail Orderly distributed to representa- tives of divisions, subpoenas for each polly- ,115 is . ,. 3 T! F l S l -sf fa , 'UQ 'sw xx og. which in turn were delivered directly to thc pollywog concerned. At the conclusioii of this. Daxy Jones took leave ofthe Captain and. in company xx ith the Royal Mail Orderly. left the ship by going down through a hawseipipe. 'Secure' was sounded and all divisions fell in at their regular quarters. after which 'Retreat' xx as sounded and all pollywogs fell out to read their subpoenas- and wonder! With his Royal Household and Court and loy al and faithful followers, they paraded back to the forecastle. with the music of the band, to sit upon the throne and to inflict with good grace the pains and penalties of the awful tortures. The staff officers. being first in order of initiation. wee summoned before King Nep- tune and His Royal Court to answer to their charges. Then followed the wardroom offic- ers. warrant officers and enlisted men. The first of the many trials was to run through the gauntlet of torturers. Upon appear- ing before the Royal Court, the Royal Doctor requested to see the tonsilsg in most cases he found them enlarged or infected and prescribed a preparation of 'salts' and other distasteful ingredients to soothe them. Some pollywogs had bodily defects which were corrected on the operating table rigged with live wires. The Royal Barbers pleased His Majesty by neatly trimming the hair and massaging the face and body. Lamp-black and linseed oil were used to make a neat appearance. Following the shock. the chair was tripped, to deliver the pollywog to the pool, where the bears and tor- turers persisted that staying under the surface of the water and choking through mouthfuls of salty brine to say 'shellback' amused His Highness and the Royal Court. The 'love taps' upon making the exist from the tank completed the progress of converting the land-lubbing pollywog into a trusty, 'salty' shellback. His Majesty commented that all polly- wogs were to be commended for their good sportsmanship and all are fully worthy of their certificates. 5 The f,'.S'.S' California Ts bell on display al ine stare napilol in Sarrafnenro, CA, ICYIMVYH'-SJ' 'lf fume-S' Yfllh j The costumes of King Neptune, His Royal Court. and his followers, fitted the char- acters in every respect and deserve commen- dationf' NUMBER INITIATED As SHELLBA CKS Officers, U.S. Navy Cgl U.S. Marine Corps 57 Officers, United States Army 4 Enlisted Men 1,163 Total 1,224 Just before reveille on August 23, 1944, however, the USS Calgfornia Lv crew received a rude awakening. Wildly out of control due to a steering malfunction, the USS Tennessee smashed her stem into the USS Calnfornias port bow, tearing a large gash forward of the 14-inch turret I. Though the collision pierced several compartments, opening them to the sea, injuries were few. With all trapped sailors res- cued, and all damage sealed, the Prune Barge returned to convoy, her men looking forward to shore leave more than ever. In a record 17- day period, August 25 through September 10, 1944, the USS Calnfornia s collision repairs were effected in Espiritu Santols floating dry-dock. Departing the New Hebrides on September 17, 1944, Captain Burnett's vessel slipped up the New Guinea coast to Seeadler Harbor, Manus, in the Admiralties, arriving four days later. Here she was assigned to that half of the Bombard- ment and fire Support Group destined to sup- port a Southern Attack Force, U.S. 7th Fleet. The time had come to redeem General MacArthur's famous pledge to the people of the Philippines: I shall retumfl On October 17, 1944, after a five-day voy- age, the USS Calnfornia and the USS Tennes- see arrived off Leyte Gulf. Following prelimi- nary minesweeping, the sister ships, stream- ing parvanes to cut cables of missed mines, and followed by the USS West Wrginia CBB- 48j, themselves followed the flagship USS Pennsylvania CBB-383 inside the gulfthrough a marked channel. Around sundown, the star- board paravane of the Prune Barge cut loose a mine which bobbed to the surface and bore down on the WeeVee, which successfully dodged it at the last minute. The ships took up their positions off Dulag before sunrise on October 19, 1944, and at 0645 hours began to bombard the designated land- ing area south of the town, a shoot which con- tinued throughout the day. After additional post-dawn softening, American soldiers re- turned to the Philippines at 1000 hours on Oc- tober 20, 1944. The landings went well and soon the USS Calyfornia was shifting her fire inland and to the flanks to assist the troops as they began carving out a beachhead. As the Leyte invasion unfolded, the Japa- nese decided to strike back and sent four widely-separated forces to destroy the Ameri- can operation. ln an effort tojoin a larger fleet in a pincer movement against the 7th Fleet am- phibious ships and transports, Vice Admiral Shoji Nishimura led the 30-year old 14-inch battleship Faso and Yamishiro, the cruiser Magami, and four destroyers toward Surigao Strait. Alerted by Navy reconnaissance, Ad- miral Oldendorf sought to deal with the situa- tion by placing his six old battleships, eight cruisers, and 28 destroyers across the northem end of that passage late on October 24, 1944. After securing from anti-aircraft defense that evening, off-duty USS Calyfornia crew- men went below to get as much sleep as pos- sible, although several preferred to stretch out and nap on the cooler upper decks. Others watched as the ship took on oilg armorers checked the magazine and flrehoses were faked out and unnecessary gear was secured- or tossed overboard. Fire control instruments re- ceived a thorough check as radar and radio technicians made certain that secondary sta- tions could be rigged quickly if the need arose. Other sailors lugged water, blankets, and C- rations to their stations while a crew, after watching the Kingfishers fly off to the beach, lowered the catapult crane. Below, medical personnel saw to the sick bay's readiness. All anxiously awaited the ship's first surface ac- tion. Moving out in line, the battlewagons pa- trolled the moonless night, moving back and forth across the smooth sea, which neverthe- less featured a strong current, difficult for helmsmen. General Quarters was sounded aboard the USS Calyfornia CBB-441 at 0130 hours. All battle stations wee fully manned and alert, ammunition was redied for instant loading, and the ship's watertight integrity made as secure as possible. Lookouts peering into the dark could make out the other mem- bers of the Pearl Harbor survivors associa- tion, but those below and inside the turrets could see nothing. Beginning his thrust up the straight, Ad- miral Nishimura was soon found out. At 2236 hours that October 25, 1944, United States Patrol Boats CPTSJ deployed in the passage. The PT boats made radar contact and, followed by destroyers, they attacked, causing the en- emy ships much damage and confusion. The USS Calqfornia CBB-445 observers could see the distant flashes of gunfire, searchlight, and star shells which marked the engagement. Just after 0300 hours, the battlewagon's radar picked up the Japanese approach at nearly 44,000 yards and began tracking the lead ship Yarnashiro. Yamishiro, the cruiser, and one destroyer were all that had made it past the lighter American forces and the three wee now acting like the cavalry in the Charge of the Light Brigade. As Nishimura pushed further into this valley of death, his success prob- ability was reduced to zero. Steadily the distance shrank and 0355 hours, after the USS West Wrginia had received the honor of opening fire, Captain Burnett was granted permission to commence firing: the range was point-blank, 20,500 yards. In the brief battle which followed, the USS Calnfor- nia, the USS Tennessee, and the USS West Vir- ginia, owing to their new gunfire radar and instruments, got off most of the telling shots. Firing in six-gun salvoes to consume a precious and limited supply of anti-personnel shells, the USS Caljornia CBB-445 poured 63 rounds of 14-inch shells at the enemy. Only 16 minutes after the first salvo, Captain Burnett ceased fir- ing. Surigao Straight did much to avenge his ship's loss at Pearl Harbor, of all Nishimurais ships committed to the charge, only the de- stroyer Shigure escaped. Following several weeks off Leyte, the USS Calgfornia CBB-441 was released to the New Hebrides. There, in late November, 1944, Captain Samuel B. Brewer succeeded Captain Bumett as the skipper of the USS Caljornia CBB-441. Captain Burnett, having commanded the proud vessel, the 'fPrune Bargej' through challenging and dangerous times, successfully completed his duties and relinquished the com- mand to Captain Brewer who took up the charge. 1 On December 19, 1944, Captain Brewer took his new command into Kossol Passage, the Palaus, there to celebrate Christmas and prepare for yet another campaign. The Hreturnn to the Philippines continued apace into the new year of 1945. On New Yearis Day and with Admiral Oldendorf em- barked the USS Calyfornia CBB-44jquit the Palaus and, as flagship of TG 77.2, led an ar- mada of vessels through Leyte Gulf and the Sulu Sea to the northwest coast of Luzon. Resistance was stiff from enemy warplanes along the route, especially from a new band of suicide flyers known as Kamikazes. On Janu- ary 5, 1945 , Admiral O1dendorf's ships reached Lingayen Gulf and early the next morning, preliminary minesweeping was completed. As gunners watched the skies, the Prime Barge, keeping fresh, pounded targets on Santiago Island on the western side of Lingayen's en- trance. After lunch, the flagship led a great gray column of fire support vessels into Lingayen Gulf to attack targets in and around the designated invasion area. Admiral O1dendorf's fleet met determined opposition from J apanis air arm and soon most of his ships' gunners were in action. As the flagship was gliding toward her assigned bom- bardment position, she, too, became the target of a Kamikaze. Coming in low over the bow of a nearby destroyer, a Japanese Zero fighter sped toward the USS Calhfornia CBB-44J's bridge. Smoke from anti-aircraft guns blan- keted the battleship's starboard side as gunners and loaders swung with the plane. The bliz- zard of fire was, however, to no avail, the pi- lot flipped his plane into a vertical bank and ripped into the after fire control tower. Vio- lent yellow flames billowed as the ship rocked with the explosion. Meteoric shell fragments tore chunks out of the deck 35 feet below, de- molished gun stations, smashed splinter shields, and even bit into the ship's bell. Dam- age control parties worked quickly and me- thodically and within 12 minutes, all fires were extinguished. Of the 203 casualties incurred in the disaster, six officers and 26 men were killed outright with 13 later succumbing to in- juriesg 155 officers and hands were wounded while three crewmen were reported missing. Temporarily repaired while under way, the USS Calwrnia CBB-441 hammered Luzon positions on January 7, 1945, through January 9, 1945, as troops went ashore on January 9th. She re- mained on station providing call fire support until January 22, 1945, when she departed for Bremerton, via Ulithi and Pearl Harbor. Workmen at the Puget Sound Navy Yard repaired the USS California CBB-44j's dam- age and after training exercises for the many new men, the OBB returned to the fray, an- choring at Hagushi Bay, Okinawa, on June 15, 1945. By now, the worst was over in the great final land-sea-air battle. Ashore, U.S. Army troops made a finishing drive to clear the is- landg gunfire from the USS Caljornia CBB- 44J helped snuff out a few remaining pockets of resistance. With the other old dreadnoughts, she remained ready in support until the cam- paign was declared over on June 21, 1945. On July 22, 1945, the USS Caljornia CBB-441 joined Task Force Number 95 3 with Admiral Oldendorf's group, the old lady, the Prune Barge covered minesweeping opera- tions in the East China Sea and patrolled the waters off Shanghai for Japanese shipping as escort carriers sent strikes against the China coast. Aside from an August visit to the Phil- ippine Islands, this was the ship's duty until V- J Day which brought the end to the war in the Pacific Theatre. The batt1ewagon's final assignment of World War II was to cover the landing of the 6th Army occupation troops at Wakanoura Wan, on the island of Honshu. With the USS Tennessee, she arrived in Japan on September 23, 1945 3 then, on October 3, 1945, the tow sisters moved to Yokosuka, where the USS Calyfornia CBB-441 berthed near the wreckage of the once-proud dreadnought Negato. Crew- men had the chance to look over the erst-while Imperial Navyis big base and do some sightseeing before their group got under way for Singapore a dozen days later. During the Japanese lull, Captain Brewer was succeeded by Captain Lunsford Y. Mason, Jr. From Singapore, the USS Calyfornia CBB-445 and here sister, the USS Tennessee, continued their long voyage, via Columbo and Capetown. Fi- 3. ,ff nally, after 15,000 miles, they rnoored sr. 'he Q i Q. Philadelphia Navy Yard on llecernher 7 if- 47 the fourth anniversary of the Pearl Harbor tack. The process of trirnrning the 1,5 Na: If down to postwar size required that wider. ,et useful, ships be assigned to Hrnothballsf' B, the summer of 1946, the USS California fBB- 441's last skipper, Commander Forrest N1 Price, who had succeeded Captain Mason ir, March, 1946, had preservation work well .ri hand. On August 7, 1946, the ship was placed in commisssion in reserve. Seven months later. on February 14, 1947, after guns and rnachinerj. were rust-proofed and water-proofed. the ensi gn of the 'fPr11ne Bargei' was hauled down for the last time as she was placed out of commission. The USS Calyfarnia CBB-441 remained the inactive reserve fleet for another tvvelue years. By then, time and technology had passed her by and, on March 1, 1959, her name was stricked from the Naval Vessel Register. On March 1 of that year, she was sold for scrap to the Boston Metal Company of Baltimore, Mary - land for S860,000. The veteran battlewagon ar- rived at the head of Chesapeake Bay the follow- ing March, 1960, under tow. There. after a few memontos were saved, she was completely bro- ken up by the end of summer, 1960. THE NUCLEAR GUIDED MISSILE CRUISER USS CALIFORNIA KCGN-36,1 The advantages of an all-nuclear carrier task force were demonstrated in 196-1 when. in '4Operation Sea Orbit, the USS Enterprise CCVAN-65J, USS Long Beach QCGN-91. and the USS Bainbridge CDLGN-251 circled the globe at full speed and without replenishment in FY 1967, two nuclear-povvered escorts were also approved, the lead ship to be named the USS Califimriu fCGN-36.1 fCl7Ill'fc'A1'Y QfHr1rnld Ruin. 1 I 'r cw sit.-j xlllx- 5 F .E .1 fi-'ia Wai QE. EQ Quai -siltlhtw R. Qi? -N -..'.g Einar ur. ng. 'SWG ir arf ,X :Erlang 543' It Trim. 4135175 N 1 MD H 1-F61 1 fiilf .3135 'F 35122. K '9f f W'E. Mg .K,-a - -f 'wr . ...- .. ?'f i't T5 Wy: fx W... Z 'aiilllrfi If 2 USS CALIFORNIA ROSTER OF COMMANDING OFFICERS 1. Captain Henry J. Ziegemeier, USN- August 10, 1921 - August 4, 1922 2. Captain Lucius A. Bostwick, USN- August 4, 1922 - June 20, 1923 3. Captain Harley H. Christy, USN- June 20, 1923 - July 15, 1924 4. Captain Raymond D. Hasbrouck, USN- July 15, 1924 - January 22, 1926 5. Commander Charles S. Joyce, USN- January 22, 1926 - February 16, 1926 6. Captain William H. Standley, USN- February 16, 1926 - October 11, 1927 7. Captain Claude C. Block, USN- October ll, 1927 - June 8, 1929 8. Captain Edward C. Kalbfus, USN- June 8, 1929 - May 22, 1930 9. Captain Henry E. Lackey, USN- May 22, 1930 - January 16, 1932 10. Captain Wilson Brown, USN- January 16, 1932 - July 31, 1933 ll. Captain Stephen C. Rowan, USN- July 31, 1933 - April 1, 1935 12. Captain Paul P. Blackbum, USN- April 1, 1935 - April 4, 1936 13. Captain Roscoe C. MacFall, USN- April 4, 1936 - June 5, 1937 14. Captain William L. Calhoun, USN- June 5, 1937 - January 27, 1938 15. Captain Edward D. Washbum, USN- January 27, 1938 - June 15, 1939 16. Captain Harold M. Bemis, USN- June 15, 1939 - December 19, 1940 17. Commander Robert B. Carney, USN- December 19, 1940 - December 31, 1940 18. Captain Joel W. Bunkley, USN- December 31, 1940 - February 19, 1942 19. Lieutenant Commander Charles A. Peterson, USN- Feb. 19, 1942 - March 20, 1942 20. Commander John F. Warris, USN- March 20, 1942 - April 20, 1943 21. Commander Robert P. Wadell, USN- April 20, 1943 - November 1, 1943 22. Captain Henry P. Burnett, USN- November 1, 1943 - November 28, 1944 23. Captain Samuel B. Brewer, USN- November 28, 1944 - October 1, 1945 24. Captain Lunsford Y. Mason, Jr., USN- October 1, 1945 - March 28, 1946 25. Commander Forrest M. Price, USN- March 28, 1946 - October 17, 1946 26. Commander Philip F. Lindner, USNR- October 17, 1946 - February 14, 1947. USS CALIFORNIA AWARDS The USS Calnfornia CBB-441 earned six battle stars during her wartime career for participation in the following operations: 1. Pearl Harbor Midway December 7, 1941 2. Marianas Operation Capture and occupation of Saipan June 14, 1944 through June 20, 1944 Capture and occupation of Tinian July 21, 1944 through August 2, 1944 Capture and occupation of Guam August 2, 1944 through August 9, 1944 3. Leyte Operation Leyte Landings November 21, 1944 4. Luzon Operation Lingayen Gulf Landing January 4, 1945 through January 18, 1945 5. Okinawa-Gunto Operation Assault and occupation of June 17, 1945 through June 30, 1945 Okinawa-Gunto 6. Third FleetO erations P Against Japan July 10, 1945 through August 7, 1945. USS Caljornia CCGN-361. Developed from the USS Bainbridge CDLGN-255, the new ship, originally classified as a nuclear-powered guided missile frigate, would prove to be a larger and more sophisticated warship, distin- guishable from the earlier DLGN by her flush deck and enclosed masts. Indeed, without big- gun turrets or stacks, but possessed of pylon mast supports, a box-like superstructure, and tall, enclosed towers supporting radar anten- nae, the USS Caljornia CCGN-361 can be said to typify the new U.S. N avy', which emerged in the years after World War II. In recognition of these differences, the Golden State name- sake was reclassified as a nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser on June 30, 1975. The contract for the sixth and most pow- erful USS California was awarded to the New- port News Shipbuilding and Drydock Com- pany in June, 1968 and her keel laid on Janu- ary 23, 1970. Twenty-two months later on September 22, 1971, she was launched, spon- sored by First Lady Patricia Nixon. Outfitting lagged, but the new Golden State representa- tive was finally commissioned on February 16, 1974, Captain Floyd H. Miller, Jr. was the new appointed commanding officer. The cost for the USS Calnfornia CCGN- 361 has been estimated as being between S200 ,million and S5220 million- more than the total cost of her five predecessors combined. This tremendous figure, when coupled with the to- tal cost of her five predecessors combined. This tremendous figure, when coupled with the development of the even more advanced CGN- 38 Cwrginiaj class, caused a third ship of this THE SISTER SHIPS BB-BATTLESHIPS - TENNESSEE CLASS USS Tennessee CBB-431 Completed: June, 1920 Modemized: 1942 USS Calqfornia CBB-445 Completed: August, 1921 Modemized: 1943 Dimensions Displacement: 32,300 tons Cstandj CUSS Tennesseej 32,600 tons Cstandj CUSS Calyforniaj 40,400 tons CMean War Servicej Armament 12 14 inches!50 16 5 inches!38 DP 10 40 mm quads 43-60 20 mm Propulsion Speed: 19 knots Cmaximumj Maximum cruising radius: 6,400 miles at 19 knots 9,200 miles at 15 knots Horsepower: 29,000 Cshaftj Aircraft 2 SC-1 group to be canceled. The USS Calnfornia CCGN-361 and the USS South Carolina CCGN- 373 would be one of the smallest purpose-built classes of warships built for the U.S. Navy af- ter the Second World War. The Golden State cruiser's principal func- tion is that of carrier escort. Consequently, her design and armament are primarily those as- sociated with task force ASW and anti-aircraft work, although she can function in more spe- cialized groups even tothe point of shore bom- bardment. Her aluminum and metal hull is painted gray and displays her hull numbers prominently on the bow, with smaller numbers and her name in painted raised letters at the stern. This advanced combatant displaces 9,561 tons Cnormal and 11,100 tons Cfull loadj. She is 596 feet long Conly four feet short of the waterline length of the USS Caliornia CBB- 44J with a beam of 61 feet and a draft of 31 feet six inches. Berths are provided for 28 of- ficers and 512 enlisted personnel. A pair of pressurized, water-cooled D2G General Electric nuclear reactors, each with 5511.5 million cores, provide the steam to power two geared turbines and other machin- ery infinitely more sophisticated than that aboard the electric drive battleship which was her state predecessor. A decade of nor- mal ship operations Cor 700,000 milesl was estimated before refueling would be necessary. 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' ,,, ,ff ,yu f,fg,ff,f ' ' 107222 C: fwf ,Zf5m,,,, f W X 'w y f, ' I ff fff,ff!W,ff.f f wf v 'hwwzf ff ' H ' 7 f,wf5'w,4 W , ,l, Q , , , f f , , , ,,, ,, , ,wg ,ap ' 'X f f M fw , X! 'f' Jw, MMV X ,,mMZWCff, 'ZW ' ,QW ' ' ' ,, ,,,,,f , f f , ,, ,, , , , f,,,W 4, 7 nf X , f 1 vc-I6 f ,nf ,y ,Wx f ' in I f 'W , A ,w , ,fV, f W Q f, , ff ff M, w , W!! ,,, WW! M77 f W, , L' f f f ,,,, f W: J Q , , ,M Q, wg ff ,Wm JW! 'ff M vm 'Q wx Q74 y , f ,Q Qi 1213 , J! f mf ,, 7 f if ,125 f gym 1 WM 'ff VW 'C 7 . ' ' ' ? ww, ff 740 , fm' wwf fi f MM QQ JW' mf' fwfim , ' - The USS California QCGN-36Ys engines pro- vide 60,000 S.H.P. tcompared to the USS Cali- fornia CBB-44J's 28,500 S.H.P.J and can drive her tow propellers at a speed in excess of 30 knots. The cruiser's primary ASW weaponry is ASROCQ an eight-tube launcher is locatedjust forward of the bridge. Four tubes for MK 32 torpedoes are sited aft while echo-ranging is provided by an SQS-26CX bow-mounted so- nar. A MK 114 underwater battery fire con- trol system is also onboard. Although a land- ing pad is located at the stern for both con- ventional and LAMPS helicopters, no main- tenance facilities are provided as choppers could normally be, expected to operate from an accompanying carrier. The USS Calqfornialv primary anti-air- craft aimament consists of two single Tartar- D twin-missile launchers mounted well for- ward and aft. These fire the MK 13, Mod 3 Standard medium-range CMRJ surface-to-air missile, about 40 of which are held in maga- zines below each launcher. Plans call for the ship to be refitted tif it has not already beenj with Standard SR-2's. This anti-aircraft weap- onry is controlled by a pair of MK 74, Mod 4 fire control systems, with four fore and aft mounted SPG-51 radars. To deal with low- flying aircraft, fast patrol boats, or shore tar- gets, the cruiser has two five inch!54 caliber dual purpose guns mounted in single automatic turrets, one forward between the ASROC and Tartar-D launchers one on the 02,' deck por- tion ofthe after superstructure. These are con- trolled by a MK 86, Mod 3 fire control sys- tem for which there is also an SPG-60 radar. Two 40mm Phalanx close-in weapons systems KCIWSJ, each with six-barrel Vulcan Mgatling gunsf' will be mounted for last-ditch defense against antiship KSSMJ missiles. Additionally in a move designed to exert her offensive range and capability, the installation of Harpoon SSM's is imminent. The USS California CCGN-363 is equipped with SPS-10 and 40 sear radar with an SPS-48 3-D radar on the foremast. Her communications gear features an SSR-l receiver, a WSC-3 transceiver, and an OE-82 satellite communications antenna. These various systems are supported by a three-computer Naval Tactical Data System CNTDSD complex. With her home port at Norfolk, Virginia, the USS Caljorrtia CCGN-365 has been in ser- vice for more than a decade now. In those years, she has sailed to far seas on a variety of missions, mostly routine cartier escort deploy- ments. The service, just as hard and enjoy- able for todayls sailors as it was for those who manned earlier Golden State warships, has brought pride to her crew and participation in a few memorable events. In 1977, the USS Calnfornia CCGN-361 was the only American representative in the multi-nation naval review held to honor the Silver Jubilee of Britain's Queen Elizabeth. In 1979-1980, the ship participated in the screen of United States warships sent to the Indian Ocean in response to the Iran hostage crisis. On November 20, 1981, after what had begun as a routine deployment to the Indian Ocean, Captain Charles J. Smith brought his command back to Hampton Roads. After steaming 78,000 miles, the Golden State cruiser had become the far-,t lfnited State vessel in years to LlfLt,lffil'lbtv'igEJl.f1 the cant: For seven months, Captain Smith A had spent most of its time under wa, lt' Indian Ocean on luly 15. 2981. the 1.83 Ca fi' f jornla ICON-363 was detached from the 1, SS America ICVA-661 battle group to re'-,cue '19 seamen from the fatally-stricken Greek merchantman lrenes Slncerlty. As the eras -.er continued her voyage, she would become tn-- volved in two more at-sea rescuers. sauing , man from a deserted island and picking up roar downed helicopter crewmen. This globe-ci' cling mission was taxing in some respects only 19 days of liberty were allowed. 16 ac- counted for by calls at Cartagena. Spairri Singaporeg and Perth. Australia. The other three days came in San Diego. California. on the final leg of the trek home. As the USS Calhfornia ICGN-361 entered the port of San Diego. she was met and es- corted by fire boats and a flotilla of pleasure craft, many carrying veterans ofthe old 'Pmne Barge, the USS CaIUf0r121'atBB-444. An air- borne banner, arranged for by local United State Navy League members. proclaimed the cityls welcome. The ships crew was ofticially welcomed, the celebration marked the irst time that the cruiser had visited the state for which she was named. We've had many in- vitations to visit various cities in California. said Captain Smith, and we finally made it. When the latest Golden State namesake de- parted San Diego for home in Norfolk. Yir- ginia, and for more future missions. there were a few tears, many smiles. and hopes that she would make it again one day soon. ff , 'f.4.,y,,, , Q, , f, f If 1 , . QW 4 f , ,W aw fi S 1 . rr faire --ii-- ...I Q -fl-'- ' USS California fCGN-361 Silka SUIIHII, Alvltrian l.s'laHa'.v, Alaska. .lulgv 1980, fClt'lllIAft'.Y4X' ofit'4tpm1'r1 R. lf Burrows. t . ,- 'PN .fit rhmfa. :IEW . 'fm wig! its we ZW . as wif . Q amiga We 'Nam him .M N rm, N A 8 F1567 3525.752- . , .Ir ll in .mf ,,. mi-'fer 'R 3.. ' Nflsrvr , WH: ' iff .sux K-EE: 'A 4-'fvfcirr f e.'gr,. 1'-i fl: T323 fr: -ia: K ' ,wr . Sw - .rr .5 . -:i - ..... 'Y-aka .i 4' 'Kwai .lr- .ri if-lf' . ,,. L .RH KET, -Q-.r ia ' rar wil: l EPILOGUE THE Loo OF THE USS CALIFORNIA IBB-442 Anchored in berth A-l, San Pedro har- bor, in seven and one-half fathoms of water with thirty fathoms of chain out on the star- board anchor, Boiler Number four in use for auxiliary purposes. So reads the log of the USS Calyfornia QBB-443 for the first watch of the first day of 1924. Most ofthe crew were over on the beach, busy in extending a glad welcome to the in- fant year. The great ship rode lightly to her anchor, a floating fortress, solemn in the moon- light. But the anchor was not down for long. As the second day of the year dawned, the ship was busy as a hive. Everything was in readi- ness for a southern cruise and all hands were set for it. Amid the tooting of whistles and the wailing of sirens, not to mention the bevy of beautiful maidens who thronged the breakwa- ter to wave a last tearful good-bye, siren-like, but to no avail, up came the anchor encrusted with fishy mud. The Fleet was off and Pedro was behind us. We were headed south. And somewhere in the Atlantic the Scouting Fleet was also steer- ing for Panama. For this was a gigantic war problem and all hands were in readiness for a fleet action. During the day there wee maneu- vers and drills. The fierce rays of the southern sun dispelled the navy blue and we dressed in snowy white. At night the Fleet steamed stealthily in the dark. The phosphorescent sea was traced by a multitude of ships leaving paths of molten silver on the jet water. Grim battle- ships, darting destroyers, furtive submarines ever ready for a dive, peaceful vessels of the train silently administering to the needs of this fleet of fighters, all cruising in the dark. The only light was from the stars. f'We arrived on January sixteenth at Balboa, on the Pacific side of the Panama Ca- nal, without ever meeting our enemy, the Scouting Fleet. Panama was safe and they were still in the Caribbean. There was no time to lose. Panama City, filled with alluring shops, Haig and Haig, Kelleyis, and what not, called but we could not respond- the enemy was in the Caribbean racing for the Panama Canal, bent on its destruction. So, through the vast locks of Miraflores and San Pedro Miguel we went while little black boys threw bananas and coconuts as gifts of welcome. Occasionally one threw vile language. Once past the locks, we steamed stately through the Panama Canal flanked on either side by rocky hills or low- lands covered by the riotous tropical vegeta- tion. As the USS Caljornia KBB-441 neared Gatun locks an ominous speck appeared in the opaque blue sky. Nearer and nearer it came and soon the whir of a motor. An enemy plane! And another! A flock of them! The first shots of the war were fired- constructively in a con- structive war. Gatun locks were passed and we dropped anchor in the harbor of Colon while the en- emy aircraft from the Langley continued the attack. Our anti-aircraft guns and our own planes from the Battle Fleet and the United States Army Base at Panama fought with the zeal of real action. We lay at anchor in the harbor for some twenty hours awaiting the inevitable attack of the Scouting Fleet. It came and they attained their objective. The war was over. Both Battle and Scouting Fleets joined hands, broke out the liberty whites, and sauntered up the main drag of Colon. f'After a week in Colon the combined Battle and Scouting Fleets weighed anchor and commenced a second tactical problem. This time the glassy Caribbean was the scene of ac- tion. When the problem was completed the two Fleets, led by the USS Seattle, Flagship of Admiral Coontz, steamed into Viequez Sound which lies between the islands of Culebra and Viequez. Culebra itself, despite its port of Dewey, is a small island sparsely populated with blacks and Puerto Ricans. It is difficult to classify some of the people. The visit of the Fleet brought forth a town of squalid huts where swarthy Puerto Ricans sold biscuits, fruit, and tobacco. The glory of Culebra is Fla- mingo Beach, a golden strand besieged by sportive breakers from the purple sea. Then, after a month at Culebra, the Battleships and the USS Seattle , got under way for New York making the port on March third. Ten days of concentrated recreation, filled with parties, dances, theatres, bright lights, and sub- ways. Sun-bumed sailors, fresh from the trop- ics, laughed at Broadway's icy blasts. But pleasure cannot last forever. Up came the anchors. The resolute battleships steamed slowly down the North River and past the guiding light of the Statue of Liberty. Next stop, Culebra. Then a week at Balboa on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal. With Panama City close at hand the week was not unenjoyable. 'fOn April twenty-fifth the Fleet got under way for San Pedro. Behind us lay the south- em cruise, the pleasures of New York, and the subtle influence of the Tropics. Ahead lay our home port and a strenuous program of gun- nery exercises. At San Pedro we lost Commander R.T. Menner who was detached to take command of the USS Prometheus. A big cheer, Auld Lang Syne by the band and he was gone to take his command. Thirty minutes later the Captain the USS Prometheus returned to the USS Calyfornia CBB-445 to pay his official call. By the twenty-seventh of June we were in San Francisco for a two weeks, visit. Dur- ing this time the British Special Service Squad- ron composed His Majesty's Ships Hood, Re- pulse, Delhi, Adelaide, Dauntless, and Danae lay at anchor in the bay. San Francisco was profusely decorated with the Union Jack and the Stars and Stripes, British tars and Ameri- can sailors walked arm in arm down Market Street in San Francisco having a jolly good time. But ships, like men, must rest occasion- ally. So the latter half ofluly and the month of August found the USS California CBB-445 at the Bremerton Navy Yard. All hands and a swarm of civilian workmen tumed to, installed bunks for the crew, and made a multitude of alterations and repairs. The bamacles were scraped off the bottom and the ship was painted from topmast to keel. At Bremerton Captain Hasbrouck came aboard to relieve Captain H.H. Christy who had been the USS Calhfornia CBB-44J's Command- ing Officer for the preceding year. Secretary of the Navy, Curtis D. Wilbur came aboard in Seattle, Washington, and made the trip to San Francisco, California with us. His blue flag with its white anchor and four stars flew at the main while the flag of Admi- ral Robison was hoisted at the fore. After a brief but enjoyable month of Sep- tember at San Francisco, two weeks of which were spent in Fleet maneuvers at sea, the USS Calyfornia CBB-445 in company with the battle- ship divisions andthe destroyer squadrons got under way for San Pedro, the old home town. Except for a ten-day visit to San Diego, Cali- fornia, in November, there we spent the remain- der of the year. Gunnery exercises, battle prac- tices, Fleet maneuvers, and an occasional fling at Hollywood came along with Christmas close behind. Nineteen hundred and twenty four has entered the realm of the past. The experiences we encountered during its every day have passed away. But the memories of things which concern this ship's company as a whole will linger in the mind of every man aboard. A new year with its thousand opportunities lies ahead. May the USS Calyfornia CBB--4-45 steam through its uncharted waters at full speed and with little smoke. LAKE KITSAP Out in the great open spaces where men are men, and - appetites are large, lies a clear cool mountain lake with the Indian name of Kitsap. It is a good four mile hike from the United States Navy Yard at Bremerton, Wash- ington, but worth it. Old logging trails lead down through towering pine and spruce to the lake, and at the base of one of these trials lies Kamp McKean, a twenty-acre plot of ground bought and owned by the personnel of the United States Navy. During the month of Au- gust, while the Big Flag was in the Navy Yard, the USS Calyfornia CBB-445 established camp for her crew. A permanent detail was ap- pointed, clearings were made, tents pitched and the camp was ready for occupation in short order. Sign boards on the streets contained such familiar names as Sand Street, Riverside Drive, Sally's Alley, Broadway, and Washington Bou- levard. Various squads were sent to this camp, each for a week's vacation as a reward for hard workg each week anywhere from a hundred to a hundred and fifty of the crew forsook Se- attle, Washington, to spend the week-end in this outdoor Mecca. Men even forsook the Post Office steps for Mother Nature. Life in the open proved a welcome nov- elty for Jack, with boating, fishing, tramping, swimming in an ideal swimming hole, and baseballg while even the pestiferous horseshoe pitchers had their chance. With this went op- tional taps, reveille at seven o'clock and three of the good cook's husky squares a day- what an edge that keen air did put on the appetites! But everything was not play, the camp had to be policed, and every ship's camp leaves its mark of permanent improvement on the site. The USS California QBB-44Ys contribution was the dragging of the beach, the building of a waterfront and pier and the removal of many stumps until finally the USS Caljornia CBB- 44J's camp was conceded to be the best ever. Nor was the United States Navy forgotten there. Admiral Chips,' Kogel in his flagship the Ark,,' an old whaleboat donated by the Navy Yard, regularly held fleet maneuvers of the camp's small boats. The fleetis nightly schedule called for grand maneuvers after sup- per and a sortie of the fleet into Community Beach across the lake for smokes and eats be- ffore returning to the camp fire and a great nightls rest, filled with pleasant dreams. UTHE AIR WARRIORS f'One of the ship's most reliable publicity agents is the Aviation Gang piloted by that prince among thrillers- that dare-devil in his own birthright, Lieutenant Dixie Kiefer. Mur- ders pales to insignificance as producers of spi- nal tingling alongside of those early catapult shots of Lieutenant Barner. Due to the bravery of these men the USS Calyfornia CBB-445 can claim the credit for the world's first night catapult shot. If you've ever driven a car off a cliff at night going fifty miles per hour with no headlights you have and idea of what it is like. f'Furthermore they have found time to in- terest some dozen other Junior Officers enough to cause them to go into Aviation. To say noth- ing of curing Montell of his failure to make after dinner speeches. 'LA year of day and night flying in all weathers speaks well for the future of heavier than air flying on the Battle Fleet flagship. The time is not far distant when we will rely wholly on our aircraft for gunnery spotting at these increased ranges. Proud we are of our Avia- tors. KKMEMORIES OF 1924 f'San Pedro- The mad dash for the P.E. train, steel locker clubs, rented Fords, the mid- night hot dog on the dock, oil tankers, a fish- laden atmosphere, shore boats, blissful home of married sailors. f'Culebra- Buming heat, luscious bananas, soda pop, Flamingo Beach, and cooling surf, golden sunsets and purple seas, swarthy na- tives living in squalid huts with thatched roofs, rain and mud, smokers and ball games, taran- tulas and sea urchins. New York- The American Girl Glori fied, wintry blasts whistling up the North Rive, the Great White Way, the Statue of Liberty, sky- grazing buildings, Czech-Slovak newspapers, the subway mob, nTsay, Kid, gimme da coin, yuh can't ride dis wagon fer nuttenf' palatial hotels, Riverside Drive, painted lips. V A KW' ,yww O ff yyff X After engine rOOm. fCOurreSy OfFrederick KOh!.j f'Seattle- Dress whites, Kelleys, bananas, have graced the decks of the grand old ship- Haig, Y.M.C.A., ceegarets, four dollars silver the USS Calnfornia tBB-449. but two dollars gold, Muchchas de cantinas, Gatun Lake, chattering monkeys, devout wor- shippers at Catholic shrines. San Francisco- The Ferry Building Market Street, the Golden Gate, jitney busses, Coffee Dan's, cable cars, the Orpheum, Golden Gate Park, girls, girls, the Oakland ferry, Ber- keley, prohibition. HLos Angeles- The P.E. station, Solomons, Hollywood, Jack's Baths, The Biltmore, Westlake Park, rustic Fords, lowans, Pershing Square, flaming neckties, real estate agents, auto parking lots, extra girls, you-drive-em cars, city slickers, movies, silk hose, mamas. Bremer'ton- that boiler shop din, navy workmen emphatically throwing down tools when whistle blows, scraping the bottom, hard boiled Marine sentries, the ferry boat to Se- attle, ship's dances at the Elk's Club. f'Camp Kitsap- healthy appetites, long hikes, pitching horse shoes, toasted marshmal- lows, the plunge in the lake, fleet maneuvers at night, the fish that got away. f'Long Beach- roller coasters, hot dogs, dime dances, lady barber shops, the old joke about Iowa, coy bungalows, beautiful streets and Cadillacs, Fords, too. 'fHollywood- Bareheaded sheiks, racy roadsters, brilliant shops, over-advertised town, not so wicked, beauty- real and artificial, girl- ish boys, and boyish girls, types growing beards, Beverly Hills, cosmetics, studios, hum, Pola Negril Real estate kiosks. tea rooms, pros- perity, and hardened eyes. 'fVenice- The woiking girls' Paradise. one-piece bathing suits, bow legs Cracker Jack, chute-the-chutes, laughing galleries, your pic- 9 ture in Tiaiuanaf' necking, fat women splash- ing about, reckless side-walk trains, corduroy pants, tennis visors, more darned fun. Many logs from the years of service and many memories can be reflected by many who CKHISTORIC PR UNE BAROE LA UNCHING FrO1n the Vallejo Tinze-Herald. laliejo. Calyfornia, Sunday, Nmenzber 20. 1960: f'Today marks the Forty First Anniversaaw of the launching of Mare Islands historic battleship the USS Calnfornia CBB--1-ll. ffOnly twenty of the shipyards present employees witnessed the launching and only six were employed when the keel was laid. lt was November 20. 1919. when the then sleek, super warship slid down the ways and suffered a most embarrassing moment when she drifted clear across the channel and stuck in the mud at the foot of Georgia Street. before the ten-odd tugs assigned to catch her. could get lines aboard. LARGEST MI-Btitr The ship. totaling more than 32.000 tons. is the largest of nearly 500 craft which have been built at the l06-year-old shipyard. The USS California LBB--1-U began her career with almost twenty years of peaceful service as flagship for the Pacific Fleet. But. on the fateful morning of December 7. lf?-l l. just as the mists were lifting from the head- lands behind Pearl Harbor. squadrons of .lapa- nese aircraft rained havoc on most of the nation's Pacific Fleet. The might USS Ctzlifiwini tBB--L-li was hit by two torpedoes and one bomb. Heroic measures were taken to keep the ship atloat. but three days later she sank into the mud of Pearl Harbor. She was floated in Nlarch of I0-12 and after emergency repairs, was towed to Bremerton Naval Shipyard where she w as completely modernized. .,.-.. A .1. .-lwixiii A it S iimixif The 'Prunc Bai'ge.' as she xx as affection- ately knoxxn throughout the lleel because ol her home states first industry, rejoined the frax .ind participated in the capture and occupation ofSaipt1n. ln this action the ship xx as struck by and enemy bomb and one crexvman xvas killed and eight xx ere xxounded. Then folloxx ed action in the Philippines and the historic battle at Surigao Straits, where one entire arm of the Japanese Fleet was an- nihilated by fire from United States ships. The LJSS CT.Illfl7l'lIlt1 tBB--1-ll was officially cred- ited xx ith sinking one Japanese battleship. '1-X less glorious day is written in her log. A .Japanese Kamikaze pilot smashed his plane into the aft control tower and traded his life for the lives of 52 ofthe Prune Bargesl crew and the injury of 153 others. FotfR YEARS LATER Pour years to the day of the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. the USS California CBB-445 sailed into Philadelphia Naval Base with her flags flying and her crew of 2,375 home at last. Behind her was the wreckage of one Japanese battleship sent to the bottom, seven Japanese planes shot down and seven islands still reeling from the thunder of her mighty fourteen inch guns which relentlessly and ac- curately hit their targets until a merciful cease- fire was called. Today, the once proud flagship of the Pacific Fleet lies in a Baltimore, Maryland, shipyard. being slowly cut to pieces to feed hungry steel furnaces. Her huge bell was pre- sented to the people ofthe state on Navy Day, 1949 and currently stands in Capitol Park, Sac- ramento. California. The only other memento of the historic battlewagon, her onyx and gold punch bowl service is on display at the California Histori- cal Society, 2090 Jackson Street, San Fran- cisco. California. PA USE B Y CREW HMore than one former crewman will pause today to remember the exploits of the mighty warship and recall the tribute, given to her upon her decommissioning. of 'Ewell done. 'Time passes. but the nation and the United States Navy will not soon forget the USS California lBB-4149's glorious record of service or the tremendous comeback from the bottom of Pearl Harbor to decisive victory at Surigao Straits. To those who walked her decks. munmid her guns. sailed with her into battle and served our Qountry' aboard the USS California CBB- Mi, you deserve the thanks and gratitude ofa nation that is free because ofyour bravery. You share in the legacy ol the great HPrune Barge. 'Vlay she and ber crew be remembered for marry generations 1ti!,fJI'1'lC, PAW! . ' ,xqfl ,fa ,fx ... ..u A ,132 ...-4 .4 S an L it M ,tfzz-d,,.-.-1f1f.2.t.4...- ....-..... . gk M WW.iQg.-Q5..?-. .2JT'.L1'.4.9AU.Ldf f - .. Q.Q.,,iialY- fe' s af. -i vir- n4 'x-w- '1u.nv ww- 'f...wu. WNW ...Numa fM 'f1 'Nw r --,.--.w --.w.-f- ..,,,-L .,,,,,,,.,.-.M ,, -.A-0... mv-w-gpg IN N' A 1' T. mn' at Q44 10 4-r'wu ,,...-nndlwrvf' ,,. ov- ' '4'w. ll 5. RN: WP W 'V l T 7 new vo-nu Hmm nn Count!! may 'lt L H V ixfxrixtivixv at tw' H-...M I swam At :ova H An unusual example of V-inail. lCourresy ofRol9err D. Lairfll USS CALIFORNIA CBB-441 BIBLIOGRAPHY Crossing the Line with the U.S.S. California, 1925. Pearl Harbor Survivors. Paducah, KY: Turner Publishing Company. 1992. Smith. Myron J. Golden Stare Barrlewagon U.S.S. California KBB-441. Missoula, MT: Pictorial Histories Publishing Company. 1983. The Cnh, U.S.S. Calihirnia, 1936. The Grizzly Bear: U.S.S. California. Volume I, Number 1. 1921. The New Grolier Mnlriinea'ia Encyclopedia, Grolier Electronic Publishing, Inc., 1993 f i e c 1 I g , Q I i f Z I QV li q 3' 1 , .5 A . I QQ! J-au' , uv ,, .f .Qgk x XL Q ws X f 4 I , ,W?' 'Aww S H f, ' S ii' ,JW isis, fwhgkn, I , .A ,. 9, ,Z V f f ff Y V L .rx , ,Q It L MZ. ,gn A R X S f l ,S , J, W W Ww USS CALIFORNIA SEA STORIES 2, ,ZX A. V, ff W W 124 ,QW ' 73 W Z , fy ,, Wf ff f ,yf gg , , W ,, . ,f , W Q f , , f yi? ,M , 4 W, ,4 , WW 'M Wm f ' ff ,ww I o f I, . X ,ff , , ,M , ff ,JM , , in , -. ,MQ ffm, ., , 1.1 jmggyz. 51,1 ,Y 4 f' gait: S 'V f 1 lk f ,ff f xx' . Q C' , , , ,Q ,W X f , ,wr Q ' , , ' S ' V, , , 'ff' mp, fA'iQi,g-'www .Aw . 1 f ,wwnf-Indiv f j r f ww' Wi 71 My wfvwvfyxm. f yf VW ,WWW .1 ,', ,Az ,MV -wg , ,,, A X' '65, mu ,A ff 1, , f L, f Q f,,4t64' 1 NIGHTTIME OCCURRENCE by Marvin B. Graham I remember very clearly being told one afternoon that we were going to engage the Japanese Fleet before daylight the next morn- ing. We were told to shower and put on clean clothes in case of injury and try to sleep a few hours. We were awakened around midnight and sent to battle stations. My battle station for some reason for this battle was changed to a catwalk up on the side of the smoke stack over the big guns. 1 I sat up there hearing the range finder in my earphone calling off the yardage to the en- emy. I remember at about 20,000 yards see- ing a huge burst of fire at the Japanese Fleet and a few seconds later a huge splash just off port bow, then a couple more off starboard. The first salvo had been sent our way. The range finder was still calmly calling off the yardage. Our big guns were still training on the enemy. I was getting a little upset that we didn't fire when about that time our big guns fired and nearly knocked me off the catwalk CI haven't been able to hear well sincej. A few seconds later I saw a large ex- plosion and then a huge fire over where our enemy was. I was told we scored on a Japa- nese battle ship. Let me tell you, it was ex- citing to have a ring side seat to a great na- val battle. I have not forgotten one second of that night. KAMIKAZE STRIKE by Elmer Hitchcock I was a gunner's mate when we were hit by a Japanese kamikaze plane at Luzon in the Philippines on Jan. 6, 1945, while providing shore bombardment at Lingayen Gulf. Casu- alties: 44 killed and 155 wounded. I was a lookout from the top hatch on the gun mount, which was my battle station. Just before the kamikaze hit, I came down and locked the hatch, but as I was closing the hatch someone in the gun mount asked me what was wrong - before I could say anything the kamikaze hit in the after super structure. The gun crew said I was as white as my uniform, I said if you had seen that plane com- ing at you as I did, you too would have been as white as my uniform. Later, after everything settled down, I was outside the gun mount, and picked up a piece of the plane. Also as a souvenir, I have the piece of shrapnel that hit me in the left legjust above the knee when I was on the USS Colorado in the Marshall Islands at Eniwetok. We never knew where the shell hit came from, the beach or one of our ships. That was in February 1944. I was on a 40 MM Gun Crew at that time it happened. I guess the Good Lord was looking after meg I guess you can say I was lucky. BAND or SECRECY by Mirror: G. Harding Minutes after the first torpedo crashed through the hull with a tremendous explosion, another crashed through the ruptured plates to rip out our guts. The USS Callfornla lurched forward in its moorings, then listed heavily, straining on the hawsers that held her from capsizing. The huge battleship began to settle into the soft mud of Pearl Harbor, with me in ll. Another explosion, probably a bomb, cmnched down on the decks above with a solid carumph! A mixture of diesel oil and sea wa- ter sprayed through seals on our watertight doors. I braced myself against a bulkhead and tightly cupped the headphones to my ears with both hands, making an effort to hear Central's instructions from four decks above. Bedlam was unreal...the message chilling. . U. S 3 s. I I as I sg P Q SX. I V. . :fr ' N i f-. X s sssswsw ma. 'All hands abandon 'f,h:p'i' A ww V1 If led over the intercom HAbandon ship? Repair lour port rcrriarri Repeat, remain. Do riotwrepeat. do not break watertight integrity. Well he hack when we can reboard the shipfil I stared in disbelief at my Chief, the mes- 7 sage froze in my mouth when he said, 'We re hit, and hit hard..,Somebody help Manley Ti' l spun around to look at the 2565 pound bass horn player who was on his knees. Wher. we escaped to this location he inhaled a tai: dose ofthick smoke which enveloped the corn- ii partment. It smelled like kerosene and burri- ing gunpowder. Several in our party of four- teen struggled to lift the heavy musician upori a conveyor belt nearby. I sagged against the bulkhead, feet slip- ping against the I5 degree list of the deck. lr would do no good to tell my companions of the orders to abandon ship. They were remark- ably calm, considering our circumstances. and in Wilbur If Moline 111 No. .Y lizrrwr. fCoi11'rr'.x',x' of lllllvzir I-f l'lol1'm'. I M .,-4 .. .. frsi Q 'Q .I g 'f, iii 'W Eggs.: V st, H ' 5 'w 'Q it ,af CSS California Band 316. IL to Rl: Bandlnaster L.B. Luckenback, R.K. Shelly, L.M. Conley, R.V Parker: I-1.15 Garbo. WG. Harding, PP Panyon, R.S. Sumpman, F Wanat, R.N. Caroll, M. Palchefsky, R.E. Theis, PTE. Leonard. J. Rutledge, D.E. Kennedy andA. De Stwolinska Knot pictured R.A. Marnettel lCourtesy of WG. Hardingl I saw no reason to break that calm...to create panic. I stared down at the slowly rising mix- ture of oil and water, already ankle deep. Fool- ishly I thought about my new tailor-made whites, which I donned only minutes before to join friends for brunch at their home in the Kaimuki district of Honolulu. I raised a foot and frowned at the oil soaked bell bottoms It all happened so very fast. lt was a cloud- less moming on that fatal day, the smells of island flowers, jasmine, gardenias, frangipani mingling with the salt air of fresh morning breezes. I stepped out on the deck and watched the Prep flag skitter rapidly to a tight position on a high yard arm. A throaty growl caught my at- tention. and I stared across the Harbor at a cir- cling PBY as it drifted in slowly to land on the glassy waters. Even from that distance I could hear the sizzle and rush of water as it swept over the nose of the plane. One of my fellow band members, Mike Palchefsky, stepped up beside me and I asked him about Frank Wanat, who was tojoin me for brunch with the Hiram Miles family in Honolulu. mls Frank ready, yet'?,' I said. At 0755 The Prep Flag, with its blue field and white center square, scooted rapidly to a tight position on the highest yard arm of the USS California. It was five minutes before colors at Pearl Harbor in the Hawaiian Islands. The date was December 7, 1941. The bugler on the flagship of the Pacific Fleet, Admiral Pye commanding, blew first call. The duty band stood at ease in preparation for playing colors: the Star Spangled Banner. I was not in the duty band that day. Frank Wanat and I planned a liberty in the Kairnuki district at the home of Hiram and Mrs. Miles. They were the brother and sister-in-law ofthe Starks family from my home town in Decatur County, Indiana. Bob Kramer, a lst class gunner's mate on the Arizona, another friend of mine from my own home town, intended to meet us at Fleet Landing. We could ride a bus into Honolulu from there, and catch a cab to the Miles home on 16th Street. The Miles family planned no big luau, but they did want to celebrate a special welcome for Harding and Kramer. Since Wanat and I were buddies, I invited him to join us. We ar- ranged all the details for the meeting by sema- phore relay between a USS Calyfornia signal- men, a USS West Wrginia signalman, and fi- nally to a signalman from the USS Arizona. Kramer lived on the Arizona near the 5 inch 38 caliber anti-aircraft gun for which he was responsible. We arranged everything by sema- phore. The day broke into a cloudless moming and promised to be a great day for visiting new friends in Hawaii. Frank was still in the shower when I finished dressing in my new suit of tai- lor-made whites. Folding my navy blue neck- erchief in typical regulation turns, l tied it in a two inch knot that hung loose in a casual may- or-may-not-stay-tied fashion popular with most of the members of the band. Frank wasted a lot of time that morning. He was dressing with one hand and drinking a cup of coffee with the other. It looked like we were going to be late for the 0730 liberty launch which followed a schedule, leaving every hour, and on the half hour. The Liberty Launch was scheduled for Fleet Landing at Pearl Harbor Navy Yard. I yelled at him to Come on. Get going g but he didn't care whether he was late, since he was going to meet strangers anyway The prospects of spending a whole day with some one I don't know is not exciting enough for me to hurry anything. Certainly one launch doesn't matter. He waved at me as I walked away, and said, Go ahead on. I'll be out in a minute. If we miss the 0730, we'll catch the 0800. That will get us to Fleet Landing in time to meet your friend from the Arizona. That was the last I heard Frank say until two days later. We ran into each other on Ford Island after the battle frenzy quieted down. I walked out to where the officer of the day was standing near the gangway. It was a cool tropical moming, and the smell of flow- ers in the air interrupted the smell of fresh salt water. A Harbor breeze carried the fragrance and shifted it from lee to windward, as though gently blown by some large hand-held fan. Now and again you could get a whiff of hot bread baking in the officer's galley below. That's where we nipped the hams a few weeks before. What a time to be alive, young and aboard ship waiting for the next experience to hap- pen. The 0730 Liberty launch pulled away from the gangway platform about two and a half decks below. I could see the circle of waves stirred by the tiller when I looked over the side. Watched the launch tum into the direction of Pearl Harbor Fleet Landing, then mumbled to myself, We missed it. Looking back in the direction of the pas- sageway to see why Frank was late, I noticed Mike, Bob Carroll, Garbo and Shelley as they stepped out on the Quarter-deck with their in- struments in readiness. I never saw Shelley again. He died in battle. Time for colors ceremony was 0800. I nodded to all of them, and asked, Did any of you see Frank on your way out Mike put his horn to his lips, blew a col- umn of whooshing air into it, pressed the spit valve, and shook the collected water toward the scuppers near the rail. Yeah, Frank said for me to tell you to re- lax, we can catch the 0800 launch. I'm going ashore, too, and I think I'll go into town with you guys. 'fWan'a go with us to the party? There's plenty of party for more. No. I'm meeting a friend from Honolulu, and we're going to spend some time with the Honolulu Symphony. Maybe I'll see you later at the Black Cat. Okay, but you're welcome. The Miles folks are just home folks, and they would like to meet you. I appreciate that but lim on duty for col- ors tonight. I'll need to get back before you and Frank. Maybe some other timef, The duty band began to assemble on the fantail of the CalU'0rnia. I leaned against the railing near the Quarter-deck and watched the slow flying PBY returning from a dawn pa- trol. It sat down on the water about 200 yards abeam. PBYs are graceful seaplanes whose low flying speeds were something close to 85 miles per hour. The Navy used them for observation and patrol. 979 They flew so slowly, they looked almost stationary in the sky. On this particular mom- ing, the plane skimmed the water for an unex- pected length of time. It just lingered. Then with a sigh, it settled into a cushion of foam and waves. Contact with the water bothered its forward motion until it came to rest in the channel. When it began to taxi on to the Ford Is- land Hangar, I tumed back to watch the duty band form for colors. Nearly a half hour had passed since I first came out to watch the mom- ing activities. Waiting for Wanat and the next Liberty launch, I heard the bugler blow firs-t call. Watched the prep flag fluttering from the halyard as it scampered into its position snug against the yardarm. Thatis when I heard the sound of a diving airplane, a sound so unmistakable it chills my blood to remember it. Looking up and to the right of the prep flag, I could see the plane dive straight toward Ford Island airstrip. I could see it through the yard arm high above the 14 inch gun turrets. There it was, the plane. Dropping a bomb as it sped steadily downward, the Japanese red rising sun blazoned on the knife-pointed wings, the diving plane appeared to stop dead in the air for on instant in the window of my mind. That one frame in my mental movie of the moment has remained stark and real to me for these many years. The bomb fell. It exploded on the runway. I couldn't see the explosion because the gun turrets were between me and Ford Island. I did hear the burst and saw the debris fly high in the air above the turret and beyond the ship. How could I believe my eyes...? I had to. It was happening right near me. Japanese planes were bombing Pearl Harbor. One minute I'm standing on the deck of a mighty battle- ship on a bright tropical Pearl Harbor morning in Hawaii. The next minute Japanese pilots and I want to kill each other. A band from another ship started to play colors as the next plane dived and dropped another bomb closer to the ship. l'Red Luckenbach was in the Chiefis quarters at the time and didn't witness the first falling bombs. Dave Kennedy, the assistant bandmaster saw the explosions, and dismissed the Calpfornia Band to battle stations. They headed for the rec room in quick time while a signalman made an effort to secure colors to the jack. He didn't make it, The Battleship Caldornia fought through the entire conflict without benefit of colors in place. They were retrieved by a swimmer, later, who dived over- board. I paused only a moment to look about for Frank one more time. Then headed for my battle station four decks below the main deck. I could hear the bos'n's pipe calling for atten- tion over the ship's public address system and the marine who announced in an excited voice Battle Stations! '!Battle Stations! General Quarters! General Quarters! General Quarters ! This is no shit. We're at war! I headed full tilt, ready to wilt, down one ladder, then two then three. Finally, I arrived at my station on the fourth deck below the main deck. Happened to be the first one there. Grabbed the earphones and the mike, and heard the sound of pounding footsteps as others be- gan to arrive. Three carpenters and a machinistis mate followed Manley, our bass horn player. Others, who made up the full working crew, gathered in the dim light of the small compartment. Surprisingly enough, the entire repair party of 14 men, including I and a Chief shipfitter, assembled within a few short minutes. Somebody said, 'fHere we go again. The same group had assembled in the same way nearly a week and a half before when the ship went to general quarters at sea. There was a sub sighting at that time. We were in a general quarters, condition red status for I8 hours over that matter. So here we were once again. The Chief sight read the muster. Mem- bers of the repair party all present and ac- counted for?', We all nodded and, standing half way up the ladder, he dogged the overhead hatch into a tight and secure position. Responsible mem- bers of the repair crew closed and secured the other doors fore and aft. Most of us settled into our General Quarters assignments with a rea- sonable amount of practiced ease. We made the commitment. We sealed our- selves into a small underwater compartment. Sealed in from the tops including fore and aft. No getting out until something favorable hap- pens outside. No water, no head facilities, no deck chairs or mattresses, and no personal be- longings. Just steel decks, bulkheads covered with multi-coats of paint, and sealed watertight doors. One ladder that led up to a sealed hatch offered some reserve psychological comfort, but not for long. Central communications asked for a re- port and I spoke into the microphone for the first time to the unseen, unknown voice on the other end: Repair four port all present and accounted for, Sirf' Repair four port, Aye, stand by for further orders. Repair four port, Ayef' Then...an unbelievable concussion! We could feel the heaving bending steel plates...the shaking and shuddering...the pitching deck that caused us to lose our balance...slipping and sliding into the oil and water that leaked through the watertight doors sprung by the explosions...the tearing noises that came from the backfire of the exploding torpedoesmmuffled screams of wounded, dy- ing, terrorized men...the awful stench...the al- most human groans as the wounded vessel foundered and began to sink in the Harbor mud. We felt and heard an explosion aft. It had the same feeling and sound that comes from firing the big guns. The force of the seizure actually picked up the ship within its mooring lines. Then it settled back down again, yawing a bit fore and aft as it settled. The aft watertight door sprang a leak. Water and oil poured into the compartments. lt swirled in with about the same force and quantity you get from a faucet running about two thirds open. We watched it form a small pool on the portside of the compartment. The ship was beginning to list some. Water, coming through the opening in the watertight door, followed down the after bulkhead making a pool along the portside of the compartment. 'fWhat do we do, Chief? That water and oil will get to us before too longf' Without hesitation, the Chief went to the forward watertight door and tested the space for contaminants. Using a special needle-like tool, he pressed it into a half inch rubber sealed opening in the bulkhead. The spot was about six inches above the deck near the watertight door as I remember it. By doing this, he could determine the safety of the space in the com- partment ahead. He loosened the levers, swung the steel door open, and yelled back, HCome on. It's clean Everybody forwardf' I removed the headphone plug from its socket in the compartment we were about to abandon. Then I followed Manley and the oth- ers into the compartment immediately forward of the hatch and ladder. The first detail I no- ticed was no ladder to topside in this new com- partment. There was only an ammunition con- veyor belt, and a wind shaft that reached all the way up to the boat deck. I bent over the conveyor and looked up into the shaft. I saw daylight at the top. A flush of fresh air caught me full in the face. It felt good. Wind shafts aboard ship reach from the lower regions to the topside. Large bell-shaped openings, rigged at the top of the shalt. turn into the wind to catch the fresh air for the lower decks. These wind shafts supplied the lower deck with cool air. Understand, the Navy in- stalled air conditioning many years later. The wind shaft looked large enough to accommo- date a small person. We knew immediately there would be fresh air, and plenty of it. We prayed the ship would not tip over and fill the shaft with wa- ter. Lights were on. We wanted them to stay that way. The compartment, nearly 30 feet long and ten feet wide, was dry with exception to some water coming through the forward wa- tertight door. We were comfortable. wet from flounder- ing around in the first compartment. but com- fortable. There was light and fresh air. The watertight doors, however. sealed us in. Once more, we dogged the doors on each end ofthe new compartment, fore and aft. tight and se- cure. Nearly five minutes passed since the first explosion aft. I plugged the microphone into the socket and reported our new position to Central: 'fRepair four port at new position in compartment forward the hatch. All present and accounted for. All secure: but the after com- partment is slowly filling with water and oil. Repair four port and all stations. the ship is damaged. We caught a torpedo hit aft. launched by low tiying aircraft. We're at war and sinking. Some are going over the side. Planes are strafing from the portside. The Casson and the Downs just blew up, The Ilia' ibn, up . H125 wi 2 ...Q-t In . ? . ffm., .? 'i.Q .j. 'la. Wir-. P af, B ,ia if 'hai Q 'ii K . 3' -. rl , if .Fi If wi, F59 f a- Mhz' 1 .- 1 A xi-F fu wwf '5 .mv gf , . .wr I v 11 .5 . ,,,- ir., .f .v Y I , dll- ' fr- f rt me ar 1 aff. .dh rf! if 'ia aff -ie 'i fig 'fl We tWk'st Wqqiniai is on fire. and the Nevada is getting under way. They're in the channel and headed for open sea. Oh my God, the Arizona just blew sky high. lt broke in the middle like a monster fire- cracker. Smoke and fire is a mile in the air. No ammunition when we finally got per- mission to open the locked ready boxes. We're forming an ammunition working party all the way down the amidship's hatch right into the magazine. Got'ta get some anti-aircraft shells to fight these yellow bastardsf, Have nothing to fight with. Some of the guys are so pissed off, they broke into the spud locker. Now they're throwing potatoes at planes flying near enough to crash into usf, This is horrible. Lordy mercy, one of our men just dived out of the sky lookout Ccrows nestj 50 feet above us. He did a perfect Olympic swan dive. WOW! He made it. There he is. He surfaced. A small barge is picking him up. What a dive ! They strafed our own Liberty launch in the open channel. The Coxln tried to change direction from Fleet Landing, to make a hur- ried return to the ship. He didn't make it. It looks like all hands died in the launch. Some are hanging over the side with their head and shoulders draggin' in the waterf, All you guys sealed in, stand by. We can- not break watertight integrity. The ship is hang- ing by the hawsers. Damage control is going to see if they can do some counter flooding to keep the ship from capsizing. Out. 'fWait a minute, I thought. This is no time to shut out. What else is happening? That was the launch Frank and I missed. f'Four port, aye, aye,', was my quiet re- sponse? I read the transmission loud and clear. We were in real trouble. 'fChief, that explosion aft was a torpedo launched from an airplane. Can you be... Explosions, and then more explosions a double blast picked the ship up again, and finally let it settle once more into the mud of Pearl Harbor. This time it was in front, up for- ward, and much closer to us. We knew it was a mortal blow. The ship began to list some more. We could hear the almost human like groans of the straining steel decks again, and could actually feel it sinking. Coming to rest at about a 15 degree position, the Battleship Caljornia sank to the Quarter-deck with me and 13 oth- ers in a sealed compartment. Buried alive. No way to get out. 6'Are we gonna' die here, Chief? said one of the electricians. Hard to tell, Mac. We may be in here for awhile? Ship shaking explosions ripped into the portside of the Calfornia, forward of midships. It tore a 30 foot hole in the 14 inch belt of steel armor that should have offered some degree of protection. It also severed the minimum ar- mor beneath the 14 inches of steel designed to ward off torpedo assaults. There was a moment when it seemed like some almost monstrous unseen hand lifted the ship up in the water. Shaking, straining, and tearing it, with a terrible shock of two more explosions. The mighty ship settled again. At first we thought it was the main battery firing a broadside with all the guns rigged outboard. That doesn't make any sense to me, said the shipfitter, a little short guy about five feet tall, and thin as a rail. Why would we fire big 14 inch 50 caliber main battery? These are guns that can throw 1,000 LB projectiles 35,000 yards. Why fire big guns when only low fly- ing planes are firing at us? Are we firing at an offshore fleet? said Manley from his prone position on the deck. Manley wasn't feeling too good, and it didn't take him long to spread out. There must be a fleet. Otherwise, where did the Japanese planes come from? The short shipfitter quickly responded. There is no way we could be firing the big guns, he said. 4'The shells would have passed by us on this conveyor belt. Nothing has happened in here since we arrived. We dogged everything down. We're hit, and hit hard, the Chief said again. Once aft and twice forward. lt's got to be Japanese torpedoes. I just know it in my bones. Fast upon the realization that explosions hit us some distance forward, we settled back for a breather. We decided the gunners were not firing the main batteries after all. What felt like a third and final torpedo hit the ship deep in the forward section. It simply glided through the 30 foot hole made in the side by the first, and delivered tons of explosive gunpowder into our sensitive inner belly. This is a deduction I made a year later when I saw the yawning black hole on the forward portside of the Calyfornia. The ship, after being floated in its twisted agony, rested in place at Pearl Harbor's 10110 dry dock where we could see the damage that gouged her open on the 7th, From the safety of the dock, we could see what happened to us on that awful day. Within seconds after the torpedo rocked us in the forward part of the ship, the second explosion forward blew up in the inner parts. Another muffied blast blew and braced us from above. Lighter, perhaps, but scary. lt feels like they are pounding us into the mud of the Harbor with a bunch of massive iron coated fists, said a red headed machinist's mate. He towered above us all when he stood straight. 'The last three happened in the space of about eight or ten minutes? The Chief was quick to note. After the second torpedo hit us forward amidships, the voice of the commentator topside at Central came back on the intercom. His voice in the headphones yelled, All hands abandon ship! Abandon ship! Abandon ship, hell,', I thought. What about us here in this compartment four decks below the main deck? A flash of alternatives went through my mind, none of which included staying in that compartment much longer, but there was no way out. Explosions forward of us, and a mixture of oil and water filling up in the compartment aft of us, there was no place to go. Repair four port...remain. Repeat, re- main. Do not...repeat do not break watertight integrity. We'll be back when we can reboard the ship. The words, Abandon Ship, chilled my bones. What was all this about when we can reboard the ship ? My flesh started to crawl around my chest, up my back into the bottom of my neck. Then it crawled all the way back again into the middle of my rectum where it quivered and finally came to a halt. This feel- ing happened two seconds after the abandon ship order. There we were, sealed in a watertight com- partment. The doors tightened both fore and aft. The after compartment from whence we came, tested oil and water. The forward door was sprung a little and leaking a small stream of water. Central Station ordered us to maintain watertight integrity. A contrary state of affairs, buried alive with nothing but fresh air, and the lights still shining. No one in the Repair party knew about the abandon ship order except me, and I didn't feel like saying anything about it with abandon ship orders still ringing in my ears. Central ordered us to maintain our posi- tion. No one showed any signs of anxiety. I was uneasy with my secret, but perfectly willing to wait and see. How could I tell thirteen other guys that we could not leave our battle stations and save ourselves? A quick decision later, I pressed the button for Central, hoping some- one was still on the line. Central, Central, this is Repair four port. Please confirm the last communication. Please confirm...? Repair four port. That is a confirm. We are abandon ship. Remain your battle stations. We will come back for you when we can board ship again. I am leaving now. Then a click, and an unbelievable shock of silence followed. Everyone in the working party held their eyes on me. I could partially imagine what was going through their minds. Hell, I knew what was going through mine. They are changin' position, I reported. Since we changed our position early in the encounter, nothing was strange about Central changing theirs. The crew relaxed a bit and resettled into their otherwise comfortable but somewhat tense positions. No one said anything for awhile. I thought the best we could do is get out of there. It was like an awful dream. I didn't think anything that bad could ever happen to me. There was silence for a few minutes as the ship began to settle into a stable 15 degree port list. The tension ended in an instant. In a frac- tion of a second, disaster struck again, Baaam...a heavy bomb exploded in the midship's hatch above us. This was a muffled explosion from above that slammed us into the mud. Dave Kennedy said to me the next day, Warren, a special working party was passing ammunition, hand to hand, up the midship's hatch from the powder magazine several decks below. The bomb came down the hatch. It ex- ploded, setting off the 5 inch 38 anti-aircraft shells killing the men who were lifting and passing the shells upward to the main deck and the boat deck above that. The splintering ef- fect of the blast plastered bell bottom clad bod- ies against bulkheads, decks, and overheads all the way from the magazine to the boat deck. Buming fuel oil escaping from the ruptured tanks below caught the flame of the explosion A fireball formed and shot through the hatch throwing fiery debris in all directions: up, down, and sideways. It killed, bumed, maimed and plastered everything in its path on bulk- heads nearby Dave and I scraped their burned and mu- tilated bodies off the melted, peeling paint the next day. We scraped them off with putty knives when the clean up work began. Put chunks of burned and blasted flesh and bones in Navy blankets, tied the ends when it was full, and canied it to the main deck above where the burial detail took it to the mainland for an un- marked punch bowl grave. Dave mentioned at the time, f'Man, was I lucky to be in the rec room when it blew. There is no way I could have survived that terrible impact ten feet closer. Fourteen of us, who made up the Four- Port repair crew found ourselves on a torpe- doed and sinking battleship with death and destruction everywhere, bracketed by three torpedoes: one aft, two forward, and a 500 LB bomb bursting above us. We had nothing to do but wait until someone brought relief. We were four decks below the main deck, sealed in by watertight doors. The ship began to shiver and shake like a dog passing razor blades, as she settled deeper into the mud The ole Prune Barge was like a behemoth, a floating steel behemoth, torn and shaken by the fury of battle that caused her to settle un- der fire, mud, and oil-covered debris. Some of that debris still floated in the waters of Pearl Harbor for months and years after. Oil still seeps from the USS Arizona fifty years after the battle, where all of the Arizona Band mem- bers expired in the bowels of the explosion that broke her in two. The Calqfornia groaned and strained at hawsers which held her fast to fox three. The two 50 foot islands of concrete proved their rooted strength for holding fast to a sinking ship. Fire bumed forward, starboard, and heavy on the portside where three torpedoes hit. One followed another forward, and one tore into port the side aft. The second one forward fol- lowed the first, unerringly, almost immediately after the first blast, into the bowels of the ship where it destroyed everything in its path. Explosions broke the watertight seal in our compartment. A mixture of fuel oil and water seeped through a break in the forward door. The smell was awful, like kerosene and burn- ing gunpowder. Manley, breathing fumes seep- ing into the compartment, became very sleepy and stretched out on the steel deck covered by the brick red battleship linoleum. Water and oil licked at his feet and legs as it began to gather along the corner where the deck met the bulkhead. The deck soon became very slippery. It was not easy to slip and skid around on the greasy surface I shook Manley, but he didn't respond. We rolled him up a little higher. When that man sacked out you couldn't wake him. The deck had some slant to it now. We pushed Manley up a little higher to get him out ofthe water and oil. Didn't move him high enough. Water kept coming through space in the lower edge of the forward door. Manley kept slip- ping into it. We wanted to secure the water- tight door, and stop the leak with a dog wrenchg but it didn't work. Others slipped on the deck some more, un- able to get enough leverage to tighten the bend in the steel door caused by the explosion. Mix- tures of water and oil kept coming in, not in a gushing quantity, but enough to let us know our compartment would fill before too long, with us in it. There was no way for us to get out. Nobody said much. One shipfitter striker, an unrated apprentice, found a guitar under the conveyor belt, and began to strum a few chords. He was skilled enough to get our attention. Music broke the silence, and we even sang a few choruses of f'You are my sunshinef' ZERo ATTACK by Marvin B. Graham One aftemoon we had just set condition Zebra-Easy, which meant we could open any hatch marked with Z or E. I could hear an air attack going on topside and just could not help going up to see it. When I came topside I was standing on the starboard quarter deck watching a Japanese plane flying low over the water heading our way. He just kept coming but so much flak was going at him I knew he could not make it to us. I could see 5 shells hit the water in front of him and even see steam from his engine when he flew through the water thrown up by the shells. I decided maybe I had better be someplace else. So I went around the super structure, pulled on my flash gear and leaned or. Ester ffl. l was looking at the big til on the boat I looked down and saw the little uteel cove Bible sent to me by my grandmother I tnougn l was safe as could be but w hen l sam that I'5i'ii: I yelled loudly 'Runfl As l ran through 'ne hatch to safety in the super structure I near.. the plane explode and saw firejust behind me That was lesson number one on how, 3 stay on your battle station and keep your none out of air attacks. I later went back out to the quarter deck after things were squared avi ay. I could not believe the big til on the lifeboat was bloxerr away, leaving only a large hole. I had no idea to yell and run till I looked at my Bible, and Ilm smart enough to know who made me do itg to this day I still praise ine Lord for saving my life. It was a very exciting time for a teenager from Missouri. TORPEDO HIT by John W Burden I was in the shipfitter shop on the third deck portside when the torpedo hit. All void covers had been removed so compartments could air out for inspection on Monday. Water gushed into the shop andl was up to my knees by the time I reached the door. The force of the water helped me pull the water-tight door shut. I dogged it down although the water pres- sure from the other side was sealing it tightly I immediately went to my damage control sta- tion on the starboard side and had my party start opening the flood valves for counter flood- ing. The ship came slowly back toward an even keel and settled down in the mud with a list of five degrees and 20 minutes. While we were doing this the ship had been hit by bombs. One large one hit on the armored deck right above us. Smoke was everywhere and everything was a mess. u. I9-13-1946 USS C'r1liforr1ir1 f?lP.XflIAQ Imni. lt'i'1ii1'rmjx'of'tI!,vtfr' Sg'lIfg'!',N'vl L l l' 'X MJMM. -Gr Q mf, Y! uCII'0S.S'IiIlg the Line HC.'6I'6I7ZlNIj' aboard the California. lC0urtesy of Captain B. V Burrowsl We carried the injured and dead to the quarter deck. As soon as possible they would be taken to the Naval Base. Many were saved from compartments where they were trapped and had to be cut out with acetylene torches. Late in the day when nothing more could be done. those of us who were still aboard were ordered to swim to Ford Island. The water was covered with burning oil, but tug boats used fire hoses to make a path for us to swim through. Rumors were all about that the Japa- nese were going to attack during the night. We were all issued BAR's lBrowning Automatic Riflesl and spent the night waiting in the dark- ness. During the night a flight of planes came in and we fired on them as did many others, with some being hit. They turned out to be our own carrier-based planes that ignored orders and came in on the wrong vector. REMEMBRANCES by Albert G. Melville It was the summer of l94 l, I can't remem- ber the exact date. I guess I was in the last group of rookie sailors from the San Diego Training Station to go aboard the Califorizia for duty. There was about 20 of us, I think. My memory of the event is very sketchy, at best, since all of this happened over a half a century ago. We all wore undress whites and we carried our sea bag and hammock all rolled up together on our shoulders. We boarded a 50 foot launch lsent out from the Californiaj and headed out into Long Beach Harbor. We were all full ofantici- pation and hope that we would not mess up getting on hoard. We knew we had to salute the flag and then the UD. and ask for permis- sion to come aboard. We pulled up to the accommodation lad- der, which looked like a polished mahogany staircase hooked up to the side of the ship. There was a landing at the bottom and thc top. The steps were about three feet wide. The rail- ing also seemed to be highly polished ma- hogany with all the fittings of bright brass. It was beautiful. I remember wondering if I would be able to carry my gear up and do all the necessary things without messing up. I felt much better standing on the quarter-deck wait- ing to be assigned my duty and division. I was assigned to the First Division which was lo- cated on the starboard Crightj bow and turret No. one. The deck was so clean, I think you could eat off of it. All of the general instructions, such as when to eat, when to be in a clean uniform of the day, reville, and taps, etc. were preceded by a bugle call. Each being different and very colorful. We prided ourselves on knowing what each call signified. Most of the crew slept in hammocks, only petty officers had cots. We ate family style and always at the same table with the same people. We lived out of our sea bags, not out of a locker. This routine was part of the old Navy. It seemed as though the rook- ies stood all the undesirable watches. I think 90'Zi of my watches were stood at night which left all day to work. Cf course, as part of the deck crew my jobs included scraping paint, painting, washing the decks and so forth. On the day of infamy, Dec. 7, l94l, I was on the 4:00 to 8:00 a.m. watch. That meant I was relieved after general mess was over. So I was asked to help clean up the mess with the mess cook. He went to the galley to get warm chow, I went to the garbage scow with a tu- reen ofgarbage from our mess table. The Cali- fornia was tied up to a key at Ford Island. The garbage scow was on our portside about midships. Our mess station was one deck be- low the maindeck, close to midship. As I was dumping the garbage, looked across the har- bor and watched a plane drop a bomb on the Ogalala, which was tied up at Maryls point across the channel from us. I only saw a black plane, but I knew it was a Japanese plane. tlt was common knowledge aboard ship that we would be at war with Japan before the year was out.J Just about the time I saw the bomb drop, general quarters was sounded, followed by the announcement this is no drill! . I don't know why but I took the tureen back to the mess table and headed for my battle station. My battle sta- tion was the magazine handling room for tur- ret irl . There were about a dozen of us, includ- ing one officer. Shortly after we arrived, we felt a jolt and the ship listed to the portside. We felt another jolt and started drawing water through the ventilating system. I remember the officer in charge estimated we were drawing in about 120 gallons a minute. The water was up to our waists when we tried to lift the hatch, with no luck. We had been jamming clothes into the openings, again with no luck. By the time the water and oil was about up to our arm- pits, someone opened the hatch and we were able to get out. When we reached topside we heard gun- fire and explosions. I headed for the port case- ment guns looking for a friend of mine, Billy Santo. We were both from the same area, joined the Navy at the same time and came aboard together and usually went on liberty together. We were both pretty good swimmers and had often talked about diving off the bow of the ship. We ran into each other about mid-ship and since the order had been given to abandon ship, we both thought this was an ideal time to dive off the bow. So we didjust that. The only problem was that there was about ll4 inch of heavy oil on top of the water, so when we came up we were dark-skinned people. We swam to the shore. Billy and I headed for the Ford Is- land boat dock where we knew they had a gas pump so we could wash the oil off of ourselves. I remember there was still some machine gun fire from the enemy planes and some tracer bullets came close to us. We made our way, I think, to an officer's club where they had past- ries and coffee for everyone and anyone, where we were told we could get clean clothes over at the hangar that had not been destroyed. We crossed the field and were issued clothes. We were also able to wash and take a bath. At that time they had me fill out a postcard that was preprinted with statements to be checked off. We were to sign it and address it, and leave it: It was to be mailed home, but my mother never received it. I had cut my knee, I don't know where or when, but since it didn't seem serious, I never had it cared for. We returned to our ship. Mon- day morning I was put in a working party that went below decks and helped bring dead bod- ies out, open up passageways and generally try to clean things up. It wasn't easy, the ship was still listing about l0 or 15 degrees to the port and down by the bow. We were able to eat at Ford Island in the main building. On the 9th of Decemberl was offered a job in a boat crew to help clean up the harbor, pick up trash, wood, bodies, clothing or anything that was in the harbor. By the l0th, my leg was hurting me and I decided to limp a little. As time went on. it got worse. By the morning of the l2th, I needed help to walk. So I was sent to the Na- val hospital at Pearl Harbor. I filled out another one of those postcards, dated Dec. 12, 1941. My mother got that one around Christmas time, but she had already been notified that I had been killed. They fixed me up and I was able to get out on the 19th. I put in for the first ship out to fight the Japanese. That ship was the Salt Lake Ciry. So ended my short but unfor- gettable experience on the USS Calyfornia 544. ABOARD THE CGN-36 by Murray Penhollow Early in 1993, I had the opportunity to go aboard the USS Calnfornia CGN-36, for an eight day trip. This included a few days in the operation area and then up the coast to their Home'Port, Bremerton, Washington. As we passed the San Diego entrance buoy Captain Ray A. Wallace got on the horn and announced they had passengers aboard includ- ing a crew member of the Battleship Calyfor- nia BB44. He gave the crew my name, retired rank and further stated I had been on the Battle- ship when it was sunk in Pearl Harbor. He ended by stating that he was sure I would be glad to talk to anyone about my duties and ex- perience. Believe me the only time I was alone on that trip was when I was in my stateroom and I enjoyed every minute of the attention. USS Calnfornia CGN-36 is a Nuclear Powered Guided Missile Cruiserg they allowed me to go anywhere except the power plant. They let me take the helm, fire some of the guns and join in the operations. Being an ex- signalman they encouraged me to send and receive semaphore and light. I was amazed at how much of that ability I had retained. I went aboard May 31, 1993, and our arrival in Bremerton June 8th came too soon. I will never forget Capt. Wallace, his officers and men. On December 6th the Executive Officer Cmdr. Hamilton called. They had learned the Morning Colors had been delayed Dec. 7, 1941, by the attack on Pearl Harbor and they planned to reenact that ceremony on their ship December 7, and asked me to participate. I was honored. A BRIEF ACCOUNT by Ervin O. Schmidt A brief account of what happened to me before, during and after the attack. The USS Calbfornia is tied up at Fox 3 Ford Island. It is 7:55 a.m. A shipmate, Herb Curtiss, and I are about ready to go to Hono- lulu on liberty, first to church service then to Waikiki beach for the day. The band comes rushing in from the quarter deck, We are be- ing machine gunned, Battle Stationsf' This is no drill!! The klaxon is going, sailors rushing to their battle stations, a torpedo slams into us as the klaxon is still going, all the lights go out, we turn on some battle lamps. Oil starts coming into our compartment, another sailor and I start dogging down the covers to the oil tanks that were uncovered for admirals inspec- tion to be held on Monday. Everyone from our we r- It M ' V., ' . f C, V t . - . wif lf .. Rv ' L P 7 A' , .H 'I 'fn '1 Q B' . , , Z qfawlls 'V fl . saw I 'BEARS BL 2 I f V -P5495 4 X f if ' .var I Q , r VVVVV X ' f . , ,g if If - V, f Q fm 0 , V m,,,,,,,11-,'- .aw f L' , '- 'A wwf' V a ' I , ' 'WW df ' M' ,ai . raw The CalU'ornia 's 1939 baseball team in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. lCourresy of Earl Nelzl. ,I compartment is passing out from the oil fumes. Another torpedo explodes, the ship starts list- ing to port rapidly. I wake up on an upper deck hearing 4'Abandon Ship repeated over and over. Other sailors coming from other compartments car- ried 22 of us out. I can see all this oil on the water and fire sweeping down the channel from the Arizona. I stay aboard rather than swim to Ford Island. It is now about 9:00 a.m., I help pass fire extinguishers to the ships office that was hit by a 500 pound bomb. A new wave of planes is coming in. I get three sailors to go with me to the 37 magazine near the keel of the ship, we each pick a box of 4-37 shells weighing about 135 lbs and head for my secondary battle station above the bridge. Ilm the pointer on this 3l' anti-aircraft gun. We fire off ll rounds, no hits. These are the last Japanese planes we four sailors see over the base. I spend the rest of the day in- specting compartments and dogging shut all hatches. I spend the night in a hangar on Ford Island. I am wakened by a terrific barrage of anti-aircraft firing at planes coming in from one of our carriers. We are positive the Japa- nese have returned and are invading the is- land. CAt least four or five of our planes were shot down.j Later I leamed my parents had received a telegram of my death and it was two weeks later that they heard otherwise. Epilog: About five days later, 150 of us Calnfornia sailors were taken aboard the USS Chicago CA-293 a fast, heavy, 8 gun cruiser. We dashed out of Pearl Harbor about 1 200 a.m. I did not get back to Pearl until April of 1943. By then I had volunteered for submarine duty aboard the USS Saury SS 189. Cmdr. Drop was my skipper for the next five war patrols. our Exec. was W. Hazzard. After the 4th war pa- trol and a two week rest period at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, I was given leave and travel- ing orders for new construction to Portsmouth, NH, Navy Yard to commission the USS lin-slr SS423. Our 2nd patrol was in the Sea of Japan with a wolf pack of three other submarines. We sank four ships on this patrol run. I was on the S.J. radar in the conning tower when we sank two of Tojo's 780 ton submarine defense vessels the night of Aug. 14. 19-15. in the Sea of Japan, the 3rd sub Chaser decided to head for the far horizon. My ship. the Torsk. fired the last torpedoes of WWII. We had been sub- jected to some very heavy depth charging by these two vessels. I give credit to the Good Lord, our skipper Cmdr. B.E. Lewellen and our Exec. Roy Werthmuller who made some very decisive and timely evasive decisions in this last encounter with the enemy. SEA SToRY by James R. Wzndiver It was in early December 194-1. The USS Caljornia, since its return to the Pacific War Theater in June. had successfully engaged the Japanese at Saipan. Guam. Tinian. Leyte Gulf. and the naval battle at Surigao Strait. It had been a busy five months when the ship and crew were given a short respite to catch its breath and add a few coats of new paint. The anchorage chosen was in the Palau Island chain just off the island ofBabelthauap. The Marines were winding up a successful campaign and had secured air fields nearby. It had not been deemed necessary to wrest the .Japanese from all of the islands and atolls but simply to iso- late them and make their presence there redun- dant. Evidently there were several Japanese still on Babelthauap who did 1101 haye the full ap- preciation forthe American strategy. Seeing a sizable American fleet anchored nearby. they gathered some of their better swimmers with the intent to swim out with parcels of explo- sives forthe purpose of blowing holes in the hulls of as many ships as possible. They suc- ceeded in doing some minor damage but w ere viewed more as a nuisance than a major threat. It was in this setting that I was interrupted one Sunday nioming while playing bridge in the crew quarters by a sergeant who didn't like me very much and who l despised. Get your ntle. Yandiy ier you are going out in a motor whale boat to shoot and blow up an oil drum which may be a booby trap with explosives inside. he ordered. Why me. I asked. hold- ing the best card hand l had seen all morning and thinking grand slam. The conversation ended quickly and I got my rifle. The ocean swells were rolling and quite substantial. The boat rocked up and down as we approached the oil drum which I was to blast out of the water with my M-l rifle. We circled the barrel looking for smoother water as I tried to load the magazine into the rifle but. for reasons unknown, could not get it in. The Navy officer aboard looked at me curi- ously but I assured him, no problem, as I slipped a single bullet out ofthe magazine and slipped it into the chambers. By this time the boat was rocking up and down and had moved around to position the oil drum between us the USS Calnfornia. One shot. That's all I had in the rifle and didn't much want to reload. When I took aim at the oil drum the rocking of the boat had me sighting the admirals bridge one moment and 25 yards below the target a sec- ond or two later. 0.K., I decided. Illl fire on the downward swell just as I sight the top of the oil drum, it was a perfect shot. The bullet en- tered just below the water line and the barrel ta harmless oil drumj slithered to the bottom of the sea. Nice shot said the relieved en- sign. Thanks , I replied. Back aboard ship, expecting congratula- tions from all hands, I was greeted instead by a threatened court martial. It seems the admi- ral was on the bridge watching this display of marksmanship when he suddenly realized that the rifle was pointed right at him. He was not a happy admiral nor did he express even the slightest appreciation that we may have saved his damn ship. Such is War. LEYTE as .weft by LI. UG! R. Sutrler written by WD. Fuhriman On the 15th of October, 1944, the USS California shoved off from a censored island base in company with the largest task force ever assembled in the Southwest Pacific. Over one hundred major combatant vessels, aircraft car- riers, battleships, cruisers and destroyers, not only covered the entire visible ocean but many of them were hull down on the horizon. The potential might of this formation was probably as great as half the Japanese first-line Navy and yet it was barely on-fifth of the full Ameri- can Fleet. Little wonder the United States con- trol the Pacific Ocean from the gusty shoals of Tasmania to the misty peaks of Attu, and from the arched span of the Golden Gate Bridge al- most to the very spires of Japan. The mission of this force, the Seventh Fleet under the command of Vice Admiral Kinkaid, was to support General MacArthur's reoccupation of the Philippines. Leyte Island, where the initial landing was to be made, is midway along the archipelago between Mindanao in the south and Luzon in the north. Maps indicated it was 115 miles long and 40 miles wide, and characterized by numerous broad valleys and rugged mountain peaks. At least eight air fields were located on the island of which six were operational by the Japanese. As to the other Japanese installations which had to be destroyed before the invasion, intel- ligence was also good. As we steamed toward our objective, we realized this was not only the most gigantic operation yet attempted in the Pacific, but its successful execution would be the most deci- sive of the war. For the Philippines sit squarely astride the Japanese's sea lanes to her stolen southern empire of Java, Borneo, Sumatra and Singapore. Our recapture of our former pos- Chel Lana' and friends. l945. fC0urtc'.s'y IUfCl'1f'fLC1l1l'.j session would be like cutting the branch on which these rich territories are the fruitg inevi- tably they must wither and die. Furthermore, with our land-based planes in great force on these islands, the invasion of the China coast, should it come, would never be in doubt. Like- wise, we would be able to strike devastating blows at Formosa and the island chain up to Japan itself. Finally, the land mass of the Phil- ippines would be an ideal base for the tremen- dous quantities of military equipment we will fall heir to in the Pacific after Germany is de- feated and with which we can conclusively set the Rising Sun. Therefore, this seemed like the great ffBattle of the Pacificgl' the prelude of historyg a moment in history. Undoubtedly, the Japanese knew this. All indications pointed to heavy opposition. We were told to expect every type of armament that could be launched against a naval force. From the many nearby air fields could come hordes of Japanese planesg Leyte Gulf, which we had to enter, would surely be mined, PT boats could swarm out of the innumerable coves and estuariesg submarines were always a threat, finally, the Imperial Fleet might at last make a belated but ferocious appearance. As every officer on the Calqfornia said to his men, after briefing them on the operation, Fellows, we can anticipate and probably will get, the Woiks! Yet we had not been out one day when it was apparent the ship was jittery. There was a prevailing premonition, a hunch as vivid and illusive as a drama, that this vessel would not get through the operation unscathed. One could see it in the way men gathered in groups and talked softly, one could feel it in the tautness of the watches, in the moments of silence at the dinner table, in the self-tortuous way scuttlebutt spread that the Japanese were wait- ing for us in great force. I think the weather had something to do with this uneasiness. The skies had been ashen and overcast for several days, fitful squalls and a creeping fray mist shrouded the ship. No one came topside for a breath of air or a look to the horizon. We were cooped up in our narrow compartments, the men piled one on each other like boxes in a warehouse and all of us were a prey for bad mmors and apprehension. I must confess I was scared too. This was my sixth invasion and never had I felt so inse- cure. I couldn't seem to get hold of myself. Usually I had an enthusiastic interest in these operations, for this one I felt a morbid curios- ity bordering on fatalism. Yet I would not have missed it for anythingg if I had had the oppor- tunity to turn back, I would not have accepted it tthough thank God no alternative existedj. For not only was this an historical expedition, but it had the personal significance for me that in the danger I might find myself. I wanted to conquer fear, I wanted to control my shivering instincts, I wanted to face the Great Death and discover that, after all, it was only the Great Deathg in short, I knew I was a coward and I wanted to prove to myself that I was not. On the 17th of October the sea tumed ex- tremely rough. A strong wind of fifty knots whipped the froth off the white caps into a drenching spray. Powerful thirty foot waves slugged at the ship, crashing over the forecastle and streaming out the hawse-pipes in cascad- ing rivulets. The steady whine of the gale shrieked like a tormented soul as this huge vessel crushed against its imponderable body. Yet for all the violence of the storm, the tem- perature was mild and to me, from the north, that seemed strange. The battleships weathered the seas rather effortlessly but the destroyers plunged in and out of the waves like drowning dogs, one mo- ment perched on the peak of a swell, the next skidding into the trough. After taking a beat- ing all moming, their division commander had to radio, For God's sake slow downg our men aren't getting paid for submarine duty. During the aftemoon of the 17th a num- ber of Japanese planes hovered fifty or sixty miles from our formation, sometimes closing to about fifteen. These were Hsnoopersi' shad- owing us like vultures across the sea. We had been discoveredg now any kind of surprise at- tack was possible for snooping, is the Japanese's overture to action. The next day we were to enter Leyte Gulf and commence the invasion bombardment. On the morrow we realized an operation would start that nobody could foretell its outcome. It seemed amazing to me that evening as I sat in the quiet of my stateroom writing what I hoped would not be a last letter home that in twelve hours this ship could be a rubbles and I could be dead. I knew then that nobody can project his life two minutes into the future, that during our existence on this earth nothing is absolutely predictable before it happens, that events are only inevitable after they happen. However, as often occurs to hypochon- driacal people, despite the apprehension with which I awoke on the moming of the 18th, there was not the fearful Armageddon I expected. Instead it was an exhausting futile day. We were at our battle stations fifteen hours through a blistering hot sun and a dark treacherous night. Enemy planes and surface crafts were reported every ten minutes at all bearing and rangesg we would alert our gun crews and stand-by, but nothing happened. Most of the contacts turned out friendlyg a few were absurd like this one: Unidentified plane approaching forma- tion. No, it's a ship. Wait it's showing recogni- tion signals. Hold on, it's not a plane, it's not a ship, it is landf, We laid off Leyte Gulf most of the day because of a saturation of mines in the chan- nel between Dinagat and Homonhom. CThese islands, incidentally, had been captured by the Anny Rangers the day before in a brilliant sur- prise landing.J In the morning a twenty per- cent sweep had revealed thirty-seven of them. Nevertheless, at dusk we started through Surigao Strait. It was a tense, ticklish trip like tight-rope walking over a pit full of cobras. We encountered several minesg one of them, cut by our paravanes, exploded less than a hun- dred yards from the ship. After three long, sus- penseful hours all the ships at last arrived safely inside the gulf. That evening we heard the report of Task Force 38's battle with the Japanese Fleet off Formosa. The results seemed fantastic but were undoubtedly true: 30 Japanese ships were sunk, over 300 planes shot down at an insignificant loss to us. Previously, Tokyo Rose, the famous female commentator who made the Baron Munchausen sound like a disciple of Diogenes, had claimed the Japanese had destroyed 10 of our carriers, 5 battleships and l,l00 planes. Admiral Halsey's communique in reply to the Japanese assertion was, Our sunken ships and downed planes have been salvaged and are re- tiring toward the enemyf, This brings to mind his famous dispatch last September after hit- ting the first tremendous blows at the Philip- pines, f'We socked them so hard the Japanese just stood around and hissedg when we get through with them, they won't even have a place to hiss onf, On A minus One Day COctober 193 the war ships of the Seventh Fleet commenced the bombardment of Leyte. All morning, aftemoon and evening the great guns pounded in the most sustained firing I had ever seen. Selected Japa- nese installations were the targets, but by dark the whole island seemed wreathed in smoke. That morning a strange-shaped out-rigger canoe paddled alongside one of our patrol crafts. In it were some American and Filipino guerrillas who had been on the island for years. They said the Japanese, of which there were 25,000 on Leyte, had fled to the mountains, that there were no aircraft on the island, and that the guerrillas were well organized and waiting for the landing with every confidence of success. However, the under-water demoli- tion teams, that brave group of men who remove obstructions from the invasion boat lanes, had no easy time of it: one killed and sixteen wounded by machine gun fire from the beach. In the afternoon four Japanese dive bomb- ers attacked a U.S. mine-sweep. Our air patrol shot down one and also sank a number of Japa- nese PT boats in the estuaries of the gulf. Thus though A minus One Day had been rather uneventful, we tumbled into our bunks completely beat out. The pounding concussion of the big guns for twelve hours made our heads feel like the targets of a H3-throws-for-a-dime side-show. A-Day: October 20, 1944: We went to General Quarters at 0400. It was a beautiful starlit morning and for the first time I identi- fied Canopus, the second brightest star in the heavens. As the rising sun spread its striped pink rays across the sky, reports came in of Japanese planes in the vicinity. The first we saw of them was on our port beamg we tracked them across our bow and just as two of them released their bombs on a cruiser Cand missedj, we opened fire with our 5',. The shooting was erratic even though the planes were on a steady course and they got away. As the dawn's light sifted through the mist of Leyte Gulf, we could see the tremendous fleet of transports and amphibious crafts of all descriptions forming for the invasion. The larger ships were loading men and material into the ducks, buffaloes and alligators, and all of these curiously practical boats, when filled, commenced circling around and around their mother ship in a fantastic war dance. At 0630 the bombardment of the landing beaches began. Every war ship in the gulf belched its flaming steel onto the sullen shores of Leyte lsland. Booming, authoritative 14 , walloping cruiser 6 and 8 , the sharper crack- ing 5 blended into a deafening Marsation symphony. As How-Hour approached the tempo quickened, louder and faster. By 0930 it had intensified to a world-shaking holocaust, flooding the gulf with canyons of sound. The ships looked ablaze as they spat their fiery venom at the beach which now rolled and rumbled under this tremendous barrage. We topside were mauled by the typhoon of con- cussion. Over-head an air strike of more than 500 planes added their bombs of destruction. Un- der this terrific detonation, their wakes like rip- pling silver bands beneath the heavy clouds of gun smoke, the landing crafts formed their line of departure and streamed toward the beach. The invasion was on! This was the most cru- cial, exciting moment. The boats were 500 yards off-shore, loaded to the gunwales with scared, dry-mouthed men, perfect targets for hidden Japanese batteries. Would they get through? The line advanced through the breakwa- ter. The bombarding, which had reached a cre- scendo, suddenly ceased. The leading boat scraped the bottomg the troops dashed down the ramp, raced across the beach into the first available cover. More and more men piled ashore, shooting their Mark One's at any sus- picious foliage. Am-tracks wallowed onto land like awkward rhinoceroses and rumbled for- ward. Unloaded boats wiggled off the beach and churned back to the LST,s for more men. An organization was set up, a beachmaster started directing traffic and the flow of sup- pliesg the shore fire control party made radio contact with the ships and began designating targets. In less than ten minutes hundreds of Yanks had swarrned ashore to regain their cap- tured possession. Only slight resistance op- posed the landing. I saw a few mortar shells fall among the LCI's but the batteries were quickly silenced. Twenty minutes after the first boat touched the sands of the Philippine Islands an American flag was flying from a coconut tree. It gave us all a thrill. Shortly afterward. we learned from a radio report that a Filipino girl had met the soldiers on the beaches and told them the Japanese had fled to the moun- tains. All day long men and supplies landed as the Army widened its beach-head but seemed in no hurry to push forward. Leyte was too large to be conquered by the usual slashing Marine attacks. The soldiers would first get all their equipment and troops ashore and then start methodically occupying the island in ac- cordance with normal infantry tactics. Late in the afternoon of A-Day enemy planes were reported approaching the area. As dusk settled over the gulf. the reports increased: Unidentified planes bearing 090. 30 miles: planes at 095, 25 miles: aircraft at ll0. l5 miles, closing. Enemy formations splitting up. keep a sharp look-out in all sectors. Suddenly anti-aircraft fire opened up on the starboard u, -Q82 'wi' 1-Q -4. 'N 'G-.tv lfsgx in . w., .wil .,,, vas, 'K 955' quarter: red tracers arched into darkening sky, 5 inch burst probed the black. Just as suddenly it ceased the night grew blacker. Reports con- tinued of planes on all bearings. The lookouts saw tive twin-engined bombers going aft. Fir- ing blazed out again and then quit. A contact was made on the port beam and the transports fired dead ahead. A cruiser commenced laying a smoke screen around the formation. The dark- ness deepened and the topside gun crews tried to push it away as if it were a shroud. Planes were sighted on the starboard bow and then lost in the smoke. A 20mm traced a red pencil dash across the sky. Aircraft droned overhead. The suspense was heart-freezing. A trigger- happy ship fired and frightened eyes groped for the target. Now a long creepy silence with every muscle tense, suddenly a growl and lash of gun fire and silence again. It was like fight- ing rattlesnakes in a closet. In the middle of the tension came the re- port of a submarine in the gulf. We held our breath. Hardly anyone spoke. Was this it? Manned and ready at our battle stations, we waited. Suddenly a crash behind me! My heart leaped to my throat. 'fWhat the hell was that?M Someone laughed. I tumed on him. HWhat's so funny, mate? He pointed to a steel helmet which had fallen from the bridge three decks above. Then I smiled too Calbeit rtrefullyj at the incongruity of the incident-with the en- emy all about us, I almost got my head smashed by a quartermaster's carelessness. At 2300 we finally secured, exhausted af- ter being at our battle stations eighteen hours for the third successive day. As we left Sky Forward Canti-aircraft control platformj, Lt. Tony Gasperino of Butte, Montana, said, Now all that has to happen is for us to run aground and get a gopher contact. We've had every other kind of a report. A-Plus One-Day COct. 215: The General Alarm hurled us out of our bunks at 0430. 'fFlash Redf - enemy planes in the gulf, Con- trol Yellowv fire on all aircraft, none of ours in the vicinity. Men were at their stations, power motors on, nervous fingers tickling the firing keys. Unidentified planes contacted astern. Occasionally machine gun tracers lashed like a fiery tongue in the sky. Gradually the stars dimmed as the glow of the east filtered across the heavens. Considerable ack-ack fire broke out among the transports, since that area was cov- ered with a dense smoke screen, the shell flashes looked like flames licking out of a tall building. Suddenly, on the portside, a torpedo plane streaked toward the ship. The 40s and 20s opened with a staccato snarl. The plane came barreling through the barrage, tracers lashing at it like forked lightning, it banked to the left as hundreds of projectiles poured into the fuselage. It crashed in flames off our port bow. Oh the thrill! the lust! the blood surging fury! Kill! Kill! Kill! Good God, what savages we are! How strong the instinct to kill. Having scented blood with what barbaric joy do we rend our victim apart. Civilized man -the bunk. The brute is in all of us and in times like that it comes out with bared fangs. Shakespeare and academic culture vanish like water on a hot griddle. We are beasts! beasts! beasts! The sooner we realize it the better, the quicker we recognize that civilization is a veneer and man's action can often best be explained by his pri- mordial instincts, the more accurately will we solve our problems. Mind you, it was not bestial to shoot down the Japanese attacking us. That was self-pres- ervation and understandable even in cultural man. But to get such joy out of it, to hear the bloodthirsty shouts go through the ship as the plane hit the water, that was the true savagery and not a jot different from our Caveman an- cestors racing toward their prey with brutish growls. All the rest of A-Plus-One-Day we con- tinued to bombard the beach and at night we fired star shell to illuminate and harass the en- emy. American troops and material poured ashore in tremendous quantities. The Army started to advance inland and captured one air field. In the afternoon we could hear the rumble of artillery, indicating the soldiers were really beginning to roll. Actually, however, it was amazing how little information we did get conceming devel- opments on the beach. There we were, a few thousand yards off the shores of the Philippine Islands, an important cog in the entire opera- tion, yet dependent for our news on radio broadcasts from Australia and San Francisco. Incredible! At dusk we again went to General Quar- ters as Flash Red was reported. The night dropped softly about us, a platinum ring moon cast a ghostly glow over the sea. We waited and groped in the same tense fashion. Once we heard a plane roar overhead, the transports sporadically spurted beads of tracers across the sky. Generally, however, it was quiet and spooky. As I leaned against a director shield, Poe's lines seemed so appropriate: Deep into the darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, dreaming, Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dare to dream before, And the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token And the only word there spoken was the whispered word Lenoref' The next day was Sunday, the 22nd. As usual the Japanese came again. However, they could not seem to marshal enough bombers for full scale attack, doubtlessly because of the terrific pasting our fast carrier groups were giv- ing their airfields all over the Philippines. They came in five and ten plane raids, mainly it ap- peared for reconnaissance purposes, though they always managed to unload a few calling cards. That morning I saw a Japanese Val dive through a blanket barrage of AA fire, drop its bombs and whish off to the west. It missed badly as do most of the Japanese planes on dive attacks. They are better on torpedo runs but fellows who know say their accuracy even here has fallen off considerably since the beginning of the war. Our airmen also have noticed that the Japanese are easier to shoot down and at- tribute it to their badly trained, inexperienced pilots. Apparently, in the air, if no other place in the war, the personal equation is still an im- portant factor. The rest of the moming Leyte Gulf was as peaceful as a summer resort out of season. The large ships rocked lazily in the stream, under-way with no way on. Smaller landing crafts and messenger boats occasion- ally sped by like gnats on a pond. The island looked green and fertile in the distance and there was little indication of the fighting de- veloping there. Off to the starboard a cruiser or battleship infrequently lobbed a salvo onto the beach. We could see the flashes for a half a minute before we heard the muffled roar. Large groups of our planes winged to and fro across the sky on bombing missions deep into the in- terior. Church call sounded melodiously over the bay and every ship hoisted the white and blue pennant. It was Sunday morning, even here in the midst of the war one could feel the Sab- bath quiet settling on the earth. In the evening we went to General Quar- ters as naturally as the commuters take the 5: 10 home. Almost as soon as we were manned and ready, a tremendous barrage of tracers illumi- nated off our port beam. The metaphor a cur- tain of fire is hackneyed, but that is exactly what it looked like, a brilliant red-beaded tap- estry in the sky. The shooting swung around to our port bow and then Gunner's Mate Carl Izzi of Worchester, Massachusetts, saw what ap- peared like a buming plane heading toward the ship. I gave the command to commence firing and we added our tracers to the spectacular display of the night. The aircraft seemed to hit the water off our starboard bow, bounced up again and finally sunk as the light went out. Later, down in the wardroom, I learned what had really happened. The plane had dropped its bombs on a cruiser Cmissedj, then it strung out a light on a tow line and went zooming across the formation, drawing thou- sands of rounds of AA fire. Over the tip of the island, off our starboard bow, it dropped the light and flew laughingly home. One of the communicators Cwith his tongue in his cheek reported the Japanese to have radioed, Prune Barge, Yoo Hoo, Prune Barge, do you want me to make another run?', On the 23rd the Japanese reappeared in the dawning, as regularly as the milk man. There was much ack-ack but no hits. Some- times it seems as impossible for a plane to pass through such a barrage as it is to dodge rain drops in a storm, but they do. I suppose there is a lot of spacein the sky. However, a point must here be noted. Though the Japanese get away is no indication that the anti-aircraft fir- ing was in vain. The mission of a ship in a raid is to prevent itself from being hit. AA shoot- ing is designed more to break up the attack and to scare the aircraft into dropping their bombs early and inaccurately than to bring them down. Occasionally we do bag a plane and that is a matter of great pride. But the fact that the ship is still undamaged despite the numerous attacks is also a tribute to our accuracy and effective- ness. I In a way AA firing is an extremely excit- ing game. The Japanese pilot has the ball and is trying to drop it on the ship. Our purpose is to prevent him by either tuming him away or shooting him down. Anything goes and each side endeavors to outsmart the other. The Japa- nese have many tricks of which that light on the towline was only oneg others dive out of a cloud or down from the sun, releasing flares on one bearing to attract attention and attack- ing from another direction, and many more which cannot yet be told. We have to keep thinking to stay ahead of themg we must an- ticipate their maneuvers and act to block their attack. For example during the day we keep our guns trained into the sung we divide the ship's guns into sectors with a control officer in charge so all our fire will not be concen- trated on one bearing, we maneuver violently through the water when planes are attackingg finally, our various caliber AA guns provide a defense in depth which makes a fiery gauntlet to run. As a result far far more planes are shot down than ever get through to score a hit. However, despite the percentages, the stakes are high-death and defeat to the loserg destruction of the enemy and in the end vic- tory for the winner. The competition is stiff: the steadier eye, the more vigilant lookout and the sharper spur-of-the-moment thinking spells success. It is a red-blooded man's sport-the most fascinating in the world. During the rest of the 23rd the Calyfarnia continued to bombard the island. However, we on the ship never saw the splashes as they were falling deep inland. In the aftemoon General MacArthur made a speech. There was a band and much fanfare. He spoke from the steps of a marble court house and in a grandiose manner declared, I have decreed all Japanese law in the Philip- pines Islands abolished. I have liberated the Filipinos, our little brown brothers. While he orated, sweating soldiers a mile away cut through the jungle, charged up the hills, died in the swamps. Not the bemedalled commander, beloved of the throne Marching cock-horse to parade when the bugle is blown, But the lads who carry the koppie and can- not be known. Though the Japanese returned in the evening, there was little shooting. However, some sudden flashes on the beach had us puzzled until Seaman Robert Benson from Baltimore, cracked, Hell, do you know what that is, it's the photographers still taking Dug- Out Doug's picture. In the moming of the 24th the Japanese attacked three times with more planes and with greater ferocity than in any of the previous raids. This time they scored hits on a Liberty ship and an LCI. This living in danger and under constant pressure of attack bred a certain detached atti- tude toward life. It was as if we could not quite believe the real us was being involved. I kept getting the feeling I was watching myself do- ing things as if I were another person. Maybe it was because I was so damned tired the con- sciousness of self was atrophied. At any rate, I know that even now as I write this, I have to dig hard to remember. What I supposed were the most vivid impressions are dusky shadows in my mind. During the actions the essential me seemed to be someplace else, a guy named Joe took over. I imagine that is why fellows back from the front can tell so little of what actually happened to them, they simply were not there-really. Ever since we arrived in Leyte Gulf, ru- mors had been current that elements of the imperial Navy were in the vicinity. For a week Task Force 38 had been playing hide and seek with them among the innumerable Philippine Island straits. Therefore, nobody was surprised when in the aftemoon of the 24th a message was received from Vice Admiral Kinkaid that engagement with surface units of the Japa- nese Fleet is imminent tonight. Chancing to be on watch when the word was passed, I overheard the director crew dis- cussing the prospects of battle. Ralph Park, Slc, a serious lad from Tacoma, Washington, was saying, I don't want no part of it. I had enough on the Helena. Man, if I ever see a Japanese 16 salvo again, it wonlt have to hit to kill meg I'll die just watching it. Have you ever heard shells whizzing overhead in the night. Oh God that's a spooky sound, like ghosts wailing in a cemetery. Well, I don't knowfl remarked Jim Lewis, a young gunner's mate from Los Angeles, If every one else is scared, I guess I'll be too. But if I can be kept busy loading the guns, I don't think I'd mind. In a way I'd kinda like to see a night battlef' Coxswain Roscoe Swain, from Columbus, Ohio, chimed in, Hell, I'm not afraid of any- thing the Japanese can do. Welre four times as strong as them. Besides, to tell the truth, I just can't imagine myself dead. The conversation drifted away to another subject and shortly afterwards the watch was relieved. During the rest of the day rumors intensi- fied as to the impending surface engagement. After the Japanese lamp-lightersl' made their noctumal visit, the pre-war battleships, the Calyfornia, West Wrginia, Tennessee, Pennsyl- vania and Maryland, formed the traditional battle line. It was a maneuver these ships had been practicing for twenty years but had never put to use in actual combat. It was a revival of old glory, of things pastg there was even a feel- ing of nostalgia in watching these OBB's go through their paces like an over-aged football team at an alumni reunion. After all, the fat new BB's and carriers were now the scourge of the ocean, and though these more ancient vessels were still valuable for support of am- phibious operations, no one expected them to engage the Japanese fleet. As a matter of fact even as we swung into the battle-line, reports were received that Task Force 38 had already met phases of the enemy navy, bombed one battle-wagon, rocketed and strafed two heavy cruisers. In light of this information most of us went to sleep with little hope or dread Cas the case might bel of any action during the night. At 0230 October 25, 1944, the General Alarm sounded: All Hands Man Your Battle Stations. I didn't merely wake up, I shot like a projectile out of my bunk for those are the most blood-curdling, leg-galvanizin g words in the English language. While yanking on my clothes, I exclaimed to my roommate, Holy Christ, George, this is it. Lt. Cottrell of Hol- lywood, California, scoffed at my melodramat- ics, f'Don,t be a Humphrey Bogart, he said, It's probably only a Japanese reconnaissance plane. Nevertheless, we both dressed rapidly and burst out of the room. S'Good luckj, George, I shouted after him. He waved his hand and disappeared around a bulkhead. The passageways were flooded with hur- rying, nervous men. Though the dread of the unknown hung over them, for the next sound might be an enemy shell ripping through the superstructure, there was no unnecessary shouting or pushing. Fear is the most commu- nicable emotiong the slightest taint of it in a crowd will cause a panic. Yet the best evidence I know of the discipline and self-control of the American sailors is the orderly, dignified way they hasten to their battle stations. Kaleido- scopic glimpse of stern, set faces show plenty of fright, but no panic. However, even this clutching fear lasts only until the men get to their guns, then the familiarity with their jobs and the knowledge that they can fight back brings confidence, and they are ready to face the unknown with the one thing it understands, a salvo of hot lead. I have mentioned fear so often because in action fright and the lust for the kill are the only two emotions. They are so overpowering that one remembers little of the actual events of the battleg nonparticipants can describe that. A sailor can only tell you how scared he was. When I arrived at Sky Forward, it was excitedly fidgety over the news that the Japa- nese Fleet was coming through Stuigao Strait. A squadron of PT boats, stationed in the chan- nel had given the warning and made a torpedo attack. Though beaten off with fairly heavy losses, they had heroically done their job: they were the Paul Reveres of the Battle of Leyte Gulf. The night was very dark. Fortunately, we did not have long to wait. Suddenly the gulf was illuminated by a shower of starshells. The Japanese were coming out of the Straits shoot- ing their pyrotechnics in an effort to locate our position. Actually, they only succeeded in giv- ing themselves away like a midnight express shrieking through the valley. Every man tightened at his station. This was it. For a moment there was an awful por- tentous silence like feeling a snake crawl across your leg. Then a ship on our right flank fired. We could see the winking flash long. long be- fore we heard the cracking report. Tension on the California was electric: every nerve. muscle, eyeball strained to the limits of its plasma. The years of training and discipline were paying off g it took the self control of men of steel to restrain shooting until within range. Another ship opened up. It was much closer to us for we caught some of the concussion. Red tracers arched in the sky like lazy fly balls. Unexpectedly. there was a vicious explo- at F se? r , 2 3 . .W e our faces raw: the us like a great dry box- Our turrets had fired. The Calgirr- nia was in the battle. By now the night was rent and gashed with blinding flashes and resounding detonations. All the ships in the gulf were hurling fiery tons of steel with each salvo. Projectiles weighing over two-thousand pounds looped in blazing arcs across the sky as steadily as machine gun bullets. Periodically, our turrets erupted like volcanoes around us, the gulf was an inferno of sound, the night was splintered with cease- less explosions. The Japanese took by far the worst of it. At first they energetically fired back, then the exchange of tracers looked like a cops and rob- bers gun fight. But in the end, their ships just bumed, exploded and sank. In Sky Forward nobody spoke. We stood agape at the altercations as between monsters. Once a shaky voice queried, '4Jeez, do ya think we'll get a star in our ribbon for this'?', Then the whine of an enemy salvo passed overhead, we ducked and shivered and terror sprouted from our eyes. That ghostly, death-presentment sound seared to the roots of our beings. In the next flash we saw what weak, frightened ani- mals we were. None of us could ever brag about his courage again, we had looked into each other's souls and we turned our heads away for fear reveals too much. The spell was broken when an enlisted man, having bumped into an officer, said, Ex- cuse me, sirf, In the middle of that awful hu- man destruction, those simple words of civil- ity sounded sweet and warm. They reminded us that for all the horror, there was still the friendly human spirit which somehow manages to survive. At last, for lack of targets the firing cased. Night came rolling back to reclaim its domain, the silence beat against our ears. A lone star glistened in the sky like that lad's kind words of courtesy. The seas moved once more and I heard again that restless murmur of the dis- tances beyond the horizon. Since the first shot had been fired, thir- teen minutes had elapsed. The action was for us a clear resounding victory. United States ships definitely sank two Japanese battleships, two heavy cruisers, two light cruisers and two or three destroyers. The whole engagement, under the command of Vice Admiral Oldendorf, was brilliantly conceived and executed. Our fleet performed that age- old naval maneuver of crossing the The Japanese came out of the straits in column. We passed at right angles to them so that only their leading ship could fire while we could bring the main batteries of our entire formation to bear. They never had a chance. We got on the target after the first salvo, with our superior fire control equipment we stayed on and kept hitting, hitting, hitting until there wasn't enough steel in the water to form a line of sight. It was complete and utter destruction, and the little Japanese on those ships went through and to hell. When the dawn came, our cruisers and destroyers investigated the area of the battle and found over two-hundred survivors in the water. At first the Japanese absolutely refused to take our lifelines. A few of them even tried to swim away. However, Vice Admiral Oldendorf had put out the order to take aboard as many as possible so our ships were patient. Even so some of the yellow men by their own choosing stayed in the sea and drowned. Their utter disregard for life, their complete willing- ness to sacrifice themselves for a holy cause even when the cause will not be furthered by their sacrifice is an attitude incomprehensible to the Occidental mind. It leaves us wonder- ing whether as we inevitably reoccupy all the Japanese territory, there will be any Japanese left in the world. An emphatic point must here be made. The battle described above was only one phase of the numerous engagements with the enemy fleet in the around the Philippine Island straits between the 23rd and the 25th. The magnifi- cent part played by Admiral Halseyls Task Force 38, by a squadron of jeep carriers, by our submarines and the Army Air Force has been barely mentioned. As a matter of fact, at this writing, the fighting and strategic maneu- vering is still going on. Some day history books will place this campaign among the most deci- sive of the war. Furthermore, there is a singular one-di- mensional aspect to this story. Contained herein is only what I saw and I felt. Left completely untold are the happenings on the bridge, the brain and nerve center of the ship, where Cap- tain H.P. Burnett expertly directed the Calqfor- nia through her first surface battle. He was ably assisted by Commander F.R. Bunker, Execu- tive Officer, Commander A.B. Mayfield, Navi- gator, Commander G.P. Garland, First Lieu- tenant and Lt. Commander J .P. Faries, Signal Officer. Likewise not a word has been said about the neat professional job performed by Commander R. Mandelkom, the Gunnery Of- ficer, and by his adjutants, in the directors, Lt. Stu Swacker of Glendale, California, and Lt. Charley Curtis of Boston, in main battery plot- ting room, Lt. Joe Perry of Maine, and Lt. Jim Lynch of Chicago, in the turrets, Lt. Sam Killingsworth of Washington, LTCJGJ Leo Mack of Milwaukee, Lt. Jack Grady of Chi- cago and LTCJGJ Frank Wilson of Chicago. Furthermore, where is the peens of praise for the anonymous sailors who perform instead of command, men like Bill Fuhriman of Logan, Utah, on the fire control platform with the gun- nery officer, recording and talker, Ken Edelen of Brooklyn, Iowa, who placed the powder of the loading tray, Joe Joyner of Atlanta, Geor- gia, who put the values into the intricate com- puter, Dan Scott of Ann Arbor, Michigan, who trained on the target and Bill Welch of Chey- enne, Wyoming, who closed the firing key which ignited the primer, which exploded the powder, which propelled the projectile, which sank the Japanese ship. To all the two-thousand officers and blue- jackets on the Caljornia as well as the crews of the other battleships, cruisers and destroy- ers whose names are censored but whose deeds are just as valiant, that night was one of the most memorial of their lives. As they return to their home towns and families, the tales of their participation in the engagement will grow longer and longer until the action becomes not merely the most bloody of this war but of any in history. However, when the Battle of Leyte Gulp Cas one sailor called ith is mentioned, one man must maintain an abashed silence. For Lt. Charley McVey of Olympia, Washington, who had trained for twenty-three years for such an occasion, the night before took an overdose of headache powder, and slept right through the entire action. The surface engagement might have been the climax but it was not the end of our expe- riences in Leyte Gulf. For the next eight days Cfrom October 25 to November lj we were under almost constant air attack. During that period we went to General Quarters forty-four times, during that period no one on the ship got more than three or four hours sleep in twenty-four. It was the most dogged, persis- tent rat-race any of us had ever known. No sooner would we secure from one air raid than we would be racing to our battle stations to repel another. The men became so tired they wouldn't even look at AA fire in any other sector but their own. The endless hours of searching for Japanese planes up and down the billowy mountains of clouds, in and out the brilliant sumises and sets, around and about the neighborly constellations were a stretch of light and darkness without demarcation. Time completely slid away from us. What I remem- ber is a series of disembodied experiences in an otherwise brain-numbed vacuum. One moming twenty Japanese Vals ap- peared off our starboard bow. As they maneu- vered for the attack, I saw a kid suck in his breath and his eyes grow as large as water- melons. We stood by our guns and waited for them to come into range. But they never did. Five of the Japanese made a dive-bombing run on a poor old destroyer which snaked through the water like a frightened eel. They never hit her either. The rest flew away to the seaward. Later the same day, we girded ourselves for another surface action as we steamed out of the straits to aid a CVE task force under attack by the Japanese. However, we never made contact for Task Force 38 beat us to the scene. Later we learned that the small carriers had had a rough time of it, though their planes wracked vengeance by torpedoing two Japa- nese battleships and stopping one cruiser dead in the water. That, incidentally, was the sec- ond force of the Imperial Navy which was waiting for us to come out of the Straits the night of the battle but our admirals never al- lowed us to be mouse-trapped. Once in the gray dawning, three Japanese dive bombers passed along the starboard length of the ship. Our 40s and 5 commenced firing on them, a few seconds later the middle one plunged into the water. It was an exhibi- tion of beautiful shooting by Lt. Gordon Tumer and his director crew. One moment the plane was sailing along on even keel, the next its nose dipped, its wings spiraled and with a high splash, it disappeared into the sea. I remember a tired look-out unable to keep his eyes open. After valiantly trying, he leaned his forehead against his binoculars and fell sound asleep. He was eighteen years old, he had been fighting a man's war but now he slept like a boy. I did not have the heart to awaken him. There were GQ's with an ammunition ship alongside when Japanese planes were sighted and AA fire broke out all around us. One lucky hit, one near miss would have blown us sky high. However, we were all too tired to be afraid and the gun crews on the unengaged side slept through the attack. Again in the early moming a single en- emy aircraft came winging over our disposi- tion. In an instant the sky was speckled with 5', burstsg the plane wobbled drtmkenly among the air explosions, lost control and plummeted into the sea. I saw a ship sink slowly, tragically, ago- nizingly, dying like some mute animal in mor- tal paing over its grave for hours afterwards oily smoke sailed skyward like a pagan funeral pyre. Though many American boys lost their lives, I felt no compassion. I could imagine them fighting through blazing compartments, melting to liquid before the hell-furnace heat, but I could not feel sympathy. It was too far from meg because at that stage my feelings of humanity and tenderness were too atrophied. I was completely insensitive to anything but a bomb bursting twenty-feet away. I was even beyond hating myself for such indifference. The truth is I was just too damn tired to care. However, one vivid experience did rouse us from our lethargy. As before it occurred during a dusk General Quarters. Enemy planes had been reported earlier in the evening but now the sky seemed clear. The sun dropped like a glowing brand into the banks of low- lying clouds along the horizon, setting them aflame. The day was dying. Yet still the high dome with its circular floor of the sea was magically illuminated as by the proximity of a wonderful presence. Somewhere the doors of glory had been left ajar. The holy time was quiet as a nun breathless with adoration. Suddenly - whoosh! - out of the crisp ash of a cloud zipped a Zero straight toward the ship. 20mm Gunner Cordell Wiser of Pulaski, Tennessee, fired first followed imme- diately by the barking and thumping of the whole machine gun battery. The bastard kept barreling through despite numerous hits. It dropped no bombsg it did not strafe, it shot like a projectile toward the bridge. Thousands of tracers clawed and bit at the evil thing. It swerved to starboard, shrieked down the length of the ship and crashed twenty feet off the bow. Instantly the plane exploded, by a curious freak a parachute blossomed over the wreckage in which was the upper trtrnk of a man with bits of one leg danglingg it floated gently into the water like a girl curtseying in a flowing gown and vanished. Though the whole thing took ten seconds, as long as we live none of us will ever forget that red-spotted, maniacal plane streak- ing toward the ship. And so the time passed. Yesterday and tomorrow were a thousand years apart. We were engulfed in the Huge Now, in the all-ab- sorbing tension of the moment, and yet each moment was a separate, surprising shock like the uneven stones on a cobble road. There was no past and no future, there was no continuity except a crushing weariness that deepened and deepened into our bones until our bodies felt like blocks of granite. Then one morning I awoke to discover we had not gone to General Quarters for twenty- four hours. I lay in my bunk and felt the life stirring inside me. I began to notice how things looked around me, what they smelled and sounded like, and I obtained as great a plea- sure out of my newly recovered senses as if I had been deprived of them. I flexed my limbs ' and watched my muscles grow taut and relax. I wiggled a toe and it seemed a miracle that way down there that scrawny thing belonged to me and I willed it to move. As I dressed, I observed how expertly my fingers operatedg no mechanical contrivance could do as well, what wonderful universal joints my elbows and knees were. When I walked across the room, my legs worked per- fectly under me. I had discovered a new thrill, the joy of mere physical existence. After reviewing all that had happened to the Caldornia in the past three weeks, I felt satisfied just to be among those present. I realized then that through the rest of my days, no matter what fortune or mis- fortune befell me, no matter what station in life was allotted to me, I would never never complain again. Being alive was enough! BoA'r RACE by Carlos J. Badger I joined the USS Caljornia at Bremerton in 1922, and was assigned to the boiler divi- sion. But CDR Turner Clater Admiralj held an IQ test for all ensigns just reporting to the ship. Although I was the lowest man on the totem pole, I turned out to be number one in the IQ test. He immediately changed my assignment from boiler division to F Division!Special Jobs. For several years, the HSky Pilotu of the USS Mi.s'.s'i.s'.s'ippi had been winning the dinghy contest to the discomfitures ofthe Naval Acad- emy. CDR Turner told me to pick a crew and take as much time as I needed to figure out a way to out-sail the chaplain from the Mi.s.si.s- sippi. I spent several hours for at least two weeks before the race, sailing around San Pedro Harbor and making note of shifts in the winds and currents. I finally came to the conclusion that the CUITCHIS were much more important than the winds. The day of the race, the winds were very strong. We started with the pack in the 2nd or 3rd position and I immediately made it appear that we had lost control of the right jib because we had lost our boathook. The pack went downwind, tacking back and forth to get in position to pass the second stake buoy. We let our sails flap and drifted slowly toward the second buoy. When we got to it, we trimmed our sails to the wind and came roaring home more than an hour ahead of the next contes- tant. CMy roommate, then Ensign McComsey. had the misfortune of snapping the mainmast on a motor-sailor and finished last.j CDR Tumer had everyone aboard man the rails to welcome us aboard and ordered me to write up the race and have it recorded in the log. My next race at Cheefoo, China was quite different. The race started the day after I reported aboard. I had no knowledge of the wind and cur- rents, and nearly got blown to sea, finishing last. An experience I will never forget was watching a battle-practice off Panama in which the Calyfornia and Mississippi were imperson- ating aircraft carriers. A squad of destroyers fired one torpedo each Cwith dummy warheads of coursej, three of them hitting the Caljomia and four of them hitting the Mississippi tor visa versaj. The sea was so calm and the day so quiet that you could watch the wake of the tor- pedoes for several hundred feet from my van- tage point. I could not help but think. 'lWhat would happen if those were real torpedoes and each destroyer had fired a full compliment of twelve'?,' ...Something like that must have hap- pened at Leyte Gulf. . Nix ,Mx W N ma. W W 1 No. I raceboal crew, USS California. CJ. Lev was rh 1 1 I 'M ' I 1 fn Lx anne on rn' crew. fCUlll'l't'.V,X' QfCJ. Let-,l I 4 9 14? ini 'I 5:31:5- 1' 'lf : it A M Q.. 'U 'N xi? A Q5 . ....--4 I I S. THIS ITU - , 55 E OF THE CUB IS DEDICATED TO OUR CNOTHERS - GOD BLESS THEM' i .. . I ' ' 2 W K .S Q S E V f ..... ' U. S. S. CALIFORNIA HAWAIIAN AREA N- - FLEET PROBLEM XVIII + SATURDAY, 8 MAY, 1937 TOMGRROW 'S YOUR CMOTHER6 CDAY - WHY NOT WRITE TO HER? i .... - IT WILL MAKE HER SO HAPPY TO HEAR , . 2? Z 2 TIRED FINGERS FROM HER BOY WHO IS AWAY FROM HOME 'Tim 11117071 g0 wmrn 50 n'I7itC 7-IIVCLYI CIVHIS lim! OIICC 176141, T6556d TiT6d 71 CTS' 50 IVOTH, .VO HMC, 2, i f 3 t Serving and nimniiny from morn ,til night. fi ezirly !7C'4IlI' to a nzotfrefs breast. Sewing and mending tire nflvole ciay through, .7 Tired fmndy and CQWY tfmt blink, Tirea' voice so soft, so dear From break of dfinfn 'til setting sun, Dmo mn lzfdd mo tired to tlwinfq, Sa in Siva well, darlin , mother '5 near. A Motf1cr's Wo I1 Is Never Done. P O 7 X 8 1 S5 Page Two 'K THE CUB if ...S . - -ee... W I-TWC C THE LETTER Iyigfgflfeiee . ., 1 . , ,,Q,,... tr 0 0 I I The postman whistled down the street ii ' And seemed to walk on lighter feet, I. WEEKLY NEWSPAPER And as he stepped inside her gate ,M 'S of THE Huis CALIFORNIA He knew he carried precious freight 1 He knew that he carried joy- CAPTAIN R. C. MAC FALL. U. s. NAVY He had a letter from her boy. Qi COMMANDING. Day after day hyd kept his pace 1 COMMANDER F. I-I. KELLEY, U. S. EXECUTIVE OFFICER. NAVY LIEUTENANT G. B. LOFBERG, U. s. NAVY. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF. ENSIGN D. w. TAYLOR. Jr., U. s. NAVY. ' MANAGING EDITOR. STAFF: L. w. EADS, Sea.'lc. U. s. NAVY. J. J. MACKTAL, Y3c. U. s. NAVY. CHAPLAIN WORKMAN, ADVISOR. T0 OUR MOTHERS ON MOTHERS DAY --.,,,..- On Sunday, 9 May, opportunity is given every man to do honor to his Mother or to her memory. Many take their Mothers too complacently. How sadly true it is that a man never sees all that his Mother has been to him until it is too late to let her know that he sees it. There is no language that can ade- quately express the power, the beauty, the heroism and the majesty of a mother's love. She expects no reward but the privilege of lavishing her maternal affections where the instincts of her heart dictate. Mothers Day is an occasion that should be observed. While the tender sentiments of a son for his mother should spread over every day of the year, this particular day has been set aside for the occasion, and each of us should make it unrnistai-:ably signi- ficant. Write that letter, enclose your church program, send those flowers, or per- form some deed of servlce as may Ht the case if your mother is still living. If she has passed beyond, then take the time necessary to recall her sweet memory, her deeds of love and sacri- fice that you might live and succeed. God bless you, Mother, 'for your matchless loyalty and devotion. When we have grown faint on the way, when friends have proven false and mis- fortune has overtaken us, it has been your love and the radiance of your fidelity that has sent us on our way, heartened and strengthened. And seen her careworn faceg She watched for him to come, and took The papers with an anxious look, But disappointment followed hope- She missed the one grand envelope. He stopped to chat with her awhile And saw the sadness of her smile: He fancied he could hear her sigh The morning that he traveled by: knew that when tomorrow came She would be waiting just the same. The boy who was so far away Could never hear her gently say: Well, have you brought good news to me? Her eager face he could not see, Or note the lines of anxious care As every day she waited there. But when he wrote, on lighter feet The happy postman walked the streetg ffvveu, here it is at ieet, he'd shout, To end the worry and the doubt. The robin on the maple limb Began to sing: She's heard from him. Her eyes with joy began to glow, The neighbors 'round her seemed to know That with the postman at the door Sweet peace had come to her once more. When letters bring so much delight, Why do the sons forget to write? i-io-9- GENERAL PERSHINGS ORDER ...,-.--- In the heat of battle in France in 1918. General Pershing took time to issue an official order to the A.E.F.. as follows: I wish every officer and soldier in the American Expeditionary Force would write a letter home on Mother's Day: This is a little thing for each one to do, but these letters will carry back our courage and our affection to the patriotic women whose love and prayers inspire us and cheer us on to victory. lil! -'V' -1 T 'IZ May Fortune smile upon you. May your heart be filled with happiness. May your pathway be the path of peace. God bless you-my Mother! I'I: Q31 I I II 9 I I '7 I I -ol I -o-- I 1. Ig. To whom shall we express our I EI SERMON TOPIC:- MOTHER In 'I 1,1 gratitude for the gift of Mother? ii I I ff. Surely she didn't happen by 5: I . I chance! Ip I' Faith, in the lives of some men, gi .V V, begins with the realization that I. If there must be a supreme being If I . I. back of so perfect a gift. Sunday If II' In I morning we will gather to return I I thanks to the giver of all good Il and perfect gifts-thank God Eff. for the gift of MOTHER.. Q ini I If? Even He who died for us upon I1 1 the cross, in the last hour, in the X utter agony of death. was mind- 552 ful of his mother. as if to teach ue that this heiy love should be II I I II In fbi our last worldly thought-the last point of earth from which Hg the soul should take its flight for 'I Heaven. -fLongfellowl. . I if R-14 --i3..r::,'-:-'- -in - - 'ir' :..':' fl: - OLD AGE OVERTAKES SOME NAVAL VESSELS m.- Uncle Sam's Fleet will lose the ser- vices of 55 obsolete and over-age de- stroyers, mine layers and submarines during the present and the 1938 fiscal year, naval authorities in the harbor I I i I revealed. Thi1'ty-two ships. comprising 29 de- stroyers and 3 submarines are slated for decommissioning during the re- mainder of the 1937 group 10 destroyers of service at the pr During the 1938 fl will be placed out of include 4 light mine fiscal year. Of this are being put out esent time scal year 27 vessels commission. These layers. 13 destroy- ers and 10 submarines. ..-.,.,-... Poem THE LETTER in column two by Edgar Guest. ' 1 .f rl ri i' F. fx . 'sei .x . 21 rf -. .4 ,W-X xml- 'UH Q-Ur' 'J 1 'VC I.- .. ' , 5, , ITU? 7 . 'gi ,L 5. ' 49 Hi. 3 - ir' vig. ' ..- .fri it ,-, 4 THE CUB 4 Page Three I YA- - 5 POINTS OF INTEREST '10 SEE IN I:Nlu.l-l-l-l.l.l'l.l.l.l-l.l.l-l-I-l'l-l.l.l.l: THE HAWAIIAN VILLAGE DEPICTS THE HONOLULU AREA .I 1 .I RE'AL HAWAIIAN LIFE -MOM 5: GRIN AND BEAR IT l Ordinarily our first concern upon arrival at a new port is the points of interest to be seen. Many of us have been to Honolulu before, but regardless of the number of visits, there is al- ways something new to see. Round trip fares to Pearl Harbor, a distance of about seven miles from Honolulu, by rail is twenty-five cents and by bus fifty cents. Information about the islands may be obtained from the Hawaiian Tourist Bureau, at 765 Bishop Street, Honolulu. Some of the more important loca- tions which attract men of the Navy are listed. Additional notes on recrea- tional facilities will be published next week. ACADEMY OF ARTS - Remarkable exhibitions of Hawaiian and Oriental art. Free to the public as follows: Sun- days, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.g Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.: Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ALOHA TOWER - At the foot of Fort Street. Open to public 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Take automatic elevator to 4th floor for free pass and then to observation balcony. AQUARIUM - In Kapiolani Park. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.g Sun- days, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission 25 cents. The Aquarium contains a re- markable collection of brightly colored and queerly shaped nshes. ARCHIVES -- The Territorial Arch- ives, located in Iolani Palace grounds, contain a Wealth of documents and relics of historical interest. The Arch- ives are open daily to visitors, except- ing Saturday afternoons, Sundays, and holidays. BISHOP MUSEUM - In the Kame- hameha School grounds. Finest collec- tion of Hawaiian and Polynesian curios, relics and historical specimens. Open to the public daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.g Sundays, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Ad- mission free. CAPITOL - Formerly Royal Palaceg contains interesting collections of his- torical paintings, and the Throne Room. Palace Square. KAPIOLANI PARK - Containing a polo field, tennis courts, zoo, Public baths, and aquarium. KAMEHAMEHA STATUE - In U13 front of the Judiciary Building, OD- posite Capitol. Lieut: I saved a man's life once, but didn't get a medal for it. Lt. Cjgl: What happened? Lieut: Well, a lad came back to the ship lit and got under a steam hose to take a shower. He would have been scalded to death only I was the engin- eer and there wasn't any steam. ...,.... Do I really need brushing off? asked the passenger in the Pullman. Does you! exclaimed the porter with great emphasis: Boss, I'se broke. .MF- Daughter, your hair is all messed up. Did that sailor kiss you against your will? 'iHe thinks he did, mother. ...AI- An Irishman, charged with assault, was asked whether he was guilty. How can I tcll, your honor, till I have heard the evidence? was the reply. ,.,.- Judge: Murphy, why are you posi- tive this man is intoxicated? Murphy: Well, judge, he was standing in front of the patrol box, and looking up at the city hall clock and was saying, 'Gosh, I have lost 14 pounds this week'. ..-,-.-. Professor: I will not begin today's lecture until the room settles down. Voice from the rear: Go home and sleep it off, old man. if l D . e UONSAQ, of 1. cubflf' ,gb f X C ! V alan ., ,. X R ' X f6gAl'.: -', pls- Q C- 'x 'jx-12 v' 1 i a file Q 1 tl 'E 1 era. .2 .,1 X ' I ef:ifZi'1 elf f' If ,QL ,A -.sqax 'f'E:j .J NH , 1 -122. 4132 Keg' 1 Qfjdrif-ff' '1 ,V wif' 5 'ffdf'f6f14f!5f1?'r f: AF- Z, 7 ' fi-IL , 3, , 227' 'fax - if W, :iff if N ' . g H 11 Juonmx.-li Answer the Telephone, Boats! HAWAIIAN VILLAGE - Located on Kalakaua Avenue between the Moana Hotel and Kapiolani Park, the Lainai Hawaiian Village is an authentic rep- resentation of community life in old Hawaii. Hawaiian entertainment and native feasts fluausl are held regularly. KAWAIAHAO CHURCH - In the Kawaiahao Church Yard. Corner King and Punchbowl Streets. LIBRARY OF HAWAII - Free pub- lic library. Excellent reading room and reference department. Mainland papers on file. King and Punchbowl Streets. MANOA VALLEY - A beautiful res- idential section. MISSION HOUSE -- Near Kawaia- hao Church. Oldest frame building in Hawaiian Islands. Interesting collection of missionary relics. Cl-osed Sundays and holidays. MOANALUA GARDENS - Beyond Fort Shafter. Pretty landscape garden- ing and tropical shrubs. A five minute walk beyond the end of the Fort Shaft- er car line. PUNAHOU SCHOOL -- An educa- tional institution founded in the year of 1841 by early missionaries. Beautiful grounds surrounded by a night bloom- ing cereus hedge. PALAMA SETTLEMENT - A model welfare and social service plant. Palama road. Visitors welcome on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. and from 2 to 3 p.m. PUNCHBOWL - Extinct crater, af- fording splendid view of the city. QUEEN EMMA MUSEUM - Once the home of Queen Emma, now a museum containing relics of Hawaiian monarchy. the old M-.4g......-. ASK ME ANOTHER --e-- F 1. How much per month will a chief receive upon transfer to the Fleet reserve with 20 years service 'under the so called New Bill? 2. How much additional pay after 10 years in the reserve? 3. Does good conduct increase the amount? 4. Is the amount increased after 10 years in the reserve for light, fuel, etc., as in the old bill? .....,... CAnswers will be found on Page 47 Page Four 41 THE CUB 4: GROUP FOUR WINS IN SMOKER BY DEFEATING GROUP EIGHT ...,..... With the booming voice of Mickey Farrell, C. T. C., blaring out across the quarter-deck, the second of a series of inter-divisional smokers got underway on 28 April with Group IV, composed of the 7th and F Divisions, meeting and conquering Group VIII, made up of men from the R and PHS Divi- sions, by a score of 19 to 8. After an exhibition of wrestling in which Whitey Young of the E Di- vision ,scored a win over Yagle of time '7th D'vi.sion, the iirst of the boxing bouts came up bringing Orr of Group IV a decisive victory over Six of Group VIII. Both men in this match were as game as has been seen with Orr having the edge at all times. The next bout saw Agee, one of our scrapping mess attendants fighting for Grafip VIII. 101.1 2, vary r-Inse decision to Bennett of Group IV. Both of these men were fighting very hard at all times and both were plenty willing to get in and mix it up. Simmons, lighting for Group VIII, started his fight with a bang and led most of the way to garner a win from Jenkins of Group IV. Both men in this bout did plenty of heavy punch- ing but Simmons got an early lead and held it through the course of the three rounds. The next and last oiiicial fight on the program gave Waldron of Group IV a very close win over Grant, another of our iighting colored boys who was mixing it up for Group VIII. There 'ras considerable dissention among the spectators over the decision in this match: plenty of them thinking that it should have been declared a draw, but, as always, the judges' decision hc-lds, so the comments soon fi .ed away. Another exhibition bout next took the center of interest with Markham of the E Division and Swain of the S Division mixing it up in a slugfest that came out in a draw. In this last smoker Group VIII de- faulted two of their fights while Group IV defaulted only one. There were no official wrestling bouts on the after- noon's program. As is usual with the crew of the CALIFORNIA the highest degree of sportsmanship was shown throughout the matches. Another of these entertaining after- noons will be provided wnile we are at Pearl Harbor, and we might possi- bly have two or three. While it is not ' . 1 . . f f f f . ' f f f , . , , , I , U ,f X' , If I. f , f ff , 2' f , , . , , . V a ' 4 Z - I THE CALIFORNIA'S SEA-GOING SECOND DIVISION HOW IVIANY DID YOU ANSWER? -l-Oli. 1. According to the Naval Reserve Act of 28 February, 1925, Sec. 23, he except when on active duty, shall be paid at the rate of one-half of the base pay he is receiving at the time of transfer . This amounts to 86300. 2. According to the same act, he shall be paid one-half of the base pay of his rating plus all permanent additions thereto, and the allowances to which enlisted men of the same rating are entitled on retirement after thirty years' naval service. This will total 8119.70 for a chief. 3. Yes, if he has a mark of not less than 95 percent for 20 years, but this is not added until after 30 years, amounts to 10 percent. 4. Yes, by 15.75. According to the Joint Service Pay Act of June 10, 1922, Sec. 10, Retired enlisted men are not deprived by this act of the allowances of 9.50 per month in lieu of rations and clothing, and of 56.25 per month in lieu of quarters, fuel, and light, which were provided for retired enlisted men by act of March 2, 190'l '. possible to assemble the whole crew on the quarter-deck for these smokers with any degree of comfort, it is hoped that we may continue to see the large group of interested spectators. THE SEA-GOING SECOND l-Q1-. When the U. S. S. CALIFORNIA was built in 1921, the high naval officials realized that wherever the port fore- castle went the rest of the ship would have to follow, so for the good of the ship and the naval service they gave this honored portion to the Second Division. It's too bad but the rest of the ship will never be able to catch up with it. During the short intervals that W. W. Johnston, B. M. 2c., can spare from yarn spinning, he ably keeps this part of the ship in trim condition, from the voids deep down under to the eyes of the ship. Turret II, under the guiding hand of Chief Turret Captain C.J. Farrell. is known as the high turret. This designation has come from years of standing highest in turret competition and general excellence. The Second Division is a happy divi- sion. When there is work to be done. all hands turn-to without a growl. Of course it is not quite Paradise, for we have our gripes. such as the Crews Washroom lwe get mad when We can't keep it closed all dayi. and the Anchor Windlass, the greatest. undrilled oil- neld in the United States. But as a whole mot a fewi we like it, and to the great majority it is home. 'N S 'E K M, Y, Q, H, ., flaw Q1 A-. fs,f,.af1Lf::ietS'a!ssz' USS CALIFOR IA ETERAN,S BIQGRAPHIES I E r i I Z f i 5 J 3 i i 1 E li I H Y f I E a f Qi If wx I , 1 , 1 2 S i 5 5 ! 4 , f A . ,XG 1.1-Qvf .5 4 X 5 ff ff I E 5 N ', f' f,,l,ffn-fff.c: ,mlm-' fm l'r'f11! llrlrlmf' lfffzwk Mm' i948 KC 'lIlH'll'SX' nf R I, l'ilr'nl1 Y so CHARLES V. ABERNATHY, CM. born Jan. 14. 1920. Shelby. NC. Enlisted Aug. 26, 1940, U.S. Navy. F First Class, Div. 5. Served aboard USS Callfiirnm, 85 Fire Room. Participated in following battles: Pearl Harbor, Coral Seas and Midway. Memorable experiences include Pearl Harbor, seeing Arizona go down and Oklahoma tum over. He was awarded Pearl Harbor, Asiatic Area, Good Conduct Medal with one star, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, 'American Defense Service Medal, American Area. Discharged Aug. 26, 1946, with the rank of CMoMM. His father served in WWI, brother in U.S. Navy, and has one sister. Today he is doing nothing but playing golf, bingo, fishing, and bowling. Retired U.S. Post Office 1974. Attends the Pearl Harbor Survivors Meeting. License plate: PHS. 691. STANLEY L. ABRAMSON, CGM, USN. Bom June ll, 1920. Enlisted March 19, 1940, at Duluth, MN. Trained at Great Lakes. Transferred to USS CalU'0rnia, June 14, 'sf . ag, r t. fl tfffea. f ss'15 ,tt V f affix g S I ,WE J shi, agar 4 r. 9. Ol ILT' 5 2 X 5 ' 7 iz 1940. Left the ship Dec. 6, 1941, at midnight, for Electric Hydraulic School. It took 11 days to zigzag, and without any convoy to reach San Francisco, CA. Retumed to Pearl Harbor and the USS Calpfornia, in March 1942, to assist in taking off the ammunition and raise ship to proceed to Bremerton Naval Yard, WA, for refitting. Went through all major battles. After the signing of surrender in Japan, went to Cape Town, South Africa, and around the horn to Philadelphia. Transferred to Orange, TX, Nov. 5, 1946, to preserve guns with a special coating. Discharged, Jan. 16, 1948, was Chairman of 14th National Reunion of USS Calybrnia, in Seaside, OR. Married Carol Circle November 1942. Two children, Peggy and Andrew. Son Andrew was a helicopter pilot killed in Vietnam. Stanley died Dec. 16, 1992. LOUIS J. ACOMPORA, Electrician 3rd Class, born Oct. 29, 1922. Enlisted Nov. 28, 1940. Boot training at Newport, RI. From there, he went to Electrical School in San Diego for six months. He completed school and was assigned to USS Caliornia in Pearl Harbor. He was aboard when they were attacked Sunday moming. He was stationed in Central Station. After five to six hours, they abandoned ship by going up the Conning Tube - their only way of escape. They were very lucky that she did not capsize like the USS Oklahoma. He jumped overboard and swam to Ford Island. They lost from 80 to 90 men. Three days later most of the survivors were sent aboard various ships. He went aboard the USS Cliicago. Aboard her, were in many battles in the Southwest Pacific. They operated with carriers such as, the Isexingmrz, Saratoga and the lbrktown. In fact, were always within the vicinity of a battle. The USS Cliicngo was one of the many ships that helped land the Marines at Guadalcanal. They operated that night off Guadalcanal when the USS Astoria, Wriccrzr, Quincv and HMS Canlnerm were stink ofl' Guadalcanal. Lucky for the USS Chizzzgo, they were hit, managed to get lo Sidney, Australia. 'I'hey had a false bow put on and traveled back tothe USA to Mare Island, fir Z. 4 where they had a new bow put on and out to sea again. Thirty-two days later, they were hit by planes and sank somewhere offGuadalcanal. He survived the sinking, was sent back to the States and was given a medical discharge on Sept. 11, 1943. Back in New York, he married his childhood sweetheart, had two children, Josephine and John, His wife, Ida, died and he remarried three years later to a wonderful girl named Lucy. He is now retired from his own retail food business and has five beautiful grandchildren. He will always pray for the men who he served with during the time he was in service. GENE L. ADAMS, S llc, born Sept. 18, 1927, Blackfoot, ID. Enlisted in the Navy, Nov. 24, 1944. Served aboard the USS Caliornia, USS LCI 641, and USS LST 802. Stationed in Okinawa. Discharged July 26, 1946, with the rank of S llc. He is a widower and has two girls. Retired teamster. LAWRENCE R. AKERSON, F 2!c, born April 30, 1923, Los Angeles, CA. Enlisted USNR, May 26, 1943, EM Third Class, EM or HES Div. Served aboard battleship USS Calufornia for 33 months. Participated in the following battles: Saipan, Mariannas, Leyte Gulf, Philippines, Guam, Tinian, Battle of Surigao Strait, Lingayen and Okinawa. Memorable experiences include Aug. 20, 1944, from Pollywogs to Shellbackg USS Calnfarnia hit by Japanese suicide plane and their collision at sea with USS Tennessee. Discharged March 10, 1946, with the rank of EM third class. Married to Myrtle, with two sons, and two step- daughters. Retired since 1987, Los Angeles Water and Power employee for 35 years. .I.H. ALEXANDER, G.M. 2lc, USN, born June 25. 1919, Poiterville, CA. Still lives here in Ponewille. In 1938- 39, while attending the San Francisco World's Fair at Treasure Island, units of the Pacific Fleet were in San Francisco Harbor. Was able to visit the USS Calybrnia BB44. Impressed him very much. Sworn into USN June 6. 1940. Federal Building in San Francisco. Boot Camp. San Diego, CA, Co. 40-33, September 1940. Passenger aboard the Calyfornia from Long Beach to Lahina Roads. HI. Assigned to USS Nortlirimplou. CA, 26 Heavy' Cruiser 8 Main Battery. lnvolved with thc Doolittle Raid, 'lfilCYfi.AlJfll 19412 ltfiurtli 14111112 'tl Sa ffl wif 'iii 1221 ' 1942, Norlharnplon lorpcdoed Fill U5 IW' lftlf! lf't'i Japane'-.e submarine torpedoe'-. hit port :ide oetween guara- deck and turret iff Ile was trapped and otbera for near' two hours, in a foreword 5't25 rnagazine, faulty art. hatch saved by division senior first class G V1 tror side. There were 47 shiprnates lost Norrharnplorf ea.. six Pacific Battle Stars. One hour later '-.hip sank stern urs Picked up by USS Hezfher DD445 Returned tf. 2 Diego aboard the USS Harrenelz APA5, Granted 'ffl 'gay survivors leave. February to March 1943. Sub fmt. School Miami, FL. Assigned to IQSS PC 1226 Cor. ri, duty from Staten Island, NY. to Guantanamo Bay V, me October - November 1943. escorted a large ship con 1 , the Mediterranean. Home ported along along sea 12, an 1. .ir a large castle on the north shore end of pier. Various duties: Jan. 22, 1944, participated Anzio Landing fxdr months patrolling off Beach Head and tifving to dodge Aizir, Anni. August 1944, invasion ofSouthern France. Late Q93-1 Gunnerls Mate School Washington. D.C.. 5 3fs - -t0.R1.N1 AA Guns. Early 1945, boarded the SS Lurline from Treasure Island, and Camp Shoemaker for Pearl Harker Assigned to the USS Calwrnia BB officer of the deck was Commander FM. Price. USN. his division officer aboard the Nanhampton was J.G. Lt. Assigned to the 9tr. Div. 40MM Quad Mount, cleaning and GQ station. gust below the captain's open bridge. Moment to remember. once only was caught in shower. GQ sounded. By the time he reached his battle station did not have his long sl-een ed dungaree shirt on, voice from bridge sternly. Get that properly dress. no doubt as to who was speaking. Helped mothball the Calnfarnia, till June 1. 19-t6.Yel1ovtjaund1ce. which he had contacted in Italy. Decked him real good. Spent a month in Philadelphia Naval Hospital. Washington. D.C. July 4, 1967, discharged. October 1946. 19-17. 1948. USNR. January 1949 ti1lAugust 1952. L'.S.Army. Sgt. lst Class 90MM 105 AA guns. State side September 1952. USNR till June 1978. Recalled for one year 1960. Aboard the USS Callahan DD658. West PAC 10 months. Philippines, Japan, Okinawa. Retired from USNR. G.M. llc. Busted a few times. Various VVWII. Korea Ribbons. Machinist 25 years. Various aircraft manufactures and lobbing shops. Independent gardener for 12 years. Wife, Johna M., retired from Paciic Telephone after 31 years. They belong to various WWII Reunion Associations. Three children. three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Takes various Senior Citizens Bus Tours around the USA. A cruise ship once in a while. Involved in their church. Pertaining to the quotation about Old sailors Old Sailors never die. but on day when the tide is low. they cas' off their mooring and sail away. Amen. LESLIE B. ALFORD, Chief Electrician. bom Danville. KY June 13, 1918. Enlisted June 1935. trained in Norfolk. VA, in U.S. Navy, EMC l!cE. Served on USS Nitro. then USS Astoria. then the ISS California until end of WWII. then two shore duty assignments in Hawaii. and then with Pacific Fleet Kline Sweepers. After Pearl Harbor. stay ed on C'tili,t2n-nil: for the repairs in Bremerton. and all the other actions the ISS Cnlrfkmiin participated in during WWII. Memorable experiences include helping get buddrcs Out after the attack at Pearl Harbor surviyors and non- survivors. Participated in the Wrestling and Boxing .ind sold the Navy' Neyys aboard the Ciltllffillilllicl, changing the light bulbs on Tower on Johnson Island. training others Comniendation from Admiral Nirnitz May 15. I9-ll. xy lnch reads For distinguished dcy otion to duty and cxtraotdin.u'y courage and disregard of your on n safety during the attack on the United States Pacific Fleet. in Pearl llarbor. 'llcrritory of Hawaii. by Japanese Forces on Dec. 7. 19-ll. during yvlnch hc assisted in .i inost efficient inanncr in the rcscuc of personnel trapped bcloyy decks in the Center llnust J.H. Al4'.tai1tIr'i' on the FSS f't1lifori11'c1 liolding a pistol .for K1 Ivpical photo opporfiuiitvv to swid lmnw to Mom and Dari, Block Room. The Forward Battery Locker, and The Forvv ard Distribution Room of the USS Califiirriia. Also numerous medals. Retired in Seattle June 1955, with the rank of chief electrician. Resided in Tacoma. WA. then Long Beach, Ca, was electrician with Norris. IN. 14 years, moved to Oceanside 1984. Was member of Elks. and Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. Married to Barbara 42 years, three sons and four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. After Barbara's death. married Lillian. Leslie passed away Jan. 17, 1991, from complications of bladder cancer. ROBERT L. ALLBERRY, Signalman 2nd Class, bom Omaha. NE. Jan. 8. 1925. Enlisted U.S. Navy, January 1942. Served at Bremerton, WA, and Pacific. Memorable experiences include suicide plane hitting USS Calyfornia. Discharged May 1946. Married, seven children and nine grandchildren. Deceased May 1988, retired U.S. West executive. DAVID G. ALTHOUSE, CBM KAAJ, USN, born Feb. 26. 1918. Enlisted in the service Jan. 27, 1937. He was stationed in the South Pacific. .yi . at ' i illiliwt .. ' 1 1' ,tiliqlllll ,ft at ft ' ' . 1'1t1ii .l',i ' . 'lti 1 ll'i,1i'lall1litt'. ll lllllll l ' . tflllttw it ilt. lllllit i, , ll at is iil ill l m W lllltlllllt t iii-tri 'Nil it by P. ti:-ll -. wmw I . it-1 i iiis w www? it 1 1 ,W W alla ilu l ill glut l i l il ' 'Qlff'wf l l ll' W' if Dec. 7, 1941, serving aboard USS California, Division 7, assigned to rig for church services on forecastle under awning. He saw the first Japanese planes making their torpedo runs. Dived below deck calling out the alarm before general quarters sounded. Went to battle station in central stations and listened to bombs and torpedoes hitting ship. Decks above central station flooded. When abandon ship: was ordered, escaped from central station through escape tube. Assigned temporarily to anti-aircraft battery set up around Pearl Harbor. Transferred to USS West Virginia for salvage duty early in 1942. Shortly after the attack, his parents were notified by telegram that he was missing in action. Each of them at Pearl were permitted to send a postcard home saying they were okay which he did. After the West Wrgznia was raised and temporarily patched up, they sailed the ship to Bremerton Navy Yard in Washington for modernization and refitting. ln May 1944, they sailed to South Pacific to continue the struggle. The ship participated in the Philippine Liberation. Iwo Jima, Okinawa. and finally into Japan lor the signing of the surrcndcr aboard the Mi.v.wiu'i. Then hack to Hawaii where their ship participated in ferrying men with enough points for discharge to the mainland. On their second trip to Haw aii. the medical doctor aboard ship diagnosed his illness as a moderately advanced case ofT.B. Sent to Navy hospital in Hawaii. transferred to hospital ship, ashore in Oakland. flew to Corona Navy Hospital. underwent series of operations on chest. finally discharged with medical survey in March of 1947. He has an 80'k, permanent disability. He was awarded the WWII Victory Medal. American Medal. Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four bronze stars. Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two bronze stars, Good Conduct Medal with one star and the American Defense Service Medal with one bronze star. He was married to May Patricia and they had a daughter Linda Kay. ALBERT W. APPEL, Gunnersmate First Class, bom Anna, IL, Jan. 29, 1917. Enlisted in USN Sept. 5, 1939, serving as Gunnersmate lst Class, lst Division. Training station San Diego, USS Calnfornia BB44, USS Queens AP103, Gunnery School San Diego, CA. Advanced Gunnery School Gun Factor Washington, D.C. Participated in battles at Iwo Jima. Memorable experiences include helping raise USS Calnfornia BB44 from the bottom of Pearl Harbor. Discharged Sept. 27, 1945, with the rank of gunnersmate first class. Married Eva Rose Appel, Dec. 12, 1942, two daughters. Retired the past 17 years, worked for Caterpillar Tractor Company, Inc. for 31 years. CARLOS J. BADGER, LCDR USN tRet.J, bom April 14, 1902, Salt Lake City, UT. Admitted Naval Academy on July 13, 1918, commissioned ensign on June 6. 1922. Joined Calnfornia Bremerton July or August 1922. Boiler and F. Div. Won Dinghy Sailing Championship Battle Fleet 1922. USS Argonne 1923-24. USS Truxrun 1924-27. In command U.S. forces ashore protecting Shanghai Intemational settlement 1925 and 1926. Broke down with t.b. 600 miles up Yangtze Jan. 1. 1927. Retired lieutenant junior grade May 1928. Studied law University of Utah and Stanford. Graduated latter with Llb. and J.D. degrees in 1931. Practiced law Utah until called back to duty in WWII. Officer in charge Primary Radar School Logan, UT, 1942-43. Staff Commander Westem Sea, 1943-45. Retired as LCDR December 1945. Practiced law San Francisco, 1945-47, Modesto 1947 to present. Won case in Supreme Court United States. Married twice. three daughters, eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren. Medals: WWI Victory Medal, two China Expeditionary, American Theater. Qualified expert with rifle and pistol, Naval Academy and WWII. WILLIS P. BAILEY, USN. born on April 13, 1912, Dunn. NC. died Feb. 2, 1985. He was buried in Cypress, FA. with Military Honors. and a Masonic Memorial Service. He leaves his wife, and son and two grandsons. He joined the Navy in the year 1928, at the age of 16, signed in at 18. Won the Light Heavy Weight Boxing Championship belt in 1938. He was assigned on the USS C'ulifhrniu, and was on board on Dec. 7, 1941, when Pearl Harbor was bombed. He was one of the survivors. He did duty in Japan during the time of occupied Japan. From 1950 to 1952, he was company commander at the U.S. Navy Training Center in San Diego, CA. The San Diego Training Center was his last Navy duty. He retired in the year 1952. NEIL D. BAKER SR., Slfc, Plainfield, NJ, bom Jan. 26, 1926. Enlisted Sept. 6, 1943, Salt Lake City, UT, Navy, USS Caliornia Div. 2, USNTS Farragut. Idaho, USS Calyfornia. is yy ' , K .ly v UQ .4 fi 9 Marianas Operation Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Leyte Operation, Leyte Landings: Luzon Operation, Lingayen Gulf Landing, Assault occupation of Okinawa Gunto 3rd Fleet Operation against Japan. Medals!Awa.rds: Pacific Theater Ribbon with one starg WWIIQ American Theater Ribbong Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars: and Victory Medal. Discharged Bainbridge, MD, March 18, 1946, Slfc. He and his wife Mary, have six daughters. three sons, 28 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Retired. MAURICE G. BALDWIN, Skc USN, bom March 9, 1915. Enlisted in military Nov. 8. 1934, at Indianapolis, IN. After Boot Camp at Norfolk, VA. He was assigned to the USS Calnfornia. After his first four years, June 1938, he got a discharge to farm. It didn't work out. October 1, 1938, he married Bertha M. Bingham of Alfordsville, IN, and re-enlisted the last of October of 1938. He requested assignment back to the USS Calnfornia which was in Long Beach at the time, on which his brother Rudolph M. Baldwin was stationed. When he reported aboard in the fall of November of 1938, he had orders to go to China, for a tour of two years. From November of 1938 to December of 1941, Che did 27 monthsj after the attack on Pearl Harbor, he was with VP 84, which was being formed in Norfolk, VA, 1941-1943, first two years of war, he outfitted PBY's at NAS in San Diego. later reported for duty aboard the aviation Supply Barge YF-611. He was one of the plank owners that put the USS Kearxarge in Commission. From 1947-1949. had tour shore duty in San Diego. then fall of 1949-1952, reported for duty on USS Norton for three years. They shot offthe first experimental tnissile, 1952-1954, had shore duty at CBC Base, Port Hveneme, CA. They have three daughters, all nurses. He retired frotn shore duty at CBC Base Port Hveneme, CA, 1955. Now lives in Oxnard, CA. He was awarded the WWII Victory Medal, American Defense, American Theater, Asiatic-Pacific, Good Conduct with five stars, China Service, National Defense and Philippine Liberation. RUDOLPH M. BALDWIN, Commander, USN, born April 23, 1909. Enlisted in the Navy 1926, at age of 17. After Boot Camp at Norfolk, VA, he was assigned to USS Calfornia, he spent several years aboard Calgfarnia. In 1937, he and his brother Maurice G. Baldwin served aboard USS Calyfornia. He spent time in South Pacific, tour shore duty at Naval Station Tutuila-Samoa. He retired 1950 the thinksj with 24 years, was called back three years later and sent to Alaska for two years. Chief Yeoman Baldwin was serving aboard USS Calyfarnia Dec. 7, 1941, when the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor. He did a heroic act during those few minutes. The Calgfornia was badly damaged, the commander was ashore for weekend. Chief Baldwin gave orders to flood the ship, so would sink straight down and to abandon ship HI do not know this for a fact, fquoted Bertha Baldwinj 'tHe did get a Letter of Commendation. He was married to Betty, they had a daughter Trudy and a son Reed. Mr. Baldwin did spend time duty at Bureau. Chief Baldwin was authorized to wear following ribbons. World War II Victory Medal, Medal Campaign Service, Defense Service, American Defense, American Theater Campaign C1941-19451Asiatic-Pacific Theater. Unlimited emergency proclaimed by the President on May 27, 1941. A medal, Remember Pearl Harbor, for those who served Dec. 7, 1941 for service during the limited emergency proclaimed by President, Sept. 8, 1939. 'Tm sure there are more medals, I do not know. Chief Commander Baldwin received orders to serve on the staff of the Supreme Commander, Feb. 26, 1960. He was laid to rest in the Arlington Cemetery, Arlington, VA, with a 21 gun salute, near President Kennedy. ,I.C. BANKS, born April 22, 1918, Mt. Vernon, TX. Joined Navy Aug. 20, 1940, at Salt Lake City, UT. Boot training at San Diego, CA. Transported via Saratoga to Hawaii for assignment to 3rd Division aboard Calyfornia. 'W-.cf wifi 5: Hilti? Stayed in 3rd Div. for about a year before being transferred to Engineering Department, A Division, about two months before Pearl Harbor. December 7, 1941: I hadjust opened my locker to get a white hat to go up to the forecastle when the attack came. Upon arriving at my station, fuel oil transfer station 1113, the first torpedo hit us. My first thought was that the main battery had been fired. When the order was given to abandon ship, l swam to Ford Island, where I stayed for a couple of nights before eventual transfer to the USS lwrllfzrzd, where 1 stayed for two years. V Upon being discharged he settled in Dallas. IX. lle retired as air conditioning and sheet metal worker. RAYMOND ALBERT BARBEZAT, Division B, born Filer, ID, March 12, 19183 enlisted USN Nov. 10, 1939. Boot camp: San Diego. Assigned to USS Calyarnlu, Jan. 1, 1940: after Pearl Harbor attack assigned first to the USS Astoria, then USS Anglo CVE-57. Participated in 15 battles. ,lp AJ f Q' ' During attack he and Eve others were trapped in the lower shell handling room outboard turret if2. Hatch sprung on first torpedo hit and water poured in from overhead. Waste deep in water, they finally gained access to turret 1452. Several days later, he learned his parents had been accidentally notified of his death. While on Astoria, received shrapnel wounds which caused a ten month hospital tour. Returned to duty August 1943, aboard CVE-57. Discharged Nov. 28, 1945, WT 1! c. Married, with three sons. Retired steamfitter and pipefitter. JOHN W. BARDEN, bom Dec. 31, 1913, Spencertown, NY. Enlisted Navy April 26, 1934. Trained at Norfolk, VA, reported to USS Calyfornia at Newport, RI, July 26, 1934. Served on Caljornia 11 years. Enlisted rates: App. Seaman to CPO. Officer ranks: WO, Ens., Lt. CJ.G.j. . t, .I 4 I My X 3 0 AW YQ ' F Q B A Y a , W 2 5 yy f , W December 7, 1941, in charge of all counter flooding to keep ship from capsizing after torpedo hit. Then transferred to Pacific Bridge Corp. for temporary duty as a diver to assist on raising or salvage of many ships. Sailed to Bremerton, WA, Oct. 1942, on re-floated Calyfornia for re-fitting to retum to fleet. Took part in assault on Marianas Islands and in the battle of Surigawa Strait. Served as Repair Officer, X-Division, R Division and Ships Diving Officer until transfer November 1944. Other Navy service: USS Fall Riven USS Salt Lake City, Bikini Operation, Cross Roads, Staff Com. 13, USS Pickaway, Nav. Phib. Tra. Unit, Coronado, CA, C.O.LSM 226, Division Com. LSM Division 12, Staff Com Phib Gru ffl, Nav. School Com, Newport, RI, StaffAmphib Sqd. 43. C.O. BMU one until retired May 1, 1964, in-grade of Cdr. USN. Awards!Meda1s: Navy Occupation, National Defense, Good Conduct with three stars, American Defense, Korean Service with two stars, United Nations, CSM. Philippine PUC., WWII Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation, Korean PUC, Vietnam PUC, Asiatic PAC with three stars, Navy Commendation, t2J each with medal pendant and stars awarded in action. Married Marjorie Chadbournc, one daughter. two granddaughters and two great-grandchildren. CLYDE JAMES BARNES, born May 29, 1918, in Mountain Grove, MO. Joined USN St. Louis. MO, Sept. 8, 1936. Assigned to USS Califiwiizi Division 5, from Great Lakes Boot Camp, January 1937. Transferred to V Division October 1937. Worked as plane captain on Aircraft 2--tl.-9 in 1939 and 1940. Promoted to AMMXIC .lune 19-10. llonorablc discharge from V altffirma fr mtiffrt 'fu , '50, 1940 World War II. Graduated LSNIS Officer'-, Sefton F' Trumbull, New London, CT, with rank of ensign. Sexes as USCG Licensed Officer in CS Nlercriant Nlarigues 5. Atlantic, Pacific and Aleutian War Zones ir. the 194712. Honorable discharge from USCG in 1945. Returned to Commercial Aviation 1945. Race. Federal Licenses as pilot, AEQE mechanic. and rriaintena inspector. Spent total of 40 years in awiation. Retire: Phoenix, AZ, as an overhaul crew chief from Nonrfffe Airline on Dec. 31, 1980. Married since Jan. 19, 1941. hate two sons an: grandchildren. JOHN EDDIE BARNES. USN. LSNR. born Jan. 1, 1928, in Denver. CO, joined Navy Jan. 6. 19-15. Baci Camp at Great Lakes, troop train to OGL' Shoemaker. CA.. AA an-, S. 1 1 then Bremerton, WA. as replacement for radioman killed on Calyfornia during Battle of Surigao Strait. Passed Radioman 3rd. not given rate as ship placed in Nlothball Fleet. Remained aboard until ship was decommissioned in 1947, transferred to Clzazzdelezirz discharged Dec. 31. 1945. Joined Reserves and accepted in OCS. Studied Court Reporting in Philly and Denver. first job Federal Conn. Guam, 1950. Retired from Court Reporting 1975. Participated in Battle of Okinawa. Minesweeping duties. Yellow River-China Sea. and Occupation of Japan. Awarded American Defense Medal. Asiatic-Pacific. two stars, Philippine Liberation. Good Conduct. one star. and WWII Victory Medal. Married Peggy Guckin. three children, five grandchildren. Now collect. study and xx nts aboutjade. Cancer took Peggy Feb. 21. 1991. Diagnosed with Leukemia April 1. 1992. Youngest man aboard in 19-L5 EMIL E. BARTYLLA. Division L. known .ts the lookout division: Seaman 2!c. Bom Broxverville. BIN. Dee 24, 1925. Drafted into the Navy Nov. 14. 19-1-1. Locations stations: US Naval Training Station. Farragut. ID: LSS Calybrnia, BB--14: USS Denver: CL-58. Memorable experiences: mine sn eeptng nt the Chitra Sea: participated in the bombardment that cox ered the landings on Okinawa. liberties in Tokyo and NN'ak.tttoi'.i Wan. Japan: held the same battle station .t former sehoolmate ol' his nas killed on. by .t katnikaxe h1edalsfaw.trtlsi .-Xtneriean t'.unpaign. Pacific -Xrea. .K at .X taiiiit- stats. mi it x it-ian twist-ii.ii-gt-it -tug is. nuts. i eonian. llc Nlarried Plivllis in 1950. three daughters. one son. .ine gi'.nidclnldi'en Was an .tutornotiv e parts nianagei tor ' - ' w .4 years and tlien .tn engineerin.nntenanee tor -tl years. Today lie ls retired in NN'oodbut'y. MN .JOHN T. BASHAN1. S lac. born Yt1baCity.CA. Sept. l'. 191-1 Fnlisted May 27. 19-l3.l'SNR.1Nlilitary locations and stations lie served vs ere NTS. Farracut. ID. 5 WRC. L SS kldfIltlI'!1IiI 1943 to December 1946. All battles USS tltritortzitr was in after Bremerton. NSY. WA. until niotliballed in Plnllv Avi ardsfmedals: Asiatic-Pacific four stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one star. Discharged Feb. 21. 1946. Shoemaker. CA, with the rank of Src. Married Ruth J. Mogg. Aug. 13. 1947, one son, Jim R. Basham. bom 1952: tvvo grandchildren, Jim and Terry. Retired from Operating Engineers Local Union No. 3. after 35 years. NILRRAY D. BAXTER, Chief Yeoman QPAJ. born Bravvley. CA. July 24. 1922. Enlisted Aug. 9, 1940, U.S. Navy. C Div. USS Calnbrnia CBB-443. Locations served: CSS Calrtbrnia receiving station, Pearl Harbor, T.H., USS rm-rn tDD 7941 Nav Barracks. Washington D.C., Fleet Service School. Naval Repair Base, San Diego, CA, HQ llth Nas al District San Diego, CA. Battles participated include Pearl Harbor. Midway, Eniwetok, Philippine, etc. Everything throughout South Pacific while on board USS Irwin tDD 7941. 1 Jw F A ' B 7 1 .Sign .X .67 Z f 4 . 1 W! Z e ,t -. , X , , if 4 355.5 ' , Q -5 it 1. '- af ak gy if z 35 I y f - -as 1 ' 0 fa W , ff fy f , gg., 1... I ' 7 'L . ' gf , ar X . Av. ardsfmedalsz American Area, Asiatic-Pacific. Philippine Liberation. American Defense. WWII Victory Medal. Good Conduct. Air Force Commendation Medal. Bronze Star. Discharged from USN Aug. 9, 1946. retired from IQSAF June 30. 1967. as CMSgt KE-91. Married Sammie Lee Poore. two sons and one daughter. still have same wife. Today spends his time playing golf. fishing, travel, goofing off. enjoying life, etc. Celebrated 50th Wedding Anniversary Feb. 10. 19941 HAROLD ALLEN BEAM, Corporal, born Hooks. TX. Feb. 3. 1919. Enlisted May 9. 1940. U.S. Marine Corps. Cpl G Division. Served aboard USS California, USS fltllllllfltlllltl..lIltllVl11llllCl,ll. Marine Recruit Depot San l1iego.l X.C'ainpl1lliotl'anip MeCay. New Zealand. Battles participated include Pearl Harbor and tiuadalcanal Discharged Jan. 25. 1945. with the rank sergeant. lklarried Anti Babcock June 1955, four children. three sons and one daughter. and seven grandchildren. Retired after 35 years in teaching and administration in the public schools. Currently teaching part-time in Vernon Junior College. HAROLD BEAN. National Chairman, USS Culmfrnia Association. born June 1925, in Sorento, IL. One of nine children of Fletcher and Irene Bean. Eight boys and one girl. which were two sets of twins. which he and his twin Gerald were of older set. Bruce and Burl younger set, Burl died at six months of pneumonia. Their father passed away at age 43 in 1932. All eight children were still at home, oldest being 20 youngest being 3. Five of the boys served in military. First three went to the Army. he broke tradition and followed by another brother in the Navy. His twin Gerald and he, are only two left of the family. Was bom in 1925, in small town of Sorento, IL, with three older brothers in Army, when he reached 18, he volunteered for service, without his twin knowing, and when given choice of branch he wanted, he broke tradition and went Navy. To Boot training Farragut, ID, Co. 747 Camp Scott in September - October 1943. Then to Bremerton to BB 44 USS Calyfornia where he spent rest of his Navy career. Was in lower powder room of Turret 142. Until kamikaze hit in Lingayon Gulf, transferred to 10th to Quad 10 above turret 413. Where the kamikaze plane hit the control tower above. Later transferred to L Div. His memories of his first visit to Hawaii. The first day in action at Saipan. Where they bombarded most of day. And the first hit they took from shore battery, killing one. Then of after bombardments of Guam and Tinian on way to New Hebredes, the USS Tennessee collided with us killing numerous number of crew. The large floating dry-dock there, where repairs were made. Then on to the Philippines with invasion of Leyte, then the historic sea battle of Surigao Strait. Where Calyfornia is credited with sinking of Japanese's battleship. Then to Lingayen Gulf where again suffered casualties from kamikaze hit. Back to states, back to Okinawa, China Seas and War End. Their trip and visit to Japan and Tokyo Bay and Tokyo itself. The around the world cruise via stops at Singapore, Ceylon and Cape Town to Philadelphia Navy Yard arriving Dec. 7, 1945, discharged at Great Lakes March 20, 1946. Returned home to work rest of his life on different railroads with last 30 with Nickle Plate and Norfolk and Westem Railways. USS Calyfornia Association. Idea of keeping the crew together came to him while he was still aboard ship. He was S lfc in 2nd Div. t14 gunsj then to 10th Div. 140mm gunsl. He met with LCDR Kenealy-Chaplain: his ideas of reunions which he was IHOSI supportive of. He arranged for Bean to meet and give his ideas to CDR Mayfield Exec- officer. After the discussions, CDR Mayfield advised he would do his utmost to see Bean received a complete list of all that served aboard beginning Jan. 1, 1944. That he would receive this list before ship arrived states. and before all were discharged. After War. they arrived in Philadelphia Naval Ship Yard. Where ship was to be mothballed and placed in Atlantic Reserve Fleet. He went to meet with CDR Mayfield in regards to this list, only to learn he had already departed on arrival. tHe was toldb. No one in his office knew of the roster. Bean almost gave up the idea. In 1953, with the idea of getting the crew back together. he visited a former shipmate S lfc Michael Coleman F Div. 43-46. who had a list of 120 names and addresses. List was about seven years old. His initial idea was to contact only 43-46 crew, those that were aboard after ship was rebuilt. As he had no idea, as how to contact those that served aboard earlier. The response was a most pleasant surprise. As most wrote they were interested. But more surprising was. when he had notices placed in Military magaaines. He not only heard from the 43-46 crew, but Pearl Harbor crew those ofthe 1930s. 1920s. and yes even 10 of original crew. Plus also the Marines. This was very exciting to him. DORCIE GLENN BEA RBOWER, discharge rating S.l'.1. Born in Brandon, IA, June 3, 1902. Enlisted Dec. 29, 1924. Went to Great Lakes for training, To New York to board the USS C 'ulrforniu and down through the Panama Canal to lionie port San Pedro. In-and-out lor battle practice. In 1925, trip to Honolulu - had a mock battle to take Pearl Harbor, but No Can Dol Then on to Sydney Australia, Auckland, New Zealand. and back to San Pedro. Then up and down the coast to Bremerton Navy Yard to trade their hammocks for those nice hunks and locker and many more happy experiences. In 1927,just before being paid off with a honorable discharge twith a Good Conduct Medall, he helped to get stell from the repair ship Medusa, to install a catapult on top of the 413 turret. Also had orders to take caulking gun to eaulk any rivet that showed a leak at the keel or elsewhere. Their chief and captain had been concerned about this for sometime. ......i.-J., In December of 1941, right after Pearl Harbor, his wife Martha twho was expectingl, their daughters Stacy Lee, age 7, and Sharon Dee, age 5, went to Des Moines, IA, so he could re-enlist in the Navy. The Hospital Corpsman who did his examination was from the USS Calyfornia. He told him that due to his age, 39, they couldn't take him, but that he could get in the First Battalion of the Sea Bees. He signed up on Dec. 29, 1941, and again went to Great Lakes for training. Then on to Quonset Point, RI, for extensive schooling, then on to Camp Allen-Norfolk, VA, for final training with a very strict Marine. then their final graduation, After graduation, in May they boarded the USS Nevelle for the Southwest Pacific. via the Panama Canal. After days they were approached by a USS destroyer that shot a message to them for the captain. He came down from the bridge and read the message to all hands. The next night, which was their 31st day out, they went ashore at Tonga Asmall Island, in a nice gentle rain. Some of the crew had tents. but his buddies and he found three coconut trees, especially for them in order to hang their hammocks and their rifles, of course they had Ponchos to keep them dry-HAI HAI He thinks it rained some time during the day for a month or more while they were unloading the ship. Their cook would prepare the food and some of the boat crew and he would take chow to the crew. They worked two 12- hour shifts until the ship was unloaded. One of his duties also, was to wake up each person on the night shift. He must say. they had men of all ages who really got in there and got the job done, NOW! They did all kinds of work at Tonga. After a year and better they went on further to New Hebrides to join the other half of their First Battalion. This is where he was severely injured and sent to Auckland. and met Marvin Shector from the USS CaIU'0rnia 1927, then on to Pearl Harbor for further repairs. After a month or so he was sent to Seattle, WA, and the Navy Hospital. Dr. Haven. a commander really did the job by installing a Tantalum plate in his skull. The plate is approximately 2 in diameter and .064 thick. will not rust or corrode. What a Doctor! He was the best, and was from his home-town. Waterloo, IA. He was discharged March 1944. He has survived to be 92 years old with the same wife, Martha tfor 66 yearsl and their two lovely daughters Stacy and Sharon, their children, and their son D. Wayne, bom May 29. 1942. while he was still in Tonga Tabu. and his children. He woulf like to thank all of the doctors who made this possible, and above all, our Gracious Loving, Healing Father. HUGH WINSTON BEDINGFIELD, Ens. USNR. bom Bartow, GA. Jan. 15. 1923. Enlisted November 1942, Navy V7 Program, USN. EVG. while on Calmzrnia was in B Division and later A Division. July - October 1943. Vl2. Program at GA Techy November 1943 - February 1944, Midshipman's School. Colombia UniversityL March 1944 - June 1945, USS Calijbrniug July 45 - June 1946, NAS Dallas and NAS Corpus Christi. Participated in battles at Saipan. Tinian. Guam. Leyte Gulf. Surigao Strait. Lingayen Gulf. The entire I5 months aboard the California was memorable. ft . 0,0 5 ...M it ' it Awardsfmedalsz American Campaign, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign, two battle stars, Philippine Liberation Medal, with two battle stars, Philippine Presidential Citationg WWII Victory Medalg Naval Reserve Medal. Released to inactive duty June 30, 1946, remained in Naval Reserve and retired with rank of commander. Married Velma Sharpe, March 17, 1945, while on leave. Have two children and four grandchildren. Retired CPA tworking part-timej. MARTIN G. BIEDRON, enlisted on Aug. 20, 1943, in Chicago, IL. Had his Boot Training in Farragut, ID, from Boots he was assigned to USS Calnfornia in Bremerton, WA. He was on watch in powder storage compartment for 16 inch gun turret the moming Tennessee collided with their ship. He wondered more of what happened than being worried. That is what he remembers the most. ,., -- 5 He was a crew member for the Saipan, Tinian, Battle of Leyte Gulf, and the Philippine Liberation, came back to USA with ship and was sent to Puget Sound Naval Hospital for surgery, then to San Diego Navel Base, until discharged on Jan. 9, 1946, rank of seaman first class. WILLIAM J. BENNECKER, Yeoman llc USNR, born Knoxville, TN, Dec. 15, 1921. Joined Naval Reserve Tacoma, WA, Oct. 17, 1938. Volunteered active duty July 24, 1940. U.S. Naval Reserve, Tacoma, WA. Served aboard USS Calnfornia, USS Minneapolis, ComServFor CFlagj, ComWestSeaFron fFlagJ. Participated in Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941, USS Calhfornia, Bouganville and Salamaua. Memorable experiences include swimming through oil-covered water from USS Caljornia to Ford Island in Pew Harbor. I Awardslmedalsz American Defense one star, Asiatic- Pacific two stars, American Area, WWII Victory Medal and Good Conduct Medal. , Discharged June 29, 1946, with the rank of yeoman llc. Have been married 46 years, wife Betty, and have three children and five grandchildren. Retired after 30 years with Texaco Inc. and enjoy fishing and other hobbies. B.I'I. IBENNIE HOWARDJ BINGHAIVI, Aviation Division, l.lSN, born Ian. 19, 1913. Enlisted in the Navy 1924, after graduating from high school. After Hoot tfarnp at Norfolk, VA, was assigned to USS California at Long Beach, in the Aviation Division 1924- 1 928. USS California was only ship Mr. Bingham was ever stationed. He signed in for four years, then was discharged. Ile worked all during WWII at Convar in San Diego, until he retired in 1975. He married Zora Wood a Navy nurse in 1937. They had one daughter Janet. H X ' ji' lf... ' ,U . 1 W 4, i I A yi r't 'wS, ' 5 1 'Lt .ii 1 i ' lf fi' ll' ' . , -.Q wi- 1 25 lll, V , i . 'li 'pl' iz' 1 1 .ia-it .-.-1 I . .es 7 . Z. f '1l 1liritit,r ' if 1 ' I -X. March 8, 1990, Mr. Bingham received orders to serve on the staff of the Supreme Commander. Submitted by Bertha M. Bingham Baldwin, a sister C. ARNOLD BLOCK, was a rural Iowa farm boy living in a town of 500 and thought the county seat of 2,000 was a big city. It was the depression and he enlisted in the Navy in 1936. It was pretty awesome taking a train from Great Lakes to Seattle and boarding the Calnfornia in Bremerton. He was assigned to the lst Div. and Brute Owens BM1 took one look at him and said he was going to be in his race boat pulling crew. He had no choice. For the next four years he was a member of a racing crew for the Calyfornia. They came in second, third and fourth many times. They garnered many points toward the Iron Man Trophy which the ship won one year for excellence in athletics. They had never won a major race until 1940, when their crew won the coveted Seattle Times Cup. It was the last race to be held by the battleships in Lake Washington. They set the course record. The Fleet was soon stationed in Pearl. The motor launch rides to Trona Field at San Pedro, to watch their football team play. Rash, Nelson, Fisher, McElroy, Wichman, Axle Bros., Lewicki Bros Jackson and others along with Scott who he played B.B. with and they won the battle ship competition. Only to see Scott be awarded the Medal of Honor Post Humously for remaining on his station during the attack. He refused to leave his station when ordered to abandon ship. The finest of Naval Traditions. After he was rated BM3 he was assigned to the MAA Force in the R Division. He was in charge of the mess cooks and food handlers. As such, it was his duty to see that church was rigged on the forecastle for the Chaplain. They had finished and he was standing on the port side this perfectly lovely moming, looking over at Ford Island when a few of them saw the bombs hit the run way. His first reaction, they were water bombs and do they have to play war games on Sunday morning. Moments later, he like many others saw the Japanese torpedo planes coming down the channel headed for the battle ships. Two of his fellow MAA Kaufman Bml and Carpenter Bml were killed during the attack along with many other fine and courageous shipmates. After the torpedo hits and aerial bomb the ship slowly settled to the bottom. The order was given to abandon ship and many of them swam to Ford Island. Before srrnset, many of them went back to man AA guns as rumors were flying high. A couple of planes from one of their carriers came in to land on Ford Island and every AA gun in the area let loose. He remembers one pilot being shot down, brit didn't lose his life. After breakfast on December 8, many of them went back tothe ship to recover what they could, Ile rernernber's tfointt on hoard rulhr behind lotta. Hurt f 1 4 P1 til IU yours, a real salt a crusty 'ilfl ,eterar fl Yroff ' tiara: a mari You could write a book about A than 'if:rr:?Y emotion. 'I his rnorning as he crossed the ldfilifldfff lflfifl ... H., f,.1 and saluted the flag. the one they ily at f1'i',ifi,,ir,i J vffff rvr' paused and mumbled the pride ot the fleet na. , mic- J and a tear rolled down his cheek. Block paid , risfreeit mari is human 'Io this day when he thinks of tha' inf he can get a little emotional It was a great If ie an 1 years. A sad way to end it. Later that day the feansrf: war hit home again as some of us formed pair . and car ,, pf out the charred bodies in blankets. Only their ID Q. idert: :c them. Being almost 614' he was assigned as prirn-....ar D.-4,. in til turret. A primerman unlocks the breech and meer . 5 primer about the size of a 30Ca1. That ignites the 1.14 1 of powder, that hurls l400LB's of destruction througr. i air. You would stand aside as the breech recoiis back bet. ue your head. The pointer and trainer sit up further under ive guns. Miller GM3 would be called to the turret moot: occasion. And on occasion as he climbed the ladder tc g out ofthe pit, he would pinch Blocks cheek and sal.. preiil. tender kid. Block thought he would get even with him v.: he came back down the ladder. He saw a pair of dungarees and as the cheek of the butt got along side of his head. Ki grabbed a handful and said how do you like that you 11235 SOB. It tumed out when those pair of dungarees i bottom of the pit. it was LT. Smith their division ofricer He mumbled something about it being Johnny Miller. L: Smith never said a word. He thought he had. had it. He probably somehow understood. He profess to be the sailor to have pinched a Naval Academy Ofticer in the bu. and got away with it, this may not sound like much ir today's society with all that goes on in TY and monies But it was pretty wild then. ARCHIE A. BOEK, entered the US. Navy on Jan. 1- 1938, while 17 years of age. Training at Station COIFIDERL- 3 San Diego, out of boot camp onto USS Ilriglzt and went to Alaska. Returned to San Diego. transferred into YJ. Squadron from there to the L'SS Calubrnia. His threes choices out of boot camp were Aviation. California Aviation. Was on the USS Caljornia until the middle of November 1941.He was put in the Y Division which vs as the aviation gang so he got both of his original choices he made in boot camp. He was put in charge of the plane on top of number three gun turret. Made t2i'c AMM1 seconc class mechanist mate prior to being transferred off. X Transferred into a flying boat squadron at Kanahoe Bay, VP-1 1. the Catalina. the PBY's the vvorkhorses of the Navy. The plane reminded him of a football team. The line makes it possible for things to happen. the backticld gets the glory. The PBYS air sea. rescue. submarine patrol. torpedo runs, bombing tracking. His plane crew made a night bombing raid on Talogie across from Guadalcanal. before the marines took it. rescued three men of only 12 or 13. that survived the sinking of the USS .linnrzr The squadron was involved in one of the longest torpedo attacks in the history of the Navy, from Espiritu Santo to the Island of Truck. Squadron relieved late in 1943. tlcvx to New Caledonia where he had the surprise of his life. he inet to o of his younger brothers who were on the FSS S.l. tZ'.'kQrl. Walter and Cleo. Was rated ACNIM. Ilpon arriving in San Diego. he was put in charge of a inspection erevv .rr Consolidated Aircraft Plant. After' being there for several months, he had the opportunity to go to tlunp liernnv outside of San Diego as a duty chief. duty every fourth day, rest of the time off. That lasted for .r vvhile, when .r squadron was formed to go to the Philippine Island. The squadron conrrnandcr. tr L'ornrn.inder Balls approached hun about being the engineering chief for the squadron. hc accepted his offer. and they left for the Philippines on the 15th of December' 19-1-1. The planes were the Nav x x ersron of the Rf 14, referred to as the Priviucer PH-IX 's l .uidetl 1' Vltaitppiiics lic inidcistood. thc d.ix .iltci tlic .Iripatncsc xx etc clc.ircd ironi t'l.nk Iicld. xx .is tlicic until thc end ol if .IE Returned to St.itcs. .intl bcc.nnc leading chief ol' the 'ist Nix x Iluiitc.inc Chaser Squadron tlunc doxx n xx nh ti scxc-c .ntack ot .u'thritis. xx as scnt to .laclxsonxillc Ntixcl llospiial 'X t'onnnandei Scroiou decided hc xx as going to i.ikc some nictal embedded in the muscle of his left Icg Ile fctiescd to alloxx it and got booted out. IIFRISLIRVII I.. BULTZ. AS to Shllc. born Northeast Missouri. Feb 9. 1912. Fnhstcd March 1936. St. I.ouis. MO. Great lakes Iii' Nax 5. assigned CAI. tSigna1l Dix ision. Scrxcd .iboard LSS tlt:f.gf.'r't1t: 1930-59. L55 x'xg.iii.a BB39 1939-19-IOL ISS Roc 1315418 1940- 19-t-1. LSS Full Rix'crCA-'J 194-1-19-15. Participated in Battle of Atlantic 19-10- 19-1-lg Marianas Island xx ith s may lask Force 56. Memorable experiences include corix oy dutx in the north Atlantic. When in the Mediterranean Sea in July 1943. knoxxing his brothers tHoxvard F. Boltzl ship was nearby. he went LC it and learned his brother had been killed by a direct torpedo hit txvo xveeks before. Axvardsi' medals: Navy Good Conduct with four stars, American Defense Service Medal with starg American Theater Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medalg WWII Victory Medal. Retired in 1956 with 20 years. achieved the rank of CSM. Married Martha Haffarnan of Baring, MO, and had :xx o children. Worked after retirement in a dairy, until his death on June 3. 1972. in Davenport, IA. PAUL VV. BOLTZ, LCDR USN Ret., bom Oct. 8, 1919, northeast Missouri. Enlisted Oct. 8, 1937. San Diego boot camp. Assigned USS California C-L Div. tSignalJ. Served four years all rates AS to SM1!c. As a new striker he was ordered one day to clear the fouled Admls flag. Climbing the pole mast above the main top, with the ship rolling, seeing the ocean below on one side and then on the other, he was terrified! Over 120 feet in the air and no lifelines. wi, , fi My y mon X M f fa ,- ,- Transferred Asiatic Fleet November 1941. En route on December 7. the ship diverted to Australia. February 1942. xolunteered for Filipino ship running supplies to Corrigedor. Ship was sunk by dive bombers 150 miles north of Australia. After 18 hours in the water. rescued and returned to HQ SWPACAREA. In May 1943. assigned to newly commissioned USS Haggard DD555. Took part in Marshall and Marianas operations. Later in South Pacific they sank Japanese sub. Promoted to CSM and then Ensign. Transferred to COMPHIBGR 12 Staff. In Okinawa fnxaeion April 1 to June 12. Countless air attacks and ifarnikazes Took first ground forces into Japan, landing 'f'rUDYYf2liUl'18lT1?1 Sept. 2. 1945. A Most interesting duty was on Staff'JCS under Gen. eradlel. and Adm Radford. Post WWII served xarious duties including: Staff'JCS Pentagon. CO of TVISTS Office Okinawa and CO Mildep af 'VISTS passenger ships Pe'iredAug 1 l955S.Avxarr1edthefollowingmedals! r,r,f,r,q Na. froodConr1uc,t JVlUfl2Jll American Defense .fzrsetg Vledal with star and clasp1 American fampaign 'fleoar Apiatif. Panifit. 'xfledal with six stars. Victory Medal 22. wt! ,Ng , 3 fjK,!,taf,P1llf1f1 Ser1,ic,eMerfal with Asia f lamp V-atiopaz Ileferire Wlerlal. Philippine Liberation Ribbon Jfzpanrfierit of ljeferixfg ldfzirt liadge Married Iltuiti icc .lolnisoti ol Port Urtlitirtl, WA, lrclt ' 1. 19-ll lflaxc six children Retired to Ilorida in 1979. .ittci second c.n'cct as tcticlict and prnicipail at secondary school lcxcl. St. louis Co. MO. YY. KICNNHVIIH BULTZ. AS to SM1!c. born Nov. 4. 1920. in northeast lxlissouri. Enlisted Navy 19-10, C-I. tSignalt Dixision. Served aboard USS California 1940- 1946 Participated in Battle of Philippinesl Surigao Straitg Lingayen Gulf and the Marianas at Guam. Memorial experience includes being on the signal bridge when the Japanese attacked. First thought was that U.S. Arrriy Air Corps was having mock air raid. Watched bomb fall and one man commented that a man had fallen out of the plane. With the explosion it was realized it was war. Swam to Ford Island. Assigned signal tower, Pearl Harbor, until California was floated and returned to Bremenon. Awardsfmedalsz American Defense Medal, American Theaterg Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Occupation Japan, WWII Victory Medalg Philippine Liberation Ribbong Navy Occupation with Asia Clasp. Discharged June 1946, with the rank of SM lfc. Married Patricia Brace of Quincy, IL, had three children. Died Feb. 8, 1978, Quincy, IL. Submitted by Paul W Boltz, brother: HENRY T. BOWMAN, SF1!c, R Division, born Prince Edward County, VA, June 11, 1920. Enlisted Oct. 26, 1942, USNR, Shipfitter First Class R Division. Naval Training Station Great Lakes, Dearborn, MI. Participated in Saipan. Tinian, Guam, Leyte Operation, Luzon Operation, Okinawa Gunto Operation, 3rd Fleet Operation against Japan. 7 ww. 'IX'-1 cfs Memorable experiences include the first time they engaged in battle, the bombardment of Saipan and the shore battery that zeroed in on them. His battle station was top side. which he liked. Then the occasion of helping to save the lives of several shipmates who were trapped in their compartment of the damaged portion caused by the crash of the USS Teniiessee. The first time to have used the underwater cutting apparatus to have saved a shipmate. The crash of the kamikaze plane on the ship was to be sure the most memorable of on board experiences. The fighting of fires, helping some wounded shipmates to the ladders leading down into mess halls where first aid was available. He and J.W. Plum. Seaman First Class USNR of Parsons, WV, were both commended for outstanding action. Of course there were more memorable occasions of- a inore personal nature, but he won't dwell on those. Awards!Medals: Asiatic-Pacific Area and five stars: Philippine Liberation Ribbon and two stars: American Area, WWII Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal with Asia Clasp, and Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation. Discharged Dec. 12, 1945. with the rank of first class petty officer SF1!c. Married in 1954 and have five children. Retired. He has one son in the U.S. Navy. At present time he is stationed in San Diego, CA. He has 14 years of service with present rating of E8 Chief Fire Control Missile Radar. The following is expert from the Nmjizlk-Virginian l'iio1,.lu1y 28. 1945. Risk of Explosion Dared Three men went into a burning gun mount to pull out wounded despite ai warning of impending explosion. They were l.eonard A. Dusfynski. coxswain. Calumet City, lltl R .I l,tiniat'. sczunan lirst class, Roosevelt. NY and l,eo V. lizigsby, private lirst class, Easton, ll. Twenty other officers and men also were coinrnended lor outstanding action. Among the many men who fought fires. repaired damage or rescued shipniates were H.T. Bowman. shipfitter second class. USNR. ol Route 1. Rice. Prince Edward County. VA. and J.W. Pltirn. seaman first class USNR. of Parsons. WV. Both were commended for outstanding action. WILIJIAM C. BOYAN. USN, horn Aug. ll. 1921. Newark. NJ. Enlisted April 10, 1940. for six years. Attended boot camp at NTC. San Diego, then assigned to USS California. Upon reponing aboard at Bremerton Navy Yard was assigned to 3rd Division but soon transferred to CZQR Division as yeoman striker in First Lieutenant's Office. December 7. 1941, went to battle station in Damage Control Central. Upon hearing abandon ship order escaped through conning tower tube. Reassigned to heavy cruiser USS Astoria and served in Captains Office. USS Astoria was involved in Battles of Coral Sea and Midway before being sunk in first Battle of Savo Island. Reassigned to Comsopac in Noumea, New Caledonia. Subsequently assigned to Steno School. NTC. San Diego. Discharged April 9, 1946. as CYCPAJ. Married wife Colleen in 1958. and has two daughters. Resides in Santa Rosa. CA. Plays golfthree times a week. NICKOLAS BRAND, Boatswain Mate. lfc, born Willow Lake Township, Redwood County, MN. Aug. 4. 1914. Enlisted April 10, 1940. Navy, MMA 6th Division. Service included NTS Great Lakes. IL, USS Caliornia BB44. Participated in battles Antiwitoh Saipan, Tinian. Iwo Jima, Leyte Gulf, Okinawa, Pearl Harbor. Inner Island Transport. Awards!Medals: Good Conduct Medal. ' Discharged April 12, 1946, with the rank of boatswain's mate lfc. Married, seven children and ll grandchildren. Is retired today. ,I.lVl. BREEDLOVE. BMC USN Ret.. bom on July 28. 1914. He enlisted in the Navy on April 23. 1934. at Norfolk. VA. Was transferred to USS Langley CVI tU.S. first aircraft carrierl and made a trip through the Panama Canal. He transferred to the USS Caljornia on Nov. 27. 1934. and served on her until 1944. December 7. 1941, he was BMC 2fc. Was on deck when bomb dropped five feet from his 413 gun station. As order to abandon ship was given. a seaman below deck was trying to get topside through the bomb hole. Cutting away splinters around the hole, Breedlove was able to pull him up to the gallery deck. He spent most ol' the day operating a 50' boat making trips from the ship to the hospital-landing with causalities. He helped raise the ship and take her to the Bremerton Naval Yard for refitting, and then back to sea for the Marianas Islands campaigns. He was transferred to the amphibious fleet in late 1944, serving through the Korean War. He retired from the Navy on April 1, 1954. Other ships he served on are: USS Shenandoah Ad 26, USS Manchester CL 83, USS Glynn APA 239. He also spent two years in recruiting duty in Muncie, IN. He and his wife, Pat, have three children. Breedlove worked 10 years at Boeing Co. in Seattleg owned and operated 1,200 acre cattlefwheat ranch in Oregong owned and operated commercial fishing vessels along the Pacific coast. The Breedloves now reside in North Bend, OR. KENNETH J. BRETHAUER, USN, bam in Portland, OR, April 16, 1922. Joined the Navy Jan. 2, 1941, and trained at San Diego, CA. Attended Machinist School at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station and Ford Navy Machinist School in Detroit, MI, before being assigned to the USS Yorktown at Norfolk, VA. Took part in north Atlantic patrols against German submarines before Dec. 7, 1941. Participated in actions at Marshal and Gilbert islands, Guadalcanal, New Guinea, Corral Sea Battle, and Battle of Midway where the USS Yorktown was lost in action. He was then assigned to the USS Calnfornia, in July of 1942, and took part in all of the actions the ship was in for the rest of WWII. During his cruise on the Calnfornia he attained the rate of Chief Machinist Mate and was very active playing baseball for the ships team. After the ship was mothballed he was transferred to a LCFF until he was discharged December 1946. He retired from Mobil Oil as Superintendent of Electrical and Instrumentation Department. Ethel his wife of 51 years and he have two sons and four grandchildren. He is active in building precision models. GRAYDON L. BROWN, Slfc CSFJ R Division, born April 23, 1926. Joined the Navy March 18, 1944. Basic training at San Diego, CA. Went aboard the USS Calnfornia 1 f , I ' - .. , 4 W J f Q at Manus in the Admiralty Islands in September 1944. Battles participated in were Leyte, Surigao, Lingayen Gulf and Okinawa. Left the ship at Philadelphia' in February 1944, when ship was put in mothballs. Awarded Good Conduct, Philippine Liberation, Asiatic-Pacific and WWII Victory Medals. Discharged Feb. 20, 1946, at Memphis, TN. Lifelong resident of North Little Rock, AR. Betty, his wife of 50 years, and he have three sons and six grandchildren. Retired electrician. HURSHEL F. BROWN, WT 2!c, born Liberty, KY, July 22. 1923. Enlisted April 7, 1943. USN. llivizion ll Service includes USNTS Great Lakes, Il.. and USS California. Participated in following battles: Saipan, Guarn. Tinian, Philippines, Surigao Strait, Lingayen llashi Krasln attack, burial at sea. f ,p-.rw -. Y Memorable experiences include crossing equator, Battle of Surigao Strait, visit Tokyo Bay, Japan. Awards!Meda1s: Pacific Theater Ribbon with four starsg Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars, Victory Ribbong American Ribbon. Discharged March 18, 1946, with ranks AS, S2lc, F2! c, Fllc, WT3!c, WT2!c. He and his wife Mary L. Brown, have son Roy Wayne and daughter Connie Sue. He is self-employed, Brown's TV 84 Appliance, Versailles, KY. WILLIAM DANIEL BROWN, Flfc E Division, bom Roosevelt County, NM, Nov. 20, 1924. Enlisted June 5, 1944, Navy CUSNRJ. Military locations and stations: San Diego, CAL St. Louis, MOQ and Oakland, CA, BB44. Participated in battle at Okinawa. ' 724 'V f Y W f f 0 f X . f, .WZ ' . , 4 a G I f Q Z , . U if f . ' liv- Discharged March 5, 1946, with the rank of fireman first class. Married 50 years, Feb. 14, 1944, wife, Rhymogean, three sons, Daniel, Michael and Randy. Has been in electrical contracting in Midland, TX, for 34 years. DONALD K. BRUMBACK, S lfc USNR, born June 19, 1925, drafted in the Navy Sept. 5, 1943, sent to U.S. Naval Training Station at Farrugut, ID, Company 750-43, for Boot Training, sent to Bremerton, WA, Craven Center, sent from Craven Center to USS Calhfornia, which was in dry dock after being sunk at Pearl Harbor. The ship then went to San Pedro, CA, for a training period then to San Francisco for final inspection, then to Pearl Harbor then on to Saipan Guam and Tinian, Leyte Gulf, Surigao Strait, Luzon and was hit by a suicide plane there, and went back to Bremerton, WA, for repair. After being repaired back to Okinawa. After Japan's surrender went to Tokyo then to Singapore on to Colombo, Ceylon, then to Cape Town, South Africa then on to Philadelphia, PA, he was then transferred to Shoemaker, CA, for discharge on Dec. 24, 1945. Awards!Metlals: WWII Victory Mcdal, Anicricaii Area, Asiatic-Pacific with two stars. Philippine with two stars. llc and tis. Ml f 1,'VJ,1Ilf.l'.l'lllIlI'QlI l-Qctiretl THOMAS It. HIgfQKl.I',Y, lff. r. uf . Joined Navy lan 17 l'14l and fra 1 tat uar.i1:e,f'. Attended rnat,hinif.t school at the 'treat larch '- lrortl Machinist School in llctrot' l41rkzown at Norfolk. Saw action at Vlarxiaii f 'I Islands, Guadalcanal New Guinea Loral H1 ltr ol' Midway where the LBS Mrlffown wap iv: 4 Transferred to the USS Cfolifomio laiy 1942 'Q . aboard ijll grid ol WWII. Wax discharged Fen LL 'ff with rate of.VIM-lfc. , ,, Q 1 4 Live in Houston, TX. with wife. Margaret, and two sons and a daughter. Hobby woodworking. KURT R. BULIVIER, S lfc. 8th Division. born Qi. Lingle, WY, May 31, 1927. Enlisted L'SN. Feb. 13. E9-15. trained at Sampson. NY. Served aboard L'SS Coizltbrfzrg. and USS Arrio. Participated in battle at Okinawa. 55 1. 4. ,. H 'gr - 1 I L Memorable experiences include returning to San Francisco under the Golden Gate Bridge when War ended. The finest people he ever met were the men aboard the L55 California. When on the .-trrio they were in a severe tx phoon while towing an APL and it snapped the 5 inch how ser and they lost the tow. The engine room was flooded and they were completely disabled. They drifted many day s until at plane spotted them and sent a destroyer to tow them into Pearl Harbor and then a tug towed them to San Francisco. Awards!Medals: American Theater Medal. WWII Victory Medal. Asiatic-Pacific Medal with one star. Discharged July 28, 1946. with the rank ofthird class petty officer. Married in 1956. and have three daughters .ind four grandchildren. Today. semi-retired salesman. traxeling. hunting and fishing. FLOYD E. BURCH. Coxswain. born Wier. RS. Feb. 6. 1924. Enlisted Max' I9-13. USN, lst Dixision. Serx ed aboard the USS Ctzlifbrizitz. Participated in the folloxx ing battles: Saipan. Tinian. Guam. Lcxte. Surigao. Lingay en Gulf and Okinawa. lylemorablc experiences include sailing around the world. Awards!lX1edals: WWII Victory Nledal. Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars. American Area Catnpatgii Medal. Pacific Campaign Medal xx ith four stars. Discharged Dec. 12. 19-15.xxiththcrtntkofcoxsxxatft Hc and his xx ite, Dorothx haxc txx o daughters. Nlarx and Jackie. Retired hcaxw cqtnpincnt operator. RAYMOND H. BllRl'HYl1l'IlT. PSN, born Jan. IS. 1925. Enlisted in scrxicc Sept S. 1943. Reccixed Basic Training at Fanagut. ID. Ile xx .is scnt dircctlx to Brcincrton. WA. for duty on USS f'tlfI'fll!'!Iltl. which was rcccixing repairs froin Pearl lflarbor -Xttaclx USS Clilititnirn rcturncd to dutx with nannng off coast of Caltl'oinia and thcx rcturncd to Pearl llarboi for training. llc scixcd on l'SS t'ti,lirr-vii.: when Nl.n't.in.is ,,,..-..-..Y.... ,..... ., xx x' Nx'xl1lx'x1.l1It1.l1Nx'.l1 1'1iilippiuc 1 i1ici.uioii xx iili 'fx x'l'1'x'Nt1ix'l1. be-ite lut lxx .i .l.l11.ll1t'Nt'k1Ul1l-1 .sj5'i.ix1x'.xi.S.t1'1tftg1liS5 l 'ii.i.lt1.l111 llicx ictuincd .115 3l.ilk'S.x'1x1x'111x'l'1x111,VN X.,lg,llll10l repairs Rr-tiiiiir-rl txitx .trxtiiv 'oi x'1c.inui' opcititioiiout1lxiu.ixx.t Was that . xx Tico sX1x'l111x' lioutli xx .is dropped in ,lapan . 7 Wav' V YK I D :Q After signing of the Peace Treaty xxith Japan. USS i'h r:z.: deported again from Bremerton. WA. and sailed into Tokx o. Japan: Singapore. China: Cape Toxxn. Africa: Cex ion. liidia and there to Atlantic Ocean into Philadelphia. PA. s1iipxards.We receix ed Libertx in each of these ports. Discharged from the Naxy Feb. 5. 1946. with rank of storekeeper 3rd class. He spent his entire Navy service .board LSS cstlfflllflllhtl. except for Basic Training. He and ins xx ife Lois xx ere married March 25. 1945. They have six children and 11 grandchildren. He has been a registered barber since 19-18 and still in business. .-Xxxards.Meda1s: American Area. WWII Victory Medal. Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one star, Philippine Liberation Ribbon. KRANIER JOHN BURK, USN. Boatswain's Mate 2l Q. bom Max 21. 1914. in Chandler, AZ. Joined the Navy Jan. 9. 1940. at the Los Angles recruiting station. Went zhrough boot camp at the Navy Training Station at San Diego. CA. Was assigned to the USS Calnfornia at Long Beach. CA. rank on the Calnfornia was seaman llc. His rattle station was operating a powder hoist in one ofthe 14 inch guns. After the Pearl Harbor Attack was temporarily assigned to a antiaircraft battery setup around Pearl Harbor. Later xx as assigned to the destroyer USS McCalla DD488 xx hich attained the rank of boatswain's mate second class. Also served aboard USS McDonough and NOB Pearl Harbor. . N 5 . X ' 4. Battles participated Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal. Fhiippine Liberation. Medals and awards: American Dezense with one Bronze Star. American Theater, Asiatic- Paczfic Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars, Pizlippine Liberation Ribbon with two Bronze Stars, WWII gurl. Ribbon and Good Conduct Medal. His memorable experience occurred while he was on if: CSS Califormu at the time of Pearl Harbor was attacked. saw. some of the first Japanese plans drop bombs on Fira Island and 'will nexer forget the big red circles on 'rf- r -J. Qngs. He wx as in the 4th Division and his battle station I in No 4 Turret operating the powder hoist for one of :ic fi .nch guns. Dr'-.charged from Navy on Jan. 10, 1946, at wefnaker. CA. He is a life member of Pearl Harbor are Association 1'ff:r.a'-.three sisters and a brother. Burk has retired as c '.',',r' 'lfr Wil' .IANIIQS B. BIQRROW. 1,'SfN'.Captain was born Jan. Q 3. . fr. Perrsacuia l'l. 'Crossing the l.rne'i Ceremony ' f 1.23 ffllifnrnm H1344 circa l934l5l6. 1'rJ' year: at the 1, S. Naval Acaderriy. he 'Ira '.',r'7l:rfis.aion as an ensigrr in lunc 1933. 'l hal ifgvzrtcfi luuarfi 1111. 1ir.t ship IQSS I ulijornm fl-,,.'f,r,3 llilgf if mi, 112 IUIIIQ1 officer :incl as Alssis1.tI1l iiuuiicix tV11lLlCl Slioitlx alter lt'lNll1l11g1 tlllxhllklf'illllt'1'I1Irl. during a port xisit to Seattle. VY.-X, lic 11101Qi1l1iU11llL'X'lll1k'.tlIUXCIN coed attending thc Uiiixcrsitx of Wasliington. .111 trtiiisferred from Cltlllfllflllrl in August 1936, and on tlic 29111 of that niontli. 1icandl'aroline xx erc married in Seattle. JB. served as at Naval Officer for 30 years. primarily at sea aboard cruisers and destroyers. During and immediately after WWII. he served as executive officer aboard the cruisers Richmond and .-1.x'ror1'r1 and as commanding officer of the destroyer Frank Kno.x. During the War he received several personal medals, including the Bronze Star. as well as campaign and service ribbons. Following his second command tour. aboard USS Estes AGC12, J.B. served as Chief of Staff. 13th Naval District. headquartered in Seattle, WA, and subsequently retired in June 1963. J.B. passed away in April 1985. leaving Caroline, two sons and six grandchildren. Both his sons, Jim and Barry, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, received commissions as ensigns and served aboard cruisers and destroyers throughout their Navy careers. Barry a captain in the Navy, commanded the modem day nuclear propulsion cruiser USS Caliornia CGN36, from 1988 to 1991, and proudly flew the Battle Flag from BB44 as well as his father's personal U.S. Flag from the mast of CGN 36 throughout his command tour. ELMER BUTRAM, USN, was bom Nov. 1, 1920, in Hickman, KY. Joined service July 16, 1940 tsix yearsl Paducah, KY. Trained Great Lakes Naval Training Center, IL. Dec. 7, 1941, serving aboard USS Calyfornia. That morning was assigned to K.P. duty in spud locker working on potato eyes when general quarters sounded. Went to battle station below as second loader on anti aircraft guns. When they took a torpedo hit and everything went black, abandon ship was ordered. Looked for a glimmer of light from above and climbed ladder with only saving his Bible, tstill have itj. Transferred to USS West Wrginia for salvage duty. After attack parents were notified by telegram that he was missing in action. While in Pearl he notified his family he was O.K. After West Virginia was raised they sailed her to Bremerton Navy Yard, WA. While attending church in Bremerton, his future wife saw him singing a solo, and two years later they mel accidentally in Connecticut and year later 1945, married in Oakland. CA. Discharged July 16, 1946, Naval Station San Diego, CA. Have two daughters and four grandchildren achieved rank EM2lc. ,. we - ,fn . f. '- ff X ' 5. , , rp A. 5 . ' f ZA f W z 1 , '. 'W ff,.f . f .,-iz.. .Y nj 1 ., 13'-H4 ' f f 1.. ff J' Gm Z. I ss0y, , SN 4, ff 0,0 .4,Mf: . , S JW!! 495205 ,fr ' Sophia his wife of 48 years is submitting this material from details he told her while he was well. since unfortunately he now has Alzheimer. JAMES A. BUTTERFIELD, USN, bom Aug. 15. 1917. in Springfield, MA. Enlisted in the Navy. Aug. 15, 1935. U.S. Training Center, Newport. RI. August 1935 to December 1935, USS Calrfarnia BB44, January 1936 to August 15. 1939. A Division USS Calnfornia small boats. Brooklyn Navy Yard winter of 1939, shoveled coal for heating USSSez1r1le receiving ship. USS Cherokee ATF66, 1940 to 1943, USS Lugori ARG4. 1943 to 1944. Commissioned Ensign October 1944 LST 1053, 1944 to 1946. LSTI 123, 1946 to 1947. Shore duty San Diego, CA. 1948 to 1950. USS Gr11i11gc'rAK184, 1950 to 1952. t Olx!lNAV Marianas Guam, 1952 to 1953. Industrial Repair Astoria, OR, 1953-1955. USS Kermit R0n.x'c'i't'll Aug. 16, 1955 to 1956. Participated in Battle of the North Atlantic. landing in North Africa. Nov. 2. 1942. D Day Landing in lricliori. Korea. Medals: Good Conduct, American ----uuun ' me if f f 1 Y 1 am 4 . Defense with Navy Occupation with Asian Clasp. European-Africa with star. WWII Victory Medal. Korean with star. Retired LT USN, Feb. 1. 1956. Worked for 18 years in engineering Local Hospital Donald N. Sharp. One daughter, two grandchildren. one son killed in service U.S. Army. Widower, travel, sail and ballroom dancing. Live in San Diego. CA. DONALD LAWRENCE CAMPBELL, Seaman, ll c, V-6 USNR. born Portland, OR, Nov. 21, 1926. Enlisted Nov. 1 1, 1944, C-R Radio Division. Service included NTS Farragut, ID, and USS Calyfornia. 'lt M . .r l Q, Memorable experiences include crossing the equator in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Also Capetown. AwardslMeda1s: American Theater Ribbon, WWII Victory Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon and honorable discharge. Discharged July 19, 1946. Bainbridge, MD. with the rank seaman llc. V-6 USNR. Married July 31, 1948, to Clara Caroline Carol have two daughters, Diane and Cynthia. two grandchildren. Collin and April Strid. Worked in accounting. retired May 1989. died Oct. 20, 1992. Submitted by wife, Carol Campbell. BILL CARTER, USN. WT 3rd Class. born Weatherford. TX. Sept. 23. 1924. Enlisted June 7, 1944. USN. Water Tender 3rd Class. Division B. Basic Training, Camp Pendleton. transport ship to transfer to USS California Battleship leaving from West Coast of USA and retuming to the East Coast Philadelphia where it was put in mothballs. Participated in following battles: Surigao Strait. Leyte Gulf, Okinawa, Luzon, Philippine Liberation. the invasion of Okinawa, Guam, Saipan, Tinian, and the Philippines. Memorable experiences include Liberty in Singapore, Capetown, South Africa, and Colombo. Coming around Africa's Cape Hom and on to Philadelphia. AwardslMeda1s: seven Battle Stars. Presidential Citation. personal Citation for Philippine defense and bars and stripes. Discharged April 8, 1946, with the rank of water tender 3rd class. Married Virginia Phillips, have four children and nine grandchildren, married 48 years. Still living in Weatherford, TX, and working at his life time trade building homes. at 70 years old. EDWARD F. CHURCHILL JR., Coxswain. born June 7, 1920. Enlisted Oct. 29, 1937. served Asterion USS 0'l3cuinon and USS Slwrrve. Served aboard USS Mr'Crrf7l'e-x', Narsarsuak, Greenland, Great Lakes. Miami. FL, Argentina, Newfoundland, Korea. Memorable experiences include many battles. Pacific Theateron Spwwv and U'Bannon. saw 10 Japanese cointnit suicide on small boat. Awardsfmedals: American Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, WWII Occupation f Service Medal, two Presidential Unit Citations , . . ' if .5 National Defense Service ' f w .,- , 4' I Medal. ' Discharged Jan. 19, . 1950, with the rank BMC. Was restaurant manager, deceased Dec. 21, 1989. . WARNER D. CLARK, USNR, born July 23, 1923, at North Liberty, IN. Enlisted at South Bend, IN, on July 2, 1942. Boot Camp at Great Lake Naval Training Center. Assigned to Naval Training School at Dearborn, MI, graduating as SF 3!c. Assigned to USS Calnfornia H t at on May. 5, 1943, and f promoted to SF 2!c. Took part in the invasions of Saipan, Tinian and Guam . Islands. Memorable moments, removing the living and dead after the Tennessee!California collisiong while underway repairing the smoke stack spark arrestor with temp approximately 130 degree, had to enter the stack through inspection hole 12 xl8 . He was one of the smallest in the R Division. Assigned to Advance Welding School at Naval Repair Base, San Diego, CA, on Oct. 5, 1944. Married Iva Smith on Oct. 29, 1944, in Walkerton, IN, while on leave before welding school. Assigned to APL 45 at Portland, OR, in May 1945, and promoted to SF llc. Took 21 days for the APL to go to Pearl Harbor from Portland with a sea going tug. He had 44 l!2 points when they got to Hawaii so back to Great Lakes to be discharged Nov. 20, 1945. They have lived in Walkerton, IN, for the past 40 years. They have one son and two daughters, eight grandchildren and four great-grandsons. After leaving the Navy he went into a family business as president of the Silo Manufacturing Company, North Liberty, IN. Now in poor health with l00'hn service connected disability but try to live each day to the fullest and enjoy the USS Calnfornia Association Reunions. me an 'iff CARL J. CLAUSEN, Seaman First Class, joined the Navy, Sept. 30, 1944, and was sent to boot camp at Farragut, ID. Early in December he injured his back at fire fighting school and spent two months in the hospital. Graduated from boot camp the tirst week of March 1945. After two weeks leave he was sent to Bremerton, WA. and assigned to USS Calnfornia in March 1945. He was assigned to the Lookout CLJ Division, however because he wore glasses, he was moved to the F Division where he served as range setter on 40 millimeter anti-aircraft guns. ln August 1945, he was transferred to the First Division where he was assigned to the Turret Crew and was put to work at getting Turret I ready for the mothball fleet. He received his discharge July 5, 1946, at Bainbridge, MD. For six months after his discharge he heldjobs in the grain harvest in western Washington state, worked at the local lumber mill and a lumber yard, He then went to business college in Spokane, WA, forthe next two years. After graduation he worked as head bookkeeper and office tnanger ol a department store in Potlatch. ID. ln 1951, he went to work for a bank in North ldalto for 10 years. From there, he went into employment in the manufacturing ol' heavy road and canal equipment, He retired after working about 10 years in the sign business. He married in 1947 and from that marriage he have three children, all of whom are now grown and married. He was divorced in 1960. He has five grandchildren and four great-granddaughters. One grandson died in 1992, at the age of 20 years. In 1966, he married Norma Sammy Sampson and they now make their home in Lewiston, ID. ROGER W. COLE, USN, was born in Jackson, TN, on July 17, 1899. He joined the Navy on Jan. 2, 1919. He did his boot training at Great Lakes, IL. His first ship was the USS Vermont then was transferred to the old USS Comfort, the old hospital ship. He then was assigned to the commissioning crew ofthe USS Calyornia BB44 which he put in commission on Aug. 10, 1921. The commanding officer was Henry Zigmyer, the XO was Walter A. Smeadg the f 5 gunnery officer was CDR r Bradley who late became an admiral. While on the Caljornia, a crew member smuggled a baby bear which weighted less than 10 pounds. The crew fed him milk with a nipple and ice-cream. They named the bear Prunes and he became the mascot of the ship. They raised this baby bear from 10 pounds to approximately 450 pounds. This bear never tumed violent. Prunes the bear was transferred from the USS Calhfornia to the Los Angles zoo. The crew first thought he was a honey bear but he turned out to be a grisly bear. The USS California excelled in all sports participation. One of the members of the baseball team Dick Moudy played in the Pacific Coast League and later became a pitcher in the major leagues. Jack Silverstein became a Navy lightweight champion and turned professional and fought under the name of Jackie Silvers and he fought for the light-weight championship. They also had a great basketball team. After transferring from the Calnfornia, he did duty on the following ships: USS Pyro, an ammunition ship, shore duty at the Naval Base, Norfolk, VA, USS Henderson, a troop transportg USS Wright, a plane tender, was a plank owner on the USS Saratoga CV3, USS Teal, an aviation minesweeper and the USS Brush DD745 during WWII. While on the USS Henderson participated in the landing of Marines in Nicaragua in the year 1926, in the over taking of dictator Sandino. Later the Henderson participated in landing of Marines in Shanghai, China when the Japanese invaded Shanghai in 1927. While on the USS Brush DD745, participated in the Battle of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He was transferred to the Fleet Reserve in May 1936. and recalled back in the Navy and placed on active dulty in April 1941, and retired in July 1945, at Shoemaker. CA. MICHAEL N. COLEMAN, S llc, USNR. born Chicago, IL, Oct. 30, 1925. Enlisted Sept. 7, 1943. USNR FOT Division. Boot Camp, Farragut, ID, USS California. Participated in battles at Saipan, Guam, Tinian, Leyte, Surigao Strait, Lingayen Okinawa. 'nfl' Memorable experiences includc all the battles, air and surface. Avvardsflvledalsi Philippine liberation Ribbon xxith t-,t,f1,',tnr1, XX ,t:ittr, lJLi',iltC.' 2itttt12taf'f'i-fl'L'ld. rf WW11Vir,tory Nledal Atrtertnar .farea lJ1',t,lt7tIQfgrl Nlutilt ill! Iflflfi ffrltt ' J I I, .Vlarrted 'Iherepa and ha ff: ,tl i,rrt.r,.:r. Wl.. lanet, Bruce. Neil. Dave Vlary and fi :fP1ft'iL' lanothet wari '3pent'14 yearn wtthf rnf Pot-ff.: as sergeant RALPH WARREN COLLINS SK 7'f',lf,n51. . Omaha, Nh, Oct. 16. 1923. Izrilisted lan 22 Hia' .2 . S Division. Boot Camp, Farragut. ID. ir, Sept ,er Ja assigned to USS California transferred after If campaign then assigned to 1,83 ABSD 7 Part.: battles at Marianas Campaign, Saipan. 'Imran fr-lar: Memorable experiences include when 2 5 .tier 1 I hit a fire control tower and one ofhtz sritpmatee 2153K rec Received ribbons given to those who se. ,ed if South Pacific. Discharged Dec. 21, 1945. with the rank of L 3 Married Joyce Yergey Jan. 27, 1945. sort Steuer. daughter Connie. Retired from IC. Penney Compaq. DURRELL E. CONNER, CTC LSN. born Sept. 1918. Enlisted March 10. 1938. and assigned eompan: f , 9 at Naval Training Station, San Diego. Assigned to USS California in July 1938. assigned to 5th Division. In 1939. was transferred to the stat? of Commands Battleforce. Conner was Yeoman 2nd class at the time of the ana: on Pearl Harbor. The Calnfomia caught her first torpedo a 8:05. He watched it come from his station in the Fla communication office. where he was wrapping x-ma presents. Captain Bunkley gave the order to abandon ship 4 10:02 a.m. and the men swarrned ashore. Fifteen minute later, the wind blew the burning oil clear and the captain was calling everybody back on board to fight the tires Conner noted the flag had not been raised. He grabbed seaman and together they hoisted the colors on the fantail A big cheer went up and men began streaming back. Retired as CTC in 1962. ROBERT C. CONSTANCE. QM 3i'c. born Mansfield OH, March 2. 1925. Enlisted June 10. 19-13. USNR. S 1 c N Division. then QM 3!c. Military locations and station Great Lakes Boot Camp. QM School. IQSS Ctzi'tr2n-tri.: Bremerton. WA. Participated in battles at Saipan. Tinian Guam. Leyte. Lingayen. Surigao Strait. Philippine Liberation AX WN duiys IC Singapore and especially Capctoxxn. South -Xfrica. .alone with crossing thc equator and lntcrn.ition.il Date l inc Awards.flX1cdals: Mari.in.is Cainpaigii, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Guani, -Xsiatic Theater Discharged March 6. 19-16, xx ith thc rank otiQN1 F c Married and has thrcc sons ot ix hich txxo .irc in ins Retired. live in -Xrizoiia and Missouri, RN' tigix clcr During his high school scars. one ol' his tondcs tlrcaiiis nas to bc .i spccd boat pilot llc bclicxcs that tha Memorable experiences included liberty ir f.1111.1s1 11.1s 1111111111111 111 111111 111 111111. .ts 1111 11115 j1r111l11gQ11 111111l1111111s111a1111111111'1'SS1i.:iit11t'r11.11111 11ett1'1 1111111 11111 1 11.1rs 11111'111g V1 1111 lt is .1 great 1111111 111 1111 sta11111ng 1111 the 111'111g1' 111,11 JI 11111111111 111ss111 11111111111 the steering 11 heel .11111 11111111 111.11 NN 11.11 1 KJLJ 1111 11 111 guide that great ship and itis fine 1'r1'11 111 'ts 111's1111.1t11111 HFRBI-1R'l' E. COONS. 80111111111 lst Class. born 1N.1lWe11.1.MN.Ap1'1l 1. l9l4.F11lis1e11 May 25. 19-13.178, N111 1.8611111111 1s11'lass.D11. 1. l.11111111t1t. SCl'XC1lL11l:11ITi1g1l1. 111 131'e111e111111 N1111 Base. WA. Partie1pa1e11 111 battles at Rel. Saipan. li11i11et1111. Guam. Surigao Strait. Espiritu S.111lU5. Tinian. Mantis. Ley te Gulf. liossol Passage. Memorable experiences: aboard the Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Japan. signing of Peace Treaty by Lt. Gen, Sutherland. Mac.-Xrthur's Chief of Staff. .-X11 arded the Presidential Citation. Discharged Feb. 19. 1946. with the rank ofcoxswain. He and his wife of 46 years, Grace. have four children and five grandchildren. Retired. DLAHNE VV. COOPER, bom Sept. 15. 1914. to a German immigrant mother and an Oklahoma Cherokee father. Duahne Cooper spent his early childhood years on .1 high desert Oregon ranch homesteaded by his parents. After high school graduation in 1932. in Drain, Oregon, he sera ed a tour of duty in the Navy as an enlisted man before returning to complete his bachelor's degree at Oregon State Lniversity. After completion of Officer Training School, he was transferred to the USS California and was aboard when the ship was attacked at Pearl Harbor. He was transferred ts the CSS Ralph Talbot, then later to the USS Hamntona' and the L'SS Tennessee. He was involved in 17 major Naval engagements. and by the end of WWII was entitled to wear the following nbbons. medals. and insignia: American Defense. one star: Asiatic-Pacific. I7 stars: Philippine Liberation. one star. He w as recalled to service during the Korean Conflict and serued at Great Lakes Naval Training Station, ending his Na . al career with the rank of commander. He returned to Oregon State University to acquire me masters degree. later taking sabbatical leave from 1 rn' ersity of California Extension Service to pursue a PHD. at Cniyersity of California Berkeley. After a 20 years career as county farm advisor with L r.:.ers1tj. of California Extension Service. he retired with rf' v. ile Nelsie to Yuma. AZ. spending some months each ,ear in the hill country of Texas and fishing from South Padre lsland He was a member of the American Legion. Survivors ' Pearl Harbor. ljrntcd We Stand. and was a former tzflent of the Society for Range Management. l1ed1edAug 28. l993.1nYuma.AZ.l1e1s survived I nf. wife Nelsie. sorts 'lhorrtas ol Glasgow. Scotland. 47,13 1131, ,rj 1,1 Clhlfdfi CA. daughter Leslie of lzureka. CA' Atfgr,-fiaugliters Lorratrte llagnerol TVl1.Aller1. 'l X, and Kelly lgy,m,,y,p f,t Pagigjjrjgjv C A s,tt5pfst1r1Sq,olt l't:ll'1I111'1tilAtlslltt. 'lf M.l1'Rl1IlD l.0YlCl.l. COPl'l.IQ1't.lti1 USN. born Dee 14. 1909. S1lX1l1lI1111l. UA. k1l'11LlllL11L'kl front the U.S. Naval .1X1'a11c1111. .lune 2. 1932. Ensign. llc served 111 the regular USN.l.1l1Ctlll1lCS.k,i1llIIlClij. 'llurtet ll. 31111 llivtsion Ol'fice1'. lioxing Officer, SLll1lllgOllilL'CI'.111111l.L11lLl1llg lforee Officer. aboard the 1'SS California front March ll. 1938 to March 3. 1940. During this period they were stationetl at Long Beach. CA. 111a11e a trip via Panama Canal to East Coast, operations en route New York. Upon detachment ffOI1l the CalzjQ1rnia, reported to the USS Blue DD387. as gunnery officer. On Dec. 7, 1941 , during Japanese air attack went alongside Calyfornia in a motor whale boat. Calnfornia very low in water. Called over to Lt. Foley who was on low forecastle deck to inquire whereabouts of the USS Blue. lt had put to sea so he reported aboard USS SeUridge as gunnery officer. Late participated in Blue in Marshall and Gilberts raid with task force. Also. made logistics trip to Midway Island. During night battle practice, steaming Darkened Ship the USS Pennsylvania lost all power while steaming 300 yards ahead and drifted alongside the California tnext asternj as officer of the deck, he missed Pennsy and called CalU'ornia Capt., who was shocked by emergency. Served most of the war in LTA anti-submarine warfare. Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross and Commendation Medal. On June l, l960, he retired as captain, USN. He was married to Esther A. Moyer for 49 years, and who died March 8, 1986. They had three sons, one daughter, 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He married Elizabeth Burns December 1987. Two sons served in the service, Vietnam, Helio Pilots. One son, Navy Flight Surgeon, Japan. Today he is KHB tkeeping home fires burningl. For 26, after retirement, Gen DynamicslAstromanticsg Components Corp., and Manager, Rancho Santa Fe Association. Now traveling and trying not to get involved! . Z , 1 if JERRY A. COSTACOS, SKtDJ3lc, bom Longview, WA, Aug. 28, 1926. Enlisted Aug. 26, 1944, U.S. Navy. 5 Division. Served at Farragut. ID, Bremerton, WA. USS Calzfornia, USS Augusta, APL56. USS Consolation. Participated in the battle of Okinawa. Memorable experiences include sailing around the world on USS California. AwardslMedals: Asiatic-Pacific. American Theater. WWII Victory Medal. European Theater. Discharged June 20. 1946. with the rank ofSKtD13!c. He and his wife Eva have sons. Constantine. John, and daughter. Marianne. Owner of car rental company and parking garages in Seattle. CURTIS O. COY. USNR. was bom Jan. 7. 1925, in Keytesville. MO. He joined the service March 1943. He trained in Farragut. ID. After boot camp. he was stationed on an Air Base by Arlington. WA, for a short time. Assigned to the USS California in Bremerton. WA. He was a fireman lst class. Fllc. Battles he participated in were Saipan, Guam, Tinian. Leyte. Surigao, Lingayen Gulf and Okinawa. He was discharged in 1946. at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. ln 1945. he married Varine Capps. They have four childreni Teresa l,yllIl.Ji1lIlCS, Mark an1l Kimberly and six griintltrlttldren ln 1948. they started Coy's Moving and Storage an1l 1lJ1tlt1lllLL'Slll.lCll1TfN1llJfill1y.Mflicwlllllllihlll.MfJ,SC1lZl1ll1, tv MOL and Springfield. MO. ln 1989. they sold Sedalia, MO, and Springfield, MO. They still have an office and three warehouses in Jefferson City, MO. and an office and warehouse in Columbia, MO. Coy's Moving 8: Storage is an agent for Allied Van Lines. Coy's has straight vans and tractor-trailers that travel nationwide and also ship and receive overseas shipments. JOHN H. CRAIG, born Nov. 9. 1923, San Pedro. CA. Joined Navy December 1940, reported aboard the USS Caljornia BB44, May 1941. On Dec. 7. 1941, he was a CM Stricker and in the shop at the time ofthe alama. Shop was on the third deck aft on port side. When GO sounded he ran down the Starboard passage way on the third deck to repair 1112 fwd., where he was a phone talker in repair 112. The hatch above on the third deck was still open when they took their first two hits port side fwd. Reports were made to central station, but like most stations they were not fully manned. They started to list and the compartment was flooding with oil and kept getting deeper. It was hard to see his shipmates pass out with the oil fumes and sink in the oil, the first he remember was a shipfitter 3c who was going home in a week for discharge. When the repair party came to close the hatch above they pulled three sailors out and he was lucky to be one of them. another was a painter stricker, and the third he does not remember. He passed out and came to in front of the ship's store on the main deck. One of the shipmates and he went aft to get some fresh air and clean the oil off their face and body. The Japanese planes were strahng the deck. so they got under the turret. The Chief Warrant Bosn. came by and asked if they were O.K. and to take a Motor Launch to l0ll0 dock and pick up any officers and crew and bring back to the ship. That was one hell of a trip from the ship to the liberty dock and back. When back on board ship he joined the repair party to get sailors out from below deck. Then the word came to abandon ship and over the starboard side he went and swam to Ford Island. Three days later transferred to the USS Chicago Ca,29. lost her Jan. 29. 1943. another story. Discharged 1946 CCM tal. EDGAR R. CRAIN, USNR. LTCJGJ Staff. born Bicknell. IN. Boot Camp Coeuvr'd Alene. ID. COMM School Harvard. Participated in Surigao Strait. Lingayen Gulf Landings. Memorable experiences include passage through Surigao Strait. daytime with kamikazes. Discharged April 1946. with the rank of lieutenant junior grade. His wife's name is Virginia. Retired attorney tGuam1. have lived in Guam since 1946. JESSE L. CROW, USNR. EM llc. Serial on file ff 624- 05-49. born Nov. 18. 19191 in Hondo. TX. He joined the Navy on Sept. 5. 1941. in Houston, TX. He trained at the Navy Training Station at San Diego, CA. After his electrical training. he was sent to Pearl Harbor, where he was assigned to the USS California repair crew. to help raise the ship after it was sunk. Sometime between landing at Leyte and the Battle ol'Surigao Strait and Luzon Landing. the middle gun in Turret IV was not in worl1ing order. The motor barring was out on the electric motor. He reported to Lt. Wilson and Lt. Dulling that he could fix the gun with the help of the machine shop on the ship, which they did. So they had 12 working guns, instead of ll. He wanted all grins in working order if at all possible, in the situation the way it was. The battles he was in were Guam. Tinian, Leyte, Surigao, Lingayen Gulf and Okinawa. His medals are: American Defense Service Medal, American Area Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon ttwo Bronze Starsl. He was discharged on Oct. 15, 1945, as a electrians mate lst class. CEMllcJ. In 1946, he married Doris Paul. They had seven children, one deceased at birth, six surviving children, Corliss, Doris, Mary, Betty, Brenda and Clyde. Several grandchildren. He is a retired lineman and is enjoying gardening and growing old. Submitted by daughlen Betty Williams. ROBERT L. CROYLE, USNR, was bom June 21, 1922, in Spokane, WA, joined the Navy in October 1942, and went on active duty in February 1943. He went to boot camp at NTS, San Diego, W and was selected for training , 'suggg as a radiolradar technician jj ' ,W f which led to training f ' Z 1 assignments at the Naval s P Reserve Armory, Chicago, IL, University of Houston and the Fleet Electronics , .K-Q- , I fy l fffhf f Q ff . 14 School, Treasure Island, A f CA, graduating with the rating of RT2lc. X In April 1944, was assigned to USS Calgfornia, C-R Division, just prior to her deployment from San Francisco to the Saipan Operation. He remained aboard BB44 for the balance of his Navy career having been re-assignment to I Division prior to his discharge at PSC, Bremerton, WA, February 8, 1946, with the rating of ETM1lc. After the WWII, he earned a BSEE degree and worked for Philco Corp, G.E. Co., and Honeywell Inc., retiring in 1982. He married Ann on April ll, 1953, and they have two daughters Karen and Nancy. WILLARD DANLEY, Corporal, USMC, born Bismarck, ND, March 11, 1924. Enlisted July 2, 1942, USMC, Anti Aircraft Battery, G Division, USS Calnfornia. Served the following locations: Boot Camp Navel Air Station Sea School, San Diego, Navy Yard, Bremerton, WA, USS Calyforniag Aleutians Adack, Dutch Harbor, Great Lakes, Norfolk, VA. Participated in following battles Marianas, Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Philippines, Leyte Gulf, Surigao Strait, Luzon, Okinawa. nr' Memorable experiences include hit by Japanese shell offSaipan, Sea Battle Surigao Strait, and the day hit by the kamikaze oll Luzon. AwardslMedals1 American 'lheaterg Asiatic Pacilit. Service Medal with four stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars, Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, flood Conduct Medal. Discharged July 2, 1946, with the rank of corporal. He is married and has two children. Retired. EDWARD A. DAVIS, leirecontrolrrian, USN, 1' Division. Enlisted Aug. 14, 1940. Served aboard Califorrziu March 1941. Reported missing after Pearl Harbor. Put on guard duty around fuel tanks. Must have missed a muster. Transferred USS Louisville for three campaigns, then Aleutians. Transferred to V12 Officer Training. Back to USS Wisconsin, then USS AJ. Luke. Discharged Aug. 10, 1946. Recalled October 1950, USS Essex, then USS Antiezam. Discharged August 1951. NAPA Parts salesman in Pendleton, OR. Retired in 1987. , fu f 7 f f'.,Qv'Z, ' . ,, ff f, , 'f M f . C ., 531 ,f f :fe wi ' 0 7 ff W f sf 4 Qf fl Mn -Y ff f f isa f N f ' em' f J 1 a , Q I v f l ,r , 'Y ' I f f. la if ,uf , 4 1, . ,fiwf - ff :Tw iff' 9. ,, ' Q7 ' I H af 4 , ,ya A I - t 7 f 8 L fy 1 Davis married in 1945. He and his wife moved to cattle ranch near Long Creek, OR, next door to their daughter. Have two daughters and five grandchildren. Member of Pearl Harbor Survivors Association and USS Calqbrnia Association. Awarded usual service ribbons with five campaign stars for WWII. ERNEST E. DAVISON, MMCR, bom Dalton, NE, Aug. 16, 1919. Enlisted Sept. 8, 1939, U.S. Navy, Division A-B-M. Served following locations: Naval Training Station San Diego, CA, Nov. 10, 1939-Aug. 20, 1946, USS Calnfornia BB44, USS Delta AR9, Philadelphia Group Atlantic Reserve Fleet SubGrpTwo, Civil Administration Unit, Yap Island, Bremerton Group Pacific Reserve Fleet, U.S. Naval Group, Jammat, Golcuk, Turkey, USS M.J. Manuel DE351, USS Wilkinson DL5, U.S. Naval Missile Vlarritzil llorr. lrioriipzrtr. f'ifl'1 'ft Mrarult,hitr1reri and one great yraiitlmri . .fa .. CA, Vvfryrlqgrl lryr ll'it,1 ',lly ffl l,'i',fkt1Lfl.:if' , lfff X. lanuary 19962 MORRIS Al.l.IIi DAWSUN, 'W'lf1f', li Ina it born Pittsyl-xariia VA, 'vlarch ffl' 19223 lm-i 1941, Navy Boot fjarrip Norfolk VA prispja aboard USS Yurklnwri, 194142 Pearl l larl'i'fr WA, and Long Beach. CA Participated fri fulfil... ,i USS lvirklown, Coral Sea Midway island 1, SS f fififof 194245, Nflarianas Operations. Saipan. Tinian firf' Leyte Gulf, Philippine Liberation and Ukiria iid 'UW ' Memorable experiences include some good times with shipmates in ports abroad and LSA. AwardsfMedals: received eight major battle stars. th American Defense Service Medal and Asiatic Campaigr. Medal. Discharged Oct. 21. 1945.Norfo1k.VA. vviththe ran of WT 2!c. Morris married Helen Feb. 25. 1945. They hav e three girls and seven grandchildren. Morris vvorked for ADT Securities as sales representative for -10 years. He retired 1988, taken sick Feb. 2, 1990. died July 12. 1990. Morris had asbestosis, he acquired while re-furbishing th CalU'0rnic1. It stayed dormant 45 years. EARL R. DEANER. WT!2. born Lancaster. PA.Api1 20, 1920. Enlisted October 19-ll . Navy. B Division. Sem ed at Norfolk Naval Station. ESS lfbrkroivzi. USS Califbwzttz. USS Wisconsin, USS F0rI.lfIf11ra'01z. Participated in Ccral Sea Battle. Midway Battle. Surigao Strait. Center, Point Mugu, CA. Participated in following battles: Pearl Harbor. Marianas Operation, Leyte Operation tSurigao Straitj, Luzon Operation, Okinawa Operation, Third Fleet Operation against Japan. Memorable experience occurred on Dec. 7, 1941. when they were hit, he was at his GQ station in the shaft alley, with four other men when the word was passed to abandon ship, they tried to get out, but the deck above was flooded. When they came back aboard, someone checked all sound powered phone and contacted us. The only space around them not flooded was the central control room. They couldn't use a torch and ctit them out because of the oil fumes, so they removed the seal over the propeller shaft. they were all thin so they were able to squeeze through the opening. He was one ofthe original crew that remained aboard and helped relloat the ship and bring it back to Bremerton. Awards!Medals: Good Conduct, seven awards, Asiatic- Pacific Campaign, six stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars, American Defense, with one star, American Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Occupation Service Medal, WWll Victory Medal, Pearl Harbor Commcmorntion Medal. Disclrargetl Fleet Reserve .luly 7, 1960, with the rank of MMC. Retired .ltrly 1, 1969. ,se Memorable experiences in Battle of Surigao Strait and also the Good Will Tour. The suicide dive at Leyte Gulf. going into floating dry-dock and being rammed bv USS Tennessee. Awardsllvledalsz Good Conduct N ledal and others ship earned. Discharged Nov. 10, 19-15. xv ith the rank ot'WT l. Married 4-l years and have one son. Retired after' -ll years from Pennsylvania Railroad. enjoying gardening. some traveling. etc. CONCETTO JAY DELUCA. SlC. St. Louis. NIO. Feb. 20. 1926. Enlisted April Ib, 19-1-1. Navy. Povvder Room. 2nd Division. Military locatioiis served include NRS St 1 otiis MO. N1'S leairagiit. 111. 1' Xl1t'lfN S11ot'111.1kc1. LJX. l SS l'.if:tit. 21f1i RS 1.18. l'SNl1 lX!'x'll1C1'lUl1. Vx -X l,.ll'lIClP.llCtl 111 follow ing battles 1 cxtc. 1 ex te killll. lIll1ll1W1Wll1U 1 ibcrattoit. Okinaxx .1. Nlx'1110llllWlC CXPCIICIICCS include ship llll by suicide i'l.l11C 111 lIl11l1P111llC l llX'1'Llll0ll. .laiiiiary 1945. Xxxaids Nlcdals -Xl11Cl'1UAl1l Lfaiiipaigii Medals. Xsiatic llacitiic Medal xx 1111 four battle sta1'sgXX'XX'll Victory N1cd.11. Xaxy Occupatioii Serx rec Medal xx1t11As1aClasp: Pltiiippiiicl 1lWCl'Llll0l1 Ribbon. Philippine Presidential llnit t 1t.1t1o11. l71SCl1Lil'gCtl ixlay 20. 19-16. xx llll the rank of S IC. Xlamed Mildred Bonoxic11.Ap1il 2-1. 19-18. haxc three children and sex en graiidcliildreii. Vwent to I-laxxaii JllllC 983. x isitcd Pearl Harbor Fox 3 Pier. Retired. PETE G. DENNOS. Efxlllc. E Dixision. born Darliiigtoii. SC. March 27. 1921. Enlisted July 1941, Navy. Axx ardsfMeda1s: Philippine Government Liberation, Lnited Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, U.S. Navy Good Conduct Medal. American Defense Service Medal. LYS. Navy American Theater Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal. U.S. Navy Asiatic-Pacihc Campaign Medal. Discharged July 1947. with rank of EM1. Married Jan. -1. 1953. and had one boy and one girl. Retired. Mr. Dennos suffered a stroke and cannot speak. VVILLLXINI DEVRIES, S1lC,bom Spokane, WA, Sept. 16. 1927. Enlisted Caboutj July 1, 1944, Navy, USS Ct1l1jQmiia Store Keeping Dispersing. Service includes Parragut Navel Training Station and USS Calgfornia, South Pacitic Okinawa and into Japan for signing of surrender. Memorable experiences: Crossing the Equator, also to be able to go ashore in Tokyo, Ceylon and Capetown on their way back to the USA new home port of Philadelphia. Discharged approximately July l, 1946, with the rank of Sllc. Married to Patricia June 24. 1950, they have two sons and five daughters. live at the same home they bought when irst married almost 44 years ago. Their two son. Devries and his wife. own Atlas Van Lines agency in Spokane and Seattle. WA. NL-XRSHALL J. DIAMOND, Seaman llc. bom Galax. YA. July 20. 1920. Enlisted Oct. 3, 1942. U.S. Navy. SIC. 3rd Division. Military service included Great Lakes. IL: Bremerton. WA. aboard ship Dec. 5, 1942. Participated in battles at Saipan. June 14. 1944. Tinian, Guam. Leyte Gulf, October 19441 Sea Battle, Oct. 25. 1944: Surigao Strait. Luzon Islands. Okinawa. April 1945. IW , 'vlernorable experiences include hit with suicide plane r 5 1945 ,Av.arfIslfV1eda1s. Ainerican Area.. Atlantic Pacific .3 ri-3 with four 'tar'-Q Philippine Liberation Ribbon with liars flood Vonduct .'VIt:dal. WWII Victory Medal. ljf'-fghijfijfjfli ljfjfl 12 1946 with the rank ol scsirnari 'vlarrifzfl f-flat. 51. 1943 wilt: liifa '-,firis Htzriizird and llaiold. tltllltlllltxl Xfoiicilc. Retired .lo years w1t11 textile. l'cle11rated 511111 fkI1l1lYCI'X2ll'X xx ith three cliildrcn and seven yiatidclitldicti D.-XRVYIN VY. DINGFICIIDER. Sllc. born Fountain Ll1ly.WlS..lllly l 1. 192-1. Enlisted April 1943. U.S. Navy. Stationed at l3l'Cl11Cl'lOll. WA. and South Pacific. Participated 111 battles at Saipan, Tinian. Guain. Luzon. Philippines, Surigao Strait. Memorable experience was going to Tokyo at the end of the War. AwardslMedals: seven RAR six stars. Discharged January 1946, with the rank of S lfc. Married to Leida for 48 years, with two children, Diane and Scott. Also have two grandchildren, Jenna. 7, and Gareth, 7. Retired from driving school bus. JOHN H. DITTMER SR., ENCCSSJ, USN, July 21, 1922. Joined Navy Sept. 16, 1940. Aboard USS Caldornia at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Received head wound when bombs hit the galley. Shipmate saved him by swimming him to shore. 7,1 L Z 4 i',- 2 . After recovering, served aboard USS Portland during Pacific campaigns 1942-1944. Transferred to the Silent Service, serving on the subs USS Brill, USS Bugam. USS Sabalo, and USS Jallao. Retired in 1960. as chief engineman. Received the following awards: the Purple Heart, WWII Victory Medal. Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal. National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal. American Defense Service Medal. American Campaign Medal and the Navy Unit Commendation. Served as DOD Policeman at SUBBASE Groton. CT. retiring police chief in 1978. Afterwards. worked as a real estate broker until he died on Oct. 22. 1989. Survived by his wife. Gertrude. son Lt. John H. Dittmer Jr.. USN. and step-son Andrew J. Pappas Jr. CLEVELAND DODGE, SlVl2lc. born Sayre. PA. May 25. 1920. Enlisted Dec. 1 1. 1939. USN. Communications. Served at Marianas. Okinawa, Hawaii, Marshall. Philippines. Tokyo Harbor. Participated in battles aboard USS Californm. transferred to USS Owen DD536. f ,- 1 .1 .1 Air' 1 f.-lg. -. iz. -xx ex 1 1 Y. he 2 1, XX .111 1 lax. Memorable experiences include being reported missing in action at Pearl Harbor Dec. 7. 1941. found on battery detail in Pearl llarbor. AwardslMedaIs: WWII Victory Medal, American fatnpaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Canipaign Medal with nine battle stars. Philippine Liberation Ribbon with five Bronze and o11c Silver stars. Good Conduct Medal. Discharged Dec. 21, 1945, with rank of signalman 27 c. lvlarried Grace Wulfken, June 1 1. 1946. four children. Margaret, Cleveland Jr., William L.. Joseph P., and one grandchild, Patricia. Retired from U.S. Post Office. RICHARD A. DONAHUE, Signalman llc, USN, bom Iowa City, lA. 1922. Enlisted Aug. 21, 1941. Graduated Boot Camp, Company 41-107, San Diego. Assigned to California at San Pedro Oct. 19, l94lg Deck Force, 6th Starboard Division. Battle station was third loader, No. 2-5 D.P. Gun, Starboard Boat Deck. Wounded by 9 flash burns from bomb hit I entering starboard boat deck sv that ignited 5 ammunition being passed topside by hand from mid-ships hatch. Abandoned ship from starboard boat boom to Ford Islandg confined two weeks in Naval Hospital Pearl. His tour aboard ship was very brief. no thanks to the attackg and as an apprentice seaman, he was learning all the rules, and where he stood in the pecking order. Married 40 years to Jean Ludy. four children. four grandchildren. Member of California Reunion Association, Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. Mine Warfare Association. We reside in Whittier, CA. ROBERT R. DORRIS, MM 3lC. bom Tacoma. WA. He enlisted in the USN on Aug. 1 1. 1940, he served for six years, with 14 years active in the reserves. He Hnally retired Nov. 1. 1960. with the rank of AD!l. In addition to the CalU'brnia, his duty stations included NAS JAX. NAS Trinidad. and NAS Miami. He is widowed with five children. ages 37 to 49. He is fully retired with 3051 disability. DONALD R. DOUGLAS. Signalman. llc. bom Hume. IL. 1924. Enlisted Feb. 23. 1943. U.S. Navy. C-S or Signalman Division. Service included USS California and Bremerton Navy Yardg battles at Saipan. Tinian. Guam. Leyte. Luzon. Surigao Strait. Okinawa. Memorable experience: Jerry O'Conne1l and he were just finishi11g the end of a very boring mid-watch and had exhausted about all of their ability to hold a conversation. They were standing on the outside catwalk just aft of the captain bridge. At about the same moment they saw the Teziize.r.ree out of position. the officer of the deck spotted the problem. Douglass first thought was that she was a destroyer changing position and was crossing their bow to take position on the starboard side of the formation. He then realized they were on a collision course. On the impact there appeared to be nojarring or shaking. As the Tennessee was traveling a slower rate of speed she started ripping down the side of the ship. It appeared to him a wall of xvater went up between the ships about a 100 feet high. The llfiiizessee moved slowly back tearing the side with its anchor. Shortly General Quarters sounded and he left the bridge. Discharged Jan. 19. 1946. Married June and has three children. Retired. SCOTT E. DOVER. USNR. born March 17. 1922. Charlotte. NC. Enlisted in the Navy Sept. 29. 1942. to Dec. 17. 1945. Took six weeks training in Great Lakes. IL. He was assigned to the USS Califbrnia in Bremerton. WA. ,ma and took part in all the action the ship was in tor the duration ofWW1l. Being in the 5th Division, his closest call was when they were rammed. His bunk was twisted in a knot. He only received a little back strain helping a shipmate front drowning. He still. to this day, has a strong feeling for those that gave their life in this terrible tragedy. His battle station was First Loader on a 5 38. Once when a Japanese was diving down on the ship, the barrel of his gun was shot off. He stayed aboard the ship until he returned to the states. His honorable discharge came in December of 1945, in Bainbridge, MD. His wife of 46 years passed away one year ago. He has a wonderful step-daughter, two grandchildren, one great-grandson and one on the way! He has been retired for 12 years from Southem Railroad. His most enjoyable hobby is playing golf. . ALBERT A. DRAPEAU, S IIC, born Bridgeport, CT, Oct. 17, 1921. Enlisted Dec. 12, 1939, NTS, Newport, RI, USN, Seaman, lst and 2nd Division. Service included USS Calnfornia Portland, Indiana, Bradford, SCTC, Miami, FL, PGM I 9-USS Ozark. Participated in battles at Pearl Harbor, Wake Island, Truk. Guam, Coral Sea, Midway, New Hebrides, Okinawa, etc. Memorable experiences include picking up Yorktown survivors from sea, pulled up buddy who talked him into enlisting! Awards!Medals: Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with five starsg American Defense Service Medal with one star, WWII Victory Medal. Discharged Dec. 14, 1945, Lido Beach, Long Island, NY, with the rank of S IC. Married Katherine Conrad, June 1943, four children. I2 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Retired U.S. Postal Service, now reading and golfing. On Dec. 7, 1941, he had the Quarter Deck Watch, he was ready to raise the colors when Ford Island was bombed, he sounded the alarm and ran to his battle station in Powder Room Gun 2. When torpedo hit, water rushed into Powder Room they escaped through the Powder Hoist. JOSEPH W. DRAWHORN, FC3!c USN, born April 1919, Georgia. Enlisted September 1937, NHCON, GA. Took Boot Training Norfolk, VA. Sailed for West Coast February 1938, on USS Henderson. March 1938, assigned duty aboard USS Cainbrnia F Division. Work and battle station was MK XIX AA Battery Director, under able supervision of L.C. Doc'I Miller. Served entire cruise aboard the 'LCal and discharged October 1941. 'Yi ll. Drafted into Army July 1942. because of outbreak of WWII. Went to officers Artillery School Ft. Sill, OK, in 1943. April 1944, assigned to 977th Artillery on Anzio Beachhead, August 1944, invaded South France then transferred to 634th Artillery Battalion at Bruyeres, France. When war ended in Europe sailed for U.S. October 1945, from La Havre, France. aboard SS Argentina. Discharged December 1945. October 1947, married Geraldine Hobbs. February 1951 , recalled to active duty and served one year in Korean War with 58th Artillery 3rd Int. Div. THEODORE DROZDENKO, MM 3fC, born March 29, 1919, Torrington. CT. He enlisted in the USN on Sept. 21, 19373 he served on the USS California, leaving her on Oct. 21, 1941. He held various posts, arnortg them lst Division for a year, Turret itll lor six months, and the distilling plant for two years. Battles participated in include: Bougainville, Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and a bunch of little islands. His decorations include the Good Conduct Medal. He was discharged June 27, 1957, with the rank of MMXC. He and his wife had a daughter and a son. His wife passed away in September 1993, today, he is Hretired and trying to stay alive. LEONARD F. DUFFY, Chief Machinist Mate PA, USN, USS Calnfornia, enlisted in the U.S. Navy January 1940. Attended boot camp at Great Lakes Training Center. Assigned May 1940, to USS California at Bremerton, WA. In 1941, joined the Pacific Fleet. In port at Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941. Attacked-sunk and swam to Ford Island after word passed to abandon ship. Work Parties 7th and 8th to Navy Yard Center, assigned to USS Astoria. December 14, 1941, left on mission to save Wake Island, Wake fell, back to Pearl Harbor, then to South Pacific with Task Group, with Yorktown, then Coral Sea Battle, May 1942, Lexington damaged, assigned to take to Australia, but caught fire again, had to abandon. Took a lot of crew to New Caledonia, then north to Tonga Island. For RSLR only one day back to Pearl Harbor, in over night. Back to sea to meet the Yorktown at sea. Then the Midway Battle. June 1942, lost Yorktown Took Adm. CB1ack Jackj Fletcher, staff and crew members off to Pearl Harbor, supplies then trained Marines, landing, etc., on islands, then to South Pacific for the invasion of Guadalcanal Aug. 7, 1942. Covered landings and ships of group-air raids, etc. Moming ofAug. 9, 1942, around 2 a.m. Salvo Island battles No. 1, the USS Astoria, his ship sunk, his cousin Warren Duffy, was killed, went down with the ship. Also USS Quincy, USS Wncennes and HMS Canberra. Duffy was wounded, put on USS American Legion. Operated on to remove shrapnel from left arm, side, back and leg. Went to New Caledonia, to USS Wharton and then to Pearl Harbor and back to the States and Treasure Island. Leave and ship assignment to USS Core under construction at Tacoma, WA. November 1942, commissioned early. 1943 through Panama Canal to Norfork, VA. Assigned to convoy duty and hunting Gemaan submarines. Took convoy in for the Sicily invasion. 1943 assigned to new construction of a new carrier. the USS San Jacinto at Camden, NJ. August 1943, commissioned. December 1943, Caribbean and Trinidad shake down. Trained crew and new air groups, Air Group 51. One of the young pilots, their president today. Back to Philadelphia for shake down leave. Left for Panama Canal, San Diego. then to Pearl Harbor. Made chief machinist mate at stop. then on to Marshall Islands, Majuro. May 8, 1944, the 3rd and 5th Fleet- Marcus, the Marianas chaing Pagaon. Saipan. Tinian, Rota and Guam the Turkey Shoot June 19, 1944. The Palaus campaign then Leyte. President George H. W. Bush stayed with the ship until he was shot down. September 2, 1944 with tJG1W.G. White and J.L. Delaney. ARM 2!c on 58th mission. Got the President back after two months, on submarine. His two crew members were killed. Air Group 51 was relieved by Air Group 45 in Apra Harbor November 30. The first carrier to visit that port since recapture of Guam. 1 On to support the recapture of Mindoro and Luzon. Then they ran into bad weather. Went into Ulithi on December 21. Alongside of USS Hector frotn December 22 to 27 to complete repairs. Then Iwo Jima and first Tokyo raids, Okinawa Campaign. many suicide planes, many ships hit by suieiders. The atom bombs dropped August 1945. Ceased fire Aug. 15. 1945. Signed Peace Treaty on battle ship Mirwinri Sept. 2. 1945. They left for States, Sept. 3, 1945. After steaming 153,000 miles. spent -171 days in combat from tlte time they were cotntnissioncd in C'amden. NJ. Sixteen months and seven major campaigns to 1-lttntet' Point Navy Yard '1 hirty 'lay . lea fe Stripped -,hip to haul troops lrorn fiuarri to Shoemaker IA rnade t wo trip. lbtzt translerred to Shoernaker then to ISS Ztfffffft llecorrtrnissioried at lpvertt, WA Went hack to Snoernarw CA, for discharge Jan 24. 1946. lrorn regular Na., reserve at Waterloo, IA, horne ol the Su1lt.anlirothf:r for a total of 31 years. HC received thy Good flonduct Points. S, 11512. Citation frornAdmiral Halsey. American Theater Xsrriertca: Defense. Asiatic-Pacific fl2 starsi Euro-Alrtean on .1 Bronze Star, Philippine Liberation with two Bronze Star. Presidential Unit Citation, Purple Heart. Victory Nleda. Pearl Harbor Cornrnemorative Medal 11991 i. He is a life member of Pearl Harbor Sur.: wt Association, and the U.S. Navy Nlernorial Foundation Married to Margaret, Sept. 2. 1943. have three children, raised a niece, I3 grandchildren tour greaie grandchildren. After discharge, January 1946. worked for railroad, farmed, retired in 1983. Have winter home in Sur. City, AZ. Summer home in Oelwein, IA. WILLIAM H. '4.IACK DUNLAP, Water Tender 1. c, bom Stanley, VA, April 15. 1921. Enlisted October 1941. USNR, USS Calnornia, B Division. Basic 'Training Greag Lakes, ILg Troop train Navy Yard Bremerton. WA: assignee to USS Calnfornia in dry dock, shake dow n cruise off Long Beach, CA. Left Pearl Harbor in May 1944. J, J f 9 ' Q 4 , , ,, V 5 U fi.- Battles: Saipan, Guam. Tinian. Leyte Gulf. Surigao Strait, Lingayen Gulf and Okinawa. Hit by Japanese kamikaze killing 203 men on ship. Back to Puget Sound. WA. via Pearl Harbor for repairs. After Victory at Okinawa. proceeded to East China Sea. Sailed to Japan August 1945. to support landing of occupation troops. Proceeded to Singapore. Colombo. Capetown, SA. Arrived in Philadelphia Dec. 7. 19-15. Discharged Dec. 17. 1945. Awards!Medals: WWII Victory Medal. America Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Star. Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal with four Bronze Stars. Philippine Liberation Medal with two Bronze Stars. Good Conduct Medal. Married Coceile Butt. sons Derrick Dunlap and Kevin Dunlap tdeceasedlz three grandchildren: Ryan. Megan and Tyler Dunlap. Retired Cente1iSprint engineer. MAURICE RAYINIOND DUNN. LSXR tRetft. enlisted Oct. 17. 1933. in Denver. CO. along vv ith his step- brother Richard G. Weston. Walter Davis and John Bechtold. all graduates from Lafayette High School. Lafayette. CO. They were all in Company 33-20. at the Naval Training Center. San Diego. After completion of training, Davis and Dun were ordered to the LSS California. Davis went into the oth Division and Dunn to the 4th. Red Hinson was the -lth Division BNI 1.-'c. His brother went to the-USS 72'.vtis and Bechtold to the LSS PC'l1ll.YvYf1'I1IlllI. He made S llc in November 1934 and transferred to the E Division as a striker in the IC Gang. H.C. Overstreet was their W.O. and Kttnold EM lic. Summers ENI lc. Sweet EM 1ic.Meck. Kosley and Olson FRI lic. NN'illi.nns and Plazhiak EM 3ic and Lawrence Cttstance. also a striker. were some of his shipmates. He was discharged October 1937. as an ERI lic .md entered the Reserve. He was recalled to Active Dtttv in October 1941 and reported to the San Diego Repair Base. He was commissioned as Ensign in .lanttary 19-13. .ind stayed on the Base ttntil 1944. when he vvas assigned to Lion S. a Ship Repair llnit. After training at San Bruno. Port Httenetne and Camp Elliot he was returned to the San Diego Repair Base ttntil ordered to report to L'.tpt.ttn tlatcr Admiralt Hyman G. Rickovcr at Pearl Harbor ln .lime 1945. he went to Okinawa vvith CDR Bethea their lfvecttttvc Officer to set up their Repair Base. llc worked tv ith the Clls setting tip their camp and 8 ri SNK Qi. .is 5.111 age Ollrcei on w reekcd I S I S until he retiiinetl in 'Nlav 1945.1el ong llC1lt'll.kl.A,Ull the l'SS llrrrir'o1'A llc w as ll'.l11SlCl'l'Ctl in the Rcscrv e llct' 15. 1945 llc rcriiaiiietl .relive in thc Reserve ioining .1 B11 Ships l'1iit in long lic.1cl1.ki X.Hc1'ctir'ed111.11113 1975. asl CDR after 4lye.1rs 101.11 serv ice Was the N I 1' LN isually liitpaircd llcrsonl with tltc w has cane .ll the l'uscon Reunion. IEONXRD A. DTISZYNSKI. BM Nc. born Calumet City. II. Mig 21. 1922. Fnlisted Aug. 30. 1942. USNR X G Stationed .ll Great lakes Nav al Training Center. Great I akes. 11 . Puget Sound Navy lard. Brcinerton. WA lT.l1T1C1PdlCtl in battles at Tinian. Saipan. Guam. Ley te Gulf. Surigao Strait. Okinaw 11. Lingay en Gull. Luzon. Memorable experiences include Battle at Lcytc Gulf. being raninied by LSS 7l'iziit's.vce. rough South China Seas: .5 phoons of Okinaw a. Aw ardsf'Medalsi Bronze Star w ith V Clasp. Asiatic- Pacitic Canipargn Medal with one silver and two Bronze stars. American Campaign Medal. WWII Victory Medal. Navy Occupation Service Medal with Asian Clasp. Philippine Liberation w ith tw o stars. Philippine Presidential Lnit Citation Discharged Dec. 12. 1945. with the rank of BM 3!c. Married Irene Kirker. and have three children, two sons and one daughter: and two grandchildren. Retired 12 years. Active in Local VFW Post Tend Bar. now watch grass grow. ROBERT D. DUVALL, USN. BM2, bom Dec. 21, 1920.111 McKinney. TX. Hejoined the Navy Aug. 1. 1940. in Ft. Worth. TX. He trained in San Diego, Company 4065. He w as transported bythe destroyer USS Crain to the USS 5.11-aroga and then taken to Pearl Harbor to board the USS Caiirbivzrtz. Battles he participated in were Pearl Harbor, Saipan. Tinian. Guam. Leyte. and Surigao. His medals are American Defense Service Medal with one star, Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal with four stars, Good Conduct Medal with two stars. Philippine Liberation Ribbon and WWII Victory Medal. He was discharged in June 1950. In 1952. he married Lee Elliott and they have two children, Duncan and Ann: two grandsons, Dwayne and Taylor. He w as self-employed in the family ranch for 35 years and is now retired and enjoys hunting, fishing and wood carving. He resides in Highland Village. TX. RALPH HSHORTYP C. DYE, born Dec. 20, 1925, in Rantoul. IL.joined the Navy January of 1942. The battles participated in were Saipan. Guam, Lenian, Leyte, Luzon, the invasion of Okinawa. and the patrol of the China Seas. Also landed troops in Japan and was in the sea battle of Surigao Strait. He was a radioman 3rd class. His medals were WWII Victory Meal, American Theater Medal, American Defense Service Medal. Philippine Presidential Citation. Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal. He was discharged on Feb. 5. 1946. After the war Ralph became ajoumeyman ironworker out of Springfield Local 46. He married Margaret Blaze on June 30. 1946. they had 12 children, nine boys. three girls. Three sons Howard. Harvey and Paul all served in the Navy A nephew Charles Johnson also served and a grandson Matthew Richards willjoin in September of 1994. Ralph belonged to Hume Christian Church. he was post commander of Roth William American Post 369. He was a 32nd Mason of the Hume Masonic Lodge. At the time of his death he was mayor of Brocton. IL. where he and Marge lived. she still resides in Brocton. also Ralphs union book was one of the 19th oldest active Jcarneyman classifications. Ralph passed away Nov. ll, riff.. LYLE VV. EADS, born June 29. 1916. in Ida Grove. IA. Entered Navy on June 15. 1934. Recruit training at USNTS San llrcgo Assigned to t't1li'fornm in November' 19.14, served 111 R llivisioit. also editor ol clllllffllilllll f'IllI. l'1'a1isle1'i'edtoiiuani1nNove1i1ber 1939. as tl VIC. Captured by Japanese on Dec. 10, 1941. taken to Japan and released in September 1945. Coiitinued in service. commissioned i11 .1 unc 1946. Retired alter 30 years service oi1 July 1. 1964. as a Cdr. Back in Navy in May 1966. as a civilian. Served as assistant inspector general in the Naval Sea Systems Cornmand. Retired May 31. 1984. after 48 years Federal Serv ice. Wrote a book S11ri'i1'ril Aniirlxr the A.l'llt'.l'. relating experiences as a POW for three years, nine months. Special awards: Navy Commendation Medal. Purple Heart. Merito Naval by Brazil in 1951. Member of Masons. DAV, AL. American Ex-POWs. Included in Personalities ofAmerica and Wliolv' Wlio in the World. Retired and living in Melbourne. FL. CHARLES J. EDEBURN, Sllc, USNR. born Nov. 30. 1924. at Alliance. OH. Enlisted September 1942, Boot Camp. Great Lakes. Went aboard USS California, F Division December 1942, at Bremerton, WA. Served aboard through amphibious campaigns in the Marianas. Philippines, Okinawa and the great battle of Surigao Strait, the latter was a memorable experience. They proceeded to end their round the world trip from Tokyo Bay via South Africa to Philadelphia. Awarded WWII Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two Stars. Discharged December 1945, married, two daughters, retired from Kaiser Stl. 1982. KEITH E. EDELEN, GM3!c, born Aug. 29, 1924, in Grinnell. Enlisted 1942, 3rd Division. Discharged 1945. lf In . .WW 53, ,iii 1 Z 7 7 Q yd' Z Married Evelyn DeMen1enaere, Eve children: Joseph. Therese. Diane. Don and Eugene. Died Oct. 25. 1993. LINTON A. EDWARDS, corvr, usiv. born sept. is 1918. Portland. OR. Enlisted, USN, May 17. 1938. Assigned to USS California in 1939. Became a member ofthe wrestling team. Served aboard California in Turret 141 as GM in charge of lower handling room. December 7. 1941. during the attack by the Japanese, the lower handling room took on water. Abandon ship was ordered. but Edwards stayed on the phone until allowed to leave. when water was up to his waist. 1942. Commissioned YMS 122. built in Bend. OR. and operated out of San lraiicisco. 1945. Commissioned USS Arwim' IAPA 1281 Transported Marines to and from Okinawa. May 14. 1946. Honorably discharged as chief gunners mate. with eight years service. October 17. 1941. not long before the Japanese attack. he married Jackie Washburn Edwards. They have three children: Terri. Bob and Carl. Plus grandchildren and great- grandchildren. HOWARD J. EINHORN, USNR. MMl!c, enlisted Aug. 31. 1942. Attended boot camp at Great Lakes Training Center. Assigned to Bremerton for salvage duty on the USS CalUornia for 14 months. it 'QW 4 3 .Q iw ,ff if Participated in the campaigns in the Marianas, Philippines, Okinawa, and the battle of Surigao Strait. Most memorable event: entering the Leyte Gulf on the way to the Philippines he recalls. a mine surfacedjust below the deck where he was standing. With fascination. he watched the crusty. horned mine pop to the surface with little concern. He later realized what a close call it was when one of the other ships in the fleet destroyed the mine. The explosion created a tower of water that could be seen for miles. followed by a concussion felt throughout the ship. Awarded the Good Conduct Medal. American Area Campaign Medal. Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with five stars. Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars and the WWII Victory Medal. JOHN C. ELLIOTT, Sllc. USNR. bom Blue River. WI, June 4. 1923. Joined Navy on March 16. 1943. Trained at Farragut. ID. Transferred to Shelton Navy Air Station in Washington. Transferred to USS Caljornia in September 1943. Assigned to 10th Division. Took part in getting ship ready to sail in January 1944. Took part in all the action the ship was in for the rest of WWII. Left ship Jan. 19. 1946. at Philadelphia. Participated in battles at Saipan. Guam. Tinian. Battle of Leyte Gulf. Surigao Strait. Lingayen Gulf. Discharged January 1946. with the rank of S llc. Pat. wife of 47 years. have two sons and two daughters. Now retired company driver. EUGENE D. ELTON, born Nov. 25. 1921. at Spirit Lake. ID. Graduated from high school in May 1940. Enlisted at Spokane. WA. in September 1940. Went to San Diego for training. Then onto the USS Oklahoma. then to the USS California and out to the islands in February 1940. Was standing at AA gun all and saw the first bombs hit Ford Island. Ran around the deck shouting the Japanese are bombing Ford Island. Got the cover offof his gun CAAD 4118 about that time they took a torpedo and lost power. From then on it was mayhem. Set up the AA guns at the mouth of Pearl Harbor. Back to Calyfornia after it was raised and came back to the states. Went to Gunnery School at Washington. D.C.. and remained on the ship until it went back to sea. Engaged in Saipan, Tinian, Philippines. Left the ship just before Iwo Jima. Back to San Diego, then to Treasure Island for assignment to the USS Hmbalier at Seattle. Put it in commission and went to the Panama Canal and up to New York. where he was discharged. Dec. 27. 1946. honorable. with the rank of GM 2lc. Married. raised two step-children. Retired. today dry wash for gold prospect tgold and silverl. DONALD WAYNE EMERY, Fllc. Electrical Striker. bom Minneapolis. MN,April 2. 1925. Enlisted March 1943. Navy. Electrical Division. Stationed at Farragut, ID: Bremerton.WA1 USS Callforriizn Naval Hospital Hawaii: Naval Hospital Seattleg Naval Hospital Chicago: Great Lakes. Ottumwa. IA. Memorable experiences include Saipan. fell going to GQ, Main Motor Drive Room, broke both knees in air attack. f ii? 2 f .1 Discharged July 1945, Navy Pier, Chicago. Married in 1950, have seven children, six grandchildren. Married in 1979, have step-daughter and three granddaughters. ' Retired from TV repair business. HOWARD W. ENGBERG, USNR, S lfc, born Nov. 12, 1925, Sacramento, CA. Enlisted March 23, 1943, and ,attended boot Camp at Farragut, ID. Shipped abroad the USS Calyfornia in July 1943, at Bremerton, WA. Assigned to the 10th Division and in May 1944, became Gun Captain and in charge of maintenance and repair of Quad 8 - 40 MM. Saw action at Saipan, Guam, Tinian, Leyte Gulf, Surigao Strait, and was wounded at Lingayen Gulf. Was transferred to a Troop Ship, Hospital Ship and then to a Field Hospital in Hollandia, New Guinea. Returned to the USS Calnfornia in March 1945, at Bremerton, WA. In May 1945, was transferred to shore duty at U.S. Naval Hospital, Aiea Heights, Hawaii and served there until discharged on Feb. 10, 1946. Retired in 1986, after working 40 years in Architecture in Northern Califomia. Married 43 years, wife, Ann, two children, five grandchildren. Ann and he have been traveling full time in their RV for the last seven years and his hobby is wood carving. GAIL FREDERICK FOERCH, EM lc, born St. John's, MI, Aug. 30, 1912. Enlisted Aug. 23, 1930, U.S. Navy. Stationed at Long Beach, CA. Memorable experience includes crossing the Equator in 1937, while on the USS Calnfornia. Discharged Dec. 4, 1941, with the rank of EM1!c. Married in 1934, two children while in Navy, three after discharged. Totally disabled, double amputee and nearly blind and deaf. WILLIAM L. FOLEY, was born Sept. 6, 1925, Stanford, CT. Enlisted Feb. 26, 1943, and trained at Great Lakes, NTS. 'D , 'tr , I A i Joined the USS Culifinnia at Bremerton, WA. Served 1943444 as S llc, Division 7. Participated in invasions of Saipan, Tinian, Guam, the Philippines. Also, battle ol' Surigao Strait and the Marianas Turkey Shoot. I.ater translerred to llSSllr'nzlr'rsrm IJIJ71s5,as UNI 3!c. Awarded WWII Victory Ribbon. Asiatic Pacific.. Campaign Medal with three stars, American 'lheater Ribbon, and Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one star. Memorable experiences aboard the California included rejoining the lleet in Pearl Harbor, the typhoon, losing to Al Head, 8th Division in a three round Middle Weight Division after the Leyte GulfAction, the collision with the USS Hfririessee, and on to Espiritu Santo Islands for repairs. Discharged February 1946. Retumed to school and obtained a BS and MA degree. Bill Foley married Eileen Ann Hagerty in Scarsdale, NY. They have five sons and eight grandchildren. Alter 35 years as an administrator and manager in village, city and county government, he retired in 1986. They now reside in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, where he is executive director of the PGA Property Owners Association, eight years at PGA National. JOHN FORD, Slc, reported aboard Calgfornia as first new crew in October 1942, age 18. When the newly remodeled ship returned to war, John was a gun pointer, .wt Sth Division. His watch station was Sky Lookout Bridge portside. On a 12 to 4 watch at 0200 hours he reported 'fThe Tennessee is going to ram us. An incredible experience! John became acquainted with Chaplain Kenealy, his real life war hero who convinced him to become the ship's Sports Reporter. He edited the boxing column Round-the Bouts. John participated in every war action in Calnfornials golden history, from Saipan to the Surigao Strait Sea Battle, the Philippine invasions, and on to warls end. His medals: American Campaign, Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Presidential Citation, the WWII Victory Medal, and seven Bronze Stars. Honorably discharged December 1945. Now owns a business in Austin, TX. ALBERT P. FRANKS, USNR, bom Jan. 22, 1920, Boston, MA. Enlisted Jan. 3, 1942. After 18 days' training. Newport, RI, assigned, in Boston, to DD434, USS Meredith. Accompanied the USS Hornet to the West Coast. Participated in the Doolittle Raid, April 18, 1942. The Meredith was sunk Oct. 15, 1942, off Guadalcanal. Spent 77 hours in the water until picked up by the USS Grayson. Spent 14 months in a tent in Noumea, New Caledonia. Retumed to San Francisco Jan. 5, 1944. Assigned to USS Califbrnizi March 1944, and served there in F 8a X Divisions until Dec. 7, 1945. Was in the first group off the C'alifi1i'11iz1 for discharge, Dcc. S, 1945. Discharged Dec. 10. 1945, in Boston. Retired from Weyerhaeuser Company in 1979. Now living in West Yarmouth. MA. with one vvife. Rita and one dog, Tippy. HERSCHEI. C. FREEMAN, Seaman First Class, born Nov. 9, 1925, Blulllon, IN. Iinlisted Feb. 5. 1943. Navy. Stationed Great 1.alves and Chicago, ll .. llartieipatcd in battles at Saipan, Guam, Olvinavva, Philippines, South Paciliic. Z 4 Q Memorable experience includes suicide oiane atigagf Discharged April 14. 1945. Wife deceased, three sons. Retired, '10 quarry, Ft. Wayne, IN. WILLIAM D. FLVHRINIAN, Ylc. IQSNR. nerr. ttf, 19, 1923, at Logan, UT. Enlisted as apprentice seams NRS, Salt Lake City, LT. Aug. 31. 1942. transferred ' USNTS, Great Lakes, IL. October 13. 1942, transferee in Receiving Station, Puget Sound. WA. On Dec. 25. Q94- transferred to USS California and served on b continuously receiving an Honorable Discharge Philadelphia Navy Yard. Dec. 3. 1946. . , .. . . ffak fl .Q Served in the Captains Office in the CC Division. As he knew short-hand would take dictation from :he Skipper and other of5cers. record General and Summajv Court Martials. Boards of Investigation. Court of lnquiies. battle and of5cer's fitness reports and receive and send all official mail. During General Quarters their division would mai two 20mm anti-aircraft guns, serve as talkers and recorders for the Skipper on the Bridge. Navigating Officer. Gunners Officer. Forward and Aft Sky Control. Damage Control and other posts. which they would change off during certain actions. Following discharge. married Dalma Barkdull ai Logan. UT. In 1950. they purchased a cattle ranch at Downey. ID. where they have lived since. and have added a couple more ranches through the years and vvith their family have been engaged in beef and dairy livestock and farming operations. Have tvvo sons and tvvo daughters and Dalma and he have been mmied 48 years still xv orking on the Fuhriman Ranch. Downey. ID. RICHARD RICK E. GARCIA. USN, born July 14, 1921. Tucson. AZ. Joined Navy July 14. 1939. and trained at San Diego. CA. Assigned to USS Cr:z'frLv '::.: BB44 at Long Beach. C.-X. Fleet transferred to Pearl Harbor xv as .iboard Dec i 19-1 l. had the duty setting up for ehnreh serv tee. up lietvv .ii rl on attack reported to battle station povv dei' in.ig.i.'ine room itll. 16 1'nrret. after nas assigned to Rec. Sta l'1l ther' assi2nedto1'SS l.YItl I'tl L'-.X-.14 llvv. Ciser Participated in -Xetion Nlarslial .intl Gilbert lslanti Coral Sea. lvlnlvvay. t1uat1.ile.ni.i1.Sax o lsl.nid.1'SS lv.-' '. lost in Battle ol' Sato Island llit the vvatei picked nt' bv USS Htlgfta Il'QlllSP0l'lCtl101,88f 't'.v ,I.l.'fQv,vti xllffll lgtitltgtg slttt' Xsstgtlxkl lt' slttltk' 111113 R611 IIQ.1t'l1 kixlfllts I tmgo, working xv ttli lst llix rsion M.u'uies August 9 to I-'eb lf. 'Tif lln on Utt.tdaIe.m.t1. ttartsfeired to I sptritu Santo. tliletlotua. and then I S Naval Ilospttal fXuelsland. New ie.ti.tnd. .intl then to Wellington Nav al Ilospital. tlien San Diego Nav .il Ilospital eante back to States aboard lurlim' .otrrist passenger ship Assigned as a hospital ship. resigned .e ISS Naval llospital Brentetton. V1 A. given a medical 'iseftarge tlionorablel in 1944 Xlairietl in 194'. two sons and one daughter. Civil S rv ree I5 years. retired. Li. ROBERT GARDNER. ISN. 1.I'.tRet.1. was .lsstgttedlollleCr1lllit1'tIt'iJ0t1Nla1l'Cl129. 1938. as a seaman I e llc joined the signal div ision to learn seamansliip etc. .pfter inaking seaman lst lieioined the electrical propulsion uoisiott. Sept. 21. 1939. and in August 1941. passed flip steal for tlight training. fl 2 2 Iva.. L4 In November 1941. he made the list for flight training in Texas. but the Japanese visit at Pearl Harbor changed the rest of his life as well as thousands of others. He spent most of 1942. 1943. 1944 and part of 1945, in the Solomon Islands and vicinity as an engineering officer and his luck ran out April 18. 1945. when he was lngtured. After two plus years in Navy Hospitals and various surgeries. he was placed on retired retainer list. After 20 some operations and over four years in military hospitals, nes still in pretty good condition. EDWARD A. GIBBOM GIBBY,', born New Orleans. LA. Aug. 21. 1921. Enlisted Feb. 7, 1940. U.S. Navy. GM3lc. lst Division. Service included USS Pyro. CSS Calnfomia. Cow Piers. Boliti.APAl48. USS Crockett. Participated in battles in Southwest Pacific Forces, New Guinea LAR. Wewak. Moccamdia. Biak. Wadke. Cimtisi Paciic Forces. Kawasalein. Poi Mamur. Bomiam Island. Iwo Jima. Philippine Sea. Leyte Gulf. Saipan. Tinian. Guam. San Bernardino Strait. Truk. Special memory. before war. pulling whale boat races. Pearl Harbor. Miti. wrestling. boxing. July 4th. Molida. Mests night engagement San Bernardino Strait. Japanese I-leaxy Cruiser. AwardsfMedals: Army Commendation Medal. American Defense Service Medal with one star. Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal with five stars. Philippine .gneration Ribbon with two stars. WWII Victory Medal. nil. Good Conduct Medal. Korean Service Medal. - 'etnarn Ser. ice Medal. Discharged Feb 6. 1946. with the rank of Turret f aptazn llc , . He has lour sons. two daughters. three marriages. 1 'gtna Cfarlota. Georgania Retired. living Costa Rica. CHARLES C. GILBERT, born York. PA. lan. 13. 1.4 11n1tzt,t:dOt.t 23. 19411. lfSN ,'1.f-cf,rf1irig to separation papers service includes NRS. l'l..hflf:l17lTlh.lJA.1,785 fnlffnrnm. N'1S.Newport RIL If S. Va-.az lluspital 1'ear1l1arbor.'l ll 'IfLZC.lfl'v'1l11:' SlJ1lIfJII.l'1fIlfl 1t:,rhf,r '1 11, 1,88 Kuhn: lj 2, Naval Receiving Station '-aw: lzaxe llhtlaflelphta 1'A ' M ti 'QI 1 si ' it-I Q . .. 4 5- tgp F .W w uns Hr. M 'r' '-. U '. 5531: gif. --r if El.. 3 1 AvvardslMedals: WWII Victory Ribbon. American Theater Ribbon. American Defense Ribbon Ill. Asiatic- Pacilic Ribbon 171. Philippine Liberation Ribbon 621, Purple Heart. Good Conduct Ribbon. Discharged Dec. 12. 1946. CBM. Today he spends time fishing. shopping and going to doctors for himself and wife. WM. HOWARD GILLETTE, born Boise. ID, Nov. ll, 1918. rs i .js S s is s as f N A . C . . 'sy si f sh ag Q 2 I Joined Navy September 1940, went aboard USS Calyfornia, E Division, in Bremerton, WA. We were at Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941. USS Caljornia, was moored at Fox 3 near Ford Island Naval Air Station. Rank: E1ectrian's Mate llc. Joined Underwater Demolition Team tf23E. Discharged April 1946. Medals: Asiatic-Pacific Theater, American Defense Service Medal. American Theater, WWII Victory Medal. Good Conduct Medal, Unit Citation, Pearl Harbor Survivors. Married Naomi Wiseman, has two sons. John R. and Delbert. and has four grandchildren. After coming home he did cabinet, stone and carpenter work but emphysema soon ended his working. WILLIAM STANLEY STAN,' GOSSARD. Machinist Mate 2C, North Mankato. MN. Feb. 2. 1922. Enlisted May 22. 1940. U.S. Navy, A Division, Engineering Department. Served on the USS California August 1940 to January l942g USS Indianapolis from January 1942 to February 19431 USS Columbia frotn February 1943 to February 1944. Participated in following battlesQ Pearl Harbor and Solomon Island. unix., Memorable experiences include getting ready to leave for motor machinist school at Norfolk when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Reponed killed in action. Discharged June 25. 1945. with the rank of machinist mate 2C Married Lorna. has three sons and two grandsons and two granddaughters. Retired from Honeywell 1985. lznioying life in West Mpls. loves hunting. fishing and baseball. Active in Babe Ruth Baseball last 40 years as roach. committee member. state official. 'IIUIVI If. GRACE, USMC. lRcI.1 was born Nov. 25. 1919 in lranklin. TX. Ile enlisted in the llnited States Marine Corps on Dec. 5. 1941 at the Houston. 'TX Marine Corps Recruiting Station. On Dec. 7.1941 'Iom was shipped to San Diego. CA. lor recruit training. the same day that Pearl Harbor was bombed. Tom's thought at the time was What have I got myself into. After recruit training he was transferred to Pearl Harbor arriving on Feb. 2. 1942. What a sight! Sometime around the first of April 1942. Tom received orders for assignment to the USS California. Marine Corps Detachment. G. Division. The ship was still on the bottom at Pearl Harbor. The California was floated and moved to Dry-dock the first of May 1942. October 1942 the Culyorniu was under way to Bremerton. WA. for overhaul. While aboard Tom was assigned to the 40 MM guns as Gun Captain. He also served as Orderly for the Ship's Captain. In October 1943. Tom transferred off the ship to Marine Barracks. Bremerton. WA where he was stationed until January 1944. Other tours of duty included: Marine Barracks - Kodiak. AKQ Recruiting Duty - Dallas and Tyler. TX: Marine Corps Base - Camp Lejeune. NC: Inspector Instructor Duty - Muskegon, MI. Marine Corps Air Station - Iwakina. Japan: Marine Corps Base - Camp Pendleton. CA and Marine Corps Air Station - E Toro. CA. While on Recruiting Duty in Tyler. TX. met and married Evelyn Skidmore twife of47 yearsl. Two children. Patricia and Tom. Jr. and two granddaughters. Retired from the Marine Corps Oct. 30. 1966 after 25 years. Retired from the College of Medicine. University of Califomia. Irvine CA. Jan. 2. 1986. Interests include RV motorhome traveling fishing and gardening. Currently reside in Tustin. CA. MARVIN B. GRAHAM. bom Fredicktown. MO. Aug. 18. 1925. took boot camp in Farragut. ID. late 1943. Electrical School same place shipped out ofTreasure Island. CA. on troop ship to Marshall Islands. where he boarded USS California. .Glyn Zip . 45114 First battle Saipan - Tinian. aboard all battles till end of war. Came around word at close of war to Philadelphia ship yards for discharge. Married a wonderful lady named LaVern and raised seven fine children. Spent life in Chaffee. MO. building own business in electrical. plumbing. heating and cooling business. Now retired due to two bypass surgeries and problems due to Gulliand Barr Syndrome. Now following his hobby of restoring antique clocks and trying to serve his Lord for saving his life by seconds during the suicide plane attack on the California. HAROLD GRANT, Air M 2!c. bom Aug. 25. 1922. Enlisted Dec. 8. 1941. Navy. Stationed at Sand Point Naval Air Station. Pat. Wing 4. VR2. VR4. USS Rio CVEIO3. USS California BB44. Oakland Naval Res. Air Station. Participated in Philippines and East China Sea battles. Memorable experiences include going aboard the California on a boatman's chair from a DE in East China Sea. Discharged Oct. 13. 1945. Shoemaker. CA. with the rank o1'Air M llc. Retired educator. part-time larmer. 75 ..- H41 EUGENE B. GREEN, Coxswain, born Stuttgart, AR, Feb. 5, 1920. Enlisted Sept. 30, 1940, Navy, 5th Division, before the War ended lst Division. Service includes: NTS San Diego, CA, USS Oklahoniag USS CalUbrnia RS Pearl Harbor, TH: USNH Philadelphia, PA. Participated in battles at Pearl Harbor, Asiatic-Pacific Philippine Liberation, American Theater. Memorable experiences include bringing up ammunition from below and bomb struck killing several bearers. While below orders given to abandon ship, he was sent over to island to guard guns, and was forgotten. Went several days without food. Awards!Medals: American Theater, WWII Victory Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal with one star, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars. He and his wife had a daughter, son, one grandson, and three granddaughters. Retired. GEORGE B. GRIFFIN, AS S2lc, 4th Division, bom Holmes County, FL, Jan. 4, 1919. Volunteered April 28, 1944, Miami, FL, USNR V6. S . WA April 29, 1944, Boot Camp Perry, VAQ July 3, 1944, USAT Sea Perch, Sept. 10, 1944 - Dec. 15, 1945, USS Calnfornia Espiritu, NH. Participated in battles at Leyte, Luzon, Surigao Strait, Lingayen Gulf, Okinawa, Tokyo Bay. Memorable experience: A frightful experience! late in the War, at sea in the South Pacific in a severe storm, three men from 4th Division were ordered out on port quarter-deck to secure motor whale boats to bulkhead. John Marscia, Robert Weeks, and George B. Griffin, the sea broke over the 02 deck, tore their life line from their hands. All three were injured, his life flashed before his eyes, he thought they were gone. His body hit the 14 gun turret and knocked him out, he woke up in sick bay, hours later, Marscia and Weeks, were rescued also, but with serious injury. Discharged Dec. 17, 1945, Jax, FL, with the rank of Sllc. Married Ruby Blaneo Griffins, April 16, 1939, and have one son, December 1940, two daughters, Jannette, 52, and Barbara, 50 years. Celebrated 55 Anniversary April 16, 1994. Retired March 1, 1980, 30 years local Chevrolet Dealership, as NC-NT, salesman. ROBERT K. GRINTON, EM3!c, born Loisi, CA. Enlisted July 1943, Navy, USS Calybrnia, E Division, served Electric Shop, Bridge Electrician. Participated in Saipan, Tinian, Guam, and Okinawa battles. Memorable experience includes seeing pans of the world. ' Discharged Dee. 24, 1945, with the rank of EM 3rd class. He is a widower with three children, two boys and one girl. Retired 1981. .JEROME TENNIS GROTTE, F3lc to CMM, born Nov. 22, 1915. Enlisted Navy lfriday Dec. I3,1935g trained USNTS San 1.Jiego,CA,Co. 35-37. MM School at NOB, Norfolk, VA, then to destroyer base at San Diego, transferred to USS California BB44 at Long Beach, Assigned Division, to the Steam Heat Gang, under J. Burns MMl!c, lce Machines under C. Granna, CMM, then Boat Shop and Ship Boats, Taravella, MMl!c, then Flag Allowance as Engineer Flag Boats, then back to the Boat Shop to operate the shop under Harry Henry Groth, CMM, who was a veteran of WW1. Temporary Duty on USS Vestal while having diesel engines installed in Ships Boats, Panama Canal and to Guantanamo for fleet maneuvers. Was isolated for Polio contact on USS Relief with 10 other boat crew from the Calgfornia, for two weeks. Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941, heard and saw dive bombers crossing the ship's stern while bombing the Ford Island Hangars. Headed for his battle station in the Center Thrust Block room while the bugle was sounding GQ. He took in four other Shft Alley watch standers who could not get their battle stations. They took two torpedoes, the second right outboard of their area. They lost lights and ventilation. Then Abandon Ship was sounded, they climbed to 3rd deck, but it was pitch dark, and the air was foul so they went back down, dogged the watertight door, and a few minutes after that the Trunk filled with water. They were trapped. But the crew retumed to the ship and they could communicate by shouting, and shipmates removed a large shaft gland panel so they escaped through the Motor room. They saw sunshine at about 1545. Three of his Boat Shop Crew were killed that morning, Saffel, Ball, and Hildebrand. He was retained on board as part of the salvage crew. He stayed with the ship until 1943, at which time he was sent to Engine School and then assigned to the CVE 71, a new ship. F3!c to CMM on Calyforniag ensign on CVE 71 g LTCJGJ on Cve 98 where he was senior assistant engineer then chief engineer. Left the Navy January 24, 1946. Married Vivian, have son Paul, daugthers, Emily and Marie. Retired from civil service. HERBERT W. GRUBER, USMCR, t34l841D, bom Sept. 29, 1921, in St. Louis, MO. Volunteered Dec. 13, 1941, enlisted Dec. 27, 1941. Went through USMC Boot Camp San Diego, CA. Left Feb. 21, 1942, arrived Pearl Harbor, assigned to Navy Yard Guard Company March 2. WV? Volunteered for Sea Duty tfleet needed replacementsjg May 6, 1942, transferred to the Marine Detachment, USS California BB44. The California vvas in dry-dock a short time, still messed up. Duties were security watches, chipping paintg cleaning oil and debris, etc. Made gunstriker on 20mms worked under GM2c Goldsmith. October 10, 1942, USS Callfkirnia left Pearl llarhor on her own, complete with one 5 inch each side: eight 20mmg about 15 .30 call.50 cal machine gtmsg and five tlegrec list! Arrived at Bremerton's Puget sound Navy Yard Oct. 20, 1942. Made corporal, May 16, 1943. When tlrnhcr returned from leave, MlSgt. Cl .. Davidson told him that he was ttttl ol' uniform! Thcn the first sargc gave him his promotion papers. .and told him to the llllltl flip 1 hack so he could 'paste them on' 'I he California remodeled, rnodetriifed I fleet. Gruberls gun station was a Zflrntn single 11247 the highest, just lieltiw 'alCy'2'Jl'Sif'Ql l'i7 nal sergeant., June 3, 1944. ll day'-. before Saipan' Was aboard USS California during 'saina a direct hit on June l4Q Guam, Tinian Rarnroed Tertnessee, Aug. 23, 1944, Leytei Battle of Surigao Sv Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, hit by lcarnikafe. lan 6 .947 The Prune Barge returned stateside Peo 1 5 .95 Furloughs for alll! Gruber got rnarried March 24 L945 Q Aliceann Nolan his girlfriend of five years Aliceanr. garb to East Port Orchard for the short time that the C.'a'ifoffn. was to stay. The California left Bremerton. April 29 for Pear Harbor via Long Beach, CA. Grubers new duties g, . captain of a 40mm quad. Arrived Pearl Harbor Oahu. TP: May 16, 1945. Gruber transferred May 19, 1945, to Casual Cornpa Force Special Troops Garrison Forces, Oahu. Arri u ed J' 1, 1945, R8cR Center, San Diego. Reassigned to Marine Barracks. Great Lakes. lL. ls., 13, 1945. Sept. 8, 1945, was dischargedi First St. Lou.. Marine discharged on points...eight in L'SA...D.T. POP Stewart was seventh...he had been wounded aboard tr. Calgbrnia ...Gruber hadn't. Gruber re-enlisted in the inactive Marine Reser: Class 1I1tbiDec. 9, 1947. received orders Sept. 28. i95-3. Reactivated for advance infantry retraining. Carxg Pendleton, CA. Transferred to lst Division. USMC. Ptlxif.. Korea. Assigned lst Engineer Battalion. HQ. Cc. S- Section. CAs replacements for those Marines lost at Chosgi Reservoirj. Made SlSUt. May 22. 1951. was acting head cf C Section couple months tReplaced N1fSgt. rotated. Participated in many reconnaissance betvveen lines. li Korea from January 5, through Oct. 19. 195l...actualacti1.e time Sept. 28, 1950. through Nov. 10. 1951. Enlistmen. involuntarily extended one yearmreceived dischzage Dec. 8, 1952. Herb Gruber has an architectural certificate tearnec at night collegej but worked mainly general construction estimating cost. Aliceann and Herb have four daughters and lu grandchildren. The Grubers live in the St. Louis area :mu keep in touch with many old shipmates tblarines Sailorsj mainly through BB4-1 USS California Reunion Association. They made 16 of the 18 reunions to date. Herb is life member and a director of the association. He was 1993 Reunion Chairman in St. Louis. NIO. WILLIAM J. HAAS. born New Bedford. MA. Dec. 18, 1923. Enlisted Dec. 11. 19-ll. served three years then sent to V-12 and commissioned in 19-15 and sent to ship as an ensign. assigned to Division 10. as MBLQ then ensign. USNR Heavy Machine Gun Control Officer. Dix ision 10. In Panama with a degaussing unit for three years then Pacific. Attended Tufts University and Columbia Midshipmen School. V-12. Participated in Okinawa battle. sw' N Awards!Medals: Atlantic Theater. Pacific xxith one star. Good Conduct Medal, NX'NN'll Victory Nletlal. After leaving ship hcjoined .1 Stibinarnic Dix ision .ts active reservist and made tivo cruises. Scp.ir.tted 1il'Ufl1 service Dec. 21. 19-15. resigned commission .ts 11110 tit 1950. He and his xvife hav e one son and one .latightct .ind three grantltlaugltters. Retired in NSS .iftcr -10 xcats teaching and selling textbooks. MARTIN I.. HAEHN, 1'SN.1YS.4XRlf1' Nl St! 11 horn in .-Xlbcrtx illc. MN. Nov 30. 1920. lfnlistcd itil SN .l.tntt.nv 19-1-1, and trained at farragnt. 1D Xsstgncd to thc 1 SS Stokes which xx as torpedocd .ind stmlv thrcc days latct ln 0 May 1 -14. nas assigned to the l'SS t'.i.fn'o+n.-.Q to fad Dev ision their R lhxisrori. Rcrrtairtcd with the tniirorrrr.: gate! she was decounuissroued in 19-1 ' Was drsc1i.rrged Scpiciiibca 294 '. and enlisted in thc L' S .Xrruy June 1948 itat c sceti tiiilrtaty serv rec .trountl the world xv ith two tours it Roica .uid one in Gerniany ss S bi Medals awarded are the American Area. Victory. Philippine Liberation. Asiatic-Pacific. European. Korean Serv ice thk o bronze starsl. Purple Heart. United Nations Service. Good Conduct. Expert Marksinan, Senior Parachute and Basic Missile Man. Married Barbara Bennett in 1950. tive children. John, Aan. Susan. David and Steven and seven grandchildren. Retired from the Army. 1965. moved to Colorado Springs and w orked at the USAF academy until 1988 retirement. ADOLF P. HAGEIVIANN. PHM 1lC.USN,bom Nov. 27. 191-1. Enlisted Dec. 28. 1940. in Portland. OR. X. in S. . , s, . Sw s. - . s .se. Nici' . f S ixalii. X A at J.. isis w . s Y . A X rf vt! f ea- ry.. - s '- aff Operating room technician. Pneumothorax Tech. Treatment Room etc. After boot camp and hospital training in San Diego. After the War broke out, he was transferred for replacement to Lion 1 with the Marines in the South Pacific. He got his pelvis broken and was sent to Army Hospital tBarnesl in Vancouverg released to Bremerton Navy Hospital. where he had more training in O.R. released to ESS Calyfornia, which hadjust returned from Pearl. Was on the California for 28 months. Having charge of O.R. and battle irst aid lockers. He was transferred to Marines at this time to El Centro Marine Air Baseg then the base Us as transferred back to USN and he was back in the Navy. Aboard the Calnfornia they were in the following battles: Saipan. Tinian. Roto. Guam. Erst Philippine Sea Battle, and second sea battle in Leyte. also, Samar and in the China Sea rnorthem Philippines Baguiol. Was awarded the American Defenseg American Theater. Asiatic PAC three Bronze Stars, Philippines Liberation with two Bronze Stars, Good Conduct. Victory Tvledal. and ESM Corp. he was discharged in 1947. He is married to Emma. They have four children. Retired in McCleary. WA. .JOHN A. HAMILTON, PFC. born Plainville. CT, Aug. 16. 3922. Enlisted Hartford. CT. Dec. 18. 1941. Had attempted toioin Navy 1939 father was in Navy WWI, making seven crossings of Atlantic on convoy duty. Left Ist Marine Division October 1943. Melbome. Australia. Ur Long Beach. CA. Transferred to USS California from a ra ff W W Mya 1 oug Bcaclr srrrall craft training center in 1944 Made the ci urse .iround the world on the Prurte Barge leaving ship in l'lrilattelphra. PA. Deceiiibei' 1945. diselrargetl Bainbridge. MD. Marclr 4. 1946. All in all it was a very interesting four plus years. Awarded Presidential Unit Citation. lst Division USMC He and his wife Anti have one son, Gary. Retired. ,IAINIES THOMAS HAMLIN. Water Tender llc, USN. USS California was born on July 28. 1913, in Packard. KY. He entered the Navy on March 19. 1940. He served aboard the USS Calitbrrzia. USS Chicago, and the USS LaSalletAPA-1025. He trained at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station. Hamlin was discharged on March 19. 1946. with the rank of WT1lc. 2.15: IF- jg: ta 1--.-.ata in t,.f,f-,asia5.,1:.,-,T-1 V. . P is an-xc.: I feiilig vf ri affix-vt te we Q55 barge ff He received the following awards and decorations: Asiatic-Pacific Area Ribbon with five stars, American Area Ribbon, WWII Victory Ribbon and is authorized to wear the Good Conduct Medal. Now retired from TVA Shawnee. Married Almyra Craig March 25, 1943. Has three sons and seven grandchildren. KERMIT L. HANSCHU, BMIC, USN, bom Oct. 22, 1919, enlisted Sept. 12, 1938, tseven yearsl. triwm Uaitwttiri ,ltw December 7, 1941. aboard USS California at Pearl Harbor. Joined USS Chicago when it came in for replacements. Battle participation: New Guinea. Tulagi. Coral Sea, Guadalcanal, Savo Islands. Chicago sunk Jan. 31. 1943. Taken to Noumea, New Caledonia. After one yearjoined USS Hayrer D.E. being put into commission. On Hayrer till discharge Sept. 12. 1945. Recommended for Chief by Hayrer Captain. rated to First Class by Admiral Halsey. Medals: Good Conduct, American Defense Service. American Campaign. each with one star: European- African-Middle Eastern Campaign: Asiatic-Pacific Campaign. two stars: WWII Victory Medal, 50 Year Anniversary Commemorative Medal for Pearl Harbor Survivors. Married in 1943. Retired from Ottertail Power Company after 33 years. 1982. Returned to Pearl Harbor for 50th Wedding Anniversary. One son. two daughters. Life member Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. WARREN G. HARDING, USN. was born March 6. 1921, in New Point. IN. He enlisted for six years in order to qualify for the Navy School of Music on Sept. 9. 1939. in Washington, D.C. After completing a course of study. he shipped to Pearl Harbor and the USS California as 4th trombone in Admiral Pye's Band, Band 16. Warren was sealed in a compartment four decks below the main deck. for a period ofseven hours. at a battle station referred to as Repair 4 Port. His book. Band ofSecrac'.v, a sea story from the Battle of Pearl Harbor recounts this legend. After the California sank on Dec. 7. 19411 Band 16. under the baton of Bandmaster L.B. Luckenbaeh. trzrrislerred to an Intelligence Unit in the administration building at Pearl Harbor lor' the duration of the war. Mertrbers ofthe band were responsible lor helping to break the .Japanese military code which led to the successful conclusion ofthe Battle of Midway, Coral Sea. Kula Gull. and the shooting down of Admiral Yamamoto. -Q, In 1951 , Warren married Lois A. Chapman. They have two daughters and four grandchildren. His medals are: WWII Victory Medal, American Area Campaign Medal. Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal with one star, Good Conduct Medal with three stars and the Presidential Unit Citation. After the war, he spent 35 years practicing and teaching the vertical market of Real Estate Exchanging. Now, he spends most of his time writing and making new enemies. MERRILL HARDISON, Seri? 378-17-70. served from 1943-46. Never sick a day. He enlisted October 1942. in the Naval Reserve at the age of 17 with his mother's signature. Other enlistees and he left Fresno for Farragut. ID. for 16 weeks oftraining. When they arrived. snow was three to four feet deep. Their barracks were heated by steam radiators. Naval regulations were to lower every other window six to eight inches from the top even though it was freezing outside. Many nights he slept under his mattress with his clothes on to keep warm. Remember there is the right way and the Navy's way. Guess who won? After their 16 weeks of training. Farragut opened its first Electrical School. They assigned him to be a member of the class. The instructors were excellent. Many of them were electrical engineers in civilian life. tMaybe they had one or two regular Navy personnelj Upon graduation, he was given seven days of delayed orders to report for duty to the USS California in Bremerton, WA. His first assignment was in the bilges to chip the sludge off the bulkheads. When a chip hit his light bulb. the fumes given off would burn the skin on his face. This experience taught him to never stay too long at the bottom if you want to get to the top. He can always say he started at the bottom without exaggerating. When the ship left Bremerton. Jessnowshi tTonyJ and he were assigned to Lieutenant Brown's battle station on the quarter deck. They were to keep the 40mm motors running when they were firing. As they entered Lingayen Gulf they were the lead flag ship with Admiral Oldendorf in charge. They were going single file. This was a mistake as they couldn't shoot aft without hitting the ships behind them. The kamikazes flew 10 feet above the water on their starboard side preventing them from firing. Jess and he saw what was happening, so they moved under the cargo netting to prevent being burned and hit with shrapnel. A kamikaze hit the lookout station on the quarter deck causing many casualties. They becatne the fastest stretcher team you could want. The chief petty offieer's mess was where they brought the wounded. He salutes the corpsmen for their calmness in attending the wounded when the regular Navy doctors were too nervous to inject morphine. Maybe he shouldnt be too hard on them for this experience would take a very mature person to perform. The G1 Bill was his salvation in being a civilian. He became a teacher and administrator, retired at the age of 55 and became a building contractor. Now retired with his wife Beverly. enjoying the fruits of their labor with their two daughters and grandchildren. The things he miss most from the Navy are the dehydrated vegetables, powered milk, green eggs, beans for breakfast on Saturday mornings and cold cuts consisting of horse meat, pickle and cheese on Sunday nights. These foods certainly make a man out of anyone. CAL HARPSTER JR., Slle, born Mishowaka. IN, April 18, 1924. Enlisted March 16, 1943, Navy, 8th Division. Sent from Great Lakes to Bremerton, WA, in 1943 to USS Califbrnia. he was on board till the end ofthe War. The good things he remembers were the good friends and buddies he had for three years. He also remember the wonderful times ashore they had together. The bad times were the wounded and the dead and the friends he lost. He also remember all the battle stations from the suicide planes and the working parties when they were rammed by the other battleship at sea, the services for their dead from being hit by the plane and the shells they took in battle. He is glad it is behind them and they did make it, it could have been so much worse and tragic. Discharged Feb. 5, 1946. Awards!Medals: WWII Victory Medal, American Area, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with seven battle stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, American Defense Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Philippine. Retired teamsters. PAUL THOMAS HARR, born Whitesburg, KY, June 1, 1921. Enlisted USN at Louisville, KY, June 25, 1940. Boot camp at Great Lakes Naval Training Station. Transferred to USS Nevada in October 1940, and was aboard her during Pearl Harbor. Didn't receive a scratch, for which he feels very lucky. Transferred to the Indianapolis and finally to the Calnfornia to help in salvage operations. sf in iihxtfr- ., .. 1- in I I 's Participated in Marianas Campaign, June 1944. Other battles: Pearl Harborg Saipang Guam, Leyte Campaign and Surigao Straits in October 1944g Lingayen Gulf in January 1945. Transferred to the USS Vulcan, AR-5, end of May. Visited Okinawa and Hiroshima aboard the Vulcan. Left ship Christmas Eve on emergency leave, transferred to USS Calahan February 1946. Sent ship to San Diego destroyer base for mothballing. Discharged July 1, 1946, rank SF llc. Married wife Kathleen, eight children, 16 grandchildren, one great-grandchild. Today he is retired. BERNARD M. HARTMAN, Chief Musician Bandmaster, born Baltimore, MD, June 23, 1914. Enlisted Nov. 22, 1931, Navy. Military service includes NOB Norfolk, VA, USS f'Il'Ilfll'l'.S'Ull, USS Northampton, USS Clmvlzrlp USS .S'clllLllk1' City, USS C'urli.s', NAS Pz'n.s'at'al11, USS I,l',YlIlglUIl, USS Alabama, RS Music School Washington, UC, N'1'CBainbridgc, USS California, Stall Convoy Marianas. t 4- W Memorable experiences include USS Lexington when Japan bombed it U.S. sank it. Awarded numerous medals. Discharged Dec. 3, 1953. Married 53 years, three months, when passed away June 8, 1987, wonderful husband, father of two ofthe most beautiful children, son and daughter, in the world, great- grandchildren too. HARLAN J. HAYNES, USN, was born near Manchester, IA, on April 7, 1919. Joined the Navy on May 18, 1938. Trained at Great Lakes Naval Training Center. Served on the USS Calnfornia 1938-1942. He was a member of the USS Calnfornia Iron Men Pulling Crew which stood in lst place in the competition of .7 the Battleships of the United States Fleet in the years 1938-39 and 1939-40. He was aboard ship on Dec. 7, 1941, when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. When ordered to abandon ship he was unable to go over the side until aided by a buddy. Then swam through the waters of fire to shore where his own injuries were forgotten as he gave aid and assisted others worse off. He never reported his own injuries. He re-enlisted May 21, 1942, and was discharged May 24, 1946, with a rank of chief gunners mate. The vessels and stations where he served are USS CalU'0rnia, USS Relief USRS Pearl Harbor, USRS San Diego, USS ARVDI, USS Kingjisher AT-135, Flag Allow Comm San Francisco, RSN Yard Washington D.C,, USS Hesperia AKS-13. He was married in 1947, had two children and three grandchildren. He died in the early hours of Dec. 7, 1981, exactly 40 years after the attack on Pearl Harbor. LAWRENCE H. HENDERSON, S llc, 2nd Division, bom Oct. 25, 1921, Bridgetown, NC. Enlisted Nov. 9, 1939, Wilmington, NC. Ordered to Naval Training Station, Norfolk, VA. Ordered to USN Receiving Station, San Diego, CA, assigned to Red Lead Row Captain McCandless to put old four stacker destroyers in commission for England. Reported to USS California March 19-10. Sailed to Pearl Harbor T.H. promoted to seaman llc 19-11. His battle station was turret 112, as firing pointer left gun. During the December 7, Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, passed ammunition to 5 l25 cal. guns, fought fires, assisted in the dead and wounded, followed these same guns to West Lock ammunition depot and made ready for firing again. Aboard the Crzliloniiki was in rowing team, swimming team and sailing team. Was reported missing in action at Pearl llarbor. Campaigns were Guadalcanal, Guam. Saipan,1l'inian, Polar Islands aboard USS l'lfIl'tlIl.Yfl, and USS .Skiivieiiv All 10 Made 1,71 iai1lj'?1C2tl'l'.L1 FC1117112't.',f:5fLi,,'1iII alter 26 yearn in 1966 loincfl Pearl Harbor 'fi Association and laon'-, Klub ol llarnpztcart J His civilian career llttlhlflfls'ffltZfdI1f:Qf 'f1l'f'f' 1, Fur and trailer all over thc 1, 3. soliciting hr, 'mn 1 f . El. had snapbcr, groupcr boat'-, shrirntf IM MUD ff' T Carolina and worked thern from .North faronns and all states in between I-lc called a 45 foot fi hornc until he married his lovely mf: Vlary Hi: lo all boats and built a new horne and cornpleteqy ret 1. her. JOSIAH HENSON, css, born amfo.. OK 1922. Entered US. Naval Academy laiy 12. 1+ graduated June 7. 1944, and went irnrnediatety to Pac Joined California just out of floating dry f Espiritu Santo. Assigned F Division for Leyte Battle of Surigao Straits. In 7th Din ision for Lingag et. i and Okinawa campaigns. Left the Prone Wakanoura Wan to enter flight training at Coma Cr, and Pensacola. Z2:'i,A ' 1 .f Z it 5 f As Naval Aviator. served in VP--10. Coco Solo. CZ. VU-10 Guantanamo Bay. VF-7-1 in Oceana. V-X. and commanded VS-31, at Quonset Point. RI. Two shore dug. tours teaching midshipmen at the US. Naval Academy. one in Naval Aviation training Command. two sezfs ii MAAG France and final tour as assistant chief of Naval Personnel for Records. Retired as Captain Sept. 1. 1969. Won bronze medal representing LSA in Freestyle Wrestling at 1952 Olympic Games in He1sin1d.Wife Gloria. also from Oklahoma. Three children and three grandchildren. DWIGHTA. HILLIARD. LSNR. bom.-Xug. 15. 1913. in Pana, IL. He enlisted March 2. 19-13. at NTS Great Lakes. IL, where he received his basic training. He was then assigned sea duty aboard the battleship USS Califtiosjtx. He boarded on June 9. 19-13. and served for 30 months. He participated in every sea battle that the California took part in during the Pacific campaign against the Japanese. ,gems He held the classes ofAS:S2C:S1C. He was awarded the Victory Medal. Asiatic-Pacific with four stars and the Philippine Liberation with two stars. He departed on Jan. 15. 19-16. and was honorably discharged on Jan. 19. 19-16. He then returned to work at Kable Brothers Printing Company in Mt. Morris. ll.. Married Rose1lat'hristi.in on March 14. 19-16. He retired from Kables after -13 sears. He also owned and farmed in Leaf Rix er, ll . .ill his life Ho N has one son. two daughters, one step-daughter. 1 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Dwight died Jan. 5. 1992, from leukemia. JOHN E. HINCKLEY, GN1 Sic. born Omaha. Nlf April 18. 1925. linlisted .-Xpril 10. 19-1.1, 1'.S Xaxx. I SS t'nlifimzi'n, Sth Division. Went to Bremerton. NX -X. to ship. then to South Pacific. Participated in all battles from 19-1,1 to lan. 6, 19-15. 1N1emorable experience' NN hen the ls.1itnka.'e plane hit the ship. he w as injured. llis shipmate ofgun mount S11 -X 9' Shiplcx lr . 17 li Saiidcis .uid others, g.ixc hriri trrsi gmt, tx lttrh ltclpcd s.txc his lite Vtcnl to ti hospital ship, xx here .tic doctor rcurox cd .r spark plug trorrt his ircck. xx hich carrie front the plane Went to .i hospital base iii Ncxx tltirirea. .rttcr sex eral uiotrths there. returned to the States. Axx .rrded the Purple Heart. Recerx ed a Medical Discharged .August 1945. from Camp Adair in Corvallis, OR. xxith the rank of EM 3!c. Married to Marilyn Hickley. live in Bend. OR. Retired trout PNB 1976. ELNIER HITCHCOCK. Turret Captain lst Class. LSS Colorado BB-15. USS Ctzlifornizt BB44, USS Idaho 42. LSS Rturtlolph CY-15. born in Van Lear, KY. Dropped out of school to go to xv ork in the coal mines with his brother.Hersche1. Pound out coal mining was not for him, so he enlisted the Amty in 1938. at Ft. Thomas, KY. 5th Dix. the 10th Inf.. H Co. as a machine gunner. He left the Army. was out about one month, then enlisted in the Navy. Was to take training at Great Lakes, IL. but because of the short time he was out of the Army, vv as at Great Lakes from Dec. 3rd to Dec. 30. 1941, that is the day reported aboard the USS Colorado in Bremerton, VVA. Stayed on the USS Colorado until 1944, then was put on the CSS Calnfornia until the end of the War. Received following Navy Medals and Citations: Bronze Star. Commendations with one Star. Purple Heart, Good Conduct .American Defense with one Star, American Campaign. Asiatic-Pacific Campaign with 10 stars, WWII 'Victory Medal. Navy Occupation Service Medal, Philippines Liberation Ribbon Medal with three stars, Philippines Presidential Citation. Navy Occupation Medal Asia. LYS. Presidential Unit Citation and WWII Victory Medal. Left the CSS CUlJOVlIl'U after they entered Japan. Was put on the CSS Idaho to Pearl Harbor. there was put on the CSS Carrier Randolph South to the Panama Canal, on to Norfolk. VA. and on to Great Lakes. IL. for discharge and home to San Francisco. CA, where his wife Jane, was living. For 32 years had own business, two Chevron Gas Stations in San Francisco. His wife Jane and he retired on 'he same day. They had picked the town ofBrookings. OR, J. here they have lived for the past 18 years. He was elected mayor of Brookings in 1978-80. IQSS Colorado Awards. in addition to earning the 1. Occupation Service fvledal tAsia1 for her services from Sept 2-25. 1945. earned the following battle stars on 1l1cAsta11f,-Pacific Area Service Ribbon for participating 'ne following campaigns: One star fvlarshall Islands Operation: Occupation of K ffajalein and fV1aiuroAtol1s:Jan.29.-Feb.X. 1944. One star Marianas Operation: Capture and occupation ml Saipan. Jan. l1AAug 101944. Une star Gilben Islands Operation: Nov, 19-Dec, 8. 'yfi 1 4 f IJUNALD A. HUBART, RfvI2f., IQSN V6 was born Aug 'tl 1925 in Delia, KS Joined the Navy on Dec 28. U42 He attended Recruit 'I raining and Radrornan Service SClltIU1.l1klIk'l11l .tkcs 'ltaritiiig Station trorrr Dec 111, 19-12, lo Mtg .7. 1941 IIClk'PU1'lCLlLllltlllllllllt'1'SSfltlllfHl'lIlfl11l the llrcirtcrtoii. WA. Nax y Yard on Sept. 4, 1943, and was assigned to the CR Dix ision. if Front Jan. 16, 1944. to Dec. 7, 1945, the Caljornia steamed 100,150 miles crossing the Equator in the Pacific, lndian and Atlantic Oceans, the Intemational Date Line and circumnavigated the Globe. Participated in the bombardment and occupation of Saipan, Guam, Tinian, Leyte, Luzon and Okinawa. The California was instrumental in the destruction of a Japanese battleship dtrring the Battle of Surigao Strait. He was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Navy Occupation Service Medal. WWII Victory Medal. He was discharged from active duty on Jan. 19, 1946. Hejoined the Naval Reserve on Sept. 6, 1949, and advanced to the rate of senior chief radioman. Hobart was discharged from the Naval Reserve on April 13, 1984. Hobart is married to the former Ola Mae Cutshall and have four children, James, Jannette, Irene, Helen and two step-children, Zachary and Amy. He is now retired from the Department of Transportation and living in Iuka. MS. They both enjoy travel and boating. DALE C. HOBBS, GM 3!c, born near Nickerson, KS, June 1, 1922. Enlisted July 1942, U.S. Navy, USS Calnfornia Division 4. Went to Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Navy Yard, Bremerton, WA, Gun School, Washington, D.C. Participated in battle on the USS Idaho to Aleutian Island, USS California - Saipan. Guam, Philippines. Lingayen Gulf and Leyte Gulf. 'Z WDM if all Memorable experiences include crossing the International Dateline Aug. 21,1944 Around the world to Philadelphia. Awards!Medals: Campaign bars for battles. Navy Training Course Certificate, GM3lc Sept. 25, 1944, signed by E.A. Pannos, LTCJGJ and ER. Bunker, Commander of USS Calljbrnia. Discharged Dec. 13, 1945. U.S. Naval Personnel Separation Center. Norman, OK. with the rank of GM3! c. Married Mary Alice Wilson, May 2, 1942. Three children, two boys and one girl, and six grandchildren. Retired from Consolidated Manttfacturing Company, Hutchinson, KS, after 36 years. Passed away Jan. 27, 1992. at Joplin. MO. CHARLES N. HODGE, CFC-AAT, USN. born Marceline. MO, Nov. 24, 1918. Enlisted Jan. 26. 1940, USN. Fire Control. F Division. Service included Great Lakes, IL, USS CllllpIl'lIl!1,USRS Pearl Harbor. RSNYD New York, RS Philadelphia. Memorable experiences include Pearl Harbor on BB44. at surrender in Tokyo Bay on BB44. AwardslMedals: Arrierican Area Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with tive stars. Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars, American Defense Service Medal. Good Conduct Medal. Discharged Jan. 26, 1946. Married Louise A. Hodge, and have four children, Janet Jones. Ted Hodge, Karen Pendola, Wendy Sue Reams. Retired. 37 years pest control business. HOWARD A. HOFER, RMllc, was born April 19, 1921. at Williamsburg, NY. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1939 to 1945. He was aboard the USS Helena at the time of attack at Pearl Harbor and was transferred to the USS Calnfornia until the end of the war. After the war, he studied law at Hofstra University on Long Island and graduated from St. John's University in New York City in 1952. He was subsequently employed with Transamerica Insurance in Chicago as claims manager. He retired in 1983. and died ofa heart attack on Nov. 22, 1985. He was active in the Optimist Club and the United Arts Council, serving as a board member and representative. He and his wife Geraldine had two daughters, Theresa and Helena. He composed an ode, the Man O' War. a chronology of the Calgfornia after Pearl Harbor. GERHARD N. HOLM, born in Everett. WA, Oct. 2, 1914. From boot camp, at San Diego, he was assigned to the USS Calnfornia in September 1940. and served on it until November 1944. On arriving to his ship at Pearl, he was assigned to the F Division and his first job was to scrub paint in the warrant officers quarters. if .wr 1 4 Hy When they were attacked on Dec. 7. 1941, he was on the focsle deck so he could see the first three planes drop bombs on Ford Island. They were so close to him that he could see the pilots in their planes. The captain ordered abandon ship. On jumping over the side into oil and water he went to Ford Island but soon they were called back to remove the deadand all the food they could get to. After the ship settled to the bottom they removed all the anti aircraft guns they could get to and set them up around the Island. He went with some of them to an ammo depot, stayed with them for about 40 days then was sent back to the ship to help raise and clean ll. They arrived in Bremerton about November 1942. the ship was repaired and rebuilt by December 1943. and went to the Pacific in early 1944 to do their part in the war. In November 1944, he asked for a transfer to fire control school in Washington, D.C. They gave him the transfer but on arriving in the states, an oil tanker. A080 USS Escambia, needed him so right back over seas he went. It was a good ship and no harm was done to it or Holm. They were about 500 miles from Japan when the war ended and he was able to see Tokyo and all its devastation. He helped decomrnission the oil tanker in Richmond, CA, and was discharged Aug. 8. 1946. in Minneapolis, MN. He was 25 years oldjoining the Navy. so. being older' than most, he was given the name of Pappy. Still called Pappy at their reunions. He likes that. 79 Jon HORKY '-iw-' RAY HORN, SFC, DIV R, just an Iowa farm boy, enlisted Dec. 6, 1941, sworn in Dec. 9, 1941, Apprentice Seaman. Boot Camp, San Diego, landed in Pearl Harbor Jan. 7, 1942, attacked to Calqbrnia, but served on 5 in. Anti Aircraft gun on the Island. Sometime in April when aboard ship went into ship fitter shortly after he went aboard ship as a striker. August 1945 made chief SJ. Discharged Dec. 11, 1945. His entire Navy career on the Calnforrtia. EDWIN DARWIN HUGHES, Radioman First Class, bom Mankato, MN. April 4, 1904. Enlisted Dec. 22, 1920, Navy age bom 1903 as guardian had to lie about his age, 16. Service includes: Radio, USS Calyfornia Division, NTS, San Francisco, Radio Tatoosh Island. He may be one, or the last of the original crew as he was 16. Upon discharge he became a linotype 0p6ratOr and back shop foreman of country newspapers. Upon retirement Dec. 10, 1969, they opened an agate shop. Am 90, married July 29, 1925, 69 years, three children, nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. His three years on Caliornia were great. You leamed discipline and to make something of yourself. Viva! the Navy! Discharged Nov. 7, 1924, with the rank of RM1!c. WILLARD BILL', HULSMEYER, SF2C, USN, bom Dec. 17, 1923, Kettlersville, OH, entered U.S. Navy, February 1943, Boot Camp at Great Lakes, shipped out on troop train headed west July 43, landed at Bremerton Navy Yard, Bremerton, WA. Soon attached to USS Caljornia in dry dock for repairs, from action at Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941. Headed back out to sea in the fall of 1943, and later while anchoring somewhere in the Pacific the doesnlt recall wherej. He was assigned to the anchor locker below decks, the wench went in reserve the anchor was dropped. This day it went out faster and faster until only one link was left fastened to the chain locker bulkhead. Later he found out that some deck hand ptrt a liberal coating of grease on the anchor brake top-side lto avoid rustj. Luckily they had two hefty R Div. people on the brake that day, they pulled hard as they could and finally l in a cloud of smokej got the brake to hold. Never had that problem again. Spent entire duty time on Cftrlifbrrrirr until landing back in Philadelphia January 1946. Married May 1946. have three daughters, good wife, and one grarrtldaughter, one grandson. Retired in 1986, bttt fill sometime asa Realtor. MELVIN HUNKER, FIC, born Sterling, CU. Jan, 6. 1927. Enlisted Jan. 4, 1945, Navy, 6th Division. Service included Boot Camp, Great Lakes: OGU Shoemaker, CA, Bremerton, WA, boarded Calybrnia. Participated in battles at Okinawa, China Sea, and Occupation oflapan. Awards! Medals: American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal with one star, WWII Victory Medal. Discharged July 10, 1946, with the rank ofF1C. Married, two children and one grandchild. Retired, traveling USA in motorhome. CHARLES B. HUNSUCKER JR, SNC, bom Mt. Glead, NC, Montgomery County, March 16, 1922. Enlisted Aug. 28, 1940, Raleigh, NC, U.S. Navy, 5th Division. Went on board USS Calyfornia Nov. 20, 1940, departed Dec. 7, 1941 , wounded in left leg, four other men were also wounded. In Casemate 4119, stayed in dispensary and hospitals until Dec. 17, 1941, went to USS Chester. Served on USS ships: Calnfornia BB44, Chester CA24, Carteret APA 70, Knight DMS, YMS 325, Albany CA9, Ticonderoga CVA 14, Essex CVA9, Albemarle AVP, Boxer CVA, Aucilla AO56. Shore duty: NTC, Naval Station, Naval Air Station, Norfolk, VA, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba: FTC Norfolk, VA. He was a Seaman first class when the Japanese sneak attack on Dec. 7, 1941. He was in the 5th Division, shellmate BMl!c, was the Division P.O. Breedlove BM2 was his leader he was on the starboard deck out side the Casemate when he saw the first planes coming in, when the first bombs hit land. GQ sounded and he went to his battle station casemate 419, 5 inch 55 broadside guns. He was wounded and went ashore to the dispensary adjacent to ship in a motor launch. The injury was not serious in his left leg, shrapnel was removed at the Army dispensary. Awards!Medals: WWII Victory Medal, American Area Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with five stars, Good Conduct Medal for 30 years, Purple Heart. Discharged Aug. 31, 1970, FTC Norfolk, VA, with the rank of BMCS, 30 years and three days. Married hometown sweet heart, Maxine Warner. July 6, 1947, one daughter, two sons, four grandchildren. Retired from city Norfolk, VA, April 1984. Today he does what he please when he pleases, hunt. fish and enjoy grandchildren. HAROLD J. HUNTLEY, SM lst!C, born Kokomo. IN, May 24, 1923. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on Dec. 10, 1940: he served on the USS Calihirnia, 3rd Division and was aboard her on Dec. 7, 1941. Strttionslvessels served on include: USNTS Great Lakes, 11.3 USS C'trlif0i'irr'tr.' USRS Pearl llrtrbor: USS llkxvt Virgiiritrp SCTC' Miami. 191.3 USS SC' 1502, USNt'i1't' Mizuni, 151.3 l1SS PGM 9g l1SS I.S'l' S-19. Aafarfl'-,lrrieflal1, lllilllflfl 'Wffli iff Area Ribbon fisiatir. l'ati1if..5.rea Pibbori Arnerieari llefertne -,t:t'ri','p Vlefla tforrtrrieridation flood f.orif.1ucf Vledai lle was diseharged in Vlay 1946 with vm CBM. lle and wife. Nflary have daughter Pai ar sons, Bill and 'llrorrrap He retired from 1. S i Service. ARTHUR .JACKSON HL'N'l'SNlAN. LS'-if M born Feb. 2, 1927, in Srnithvrlle. N40 and ti ,ed ri: s ,ite Dearborn. MO. Jackjoined the Navy on lan 56 1945 was sent to NTC, Great Lakes, lL. He had several trari ,ff before being assigned to the LBS California 'in Arm. li 1945. Q Jack received awards for his participation in ir.: bombardment of Okinawa and the occupation of Jape: He received the American Campaign Medal: the Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal with two bronze starsz and the WWII Victory Medal. He received an Honorable Dischtdge on Aug. 22, 1946. He missed the USS Caljornra because it left poi without him and he had to catch the next ship that came IQ port, therefore he was transferred to the LCI iLf 883. 1-le told a story of having been lost at sea on the LCI and if being the first ship to port after the drop of the bomb Hiroshima. Jack married Betty Marie Crane on March 15. 19-ii. and had three daughters: Opal Katherine. Velta Marie Connie Jean. Jack worked for the Carters 81 Waters I-lady te Plant. He retired at age 62. Jack passed away on Dec. IS. 1992, at the age of 65. With Jacks passing it is as if an ever buming candle has been extinguished and he will be sorely missed by all those that knew him. FRANK R. HURLEY, USNR. born Sept. 3. 1922. Enlisted USN, Pittsburgh. PA. Jan. 25. 19-13. after tinishing boot camp Sampson. was trained at rangetinder school -. is Washington. D.C. Nyd. then transferred to A.-XTC near San Diego for further training as range setter on .r computer for a 40mm bofors single rnobile .-X.-X gun. Then sent to Whidbey lsland NAS. for ftrrther transfer to Adak. Al.. Destined to be a landlocked sailor. After the fall of Risks and Attu. their batteries where no longer needed so thex were sent to Brernenon Nyd. Upon arrix al he w tts .rssrgned to the USS Ctrlifirriritr Fox Division. Reporting .rboard the ship in dry dock he did not know .rt this trrne the ship had been stink at Pearl btrt soon found otrt rn the final stages ot' chipping rust in the void eornpartrnents. Rerrrairred .tboard during the Mirrianas and Philippine Cgrtrrpargrrs -Xtter surx'ix'ing the katnikaze attack that hit the .tfter control tow CY just six feet below Spot 2. were he w .rs stationed .rs director bointer. Was later trxtrrsferretl to .idx .tneed fire control seboo' at San Diego destroyer bgtse. NV-.1 Day terrnirr.tted their school and he w .ts transferred to Sarnpson Setxrrariowx V , . , 1 -1 , , , . . . tt nit r. NX. lot drselrarge lreb. . 19-lo. 1-ull circle eonrpleted .ts this w .ts the place he started his Nos three years ago. Returned home to Xlelxeespoit PX Worked for US. Steel 1'orp. lrx ut works. .ts .rn eleeltxnrn repgtirrrrarr lor 15 rears until retrr'etrtent l9SI IUNH-.1N'lsSl1N.t-wit XVIII ltt.l9'-I.Of.tt'k.lN1O nits then assigned to the IISS tfttliforriia at Htcntcrton. A 'ixlm WE? il- IQ-I 1. N-tw. .iid lhxtston l'.ti'ticip.ttctI VSA f fpiieix tttg lxttttcs Xstgttit' Ixitcitic l'Iic.ttet. Satpitn. .lttnc J tl 2913. tltiatii Xitg I 9. I9-I-I1 lintittt. .ltilx .II - Mtg. I9-ll. I cxtc tlpciytttotis. Suttgao Sttittt. October - Nvwtttltet I9-I-1.1 tttg.txeitUttI1. .lan J - IS. I9-15:OIttn.tvttt Nssatttt .Inns I' 30. I9-45. l'hn'd Iflect Cltina Sea and I.EQ'.l12..ll1If 10 -Xttgttst '. 19-15, - N E X s skvunrlwxf s I 9 I 3 t Discharged Feb. 20. 19-18. vtith the rank of SSMT3. Nlanied Shirley Brovvn.N1ay 14. 1948. have one son. Nlr. Jackson died Oct. lo. 1991. VERNON O. SWYEDE JENSEN, Division F. born Pemberton. RIN. Dec. 20. 1920. Joined the Navy, March ll. 1938. Mason City. IA. Boot Training: NTS, Great L.1Itcs.II.. . Q. 'X aj . 1 as . L i 'Q , , XX '. 9 Q , Q. 1 aww, gif if ly! in ,U Transferred to USS California August 1938, at Bremerton. Was aboard ship at Pearl on December 7. At Pearl until August 1942. when CalU'0rnia retumed to the states. He was assigned to the USS Sirius AK-15: from :here to French frigate schools as GM 2lc in 1943. Other stations: Pearl Harbor Repair Base: San Diego Repair Base: LaMesa Retraining Command: Terminal island: Port Director Inspection Crew: shipped to Guam, Nov ember 1946 to February 1948, discharged as Chief GM. Feb. 27. 1948. Married March 18, 1945. to Alverag one sort and tvvin grandsorts. He is retired. ,JAMES E. JERNIGAN, WT1lc. USN, USS Calitimzia. was born May 14. 1920. in Petersburg, VA. Jained the Navy Jan. 23. 1939. Trained at NOB Norfolk, I-A. Assigned to CSS California from May 1939 to Dec. '. 1941. when it sank at Pearl Harborl USS Astoria from Dec. 13. 1941 to Aug. 9. 1942. when itsank atSavoIslandg USS .Santa Fe from November 1942, through June 1945. He three years. six months. and seven days of combat Participated in battles at Coral Sea May 7. 1942: my lcrif: 3-6. fiuadalcartal August 7-9. Discharged i I IL' 26.174, Vlarrierf Vlariort A Jernigan ,IA LK VS. JESSIP, ISNR. GFVl3lc.. born June 17, 1924. zf blbffft near?-f1erril.1!1. 'lried to loin the Navy in 1941. i.,fy,iLg Iff,wl'5 Vviii draltetl April 10 1943. and kb ., 'look liofit 'lratnsng at larragtit IIJ and He was assigned to the 6th Division standing fire watch most of the time in dry-dock. Battles participated in were Saipan, Tinian. Guam, Leyte, Surigao, Lingayen Gulf and Okinawa. Medals are WWII Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two Stars, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four stars. Was discharged Feb. 5, 1946, at Minneapolis, MN. Married 1947, have two children, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Retired in 1976, after working for city of Sivier City for 30 years. ELLIS K. JETT, USNR, RDM, 2lc, Division I, born April 10, 1925, in Mt. Sterling, IL, moved to Colorado Springs, CO, at age six months, liked it, so stayed. Enlisted in the Navy April 9, 1943, and woke up to cold salt-free oatmeal at 0400 in Farragut, ID. From there to duty on USS Calnfornia, radar school at Point Loma, CA, then back to the Prune Barge in time for shakedown cruise and sea duty. Received gunnery and damage control training and trained as small group portable radar operator for special landing forces. YU' Participated in all actions of the ship from Saipan in the Marianas to Okinawa and the China Sea. Aboard during the machine-gunning from a Sampan, shelling from a Japanese tank, kamikaze hit followed by a five inch round from a friendly destroyer, and ramming by an unfriendly sister-ship, the Temzessee. Awarded the European Theater Ribbon. Pacific Theater with four stars, American Theater, Victory Medal and Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars. Also earned tsuitable for framingj an official Certificate Awarding Membership in Ancient Order of the Deep signed by Davy Jones himself. Married Agnes Mott in 1950. produced two line knee- bouncers and one they sent to sea. He has a great daughter- in-law and two unmatched sons-in-law. plus nine top-of- the-line grandchildren. Retired in 1982 after 35 years as director of maintenance and operations with local school district. HAROLD J. JOHNSON, F llc, born Tulare, CA, May 19. 1920. Enlisted in U.S. Navy, Nov. 9, 1939. Trained at San Diego. Company 39-37. Assigned to USS California, Long Beach. February 1940. Served in B Division 40 and 41. Firerooms I and 3. during the December 7, attack at Pearl Harbor. Reported Missing in Action. Assigned to USS Aimria. Dee. 13. 1941. After Coral Sea and Midway. he was assigned to new construction on the USS Titania in Robins Dry Dock. NY. Sailed to Norfolk, VA. to train troops for invasion. Chesapeake Bay. VA, they were a cargo attack ship carrying 23 landing crafts and 300 assault troops. Made invasion SAFI AFRICA November 1942, back to Norfolk, VA. sailed for Salanions Islands, December 1942. operated otit of Iispirittt Santo, New Hebrides and Nottntia. New Caledonia. Carried 500 pounds of bombs, torpctlocs, aviation gas for lighting force outside Cittadalcanal. Made ltlture invasions ol Georgia Islands. Alltel invasion ol Mttnda, he was intttretl and sent the hospital in Auckland. New Zealand. MOB - 4. Then traits1'et'ted to Oak Knoll to be operated on, and then to Corona lor Rehab. Then onto San Diego. limited duty, Med Surveyed ottt MM-2C. Nov. 9. 1944. five years tothe day. wr .R . 0.44. '-iff Married. four children, nine grandchildren, 10 great- grandchildren. Retired in 1977. hobbies, motor-homing. fishing and golf. Motor-homed in U.S., Canada. Baha, Mexico. Loved every moment of it. Proud to have been a part of the Old B-44. HARRY NOLAND .JOHNSON JR., Sllc. born Great Bend, KS. Oct. 12, 1925. Enlisted December 1942. Los Angeles. CA. U.S. Navy. N Division C3. Boot Camp. Farragut, ID: Bremerton, WA, USS Calnfornia, 1943 - January 1945, died on hospital ship, USS Bolivar Jan. 12, 1945. Participated in battles at Leyte Gulf. Surigao Strait, Lingayen 5 Gulf, kamikaze Hit: all II? I battles from X '-Lf Recommissioning until , January 1945. Q M M e m o r a ble I' experiences include good friends: Don Zieglar, Bill Silvers, Jim Hissom, Ken Fields. Bunking with the Band. AwardslMedals: Commendation Sky Lookout. Invasion of Leyte. Died as result of burns received when Japanese plane struck his duty station. Sllc. Lingayen Gulf. Jan. 6. 1945. His father. H.N. Johnson Sr.. CEM. USNCB: mother. Vera A. Williams. Los Angeles. CA: sister. Joanne: Johnson Haaker, now of Roach. MO. Buried at sea. Jan. 12. 1945. Mindoro Deep. He has a map his brother made showing the route the Calmmiia took from the time it left the States. showing battles. etc. until he was injured. PAUL JOHNNY JOHNSON, CWO USN. tRet.1. born Beverly. MA. Feb. 2. 1910. Enlisted Dec. 7. 1928. Transferred to BB44 on Aug. 6. 1935: Fllc. M Division: transferred B Division. as WT2lc other ships: CA-2 Rac'lie.s'tt'r. CL-I3 Menipliis. ML-1. Ogalala. BB44. California ATO. 26 Iwllllfflllk. DD 389. Mugjbrd. CL-43 Na.vln'ille, DD-422 Mayo. ADMS. Staff as CWT, ATR-76 as CH, Eng. ,I -Y Ll. AO58 as M Division officer: CA-124 as CWT. Retired on Sept. 8, 1948: recalled Oct. 20. 1950. Trained recruits Newport, RI. Bainbridge, MD. Re-retired Oct. 19. 1952. They were known as Metal Men. silver in their hair. gold in their teeth. and lead in their butts. Retired as chief warrant machinist. March 1. 1958. Holloways Staff on AD-20. 1943. Married Jan. 24. 1932. while on CL-13. USS Mrfnipliis, French Canadian Irene S. Boudreau. two daughters. Joan 1933 and Paula 1938. Retired. While traveling on the high way of life, 27 knots. wife mn aground, tore off right leg tpoor circulationl. He is De Boss. De Fastest Man with De Bed Pan in all Pensacola. Stay well he happy. ROBERT P. JOHNSON, LT, USNR, born June 1920. Enrolled in Navy V7 Program March 1941. Graduated Occidental College. 1943. Commissioned August 1943. Reported aboard USS California September 1943, 3rd Division. Bombardments involved Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Leyte, Lingayen Gulf and Okinawa. Involved in the battle ofSurigao Strait. Returned to Philadelphia, USA, stopping at Singapore, Colombo Ceylon and Capetown, South Africa. Reported to UCLA as an NROTC instructor, December 1945. Discharged May 1946. Married with three children and five grandchildren. Retired from Pacific Telephone Company, June 1982, 37 years, living in Anaheim, CA. Playing golf, tennis, racquetball plus traveling keeps him out of the house, active and healthy. BILL O. JOLLY, USMC, bom May 13, 1923, Clied year about agej. Joined Marine Corp. May 14, 1940, and assigned to USS Calgfornia in Bremerton, WA, in August W 1940. First trip to sea he was assigned on life buoy sentry on after part of quarter deck. Navy decided to announce man overboard and as he didn't know what floated by, he pulled the handle that let a large tube type raft slide off its ramp. Sgt. ofthe guard relieved him from post and put him in the brig for a couple hours. He is probably the only private to cause a battleship to stop maneuvers to retrieve a life-raft. Fired 5 5l caliber broadside gun in August 1941, during short range practice and made lst class pointer. Was on gun station in casemate 8 during attack on Dec. 7, 1941. Promoted to corporal, worked on salvage crew chipping paint and returned with ship to Bremerton, was transferred from ship and wound up in the lst, 2nd, 3rd Marine Amphibious Corps, involved in three beach head landings, the last being Guam, where he was wounded Aug. 9, 1944, spending the next ll months in the hospital. Then spent last nine months on limited duty in Port Chicago, CA and was discharged on May 17, 1946. ELWOOD H. JONES, USNR, LT., born Oct. 13, 1915. Enlisted in the service 1942, served in Convoy work to 1944, when transferred to the Prune Barge, USS Calyfornia. Served as lst Division officer and officer of the deck underway. Landed MacArthur at Leyte. Met the Japanese fleet at Surigao Strait and won a ship-to-ship gun duel. Then on to Lingayen, Okinawa and Japan. From excessive firing, shot the liners out of their big guns and had to go to Bremerton, WA, to reline. The USS California with side blisters was too fat to go through the canal and had to go around the Hom to get to Philadelphia Navy Yard. Discharged, returned to Pennsylvania, where he practiced law, ran a newspaper, insurance business, savings and loan, and was president of a bank for 35 years. Married a school teacher, have seven children. Put all through college. Have 19 grandehildrenand four great- grandchildren. Retired, winter in Sun City, AZ, and summer in Mountaintop, PA. EDWARD W. .JONES SR, enlisted U.S. Navy. Sept. 30, 1940, New Orleans, LA. Recruit training, San Diego, CA, Co. 40-71 . Assigned to USS California in 5th Division Had the O.D. messenger watch Dec. 7, 194111800-1200. When he saw the lirst wave of Japanese planes bomb Ford lsland, he went to his battle station 5 inch 51 cal casemate gun. Then up to the 5 inch 25 cal AA guns to relieve a gun crew until abandon ship, then swam to Ford Island. Went to Hickam Field with the 5 inch AA guns of the USS California to defend Hickam. He went back to help relloat the USS Calyornia then to Bremerton, WA, to get rebuilt. Then back to the Pacific for the rest of the war on the USS Calwunia. When ship rejoined the fleet, he was in the 12th Division, 20MM AA guns on the port quarter deck. Served as gunner's mate until discharge on July 6, 1945, at New Orleans, LA. Member of the USS Calyornia Reunion Association and life member of PHSA. Wife Edna, eight children. Presently living in Metairie, LA. 'Qu' KENNETH W. JONES, Sllc, born Lawrence, KS, April 7, 1926. Enlisted April 12, 1943, U.S. Navy, 2nd Division, Deck and Gunnery. Service includes Farragut, ID, Whid Bay ls., WA, Pacific Beach.g USS Cctlnfbrniag Bremerton, WA. Participated in battles at Saipan, Guam Tinian, Leyte, Battle of Surigao Strait, Lingayen Gulf, Philippines, Okinawa. Memorable experiences: Asleep at his battle station in Turret 2, after being there all day during invasion of Leyte. Early morning of Oct. 25, 1944, he was awaken by the sound of GQ and was told the Japanese Task Force was spotted and was coming their way. The sea battle of Surigao Strait was under way. In 1945, while on shore on Okinawa, on a working party a typhoon approached and the Calnbrnia pulled anchor and went to sea. They were a lost working party on the island for several days until their ship returned. AwardslMedals: Presidential Unit Citation, seven Battle Stars, American Theater, Asia Pacific Bar, WWII Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Occupation of Japan. Discharged Dec. 12, 1945, with the rank of S llc. Married, one son, one daughter, four grandchildren, and one great-grandson. Retired from L.A. County, CA, Sheriff 's Department, after 32 years. s RONALD ODELL JONES, BM 3lc, bom Oklahoma. Served USN, Divisions 3 and F, 1943-46: Saipan, Guam, Tinian, Leyte, Surigao Strait Luzon, Okinawa, China Sea and Tokyo. Recipient of seven battle stars, include six island invasions and one sea battle. He retired from the U.S. Navy and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the USS Calnfornia Association and the AARP. He was a Lutheran. He was chairman of Biloxi Reunion 1983. Married Vilia Jones, Biloxi, MS. Died Oct. 18. 1988, in Biloxi, where lived for 17 years. Survived by his daughter, Mrs. Helen Davis. Railto, CA, and three step-daughters: Mrs. Shannon lllich of Long Beach, Mrs. Sylvia Diaz of D'Iberville. and Mrs. Diane King of Gulfport, and a step-son, Ray Fountain of Long Beach. Also 19 grandchildren and eight great- grandchildren. JOHNNIE T. JUDIE SR., CK2lc, born Hearne, TX, July 31, 1921. Enlisted April 22, 1942, U.S. Navy. Service included TAD CEN, Shoemaker, CA, Catnp PetTy.VA1 PSC Lido Beach, Ll, NYQ Houston, TX: NTS Norfolk. VA: USS Califizrniu PSNY Bremerton, WA. Participated in battles at Tinian, Saipan, Guam, Battle of Leyte Gulf, Battle Lingayen Gttlf, other actions in Philippines. Mernorahle experiences include being eye witness ofthe kamikaze Japanese plane before crashing into BB4-l, also Gen. MacArthur's return to Philippines. AwardslMedals: American Catnpaign, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four Bronze Stars, WWll Victory Medal. Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one llronfc Star. Philippine Presidential l1nitCitation. Discharged Oct. 16, 19-15. with the rank ol' Clillc. ' 4 .ff r -ur , 1' O Q f if Married Johnedna Wilson Judie on 'sew Year'-. Da, 1944, Bremerton, WA. Has four sons. one a pre-t .I Archdiocese of Louisville. KY. Retired postal work f Orleans, LA, main post office. HENRY JURACIC, Seaman First Class, born Chicago, Dec. 18. 1924. Enlisted August 1943, 6th Division, Gunnery. Participated in invading the Philippines, sea battle. Discharged in 1946. He and his wife Eugenia have no children. Today works in food business, meats. REV. JOSEPH ALAN JIQSTAD. Plot te. born Minneapolis, MN. July 20. 1922. Enlisted May 20. 19-12. USN Hospital Corps. Stations: Great Lakes: San Diego. Bremertong Spokane, USS Calnfornia. Battles participated in: Saipan, Tinian, Guam. Philippines. Surigao Strait. Lingayen Gulf. MedalslAwards: Purple Heart. Discharged December 19-15. He is a widower with four sons and four grandchildren. He is retired. but conducts 125 weddings a year. HARRY O. KASA. was born July 2-1. 1909. Dennison. MN. was drafted into the Naxy in December 1943. and left in January 19-1-1. for boot camp at Farragut. ID. After the training left for San Francisco and boarded the battleship, Cnllforriin which had been bombed in Pearl Harbor and repaired. He went to Saipan. which they int aded the beach for the Army. A watchman was killed here from a Saigon shell. They next invaded Guam and Tinian. w hen Ray Tweed came out of the jungles where he had been hiding. Suicide planes were around them and a number of inert aboard ship were killed. Other places w ere Okinaw .t. Iwo Jimo and sea battle in the Philippines. The treaty yy .ts signed on the Misrottri at Tokyo Bay. Our ship xx as there .1 few days later. On way home took trip to Earl Coast so stopped at Ceylon Colombo. lndia for tw o days: onto Capetown. Africa, and then on Atlantic and headed for Philadelphia. Was discharged in December 19-15 ,tt Great Lakes. lL. Q Q -I Rank. lfneinan lust Class. X liixiooix ll.trix xxas in.nried Sept ftx, 1030, ,mtl has txxo xlauglttcts as xx ell as sexen hxtng grtmtlcltildren .ind ll great gratittclnldreit llis datigliters xx ere I .mtl S xt-.tis txltl xx hen he xx ent in the seix ice llc retired in .lnlx 1974. and has been legally blind tor sex cial xcars GFORGIQ J. Klfl.l.EY. BIT. ISN. tRet,l, born x1in.x1ta.NF..lttne 10. 1912. Fnlistedfxug. 27. 19-10.Scatt1e. NN X. ISN. Coinpany 40-65. San Diego. Serx ed aboard the 1 SS fltIfl'ill'.'litE HH-14. l'SS t'li1t't1,eot'.4f9. Cub 13. Boat Pool tfll. Sl Cl' ttlo. ISS .-XROt41o. l'SS ABSD 145, t'Bltl5.t'BD151'.N1CB ith. Amphib Base l..C.. YA. CHU 101. Antarctica Palmer Station. Participated in battles at Rcnnel ls. Green ls. Philippines tSaipanl. Marshall-Gilbert ls . Xexx Guinea. Guadalcanal. Bollganxille. Memorable experiences: back to active duty, assigned to CBL20. Antarctic Support. when main unit deployed to Xlclxlurdo. in November he was designated CPO in charge of construction platoon Alfa. they deployed at the end of December. flew to Punta Areas. Chili. There loaded Coast Guard Ice Breaker llfksr Wind 66-67. South Wind 67-68 to .-Xnx ers Island. He had been on plenty islands but none can compare. ice. snow. rock. even the penguins and seals left before them. Their heavy equipment and materials came later. they had their camp set up and a good pan of blasting done. they used up about two tons of explosive, a good underwater for the pier. The facility supported about 20 people wintering over. He was awarded the flag. by du C.O. of 201 . that flew over Palmer Station. Their two times there their motto was Construction for Peace. Back to Fleet Reserve April 1968. AwardsfMedals: American Defense Service Medal xx ith star. Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with seven stars, American Area Campaign Medal. WWII Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars, Good Conduct Medal with six star. Antarctic Medal, two Commendation Letters. Transferred to Fleet Reserve June 1, 1960, rank, BUC. He married Thelma in February 1945, has son George J., daughters. Linda. Cheryl, Kathleen and Theresa. Also 12 grandkids and two great-grandchildren. .JOHN DAVID KELLY, SllC, Greer County, OK, Aug. 1. 1921. Enlisted Dec. 9, 1941, U.S. Navy 6th Division South Pacihc. USS Calnforniu. Wlwffq- Basic training at San Diego, CA. Dec. I6. 1941 to Dec 28. 1941 . On Dec, 28. 1941 . he had an appendectomy at the US. Naval Hospital in San Diego. CA. On Jan. 20. .942 he was transported to Pearl Harbor and assigned to 'I ,ty aboard the IQSS California for the salvage operation. Vx her, the IISS Californm was made sea worthy he sailed fx Iirernertori, Navy Yard. in Washington State where it f. as modernized and updated Participated in battles at' Saipan. Tinian. Guam. Levitt: l,off,y, Okinawa The fulijornm was htl by a suicide ciartc alter laridiriff troops on Lufon. ffhusing. loss ol lite ri damage to the ship Sea battle in SurigaoStrai1 rtistllltlfl ft r, 15 Japanese ship- being sunk The I ulifornm continued with 'he Pllllifafzlltfi Liberation and preparing lor the tnx.tsiono1 lokx o When thc .Japanese surrentleretl he then xx cnt to tlkiitnxxzt. Vxztkax anna Wan. and then to Tokyo Huy amd dnl some sight seeing in 'liokyo The C'olilornio remained in .Japanese xxaters for another 90 days. then set sinl tot the USA. via Singapore, Colombo. Ceylon. Ciipetoxx n. SoutliA1rica. and then to Philadelphia. PA. Awards! Medals: American Medal. Asiatic-Pacific xxith three Bronze Stars. the Philippines Liberation 131 Bronze Stars. and World War ll Victory Medal. He was discharged Dec. 13. 1945. in Norman, OK. at the rank of SIXC. He was married March 19. 1945, to lone G. Boneek. he has three daughters. one son and seven living grandchildren. John Kelly and wife lone reside at Midxx est City. OK. He worked in law enforcement retiring after 35 years. and then with the department of safety for 1-1 years retiring the second time on Nov. 30, 1988, with the rank of Sgt. He also worked the Oklahoma State Fair every year since the early 1950s. His hobbies include: woodworking, gardening and yard work. LOUIS ERWIN KELLEY, USS Caliornia BB44, born in Bellows Falls, VT, March 10, l9l7.After graduating from Williams College in 1938, worked, at various jobs, thenjoined the Navy August 1940. Commissioned ensign 1 June 1941. Ordered to the ' I f California in October, he was aboard on December 1 I 7th. His duty station was I ' boilers division, but his ff battle station was plotting fl f f, room for main battery. Up y early to record fuel and t' water and on way to cf breakfast when the attack started. Went to plotting 2 room where they felt bombs and torpedoes hitting ship. They went up an escape tower. helped with the wounded until second abandon ship was ordered. December 9, he was assigned with five others to help find the 12,000 missing men. Many went to undamaged ships, and wounded were found in private homes and hospitals. After a month with nearly all of them accounted for, he was ordered to the Ralph Talbot DD390 as engineering officer. Saw action in the Gilbert, Marshall. Wake and Marcus Islands, Midway and Guadalcanal . Ship badly damaged at Savo lsland August 9, 1942. After repairs at Pearl Harbor and San Francisco, they returned to the South Pacific. June 1944, reported to the Zellars DD777 as engineering officer. Hospitalized January 1945 until April 1946 and retired. He has the Fleet Commendation. American Defense with one star and Asiatic-Pacific with seven stars. Married Elizabeth McMicken May 1942. have one daughter, two sons and two grandchildren. He worked as a research chemist for Rohm and Haas in Philadelphia, retired 1976. . , ,M 'Wm . sr .1 .ff J. VERNON W. KENNEDY, bom Feb. 19, 1915. Banner, VA. Joined Navy, July 7, 1937, trained at NOB, Norfolk. VA. Assigned to USS California December 1937. After four years, three months, 14 days. he was discharged at Long Beach, CA. on Oct. 18, 1941. He saw no wartime action on the California all his wartime action was on a DD559 front June 2, 1943. to May 18. 1945, after his re- enlistment in the Navy. His most memorable experience was while securing the Honey Box on the pOI'l side, galley deck the port crane two-blocked, snapped the cable, came down. knocked him over the side, between a garbage scoxv. breaking some ribs and a couple toes. Was seaman llc 5th Division, while aboard the Calmirnia. x V' Married with three children and eight grandchildren. Retired from his job as a railroad conductor in 1975. Today he engages in hunting. fishing, gardening, traveling and loaling. ROBERT S. KERTCHER, Radar Technician 2lc, born Detroit, Ml. Jan. 7. 1925. Enlisted Jan. 6. 1943, USNR, NTS. Great Lakes. USS California BB44. Participated in battles at Saipan. Guam, Tinian. Leyte Gulf, Surigao Strait, Lingayen Gulf. Okinawa. xt... , . fp 1 f 3 ky. f 1, . xx . I x 5 Nt s., AwardslMeda1s: Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal. American Campaign Medal, Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal with four stars, WWII Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars. Discharged Jan. 19, 1946. with radar technician 2lc. Married Norma Jean Van Arsdale 1948: daughters. Sally Ann and Jean Leslie. Retired in Las Vegas. travel. Memorable Experiences: He was assigned as radar technician in charge of the number four Mark IV Fire Control Radar. The Antenna Assembly was mounted on top ofthe 5 inch 38 gun director located near Sky Aft. When the kamikaze attacked the California at Lingayen Gulf, Jan. 6, 1945. it was the Antenna Assembly of the Mark IV Radar that became the first point of contact by the Japanese Zero. After sweeping the antenna off the top of the director. the Zero exploded against the ship about one deck above Sky Aft and the adjacent Aft Radar Control shack. But,just minutes before this occurred he had received a phone call at the radar shack and he was summoned below to assist in maintenance on one of the forward radars. He assumed it was an urgent call because they were at battle stations. He quickly gathered up the tools and the special meter needed for tests and proceeded to excuse himself as he headed for the ladder and stepped over some of the Sky Aft personnel who were resting on the deck. No sooner had he descended four decks to the starboard side of the main deck he caught sight of a low flying aircraft off the starboard aft quaner. He pointed it out to Radar Tech Johnny Johnson who planned to meet him there. They then observed the aircraft make a shallow tum and head straight toward them. The Japanese were very close and they heard the quad 40s and 20s commence firing. They were exposed on the quarter deck so they dashed through the cross- passage and dove into the light-lock hatch on the pon side just moments before the Zero exploded about 50 feet above them. The explosion and shrapnel was devastating as evidenced by their casualties. damage. and by photos taken by other ships. lt was a very close call for him and it is still very vivid in his memory. He believes that within those few short minutes he was the last person to leave Sky Aft alive and unharmed. He has one person to thank for that seemingly urgent phone call which resulted in his leaving Sky Aft immediately with precious few minutes to spare. That person was Johnny Frank Johnson. Radar Technician Zlc. his closest friend. Later when he asked Johnny about the tests he needed to make he said it was not urgent. only routine. and he hadn't really planned to use the special meter that day. He was dismayed! But, why with seeming urgency did he call him away from Sky Aft? He never found an explanation for his misunderstanding the message. But. nonetheless. to this day he continues to thank Almighty God that he reacted as if Johnny's message was indeed urgent, lt was to him!! ALBERT E. KING. born Aug. 16. 1923. Augusta. KS. Moved to Wichita 1928. Worked Western Union at 17. Was in CCC Camp. Rosell. KS. on Dec. 7, 1941. lnducted into USNR April 5. 1943. Boot Camp Farragut, ID, Company 261. Assigned USS California. Bremerton dry-dock R Division SF3lc. After overhaul. steamed over 100,000 miles. Crossed equator in Pacific. Indian. Atlantic Oceans. Circum-navigated the Globe. Accepted tnember Ancient Order ol' the Deep, Sacred Order of the Golden Dragon. Eamed six battle stars and Presidential Unit Citation. Participated in last sea battle between surface ships in which the Caliornia sank Japanese battle ship in direct exchange of fire at Surigao Strait in Philippines. California covered landings of first troops landing on Japan at WWII end. Was mile off shore Leyte Gulf day MacArthur landed. Was asleep last bunk forward main deck when Tennessee rammed Calnfornia, killing several men 5th Division directly below. Was at battle station 01 deck when hit by Japanese plane, also hit by shell fire at Saipan. Discharged Dec. 13, 1945, Norman, OK. Married Elizabeth J. Orange Feb. 19, 1945, three children and seven grandchildren. Retired Wichita, KS, Fire Department, Captain, living in Andover, KS. ALONZO W. KIRBY, USNR, born Jan. 29, 1923, joined the Navy February of 1943. Trained at Great Lakes Naval Training Station. They sent him to Poinloma, CA, for five weeks of radar operator. That was after being assigned to the Calnfornia. They saw action in Marianas, Saipan, Tinian, and Guam. They headed for Okinawa when the Tennessee rammed them one night during a storm. There was a floating dry-dock there that could handle them so they Went to the New Hebrides for a patch job. Espiritu Santo from there they went to Okinawa and the Philippines. A suicide plane hit them in super structure, after that sent them back to Bremerton, WA, for a 25 day leave. In the Great Sea Battle in Leyte Gulf the old Prune Barge Sent one Japanese battleship to the bottom solo and helped sink other ships of the Japanese Fleet. He was BM2!c when he left the Navy. He had three brothers in, Alan - Army, Paul - Navy, and Noble - Army. He has eight Bronze Stars and the Purple Heart. He is now a retired builder. He left the Navy January 1946. ROBERT C. KLAG, ENC, USN, born April 11, 1918, New York. Enlisted Jan. 28, 1941, U.S. Navy. Was a Merchant Marine prior to his Naval History. Went to sea in 1934. Worked as a fireman and oiler on various ships. Burnt coal on some of them. He enlisted in the Navy in Bellingham, WA, right after Christmas 1940. Went through training in San Diego. To the it California June 1941. Served in the forward - engines room in the W Division. He loved that L , ship, she was his home, He never had a home, she was his life. He saw the Japanese planes over Ford Island he 'just came of the 4 to 8 watch, was at his bunk on the 2nd deck starboard side. He pulled on his pants and shoes and dove for the engine room after the bugle sounded, lle remembers the bombing and torpedoes. lt was awful when .Af you are down below under attack. Went on board .'m1'rllr1,:gff as soon as she arrived from the States. .lun Winters and Jolm De Long went there too. Lett the .Srtrrzlrigrf a year later and put USS Ulf' AT76 in Frisco. Went on her to the invasion of Attu in the Aleutian Islands. Did various salvage work and on and off served as a radar beacon lor planes. After the Aleutian Campaign was finished they went to the invasion of Philippine Islands, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Got transferred to the States and arrived there V.J. Day, did various duty on the East Coast, USS to Maui in Panama then duty in Greenland. Re-enlisted in 1947, and served on USS Kyne as shipkeeper. Went to St. Albans Hospital found he had ulcer and nervous stomach. Retired as engineman lst class. Went and worked in various power plants and as a fireman and later learned stationary engineering. Married and has two daughters. Today he is retired stationary engineer, logging contractor. STANLEY P. KLEIN, USN, joined the Navy Jan. 7, 1941, and was sent to Great Lakes, IL, for eight weeks of training. After finishing Boot Camp. He was shipped to Bremerton, WA, and boarded the California on Sunday, March 30th on his 18th Birthday. Assigned to the 2nd Division. They got to Pearl about the end of April. So the whole summer of 1941, they would go out to sea, maneuvers and gun practice, on the Friday before December 7, coming into Pearl, they reported enemy submarines. He never did know what happened to their report. On Sunday, December 7, he had the 8 to 12 messenger watch on the starboard quarter deck, GQ was sounded. All hands went to their battle station and about 11:30 a.m. the word was passed to abandon ship. When they left the lower handling room of turret 2, they were ankle deep in oil. He stayed attached to the ship, after the refit, they went back out on the Pacific to fight the Japanese, until the war was over. They made a world tour to Capetown, South Africa, and back to the states, and got into Philadelphia on December 1945. Then they mothballed the ship and on July 3, 1946, he was transferred to Key West, FL, on LCI 656, as care taking crew and stand watches, on Sept. 28, he was sent to Jacksonville, FL, for discharge, he stayed at Jacksonville till November 9, for discharge. LYLE A.E. KLEMP, SIC, born July 10, 1925, Richfield, WI. Enlisted June 1943, in Milwaukee, WI, trained at Great Lakes, 28 days, sent to Bremerton, WA, assigned to USS Wichita, later transferred to USS Calnfornia. f One thing that really stands out is the Okinawa Typhoon. Five from 2nd Division went to get supplies at Okinawa. Next thing waves are getting higher, all ships leaving. Lost their barge, water all over island. Lost his shoes, got foot infection run a nail under his big toe. Five days the ship came back to pick them up. They all looked like foreign tramps. AwardsfMedals: Third Fleet China Sea and Japan, Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation. Nine Stars: Asiatic-Pacific, Saipan, Guam, Tinian, Leyte Operation, Leyte Landings, Battle of Surigao Strait, Lingayen Gulf, Okinawa. Discharged March 30, 1946. Married Estelle. three adopted children, Mary. Robert, Zona, two grandchildren, Tracy, 19, and Johnathan, 2, one more on the way. Retired from Merrill Fire Department 3.1 lfl years. EDDIE A. KLUSMICIER,lISN,G1y1,3rt1t'tass, USS f.'ulifbrr1iri. 5111 Division, born Louisville, KY, Nos. 2-1, 1920. lxnlisted March 12, 1940. l'articipated in battles at Pearl llarhor, Philippines and Asiatic 'l'lteater, hleinorahle 1 fi W . ' Wt' 71. I f . ' A experiences include tropical storms and typrtooris His experience aboard Battleship LBS Crni,rf,rr 1 Bremerton, WA. Puget Sound P-'anal Shtpy ard. He was assigned to 5th Diuision. just in time air supply chipping hammers over the side. They at two men to a scaffold with block and tackle and a ig? line tied around their waists. They had to tie tackle ltrr properly or hang in mid air. and it was a long may down to the bottom of dry-dock. 1941 Pearl Harbor He had last ammunition magazine security w atch 0400 to 0800 Sunday morning, Dec. 19-11. The w atch was secured at breakfast. He went below to w ash up. Oy er the loud speaker he heard that the Japanese were bombing them. Set conditions: Yoke, X-Ray. Zebra. He raced to Casemate 441. his gun station. Looking out to Ford Island Air Force Base. he could see smoke and fire. A plane banked its wings and he saw a big orange circle. They watched bombs hit and explode. When torpedoes hit them they shook and rocked. Explosions were taking place below. Outside their gun station Atl and Turret 22 a hole the width of a water bucket was 10-15ft from them. It had to explode below or he wouldnt be here to w rite this With the ship listing portside they heard Abandon Ship Call. Hejumped over side and swam to Ford Island. Orders came to return to ship and try to save her from capsizing. They kept doubling up lines from ship to key 5 so she would settle on bottom upright. and she did. Transfer to EWA Marine Base to install 5 inch .35 caliber anti-aircraft guns while living in woods and tents. They manned the anti-aircraft guns and trained Marines to take over. He returned to San Francisco on L'SS Henderson. He was assigned mine sweeping duty on YNIS 313 arid 314, with the 7th Fleet. Duty in New Guinea. New Britain. Celebes. Admiralty Islands. and Philippines as escort. patrol, mine sweep. and tow barges. Returned to Ads anced Gunnery School. Washington. D.C. Received hospital discharge on Aug. 9. 1945. Discharged Aug. 9. 19-15. with the rank of gunners mate, lfc. Married. two children. daughter and son. three grandchildren. Today retired. staying around home. JACK R. KNOX. USN. born Jan. 31. 1923. Fulda. MN. Joined the Navy March 26. 1943. and served .is machinist in the engine room. His daughter wrote this biography for her Dad. as he passed away Jan. lo. 1905. He was always proud of having served his country and of being on the USS Ciilirbriizu. ,,,,,as . I v0lhlNlhmmQ He had a journal telling about botnhardtng S.np.iti. Tinian, the mines at ley te Gul1',hattles l1lSLll'lg.l0 Strait. the China Sea and lingay en Gulf. The enemy attacks they surx iyed causing tninry .intl death to friends and shipmates made her ery She ts grateful to her Dad and all of youg xt tthour your lwraxerx and sacrifices life xxouldn't he .ts good .ts it ts Dad belonged to the Ancietit Order ot' the Deep .ind the Sacred Order ot' the Golden Dragon, and steamed 100. 150 ntiles. llc was honorably discliarged Dccciiibei 1945 Married his syyectltcart. Ruth and returned lti yyorls .tt Clitcago North NN est Railroad. until beconiing .1 hobby I.irntci '.-' crane operator HC-s surxty cd by his yyitc. Ruth. of 48 years. his ksIliUgl1lL'l'lQlLlll.SOl1'lll-ILIXX..lL'lTy,LlllLlOllC grandson. Josh. Slllllllllllitf lay Gail llotllifii FRIQDIQRICK I. KUHI.. MMZC. born Springfield. OH..1unc lo. 1923. Enlisted Dec. 12. 1942. Nayy. Service includes Great Lakes Nay al Training Station: Bremerton Nat .tl Xard. Bremerton. WA: USS Ciilifoiwziii, Participated in battles at Saipan. Guam. Leytc Gulf. Surigao Strait. Lingay en Gulf. East China Sea. Okinawa. Occupation Xyakay anta Wan Occupation. Tokyo. AwardslMeda1s: .Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal. Philippine Liberation Ribbon. Discharged Jan. 11. 1946. with the rank of MM2C. Married Opal Salyer. June 29. 19461 two daughters, Saunie and Kristy: three grandchildren: Rusty, Kristopher, Kelsey. Wife deceased .August 1985. Retired and enjoying every minute. HAROLD D. KOZA, AMM3, born Nov. 20, 1921, Bruno. NE. Enlisted May 1940, U.S. Navy, Aviation Machines T Mate 3. V Division. Boarded Long Beach. 1940: Boat Camp. San Diego, NAS Kodiak, enlisted Flight Training. VF89. USS Antietaing flight instructor, Pensacola: .Airborne Radar Controller VW2g VF 82: USS Kersage. LTA pilot. Arctic Flight Snow Goose. AvvardslMeda1s: Campaign Pacific and Good Conduct Medals. Discharged June 30, 1960. Married 1947, Frances Watson: daughters, Rebecca and Karen: son. Don. Retired Medical 1977, Department Army. Aviation Treatment Technical Advisor. DANIEL R. KRAMER, Ensign, DVCGJ, USNR, born Dubuque. IA. Sept. 21, 1916. Enlisted Great Lakes October 1940. Commissioned Ensign, Navy Pier, Chicago. June 12. 1941. Married June 18, 1941, to Mary Jane Kuehnle. Dubuque. IA. Joined USS California July 1941. at Pearl Harbor. On board Dec. 7, 1941, The Day of Infamyx Battle station Captains Conn Cradar plotterj. .Abandoned ship to Ford Island, then back on board to assist in removing dead and injured. l 1 Serv ed at Ft. Shafter. seventh interceptor command. as Na'-.al Liaison Officer for seven months. August 1942 if, IQSS Abaef on KAVP 231. small seaplane tender. at Lake Washington Shipyards. Seattle. Left this shipAugust 1945. as executive officer flieutenant commanderl. Three grown children Daniel. John and Susan. Six grandchildren. .Vlarried 50 years June 18. 1991. Retired 'fum EI du Pont Co in 19756. Clinton. IA. I'QI.fLIN I.. KRIEWALIJ, I-.M 3C l.'SN'R. horn March 9 2924 in Carrington.N1J .Ioinerl Navy May 24. 1943. 'i li zarnp at Iarragut 111 Company 350- lfllflll , '.. 1 ,ft -t'i..'ur- lilmrygrrltifg, f,1 ryr,r,t gdmp ht, AA. f1,s1j,Hefl to lllc f nliffirriffi at Hrernertwn WA llanks held As. S2r... I'2t.. l-lc. lfni it: llc xyas honorably discharged at IISNB, in llrcniciton on lylaicli 24. 1946. Receiving 11576.55 upon discliatgc Medals he reeeiyed were Asiatic-Pacific Area Canipaign Medal t5l. American Area Campaign Medal. Philippine Lilveration Medal. WWII Victory Medal. He was employed as an electrician in Bremerton Naval Shipyard prior to entering the Navy. He was one of the electricians to hook up shore power to the Calyornia when she arrived from Pearl Harbor, after being raised from the Japanese attack. She was put right into dry dock upon arriving at Bremerton for rebuild to re-enter the war. He entered the Navy, went to Boot Camp and was assigned to the USS California straight out of Boot Camp serving his entire enlistment on her. He made a career as a journeyman wireman, and apple orchards in the state of Washington. He and his wife have six children and seven grandchildren in whom they are very proud. They are retired and spend every winter in Apache Junction, AZ, with several of his old Navy buddies. He has a special memory of the Japanese kamikaze that hit them in the after super structure wiping out the surface look-out station just at sunset. As it was getting dark there was a degree indicator light, with the housing broken away from it and the bulb still burning bright. The captain ordered that light out immediately. Being the electrician the order was directed to, he crawled through the crash sight in the dark and put out the light by breaking the bulb with a wrench he had in his hand. The next morning when it was daylight they found a bomb that hadnlt gone off, with his hand print on it. He figured it must be his, since it was in the same path he had taken to put the light out the night before. RAY KUHLOW, Warrant Office, USN, USS CalU'ornia was born March 15, 1922, in Bridgman. MI. completed basic training at the U.S. Navy Recruit Training Center, Great Lakes. IL, in the winter of 1940. , was., ., X I 4 gg . ,M Vis Reported on board the USS California BB44 in June of 1940. On Dec. 7. 1941. was stationed in the 14 Turret 142. moored in Pearl Harbor. HI. Following the attack he was assigned to a crew that removed the anti-aircraft guns from sunken ships and installed them around Pearl Harbor for the island's anti-aircraft defense. In March of 1942. he was assigned to a salvage crew that participated in the salvage of the battleships California and West Virginia and returned them to Bremerton. WA. Navy Yard for repair. In 1943. he went to Washington. D.C. to the Gunnery School and then returned to the USS California when she was recommissioned and returned at active duty. They then traveled to the Marshall Islands. Saipan. Tinian. and Guam. Then on to the Philippines Theater of Operations. Late in 1944. he returned to the Advanced Gunnery School. Washington. D.C.. after which he was assigned to the repair ship USS Coa.s'rz'i'.v HarliorAG74. They went out to Okinawa at the time WWII ended and they went into Saseho. Japan. with the Occupation Force and remained there until August 1946. He then returned to the llnited States and was assigned to a destroyer. the USS Tlioniiis IL. I'iI'll.l'l'Il DM24. in Charleston In 1948 and 1949. he was assigned to the Great Lakes Training Center, training recruits. In September 1949, he was transferred to the first Navy Guided Missile Unit established at John Hopkins, Silver Springs. MD lGuided Missile Unit H21 1. From there the unit was sent to the Naval Weapons Center in China Lake. CA. and on to the USS Norton Sound AVM-1. In 1950. he was promoted to warrant officer and served on the USS Mi.s'.i'i.s'.s'ippi EA6-128. the USS Canberra CAG- 2, and at the Naval Weapons Station, Las Vegas. NV. He retired from the Naval Service as chief warrant officer W-3, in October 1960. He has since been employed in the aerospace industry until 1985. He married his wife Helen in February 1943. and they now reside in Reseda. CA. They have two children and four grandchildren, EMIL KUPCBIK, United States Navy, Motor Machinist Mate, Third Class, SV6, was born in Cleveland, OH. on Aug. 17, 1924. He entered into active service on Wh- t July 14, 1943. and served aboard the USS California NTS Newport, RI, and the USS Oklahoma City. During his service with the U.S. Navy he received the Asiatic-Pacific Medal with three stars. the Victory Medal and the American Area Medal. Emil received his Honorable Discharge on March 13, 1946. He married Veronicalucha on March 13. 1948. and had three daughters. Marcia Wodzisz Karen Caiazza and Donna Kupchik. Unfortunately, Emil died of lung cancer on Feb. 7. 1991. leaving his wife, daughters and two grandsons. Brian and Dennis Wodzisz. VICTOR KUZMIC, Fireman lst Class. born South Bend, IN. Dec. 1. 1925. Enlisted Oct. 6. 1944. Navy. M Division. Service included NTC Great Lakes. IL. USS California BB44. USS Cascade ADI6. USS AlcorAD34. ,If I Memorable experiences include Okinawa. 1945. AwardslMedals: Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one star. WWII Victory Medal. American Area Campaign Medal. Discharged June 11. 1946. Married and has one son. two daughters and one grandson. Retired. I GERARD DICK LAFFARGUE, FC 3lc, born Groton, CT. May 30. 1926, Enlisted June 6. 1944. USN. Stations included: Naval Training Station. Sampson. NY, Ft. Lauderdale Fire Control Schoolg AATRA CenPoint. Montara. CAL TAD Cen Shoemaker, CA. He served on the USS California from May 1944, Bremerton, to June 1946, Philadelphia. Battles he participated in include Okinawa. Medals! awards: American Theater Medal: Victory Medalg Asiatic- Pacific Medal with one star. Discharged on June 7, 1946. Married to Janette, he has a daughter. a son, and a step- son. He retired from General Dynamics in 1986, after 24 years. ROBERT D. LAIRD, EM3C, E Division, born Feb. 15, 1925, Yakima, WA. Enlisted Sept. 28, 1943, in Navy in Yakima, WA. Basic training at Farragut, ID, Electrical Service School at Wahpeton, ND. Assigned to USS Calnfornia at sea 1944, for six major Asiatic-Pacific Invasions, Philippine Liberation, Leyte, Luzon, Surigao Strait Sea Battle, sank Fuso Class Battleship, downed seven Japanese Aircraft. Awarded seven battle stars. Awarded Presidential Unit Citation. Discharged May 20, 1946, in Bainbridge, MD. Married 1947, wife Mary Ellen. Lived and worked in Yakima retired now and spend winters in Arizona. Chairman for USS Calnfornia Reunion Association, reunions in Seattle, WA, 1960, Sparks, NV, 1987, and Tucson, AZ, 1995. CHESTER O. CHET LANE, USNR, born Dec. 12, 1925, Blair, OK. A native American, he joined the Navy, Oct. 5, 1943, at the Hoodriver, OR, Navy Recruiting Station. Trained at the Navy Training Center in Farragut, ID. While assigned for a short period at the Utah Clearfield Navy Supply Depot, he met and married Donna Smith. Put aboard a Navy transportg when it reached the New Hebrides Islands, he was assigned to the USS California as a Sllc and later as gunnery striker. Participated in the battles ofGuam, Tinian, Saipan, Leyte, Battle of Surigao Strait, Lingayen Gulf, Okinawa, Yellow River-China Sea, the occupation of Japan. He received the WWII Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, two stars, American Area Campaign Medalg Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal, four stars: Good Conduct Medal with one star and the biggest star of all, Tokyo Bay. He was discharged from the Navy on Jan. 14, 1946, at Bremerton, WA. He then returned to Ogden, UT, to make his home. He has been married for over 50 years, has three children, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Retired from U.S. West Telephone Company with 34 years service and the last 25 years in management, he is now working in the field of video photography. This Navy veteran is very proud to have served and been a part of history of the USS California and would do it again should the occasion arise. DONALD F. LANG, CSKtPA1, USN, born Des Moine, IA, Jan. 19, 1920, enlisted May 4, 1938, discharged Sept. ll, 1945. From NTS Great Lakes assigned to USS California, Bremerton, WA. .Joined 1 I . N---s-.........s,-... '-at A l 1 I Q Z .ai V M., .v V . f2f' Supply Department, made all rates SK3!c to chief petty officer on this ship. December 7th, reading newspaper in commissary office when GQ sounded. Assumed it was mock attack, until torpedoes hit. GQ station was ammunition hoist on 3rd Deck which flooded with fuel oil in short time. Injured in bomb blast amidships. Abandoned ship to Ford Island with injured left leg. Hospital stay was two months. Assigned to salvage personal belongings from enlisted men's lockers as the ship was being raised. Returned with USS Caljornia to Bremerton Navy Yard, August 1942, promoted to chief petty officer shortly thereafter, transferred to seaplane tender USS Unimak. Reported for shore duty in Bremerton, WA, the day the war was over. Discharged Sept. 11, 1945. Member of the Pearl Harbor Survivor's Association. Retired from Federal Service January 1972. Now reside, Battle Creek, MI. JACK W. LANGFORD, EM1!c, Division E, USS CalU'ornia, born Aug. 31, 1919, Asheville, NC. Enlisted U.S. Navy, Sept. 23, 1940. Trained Norfolk, VA. After training went to Bremerton. WA, assigned to USS Caljornia. Stayed on the Caljornia until Pearl Harbor. He was trapped below deck until rescued later that day. Was listed missing in action for a time. Later assigned to USS Portland, which participated in many Pacific battles. In 1943, was assigned to Naval Mine Warfare School, Yorktown, VA, and made Plankowner of USS instill AM252, and saw duty clearing Atlantic channels until ship was put out of commission. Was discharged November 1946. Retired steamfitter, now living in Orlando, FL. Married to former Gertrude Bladen and has five children and four grandchildren. LYAL LAUTH JR. USN, was born March 31, 1924, in Pontiac, IL. Was inducted into the Navy, Dec. 27, 1941. Served boot camp at the Great Lakes Training Station. In March 1942, he was assigned to the USS Calnfornia. He was discharged from Philadelphia, PA, on March 31, 1947. , ,Hx L' U za ff While serving on the California, he was in the 4th Division. His battle station was on the center gun turret 34, he was the gun captain. They loaded and fired this gun 320 times. In February of 1945, he was transferred to the boatswain locker. Two months later he was promoted to BM lst class and was put in charge of the boatswain locker. He was married on November 7, 1943, in Port Orchard, WA. They have three children, two boys and one girl and six grandchildren. Today they are semi retired from a heating and air conditioning business. ,JOSEPH R. LAVENZ, USN IISNRV6, born in Waterloo, IA, June 14, 1916, joined Navy, Feb, 9, 1937, to learn a trade. Boot Camp in San Diego, CA. Boarded BB-14 in June. Started in 5th Division active on whale boat and cutter crews. BB-14 came in second in 1938 and lst place in 1939. Volunteered again June 24. 19-1-1. lsoot Camp in Farragut, ID, and six months as camp electrician, then to Sainar, Philippines, ASD3 149, via Sltoetnaker. t '.-X. Till end ot' war. llischarged Nov. I, 19-15, on point st stem ffl Married Mabel Murray of Waterloo IA. Sept. 7 E939 They had three children, Mabel passed away June Q7 1986. Between hitches Joe worked as matntenarm electrician, also on construction. post mar he worked at John Deere, on maintenance and construction. Zn' construction on a steel mill, hired to mill iz, hen complete, as maintenance man, and retired from it in 1982. 1 years. During each hitch passed exam for EN12i'e out ta to get the rate because was discharged before rate wa effect. Moved back to birthplace in 1983. and enjogir relatives, woodworking. etc. Discharged Jan. 28, 1941. His wife died June 17, 1986. have three children. CHARLES A. LAW, Fireman llc. CSN. bom Sayre. OK,Apri1 14, 1925. Enlisted July 13. 1942. IQSN Pi 3. E Division, San Diego. CA. Training Boot Camp. Serred on USS CalU'ornia, Sept, 15. 19-12-Nov. 2. 194-1: CSS Oklahoma City, CL91.Dec. 22. 1944-April 19. 19-16. I . , ,H ,W iz! Awards!Medals: WWII Victory Medal. American Area Occupation of Japan. Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with six stars. Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars. Memorable experiences include being the youngest man aboard in 1942. and his best friend was James E. Stieman B Division. Discharged April 19. 19-16. with the rank of tireman llc. Worked 27 years for Douglas Aircraft. Nlarried .t wonderful woman. June. Had an operation Nov 4. 1993. was left paralyzed from waist down. VICTOR H. LUCKY LEFFLER. Seaman. Ind Class, born June 27. 191-1,Mil1field.OH. Enlisted Feb 12. 1941. BMCXI. 3rd Division. Participated in battle of Pearl Harbor. Memorable experiences include Pearl llarbot. staying at his gun station xx hile the ship was sinking llc couldn't get out and couldn't fire the guns. Awart1s!Medals3 Pearl llarbor Xledal Discharged in 19-lo. xx ith the rank of ho.itstn.tte lst class. lNlarried Barbara Putn,nn 19-11. hate three etnltiren and three grantlchildren. Retired. 1 wwjw - , ,,,, iltl ,ll'5.x.lil'.l'lNl'.,5li1'k.120lllNl0llllx',ll.NOX 92. lu1istetl.l.tu 1910. Nam li Division went Y .nc tlg. :grr7..Nl.l1'cl! Tl. 19.10 longlteacli lclt ISS We in ew. i.- t ss i'.i1i..ii.i. iii Seo. llostou N1X.l SS e.t'i'.Pf'1...tllIl-ll 'wi . ri xx. A ,Q ..- g '- A ,. airmen 1-UN ' fl-f . .1 --as J t .wi 1- . ' iliffiii x ' ' ' ' 'txt P.xrticip.ited in battle at Iw o lima. Pearl Harbor. ci iherts. Roi Island. Nlarshalls. Saipan. Tinian. Guam and Xv1i1'g1i.ir awards Nledalsi WWII Xictory Medal. Philippine . .beration Ribbon. Good Conduct Medal with one star. sxsiatic-Paeitiic Campaign Nledal w ith six stars. American Area Canipaign Nledal. American Defense Service Medal tv :th one star. Discharged Nov. 2-1. 1947. with the rank ofshipfitter. Nlarried and has tw o boy s. Albert and C..I. Lehne. Retired from International Harvester after 33 years. rs GLEN A. LENTZ. USN. SM3!c. born Fort Madison. IA. Nlareh S. 1920. Enlisted in the Navy in 1937. from Southem Illinois and sent to San Diego. CA. for boot Lraining. Went to the LISS C.:.'1f'orr:i't: in February .- 53.51 J i93S. and assigned to the A ' D Sth Division for about three qipfgg P , 3 months then transferred to -Q . 1 'ae ct Division onthe .4 mil - '. Q signal gang. They had a 'ff' four star admiral aboard as W 3 ...... mel w ere ComBatFor. if - R I They traveled to Hawaii a t li 1 Z couple oftimes in 1938. and 1 'i 1939. went to the east 1 f 5 i wg. so- :oast on maneuvers through if f. , .. :ie Panama Canal. stayed .-c months in Cuba before going to Norfolk. VA. to take in ammunition and then return to the west coast and to aii again then in 1940. they went to PSNS at Bremerton. WA. for extensive overhaul and he was paid ffT.NlZiYCl1 7. 1941. as he was on a Kids' Cruise. December '. 1941. he w as stationed at Sand Point Naval Air Station Seatt1e.WA. Hay e Good Conduct Medal. Pacific Theater Nledal. and American Theater Medal. Hare three children. Pal. Don and Sonia. Today retired and farming. JOHN 'QIOHNNIER LETO. born Aug. 19. 1920. Des Nloiies. IA. Liv ed in Chicago most of his life. Club and amateur boxer in Chicago. Enlisted March 1942. boot in San Diego. CA. Assigned to USS California ne 1942. Bremerton. WA. Started boxing team aboard . . trazned boxers. scheduled smokers. referred bouts w ith Lt. Peter Kinoos. developed best boxing team if Sfcth Pacific. , f . ,ms 1 4 fy X , , 1. ? . fp... a Wy, 4 X, W nf ,, f,yf ff' .. 5 . .1 1 i' ,ij 5, X .,., , .. 1 ff .. fi U? al. 'fig nappy, f'f,1jf'fjfyfjCjQ and good times that he '-ii, 'lirlllrjlllllYtlllT1f1Vf4ldllll.Cf1l lighting lady WHS- Wllflll , r fgrnyrirgfg rwlerefgirig a sniolfer. somewhere it lfgjfullx ,,1',t3r ai 'v4:irir,e guard t:sr.or1etll'iiin to , f,.,,r1i1yg 'Jf mri lil, 'fvailf-:tl into the dark room. -Y ,npr ,,.,f.- 1.1. and there at the head ol thc f f,ar,ta.:.11tiif.f,r fliaplain Ktzntfaly and .1 duutuiy IUUIII lull ol ship s olltccis ll was his huthtlay and one that he will ncxei loigct lllwlttllgytl Nt'Xt'lltlwt'1' 1915. llonorgihle, Mariietl to Rita M.. he owns his own business in las Xegas. NX. RAYINIUND Wi. LIFER. lfireman First Class. born Ifederrcktown. OH. .lune 15. 1926. Served US. Navv. 7 I hiladelphia. Ilremerton. 1155 l'41ltloH1t'tl. Discharged in 19-lo. Married to Doris. and have two sons and one daughter. He was killed in a farm accident Nov. 4. 1980. I , 777, WAYNE DONALD LINDAHL, USNR. born March 6. 1925. Oshkosh. NE. Attended Norman High School. Norman. OK. During 1942-43. worked after school hours for Norton Tannersley Construction Company. building NAS and NATTC at Norman. Upon graduation June 1943. enlisted in U.S. Navy. After boot camp assigned ship's company NTC San Diego. where he met Robert G. Lindahl from Van Nuys. CA. They became good friends and went on same sea draft to PSNY Bremerton. WA. September 1943. Assigned to ship's company as yeoman. Bob Lindahl in personnel and he was assigned to fleet chap1ain's office. He and Bob volunteered for duty on USS Calnfornia, both ofthem assigned as yeomen to CR Division. upon completion of the war transferred back to NATTC, Norman. OK, for discharged February 1946. 7401 Retired from oilfield products division. Guiberson Oil Tools. Dresser Industry. Dallas. TX. in 1991. Have two sons and two living daughters and six grandchildren. one daughter deceased. Living in sunny San Antonio. TX. WAYNE E. LISLE, Slfc. born Hardy Township. Holmes County. OH. May 25. 1924. Enlisted Feb. 19. 1943. Navy. Slfc. 5th Division. Service included NTS Great Lakes. IL: USS Califbrzim' USS Cape Glouvmfei' CVE-1093 NAS Glenview. IL. Participated in American Campaign and Asiatic-Pacific Campaign. .Mmm Memorable experiences include bombardment of Guam and Saipan. collision with USS Temzessee. Discharged Nov. 24. 1945. Married Dorothy 1. Clark Lisle. Nov. 4. 1944. They have one daughter. Barbara 1. Lisle Miller and two granddaughtcrs. Michelle L. and Sherinel D. Miller. Retired from Wooster. OH. Water Treatment Plant. ERNEST LISSY. horn June 9. 1919. in Portland. OR. 1,n1istet1 Nov. 17. 1936. Boot Camp at San Diego. CA. Worked as a yeoman with C'oinI3atFor on the Claliforriiu. llisthargetl.1uneX. 1940. with the rate ol' yeoman 3c. . Enlisted May 4. 1944. Boot Camp at Farragut. ID. where he set a new fitness mark. worked on tugboat row in Bremerton. housing department at East Port Orchard. Then took charge of the typing pool at the Separation Center in Bremerton. Discharged Feb. 23. 1946. with the rate of yeoman lc. Joined Portland Fire Department. in November 1946. NW Weight Lifting Champion in 1954. taught Dale Carnegie Course for 18 years. Real Estate Broker. Master of his Masonic Lodge in 1969. Married his lovely wife Sunny in 1973. presently life on the Oregon Coast. Retired from Portland Fire Department. KENNY LISSY. his grandfather was lost at sea as engineer of the cargo ship Alaric. and his father went to sea as cabin boy in a square-rigged sailing ship. What could be more natural than his joining the Navy and following his three brothers to the USS California in 1940. During his year aboard he saw a lot of ocean between Long Beach and Pearl Harbor while serving in the Sixth Division the E Division. His next duty was as midshipman at the Naval Academy. After graduation. as signal officer and assistant turret officer on the cruiser Pensacola. he experienced combat in the West Pacific. After WWII. he went into aviation and served in squadrons aboard aircraft carriers in the Pacific and saw a lot of Korea from a dive bomber. After his retirement in 1963. he acquired his wonderful wife Charlotte and settled in Tigard with his family. VERNON A. LISSY. was born Feb. 24. 1917. Enlisted in late 1935. went through Q boot camp at San Diego. I CA. Worked in the Gunnery Division specifically on airplanes. He served four years. then went into the Merchant Marine. Through hard work and study. he acquired his master's license. sailing for many years on tankers. He had a nice easy going nature and was liked by all who knew him. He died in 1981. 731531 WALTER ARNOLD LISSY, born Easter Sunday. April 4. 1915. Ona. OR. a very small hamlet about six miles east of Waldport. OR. in a pole and shake cabin. Father Jos. A., German if y immigrant. shipwright and 1 sailor. Enlisted USN. Nov. 21. 1934. at Portland. Boot Camp San Diego. Assigned USS California, E Division tgood dutyl until detailed as log room yeoman. Wised off to his CPO. Next day assigned B Division. two years of Hell! Discharged September 1938. Worked as shipwright untiljoining Portland Police 1942. While in PPD obtained Real Estate Broker License. as Explosive Ord. Spec. through U.S. Army. Pilot Liccnsc. land and sea plane. 87 SCUBA license NRA Master four pistols, police pistol team. Enlisted USNCB. Aug. 2, 1943, 141 Battalion CM I! e, Hawaii one year, Kwajalein Island until discharge. Now living in wooded 2l!3 acres in Tigard tnear Portlandl with beautiful wife ot'54 years, Dorothy Helen. One son Giglbert, whose beautiful wife Kathy has given him two gorgeous daughters, I6 and 18. His hobbies, among many, are Samurai swords, J. Woodblock prints, Netsuke. Jade, Ivory, Snuff bottles, Sui Teki. Oriental Porcelains. Pre Colombian, Daguerreotypes and other early photo items, music i.e. ukulele, mandolin, guitar, pinochle. Also items with Queen Louise of Prussia on them, etc., etc. VERNON L. LUETTINGER, 21 years old. Radioman 2nd Class. USS Calyfornia BB44. 0 fsawrqgamn. ,. Medals and Awards: American Defense Service Medal with one starg Good Conduct Medalg American Theater Campaign Medalg Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one battle star, and WWII Victory Medal. Battle Station on Dec. 7, 1941: radar operator, radar shack, located on the deck above the signal bridge. tThe USS Calhfornia had the first experimental radar unit CCXAMJ in the Pacific Fleet. The evening of December 7, he was ordered to go aboard the USS Neosho and stand watch on the airfground circuit. He heard frantic voices from the planes of the USS Enterprise screaming uWe are friendlyw over and over again. Ground to air firing was excessive as the ground forces were very jumpy because reports of Japanese landing parties were erroneously being spread. As he recalls, he believes the USS Enterprise had several of its fighter planes shot down. After December 7, he was assigned to Admiral Nimitz's staff, standing watches on the task force commander's CW circuit. Later their radar unit was salvaged from the USS Calnfornia and reinstalled in the hills alongside the Army unit that reported the initial incoming planes on December 7. Their responsibility was to report and track all surface vessels arriving and departing the area. As a side note: They should never have been caught in this surprise attack because there were many earlier indications for them to be on the alert. WILLIAM E. LUX, USNR, born Oct. 17, 1925, enlisted Dec. 17, 1943, discharged June 15, 1946. Attended Iowa State Unit, Notre Dame University for engineering training, Great Lakes, board USS Caldornia May 1945, at Pearl Harbor. Disembarked BB44 Philadelphia Navy Yard June 1945. Issued WWII Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Liberation Medal, Okinawa bombardment. af . 5' 1' Bachelor Science, Iowa State University, member General Board of Global Ministries, teatn leader Iowa! Nigeria Partnership. Married Rosemary Craven, South Bend, IN. They have three boys, one girl. Retired from farming, living in Manchester, IA. CHARLES A. MALI.E'I I'l+1,IR.,SIti,borrrt'arit.ort. OH. March 17, 1926. linlisted April 5, 1943, Navy, 2nd Division. Participated in battles at Saipan, Guam, Tirnari. Leyte, Surigao Strait, Lingayen Gull' and Okinawa. I . . , f tw .,.. fr ,.y:0'.f '. gf 2, . V. 'va , I . 1, f 6, .ff if Um 7 in I r ' 1 .1 5 Discharged February 1946. Married Virginia Griffith, will be celebrating 47th Anniversary, and had one daughter Sally. Retired, enjoy fishing, playing cards, getting together with family and friends. RAYMOND J. MANUEL, USN, May 24, 1943-Dec. 12, 1945, bom March 19, 1924, Kinder, LA. Inducted in the Navy, May 24, 1943, at Sulphur, LA, and trained at San Diego, CA, and then stationed on the USS Caljornia BB44, I Division, SFC, Engaged in battles in Saipan, June 14, 1944, Guam, July 21, 1944, Tinian, July 23, 1944, Leyte Islands, Oct. 21, 1944, Surigao Strait, Oct. 24, 1944, Lingayen Gulf, May 20, 1945, and Okinawa, Aug. 7, 1945. The USS Calgfornia left Japan for the good old USA. Our route took them via South Africa, and a trip around the world. The ship had deported from San Francisco, CA, May 5, 1943, arrived at Port Philadelphia, Dec. 7, 1945. From there by train to the U.S. Naval Center. Nashville. TN. Dec. 12, 1945, for his discharge. Issued American Theater Ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon with four stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars, and the Victory Medal. Came home on furlough March 17, 1945, and got married March 20, 1945. Now living in DeQuincy, LA. tRetired, heavy duty operatorj with his wife, Robbie Lee. Have five children, 12 grandchildren and four great- grandchildren. CHANO R. MARES, Slfc, bom Fort Sumner. NM. Enlisted June 4, 1943, U.S. Navy, Division 1. H-Qty' He was assigned to the Old Prttne barge, USS BB-I-I in late 1943, or early 194-l, in the Bremerton Navy Yard in the state ol' Washington. He was fire watch lor the welders, doing repair xvork. He scraped and painted the dottble bottoms, thc yery bottom ofthe ship's lmll tinsidei it was a noisy, rusty, nasty job breathing rust, and toxic fumes from lresh paint. It gate a drunk feeling. llc learned later that many shipniates lost their health in this kind ol xvorlt. Ile was glad to get to open sea. Ili. rrront lrighterirrtg f.:fpcrrf:rr'.f:. ff . , ,, . imitated into battle. thc ',Ulll',1fJ!i mth lla: f. au ffrir f being hit by a suicide plane the rirght battle at rr Strait, being sent on a work party ro load arrtrrrurftfmrr 3 and 4 decks below on an airrrrrunrtiorr ship 'I he, ,r as 2.225 shells were hoisted through 4,44 hafch they stood. below. on all kinds ot arrirrrurizrsorr pra 1 nothing would go wrong. The fury oi the hurrrca , China Coast. There are very marry happy rrtorriern.-.. wart got ,. .' , shiprnate friends, the liberties they shared together tri rr a ports. The pride and habits acquired as a rear Nag that will forever follow them the rest ot their Participated in battles at Saipan, Guam. Tirtrarr. .- Surigao Strait, Lingayen Gulf, Okinawa. Ser: ice incl aa USNTS, San Diego, CA: Navy Yard Bremerton Vwl.. at USS Caljorniu. Awards!Medals: Pacific Theater Ribbon 'mth to stars, American Theater Ribbon. Vicrorj. Medal. Pimp Liberation Ribbon with two stars. Discharged Feb. 26. 1946. Today. farming and rag cattle. JOSEPH F. MARIANI, BNI2C. born Philadelphra.P.1-.. Dec. 12, 1919. Enlisted Jan. 12. 1938, IQSS Califorma 6th Division. Service included Pearl Harbor tPacificr and Atlantic USS Straub. On Dec. 7, 1941. was injured when ship vs as bombed. Discharged Sept. 27. 1945. with the rank of CBM. Married Thelma, and have a daughter Tamara Jc. Retired accountant. ROBERT A. MARQUARD, SIMC. born Sepz. I. 1923, Willoughby. OH. Enlisted Dec. 2-1. 19-II. Naxy. USS Calnbrnia, 6th Division. Sflc. Service includes L55 Calnfornia. US Naval Hospital PSNY. W.-X1 LSNTS. Great Lakes. IL: USNTS. Farragut. IDL LSNAS. Seattle. WA.. Awards!Medals: American Area Nlcdal. XYXX ll Victory Medal. Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Nledal xy ith four stars and Philippine Liberation Ribbon NN ith too stars. Discharged .lan. 19. I9-16. Married. txvo children. Ly nne and Dax td. tour grandchildren. txvo girls and txvo boy s. Workctl for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company for 33 years and non retired in Arizona. ROGER F. INIARTIN. SIC. born lfnianncl. L' l'. -Xprrl 30, 1925. Fnlistcd Sxvainsboro. G-X. July 12. 1945. ISN. 6th Division. Trained at San Diego. C -X. eight xx ccks then to BI'C11lCI'IO1l,XYrX. .-Xssignetl to ISS tliifriwrhr. Battles ParticlPated in include Guam. 'l'ini.tn. S.no.in. Philippines. Leyte, lnxon, Nlari.nt.is. Snrigao Safari. I ingayen. Memorable cxpcrtcnccs include day by day . t months in serx tcc. 27 months ot' that on ISS . - ' Myartlsr lXled.ils: XX XXII Occupation Ribbons. ISS t'trliforr1i.1.ltily I9-ll to Dcccnibct 1945 Discliargcd December Ill-li hlarrietl lNlarg.n'ct tittrl, Oct IU. I9-I I. too chittlica: Q.. F I 431 'mo is r . fu -sg or my li 5. il. -5 I X Gail and Roger Jr.. and three grandclirldrcn: Jody Ware. Folrriria Ware .uid Brands Martin. Semihrctircd T.V. :cp.nrrit.rn. Six arnsboro. MA. ROBERT L. BOB MASON. E Division. born Muskegon County. MI. 1922. Graduated from Balboa HI C .7 r f X s X .i s 1 1 it f S g fs ' sr 5 p . Q1 f To LSN August 1940. USS Calyornia 1940. On Dec. '. 1941. in forvs ard battery locker. They cut him out 1530 hours. To LSS Chicago. until it was sunk off Rennell Island Jan. 30. 1943. L'SS ABSD?-f-1. a floating dry-dock 21 months at Manus. Married Bea Kristof in Chicago 1949. have two sons in Idaho. one daughter Washington. Lived Chicago, Balboa CZ: Lake Geneva. WI: Vancouver, WA: Yakima. WA. Hobbies include camping, black powder shooting. traveling by auto back to Midwest to visit relatives and friends and attending Navy Reunions. volunteer work. It doesn't pay much but you never have to wonder what to do with yourself. Presently president of the Local Chapter 39. of PHS in Yakima: Pearl Harbor: Victory II: American Defensez Asiatic-Pacific: Good Conduct: and American Theater Medals. FRANK NIASSEY. Chief Commissary Steward, born Feb. 6. 192 1 . Anacores. WA. Enlisted Aug. 26, 1940, Navy. Participated in battles at Pearl Harbor. Guadalcanal. Iwo Jima. Marianas. Okinawa. 1 Discharged Aug. 55. 1946. Tw o children. five grandchildren. one great- grandchild. Retired. playing golf. traveling. rifle shooting. fanting and lishrng. CHARLES F. NIATTHEWS, BYV13le, Coxswain. born is-r Diego. CA. Oct. ll. 1923. raised and enlisted in the ' ' L. in San Diego. CA. Assigned to the USS Cfallfornia. sq. -V, ,.t.rle it 1. as on the bottom ol Pearl Harbor. They lived in rw- or, I-ard Island. doing clean up work on the ship. until vs raised and put in dry-dock lor initial repairs. l'rom .t was a blur ol paint chipping. continuing after arrszai .n Bremerton Navy Yard After a long wait ' Y megan the rrioderniration which was completed in early fe. 941 '-.!lr,f,-. oi the crew. were transferred to other ships 1fgd.r1gf :nerr but him and a law others managed to avoid of tf,f,f, fjrjff.,1f3lit,V, f,1 the repairs. they built llltf UCW 1 l 3 4,j,.jp j,, .mi ',12,rll1i. arnj brigarr trairiirip ol! 1 ong lieacrb s,,a,1 Theirfirst action was Saipan.June 14. 1944, and they took a hit from a shore battery on the super structure above the bridge. It hit outside killing the smoke watch. blowing inside seriously wounding him and another man. He spent the next six months in the hospital. Upon his discharge he was assigned to a new aircraft carrier and finished the war there. He spent most of his working life, 27 years, with an oil company in Saudi Arabia. It was an interesting and satisfying life full of adventures and world travel. He never for a moment regretted making his career there. Especially now that I've retired in his home town of San Diego. with a comfortable income. He used to play a lot of golf. but back problems ended that. Now hejust putter and goof off. One thing he did, just for his own satisfaction, was to go back to his old high school and get his diploma at the age of 65. USS California BB44, Febmary 1942 to June 1944. WILLIAM C. MAY, Private, born May 20, 1924, Orange City, IA. Enlisted June 24, 1943, U.S. Marines, after sea school, assigned to USS Calnfornia August 1943, went aboard at Bremerton, May 1944. Anchored at Pearl Harbor, May 10, 1944, left with strong force of warships for battle in Saipan their baptism of fire. From Saipan they Went to Eniwetok, then on to Guam and New Hebrides. In October 1944, sailed into Leyte Gulf for first landing in the Philippines and provided heavy artillery. In Lingayen Gulf they were struck by a Japanese kamikaze continued the battle and on to Puget Sound for repairs and back to Okinawa and on to Japan, to support landing of occupation troops. Arrived in Philadelphia via Singapore, Colombo and Capetown, South Africa, arrived Dec. 7. 1945. Q. Memorable experiences include being rammed by Drznesxce and liberty in Tokyo. Discharged Dec. 16, 1945. with the rank of private first class. Married and has three children. Today he is a farmer about to retire. WILLIAM G. MCGUIRE, born Aug. 7. 1923. Centralia. WA. Enlisted Jan. 29. l941.Trained at San Diego. CA. Depaned San Diego aboard USS Thornton AVDll. Arrived Pearl Harbor April 18. 1941. and reported to assigned duty aboard the Battleship USS California BB44. - in N I 1 sr X Dec. 7. 1941. Pearl Ilarbor attack. heard the lirst plane dive. and first bomb explode on Naval Air Station. Ford Island. in close proximity to their moorage at Berth Fox 3. Observcd cntirc action from the Signal Bridge of USS C'aliforrrirl. Just after midnight tmorning of Xlhl he was tenrporarily assigned to Naval Tugboat USS Vrrco that was alongside providing fire-fighting water for California. he remained aboard Wren until the night of December 13, when ordered to receiving station for reassignrnent to heavy cruiser USS Portland CA33. This period of time aboard the Virco resulted in a report that he was missing in action. A telegram to his parents stated he was missing and if remains are found you will be notified. This sounded pretty final and subsequently his name appeared on the official casualty list. Memorial services were held in his home church and high school. After the war. he had the pleasure of removing his name from a monument to the dead of King County in Seattle. Battles: Coral Sea. Midway, Invasion Guadalcanal, Stewart Islands Battle, Raid on Tarawa, Battle of Eastem Solomons. Battle of Santa Cruz, Battle of Guadalcanal tnight action of Nov. 13, 19421, New Georgia. Bougainville, Leyte Gulf, Liberation of Manila, Battle of Okinawa. Awards: Navy Unit Commendation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 13 stars, American Area, American Defense Service Medal, WWII Victory Medal. Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Korean Service Bar tMaritime Admin.J, Vietnam Service Bar tMaritime Admin.J. Ships and stations: USS Thornton ttemporaryi. USS Caljornia, USS Vireo ltemporaryj. USS Portland, USS Guadalcanal tnine months. Lunga Signal Towerl. USS APC23 tSolomons Area. temporaryl, USS YP516 tSolomons Areal. USS Merc-v, USS Massachusetts. Honorably discharged USN, Aug. 13. 1946. Rank SM2lc. Attended Washington Technical Institute. under GI Bill and acquired second mates license, joined Army Transport Corp. and U.S. Merchant Marine as licensed deck officer. participated in Korean War and Vietnam War. Continued with seagoing career until retirement November 1987, total of46 year on the Oceans ofthe World. he would do it all again if he could. He wishes to express Honor and Glory to all their departed comrades and to the extreme necessity of keeping their memory alive. ARTHUR J. MILLER. USNR. was born Aug. 16. 1924, in Lamar. CO, andjoined the Navy. Sept. 23. 1943. Miller completed boot camp in Farragut. ID. and traveled to Bremerton. WA. to board the USS Calrfbrnra as a F-2. if My if-6' I I 9. r Alf? 1.-:.:1N.. I PM Battles participated in were Saipan. Guam. Tinian. Leyte. Luzon. and Okinawa. Medals received were WWII Victory Medal. Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars. American Area Campaign Medal. and Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four stars. Before discharge as a WT3lc Division B on May 5, 1946. he was transferred to the USS Chester and assisted in placing the boilers in the mothball fleet. Miller really enjoyed the 15.000 mile journey home. He married Jean Hughes on Nov. 12. 1947. has two daughters. three grandchildren and four great- grandchildren. He is currently engaged in farming near Walsh, CO. ROY G. MILLER, MM2lc. born in Waynesville. NC. Sept. 21. 1909. Dropped out second year high school and joined U.S. Navy. Was sworn in at Raleigh. NC. Trained at Hampton Roads Training Station. Was shipped to West Coast for duty on USS Calyfornia. Was in M Division six years as engine room machinist. Married Jean Bowman of Inglewood, CA. June 18. 1932. One child. Robert, born in 1933. Discharged April 4. 1934. Worked in all major aircraft plants on West Coast. Joined USN Reserve as aviation machinist mate llc on Oct. 22, 1942. Took t'Shop Training at San Diego for six weeks. Ended up in Aviation repair and overhaul CAROU Navy 1401 Espintu Santo in the New Hebredes for two years. Returned to Terminal Island, CA, where he was discharged Sept. 20, 1945. He then retumed to North Carolina, Joined Army Air Force in October 1949. Assigned to 1266 AT SQ l500th AT Group at Travis AFB, CA. Outfit was moved to Hickam AFB, HI, November 1949. In December 1949, they were all discharged from the Army and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force which had just been formed. In 1952, had to take a hardship discharge. First wife expired in 1952. Married second wife Violet Underwood in 1962. Reinstated in Air Force February 1953, as Buck Sgt. at Hickam AFB March 1962. Received orders for duty at Cannon AFB, NM, where he was promoted to SMXSGT. Received retirement discharge in July 1964, with 24 years of service. Held every enlisted pay grade in the Navy. Pay grades in Air Force E4 through E8 CE5 and E6 two timesj. WILLIAM H. MILLIGAN, USN, born March 25, 1923, Riverside, CA. Joined Navy, Aug. 14, 1941. After Boot Camp, at Santa Ana, CA, transferred to schools command and was there when the war broke out, after school, transferred to Pearl Harbor and eventually to the USS Calgfornia on March 25, 1942. Assisted in raising the Calnfornia and returned to the states aboard her. Was again transferred to Welding School after the battle of Leyte. Received orders to assist in commissioning the USS Tarawa CV40, after completing advanced welding school, in San Diego, CA. Milligan has served on the following ships during a 20 years career. In addition to the USS Calnfornia BB44 and USS Tarawa CV40, the USS Tolvana AO64, and USS Towakoni ATF1l4, and the USS Platte AO24, from which he retired on March 14, 1961, as a chief shipfitter. S' ,X 'af I X 'fi isa , 'r-W'- mt..-.. '. M N . Ss,' y ly , - 5, .. 'Q i 'V Q gi W A YM E: W ,rr P e . 5 Milligan received his teaching credential in 1966 and taught in the secondary schools for 12 years. Finally retiring from civic service as a plannerfestimator after 10 additional years. Milligan has been married to the former Ruby Reynolds for 45 years, no children. RAYMON ORVEL MILLS, Slfc, USN, born May 7, 1926, Marseilles, IL. Joined the Navy, July 14, 1943, 4? 3rd Division. Basie training at Great Lakes. ll.. assigned from basic to Bremerton, WA, lor 445 weeks belore being assigned to USS California. Stayed with the ship till discharged. 1..el't Bremerton, .lan. 31, 1944, lor Pearl llarbor. Took part in the capture ol' Saipan, Tinian, Guam, also the Marianas Turkey Shoot, June 14 toAug. 9, 1944. Battle of Leyte Gulf in the Philippines and Surigao Strait, Oct. 24- 26, 1944. Where a Japanese battleship was sunk by them in a great night sea battle, Jan. 4-18, 1945, Battle ol' the Lingayen Gulf, in the China Sea, off the Coast ol' Luzon. On Jan. 6, 1945, Japanese kamikaze crashed into the main structure and 203 causalitics resulted. One ofthe toughest battles. February 14, 1945, back to Bremerton for repairs. Sept. 22, 1945, arrived at Wakayama, Japan, to support the landing operations. Remained there till Oct. 5, 1945. Sailed toward home via Singapore, Colombo, Capetown, South Africa, to arrive in Philadelphia, Dec. 7, 1945. The 4th Anniversary ofPear1 Harbor. Discharged on March 7, 1946, Married in 1948, and celebrated 45th Anniversary in 1993, Have three daughters, nine grandchildren, also great- grandchildren. Youngest daughter served in the Navy for six years. Retired in 1985. Live in Illinois and Arizona. Member of the USS California Reunion Association. 'fMission Accomplished, Job Well Done. GERALD W. MINION, AS to YN1, born Humboldt, IA, Aug. 23, 1921. Enlisted Jan. 25, 1939. USS Caljornia, May 1939, yeoman in gunnery office, December 7th was captain's writer in Battle Two, USS Saratoga February 1943 to June 1943, New Construction USS Sioux ATF75, in South Pacific until April 1944. Commissioned ensign and transferred to Amphib Training Base, Coronado, CA, until mid-1947, USS Skagit AKAl05, until July 1949. Participated in Barex 48 as beachmaster communicator. NavCommSta Pearl to September 1952, NavCommSta Guam to July 1954, Aide and Flag Secretary CTF-95 Sasebo, Japan to February 1955, Staff ComNavFE Yokosuka to July 1957, Staff COM-9 Great Lakes to February 1959, and retirement as LCDR. Married to same wonderful woman since June 1941, two daughters and two sons. In banking in Illinois from February 1959 to June 1988. Now fully retired in Lake Lure, North Carolina. RALPH F. MISPAGEL, GM3!c, born O'Fallon, MO. Enlisted Oct. 3, 1942, Navy, 2nd Division, USS California. Service included Great Lakes, IL, Quanica, VA, San Diego, CA, Bremerton, WA. Participated in the following battles Philippine Liberation, Leyte Gulf, Luzon, Surigao Strait Sea Battle, sank Fusa class battleship. Awards!Medals: seven battle stars, Presidential Unit Citation. Discharged Dec. 12, 1945. Married Feb. 28, 1945, to Olga Cecelia. have one 8011. four grandchildren, Veronica, Ralph 111, Gregory' and Kerri, two great-grandsons, Brendan lvlichael and James Robert Davis. Retired Chicago, ll., Police O1't'iet-tg ntyyt rt police commissioner in Waterloo, ll.. BOB 1VllTCltlItll.l., tt-um Tacotna, WA, reported .tlyoard llllgj lfs'-1 fulljorrtm in l-.ty - f lllflll 'ulttf '-nit'-. tri tlty' 'SUCV ' I R LN R tn Hrerrtertyin WA J1tt,.t was 17 and filtllhlf Sharrnan was 18. '1 hey became stgnalmen striker'-4 made Slfe, got oil and on a shit list or two, had lots ol good liberties, drank gallons ol bad collee and missed their , i high-school sweethearts. They left the California about a week after Pearl Harbor for the CSS Portland Following the Coral Sea and battie of N1:d hay. vi, .- Asif ., ty ,,, was transferred to the USS Arianza. He was in' ' ' ry on the bridge to survive her sinking during Guadalcanal. After nine months and sezerr. went aboard the CSS Halford, where he inwrrerr as a COM, Sharman was transferred from the CSS Farrar the USS Crescent City, then to Lunga Pt. signal to' Guadalcanal, subsequently to CSS Win laikenberg t the war as SM1!c in Pearl Harbor as an instr ir signaling school. Bob and Stella Mitchell liye in Pon Ieadlm., Vyfq, and Sun City, AZ. They have three children: Torn. Jirr. ang Cindy. Sharman lives here and there and has three s Mitch, Bill and Dave. CHESTER ARTHUR MITCHELL. CSX. Radioman 3C, born Dec. 2. 1902. in Pittsburg. KS. Chester grew up in Northern Missouri and later moved to Denner. CO. On Dec. 2, 1920, hejoined the Navy as an apprentice seaman. He was sent to the US. Naval Training Station San Francisco, CA. Then he went to US. Receiving Ship. Mare Island for instruction as a radio operator. He reported aboard the USS Caihfornia in September 1921. as a se-cone class Seaman and was rated radioman 3rd class by exam on Oct. 1. 1922. He was on board for a training craise that went to Panama, Balboa Canal Zone in 1923. During this trip secretary of the Navy Denby' and the President Cf Panama came on board. The Calnfomia made a stop in Port Culebra, Costa Rica. on Feb. 23. 1923. The ship then made a trip to Seattle and the ships band marched in the Juiy 4 parade. While there. Chester and many' of the rest of the communications detachment went ashore near Seattle ze install a portable radio station. Part ofthat original creyy' yvas a California Black beat and a stnall terrier dog. They' seeni to hay e been great friends and had the run of the ship. The bear yy as knoyy n to -iutnp overboard and go fora syyint. The ship yy ould hay e to stop and put a boat over the side to rescue the bear. After tnany problems. the bear yyas put in ri zoo in Los Angeles or San Diego. Chester yvas discharged on Dec, 1. 1923. in San Pedro. CA. After living in Cirlifitrrtnr for tnttny years. he returned to Missouri to marry Mabel NlcL.iugh1in in 1933. Nlabei had tyvo children Dolores and Russell. ln 1938. they ntoy ed to Calitiotnia and Chester yy orked on .1 dairy near Grass Valley. They moved to Dixon in 19-10. .ind yy lien yyyy 11 broke out in 19-11. Chester yy ent to yy ork at Nlare lslano naval sliipyard as a rigging t'orent.tn. lle helped build .ind launch tnany submarines used during the yy.ir -Xtitet the yvar. he yyent to yy ork tor Pacific Gas .ind lflcctrie tfntil retiretnent in 1967. 'X son, John. born tn 1947, yy,is also nt the Navy and yvris .t creyy tnentbero1i1'SS 1'st.rhf.'. C.tpttnetE by the North Koreans in 1968. he spent 11 tnonths .ts .t POW. Chester had tn.tny good years oticatnptng .ind iitsltlitg and yy as blessed yy ith good he.t1th until his 911th brrt1y.1.ty lle had sey en grandclnldren .uid 1 1 great gt'.ttn1e1ntt1t.'-t lle iltctl U11 Xprtl ff. 100.5 X111 Bl R lf. NTOLTNF. XMM 311 ISN. born April 9. 193 '. tu St Paul. MN. brit inovcd with his parents to a .irui near t.mnoir1'.ills. in 1918 linlistcd ut thc Navv at Nliimcapolis Xpril 19. l9.iS. vvith rccrttit training at NTS Great 1 alvcs. ll .Iss h ix Reported aboard the CSS Crilifiuvirtr BB-14. Atig. 20. 2935. assigned to the 5th Division. A transfer to the V- Div rsion Av ration. June 26. 1939. including duty at NAS San Pedro. Terminal Island. vs hen ship's aircraft based Lhere. On March 29. 19-10. as a sea llc was accepted for Flrght School. Detached March 20. 19-11. with orders to NAS Pensacola. FL. Graduated as a Naval Aviation Pilot vs ith rating of AMM3,fc NAP. Oct. 27. 1941, receiving his rv ings from Capt. A.C. Read. the first pilot to fly across the Atlantic in 1919. December 26. 1941. reported to VP-21. at Pearl Harbor. February 7. 1942. transferred to NAS Puunene. Maui. T.H. with temporary duty with VJ-3. Rated CAP on Dec. 1. 19-12. and commissioned LTtJGlon May 15, 1943. Subsequent duties: BAMRtED1 Norfolk, NAS Norfolk, YA. YR-3 Patuxent River. MD. VR-8 in Germany with Berlin Air Lift. Completed 117 trips to Berlin. VR-8 Hickam Field. TH.. TCC ComPacDivMats T.H. NAS Pensacola. FL. YP-10 Brunswick. ME, VR-24 Port Lyautey -Kenitrai. Morocco. Decorations: Air Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one star, National Defense Service Medal. American Campaign Medal, Navy Occupation Medal with Air Lift Device. American Defense Service Medal. Medal for Humane Action, WWII Victory Medal. Retired as lieutenant commander June 1, 1958, after 20 years service. Qualified in 26 different military aircraft us ith total of 7705 flight hours. ARTHUR B. NIONTAGNE, born Oct. 19, 1920, enlisted in the Navy on Sept. 8. 1939. He attended recruit :raining at Great Lakes and completed radio school at San Diego. He reported aboard the USS Calnfornia for duty in the radio division in February 1940. As a proud veteran of the battleship Navy. he can list several of the many memories he has of his time on the Prune Barge. 1 As a seaman. he experienced the pride and fatigue of pzhrczpatrng in the pulling-whaleboat races down battleship rf 1. while the battleships swung at anchor in Long Beach Harbor He recalls as a RM3C standing radio watch on the fag bridge he could look down and watch the ship's bow 2.7. 'leep inte the waves and scoop water across 1116 1100148 ,fire steaming through a Pacific storm. lt was then that 'r.xCf1r'iff,rnra could with minimum roll and strong pitch 'lf. .'iV.'s11'Z1C her massive strength as she plowed through ff TCE 7 F6812 Later. as a RV12f' on the flag bridge on Dec 7. 1941. iagri compare this seaworihy strength ol the ffrzliforrim ter iarnentable heaving and shudrlering when sbt WHS 'f ,gy ,, .fr t mi torpedoes and a bomb when attacked while f flf -,ngfjry ir, 5 fvriraretrf pier at Pearl Harbor. lie rigr his feeling of frustration and sense ol rage as ,,1,',rg5 their f,ouririefl and dying shipiriates oil the l'rurrf- liarpe wrtriout haxrriu any rrfa1opp'tV1U't1'Y to use their superb training to employ their ship and repel the ciiciuy attack ln lfcltrtiary 1942. hc was transferred from thc Pacific lflccl lleadquartcrs at the Submarine Base. Pearl Harbor, to thc USS Neil' illvtrro where as a RMIC. he served on the communication staff of Commander Task Force One in thc Central and South Pacific Theater of Operations. ln May 1943. he vt as transferred to thc Navy V-12!NROTC Officers Training Program. Upon completion of the NROTC Program at the University of New Mexico in June 1945. hc was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. ln May 1946. he was integrated from the Reserve to the Regular U.S. Marine Corps. ln 1950-51. he served ll months with the First Marine Division in combat in Korea. As a platoon leader with a Marine Infantry Battalion, he earned four battle stars, the Presidential Unit Citation and in June 1951, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat V for action against the North Koreans. He served at various Marine Corps posts and stations until he retired as Major. U.S. Marine Corps on Oct. 1. 1959. He spent the next 25 years engaged as a civil engineer in construction management. He retired in 1985, after serving for seven years as construction director on a large construction project in Saudi Arabia. JOHN K. MONTGOMERY, Sllc, bom Baltimore, MD. Aug. 20, 1925. Enlisted Oct. 9, 1943, USNR, 3rd Division CGun Crewl. Service included Great Lakes, ILg Camp Green Bay, Bremerton Navy Yard, WAQ battles: Guam, Saipan, Tinian, Leyte Gulf, Surigao Strait, Kossol Passage. Memorable experiences included crossing ofEquator in Pacific, Indiana and Atlantic Oceans. Awards!Meda1s: Good Conduct Medal with one star. Pacific Theater, Philippine Liberation Ribbon. Discharged Dec. 17, 1945, with the rank of GM 3!c. Married March 22. 1945, two daughters. Sharon and Constance. Retired, living in Baltimore, MD. THOMAS K. MOORE, Seaman Radioman. born Wapanucka, OK, May 30, 1921. Enlisted January 1941. sent to San Diego for recruit training and radio school in August 1941 sent to serve aboard USS Calihirnia assigned to CR Division on Dec. 7. 1941. Had just completed 12-8 watch in Radio 1. was getting ready for breakfast when first torpedo hit them and shortly thereafter general quarters were sounded. went to his battle station on the bridge. Oklalmma was already capsized, all their transmitting equipment was out. all they had was intercom. not much they could do except watch, saw the USS Nevada bombed as she passed on Port Berv. the only battleship to get underway and was sunk nearby, but tug got her out of main channel before she sank. Swain to Ford Island after abandon ship was sounded, assigned to submarine base and Makalapa Radio Station. for sometime later was assigned to USS New Mexico in ComBatFor flag allowance. ff ,, 'WT f M 17 One interesting event was that he had just recently been assigned to the topside radio station, before that was at general quarter station on third deck below in transmitter room where all hands were lost. He was assigned to t'omBatFor llag allowance and served aboard seven other battleships as part of ComBatPac, flag allowance serving in all island campaigns up to occupation of lwo Jima, had shore duty from August 1945, till discharged in 1947 at the end of six year hitch. AwardsfMeda1s: WWII Victory Medal, American Medal. Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Pearl Harbor Commendation Medal. American Defense Service Medal with one star. four bronze stars. Good Conduct Medal. Discharged January 1947, with the rank of RM2!c. Married Pearl Copen 1945, one son. one granddaughter, two great-grandchildren. Retired construction worker. WILLIAM E. MORGAN, USN, was born on Aug. 28, 1917, in Lampasas, TX. Hejoined the Navy on Sept. 4, 1940, in Austin, TX. He trained at the San Diego Naval Training Center and was then assigned to the USS Caljornia in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. While on the USS Calnfornia, he served in the Gunnery Department Division 4, as a seaman and retired as a chief boatswains mate. He earned the following medals while serving his country: WWII Victory Medal, American Area Campaign Medal, Asiatic Area Campaign Medal and Good Conduct Medal with three stars. gfngwff I f 5 , . In 1952, he married Sallie Gillespie. They have five children. Jack, Skipper, Chad and twins. Judith and Zaundra. They have six grandchildren. He is currently residing in Seguin. TX. with his wife. THOMAS REDMOND MORRIS. Gunners Mate 3rd Class, born Hope. MD. Dec. 31. 1921. Enlisted September 1940. U.S. Navy. GM3rd Class. gun captain of 3 inch anti-aircraft gun. Service includes Norfolk Training Station and Pearl Harbor Dec. 7. 1941. W :W 3 f , , f G 'f 7 Memorable experiences were on USS Calnfornia that moming. December 7. wounded. carried to hospital by truck. Awards!Medals: WWII Victory Medal, Pacific Theater Medal with one star. and Purple Heart. Discharged June 1942. Married Sarah Luella Stufft, one daughter Helen Patricia Morris. Retired. THEODORE LOWELL MOX, Fireman lst Class, 11,4 499' 91 born Dayton, OH. Feb. 26. 1925. Enlisted May 19, 1943 - Feb. 17. 1946, U.S. Navy, M Division. Battles participated in include Saipan. Guam, Tinian, Philippines, Leyte and the Battle of Surigao Strait and Okinawa. Memorable experiences: le was in sickbay when sister ship Tennessee steering went out and she rammed them, I saw her bow come through and I got out of there fast. Discharged Feb. 17, 1946. Married Betty J. McNinch had two sons Donald A. and Jeffrey L., each had two daughters went back to GM, became a model maker and a tool and die maker. Retired with 34 years service. WILLIAM E. MULLANE, was born April 17, 1925, Brooklyn, NY. Served from April 6, 1943-April 6, 1946. Went to boot camp at Great Lakes, IL and Electrical School at Great Lakes, IL. Assigned to the USS Calgfornia from October 1943-April 1946. ' .what He was discharged at Lido Beach, Long Island, NY and served in the Reserves from May 16, 1947-May 1, 1952. Worked as an electrician for Western Electric in New York City. Was lab technician for Induction Heating Corp., Brooklyn, NY and lab director for Taylor Winfield Corp., Warren, OH. He retired May 1, 1990. Married Adelaide T. Petrik on June 4, 19523 they have three children: William, James and Daniel. GEORGE SAMUEL MURRAY, born in Oakland, CA, on April 19, 1917. Went to the public schools in Long Beach, CA, and on into the U.S. Marine Corps, on July 24, 1934, after finishing Boot Camp in San Diego, it was on to what at that time was known as the Destroyer Base, where row after row of old four stack destroyers were berthed. On Marine Corps Birthday, Nov. 10, 1934, was assigned to USS Calyfornia BB44. Two years later, back to San Diego and the FMF, on to China with the 6th Marines and upon re-enlistment, guess what, it was back to sea and again coming home to the Prune Barge. Two more years and a lot of water under the keel, found him on Recruiting Duty in Long Beach. Promoted to lst Sgt. and a short stay at the ammo depot in Hawthorne, NV, led to one of the most memorable tours of duty a person can have, was assigned to the Staff of Admiral Nimitz and an assignment as the Fleet Sergeant Major and duties in the War Plans Section. Next stop along the way was the Okinawa Operation and from too many different posts and stations to relate. He was fortunate enough to be commissioned in 1952, and was placed on the Retired List Aug. 1, 1964, with the rank of captain. He was married in May 1941, and during the next 44 years was blessed with three great daughters and seven grandchildren. After the death of his wife in November 1985, he became very active in Masonic activities and some three years later was married to a great lady, Jeannette, and the two ol' them have served as matron and patron of their Eastern Star Chapter. LOUIS H. MURRAY, BM 2nd Class, born Oct. 10. 1897. Enlisted Cass Lake, MN, Navy 2nd Division, Long Beach, CA, 1932-37. Enlisted Feb. 27, 1919 and was discharged in 1949. ROBERT E. MURRAY, GM 3fc, USNR, born Sept. 9, 1925, at Chicago, IL. Entered the Navy June 3, 1943, at Great Lakes, IL. Shipped to Bremerton, WA, and assigned to the USS Culyfornia Ts 9th Division tstarboard 40MM anti- aircraft batteryj. , a 1 Z Z7 ff , 1 aka . . ,f . . f 4 f . f . Mg .1 Z w. aa. X . ,WZ ,,,,,.,,.. ,, . .. f 2' nf Wartime service includes all battles BB44, participated in following its return to the fleet in 1944. His ribbons and battlestars reflect that time period. Discharged at Great Lakes on Feb. 19, 1946, he retumed to Chicago found employment with Illinois Bell Telephone Company and married his wife Janet. Together they raised eight children and presently have 19 grandchildren. After 39 years employment at the phone company, Bob retired in 1984. He and Janet like to Elderhostel, go birding and attend legitimate theater. ,JIM V. NAPOLITANO, bom Chicago, IL, July 22, 1925. Enlisted in the Navy sometime in 1943. Discharged in either 1945 or 1946. He and his wife Beverly have a son Jim and a daughter Cindy. Their son has two children, Stewart and Krista. Napolitano died Oct. 20, 1987. FRANK E. NEAL, CDR, Ret., born Nanson, Elk County, PA, April 9, 1910. Enlisted U.S. Navy March 6, 1932, at Pittsburgh, PA, classification: GM, Division 5. He saw action at Pearl Harbor, Pelileu, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Took a shrapnel wound in the arm while serving on the Calnfornia at Pearl Harbor, transferred to Johnson Island naval air station, and later Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, and Terminal Island, CA, before being transferred to the USS Idaho in 1944. W. ,.. I ' J f ..,. 2 V i 3... X If . . 41. He served on the USS Idaho until he helped decommission her at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. He retired 1962. The members of his immediate family are deceased. Today he engages in both vegetable and flower gardening. EARL E. NEHL, CWO4, A-S Division. USN tRet.J. born June 29, 1916, at Watauga, SD. Joined the service Nov. 15, 1938. Went through NTC, Great Lakes. IL. upon leaving NTC, in February 1939, transfened to RIS Nobnor, VA. Reported aboard the USS California BB44 at Norfolk, VA, was aboard the battleship until the summer of 1941. while at Bremerton, WA, was transferrecl to USS Spirit AKI6 as a SK 2!c, then February 1943. was appointed warrant pay clerk and transterred to the USS l 21rmir1AGP- 5, a MTB tender as their disbursing otl'icet'. The lflirinm was at Eniirau in the Southwest Pacific area going to Hollandia, New Guinea coast, Wakde Island. Bink lsland, Green Island. Rendova, Bougainville, Mios Woendi, Morotai, in the l-laltnaheras on to Sainar and lseyte Gull in the Philippines. and ended the war at Balikpapan. Borneo. By this time was appointed commissioned it arrant olfieer. Returned to the USA in March 1946, lelt the regular Navy andtransferretltoSSOD-1.141 sltips supply oltieet dit iston then Lll's.DIJI'illI2gI1llIf,Cl' ul a 309 lighter'-.ti'iaflF':r1 ff' Point. Seattle Retired lane 29 1176 trwnf 'ne Service. , . . 'ft W f f Awardsflvledalsz American Defense Ser-.ice N1 with one star, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one six Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medals with six stare. V'!'ff Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medals with one star Married Jane Nehl. and have children Tim Marty, Roy and Nancy. ROBERT NEHL, joined the Navy in 1936 and ser. tl on board from 1937 until early 1941. when h' 'ff transferred to the USS Ariole. In the late 1930s, three brothers from the community ofWatauga, SD, served onboard the USS Ca!U'0rnia. John Nehl joined the Navy in January 1938.After I boot camp, he joined his 41,41 brother Robert on the USS Calqfornia. He was on board when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. When the CLIZJOFHIU was sunk, he was picked up by the USS Tangier as it got underway during the attack. Earl Nehl joined the Navy in November 1938. and after boot campjoined Robert and John in February 1939. He was transferred to the USS Spica in late 19-ll when :he Calgfornia was in the Bremerton Navy Yard. Robert still resides in Watauga. John passed away f August 1987, and Earl lives in Edmonds. WA. ERNEST J. NELSON. born Prince Albert. Canada. Sept. 22, 1920. Joined Navy Oct. 12. 1937. Boot Camp NTS Great Lakes. IL. ,.,1.,,..-----I-' Reported aboard USS Culirkvrniti February 1938. ADRaft of one Bro. aboard. assigned lst Division. Was on boxing squad and lst Division pulling xvhale boat. Did .1 wee bit in helping to win their lron Man for the ship in sports in 1939. He has a medal for it. Was seantan lfc. Dee. 7. 19-ll. sea duty station heltnsntan. Cleaning station coxswain No. 1. motor launch. gunnery station gun captain right gun turret No. 1 Was comtnended for Meritorious Service Dee. 7. 19-11. Was rated coxswain for it. Was trattsteiretl to ISS llifsl lirgiriiti BB48. after training soldiers to take over 5 inch .25 AA guns. Battles: Pearl llarbor. Leyte Gulf. l ingayett Gull Surigao Strait. lit o Jima, Okinaxx .t. blade ehiet' bos'ns lltdlt' 19-1-1. Retired after 10 years in 1957. Nou' living in Stockton. U.-X. -Xettxe in Pearl llarbor. Sur. Mother l ode tltapter In l'SS t'.z.'.'t.v'-:..: BB-14 Reunions. ROBERT A. NELSON, born Sept. Stl. 1920 liutisieo Sept. ff. 19-ll, Naxy.l'SSt'.1lifQ 'mtiS lloisiou Sei x ire i - , ' '. Y . . . s int ludt d San Diego. luntagut. lieastue lsland. lwreittertoo f f 9 .4 Y j 4 f W Nl.ni.ui.ts. .l.tp.mcsc Naval Battle. lvvo .lima. Olvtuavva. Vliiltppines Memorable experiences include working in tiisbursnig office and serv ed as division petty officer of supply during 1944-45. The most liairovving experience vi as battle of Lingay en Gulf. Awards Medals: Good Conduct Medal. WWII X tctory Medal with tvs o stars. Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. Arnericaii Theater. Philippine Liberation Ribbon. Discharged March 6. 1946. with the rank ofSKD lfc. Married Jan and have three children and six grandchildren. Retired. KARL J. NIELSON. served aboard the USS Calpfornia from 1943 until 19-16. In 1943. he thought the war would be over and lost if he were not in it. School wasn't going 1 iff 3 'fm gf - , '1 ff Z 6 if , -F3 , X Z ll. 1 Z - Z vs ell and he was a pain in his mother's side. Besides the va ar might be over if he didn't convince his mother to sign the induction papers. There was only one problem, he was only 15 years of age. He guess she thought that the war would be lost and after asking 100 times she signed the papers and he became two years older automatically and being now 17 could help save his country. He went to boot camp in San Diego. CA. and after boot camp was sent to Bremerton. WA. and then assigned to the USS Calyfornia. He was first assigned to the lst Division and his battle station was in Turret One. He asked to be assigned to S Div ision as a storekeeper and this happened in 1944. For a time he had the ships store and waited upon you for all of the good things which made cruising on the prune barge tolerable. He did get to see a lot of wanting faces. After they docked in Philadelphia he was discharged in Bainbridge. MD. and retumed to his home in Arizona. He vt ent back to school and opened a body shop in Phoenix. AZ. He met his wife Georgia and after making this perfect choice for the past 47 years and with seven children, four boys and three girls not to mention 16 grandchildren, am spending his later years in the same town and state that he was born in. Mesa. AZ. .IOHN A. NIQNN, USN, born Dec. 30. 1904. in Winthrop. AR. joined Navy Oct. 29, 1924. Boot camp at San Diego. CA. Assigned to USS Annoslnok and USS ffm, .fm Ufgffgflj serxirig in M Division on USS Clllfffllfflllfl iff f .mfg 26 1931. tower 15. 1939 Attained rank ol chief wi f,ffif,f-gr 2 in 1944 lfecwfefl flood ffonduct Medal .uid liars tot 'Xtnerican Defense C Jccupatton Service Medal. VYVVII. National Dclcnse Service Medal. Korean Service. liuropcan .Nntcrican Middle liast Campaign. Asiatic-Pacific l'anipaigu Medal and American Campaign. Retired Dee. l. 1954. while onboard USS lf.s.w.t'. Employed in Engineering Department of Everett. WA. General Hospital for 15 years. Married Violet Cutter. had three children. ll grandchildren and four great-grandchildren at the time of his death on May 13. 1989. CORNELIUS J. O'DONNELL. Neil born Feb. 26. 1921. Milwaukee. Enlisted April 13. 1938. Great Lakes. reported aboard USS California BB44, Aug. 8. 1938. and was assigned to lst Division nortnal duties. deck force, boat crew and gun crew. was aboard the Calqfornia Dec. 7. 1941. in Pearl Harbor. in the duty status as master at arms BM3. and in repair party three. December 13. 1941. was transferred to USS 1!MS 102 and remained in West PAC for 2 years and nine months, before retuming to USA for 30 days leave. Then back to Leyte, Philippine, for all of WWII. then two years short duty TI cal. Then USS Suisun KA UP53j and all of the Korean War. in West PACK at sea. Retired U.S. Navy, Oct. 1. 1958. with the rank of CWO! W3, then became a master locksmith. that never lets one retire from. WALTER W. OSBORN OZZIE FTC, born Louisvi1le.KY. Oct. 5, 1919. Enlisted Nov. 27, 1937, USN, Seaman F Division. From Great Lakes to the USS Calnfornia to the USS Horner. CPut in Commissionj The South Pacific was only home once, for short time. Listed as missing, was trapped below waterline on USS Calyfornia, for 12 hours at Pearl Harbor. Discharged July 1, 1957. in San Diego. CA. with the rank of chief FTC. When Walter W. Osborn, Chief FTC. retired from the Navy in San Diego. CA, he went to work for the Long Beach Naval Shipyard and worked for them for the next 18 and a half years. He had a total of 38 and a half years of government service. He loved trout fishing in the High Sierras and loved his family. He is missed a lot. Married Jean, Oct. 27. 1941. and have three children and four grandchildren. Deceased March 30, 1989. from cancer at home in Lakewood, CA. MARVIN A. OTTE, Slfc. USNR. born Oct. 17. 1925. He was inducted into the Navy Nov. ll. 1943. He was assigned to USS Calmwrnia Oct. 25. 1944. Arrived Oct. 17, 1944. for the Invasion of Leyte and the Battle of Surigao Strait Oct. 25. 1944. Military locations and stations: Farragut. ID: Clearfield. UT: Shoemaker. CA: Treasure Island: New Caledoniag New Hebrides: USS Culihnrnin Oct. 25. 1944. Battles participated int Battle ofSurigao Strait. Sept. lo. 1944: June 17. 1945. Okinawa: Invasion of Leyte Philippines Oct. 17. 1944-Jan. 6. 1945: arrived Lingayen Gulf Invasion of Luzon at Leyte. His most memorable experience was when a kamikale crashed off their star-board how at Leyte. The pilot's chute opened as he was blown up in the air: all he could see in the chute harness was his riddled torso. He settled in the water and went under immediately from the wake of the ship. Another experience was when a kamikaze hit sky-aft on the arrival at Lingayen Gulf for the invasion of Luzon. Awardlmedals received: Victory Medal: American Campaign. Asiatic-Pacific Campaign with three Bronze Stars: and Philippine Liberation with two stars. He was discharged April 19. 1946. with the rate of Slfc. He married his wife. Leona. on Nov. 4. 1946. They have four children: Gary. Janis. Richard. Lori and 12 grandchildren. GERALD E. OXFORD, born Feb. 22. 1926. at Blytheville. AR. Graduated from high school May 1944. and entered boot camp September 1944. Went aboard ship April 1945. radio operator striker. War time action at Okinawa. Circumnavigated the globe. leaving the states from Puget Sound Navy Yard and docking stateside after war, at Philadelphia, PA, Navy Yard. Discharged June 21. 1946, at Millington. TN. Manied June 7. 1947. to Margaret Rose Buttrey. Have son. daughter and one granddaughter. First attended Indiana State University at age 31 as freshman. Attended four years continuously while working full time at U.S. Post Office. Transferred to a better position with the Veterans Administration Regional Office in Indianapolis. IN. August 1961. Completed 35 plus years in Civil Service with last 19 years as Disability Rating Specialist. GS-12. Retired March 3. 1989. Events tmemorable to himb associated with the Prune Barge. First Sunday moming off Okinawa. attended church service on quarter-deck and watched U.S. planes dive and bomb a part of the island. One of 300 plus lowly pollywogs initiated as they crossed the equator in the Indian Ocean. The honor of serving as one of the national directors and as the national chaplain. since 1984. of their USS California Reunion Association. MIKE PALCHEFSKY, MUS2!c tEquiva1ent to SEA2! cl. Youngstown. OH. Sept. 29. 1922. Enlisted Oct. 2. 1940. Graduated U.S. Navy School of Music. member of Band 16. Band 16 reported aboard USS Calyornia June 1941. Division N. g ld- QAM - it On Dec. 7. 1941. the ship's band was on the quarter- deck to play the National Anthem for morning colors. Hearing the din of aircraft engines. he looked up at the clouds and saw the war begin as the hrst Japanese dive bombers broke through the clouds and dropped bombs exploding on Ford Island. The USS Califbmia was torpedoed and bombed. It sank. settling upright on the bottom. Quotes from Califomia Cub 1991. Volumes 03 and 04: 93 Volume 03 Quote: Following front Eagle Against Sun: The code breaking unit was so shorthanded it was re-enforced by musicians from the band off the crippled battleship USS Cnlyornia. They proved to be such able and natural cryptanalysts that Naval Intelligence began to pay special attention to recruiting more musicians. I understand the crew of the band from USS Calyornia broke the Japanese Code at Pearl Harbor. Can any of 1941 band members verify this? Would like to hear front you. Volume 04 Quote: Letter from a member in regards to write-up in last edition newsletter. LCDR L.B. Luckenbach former bandmaster of USS Calyornia Band in 1941. Am writing in regards to an article in Calmirnia Cub tlast editionl. This is in regards to battleship Calnfornia band. Article stated it was from Eagle Against the Sun. Am not acquainted with that paper. I know more about the Calnfornia band than anyone. I was bandmaster of band until they were sunk at Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941. Even after that, they remained with me for several years. December 7, 1941, they were all transferred to 14th Nav Dist. Combat Intelligence? As to the article, Every Word is true. But he has not confirmed this information until now. After 50 years have passed, he believes it is permissible to discuss this. They were given a special citation with an award medal from the commander-in-chief of Pacific Fleet Adm. Chester Nimitz. The medal was supposedly put in their records along with the Citation, but have seen neither since it was announced on their bulletin board shortly after the Battle of Midway. For security reasons they were not allowed to discuss it, a senior oversight in the Csicj the code breaking was a group effort in an extremely difficult Code 8a Cypher. Each was a volume of 100,000 5-di git groups, that changed and all had to be recovered again. Thank God enough were recovered to prepare for the Battle of Midway. Our Senior officer achieved the rank of captain. Our boss was Joe Rochefort, the chief cryptanalyst was Tommy Dyer and Jack Holtwick, Ham Wright and their Senior tsicj Cprovided: officer Willis Thomasj. All are dead now, but they were fine and capable men. LCDR L.K. Luckenbach, former bandmaster USS Calyfornia 1941, Hemet, CA, End of Quotes. Stations: Pearl Harbor, Washington, D.C., Japan, Arlington, VA, Germany, USS Northampton, England, Ft. Meade, MD. Awards: American Defense Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Presidential Testimonial, WWII Victory Medal, Korean Service Medal. Discharged July 15, 1960, rank achieved: CWO-2. Married to Mary Louise Polly Elder, have son Kirk and daughter Ann. Retired from all employment and enjoy personal computer operations, music appreciation, and on occasion playing the trumpet. J.D. PALMER, born Feb. 12, 1922. Enlisted in service June 17, 1942. Trained in Navy Training Station San Diego, CA. He went aboard the USS Calnfornia in December 1942, at Bremerton, WA. After reconditioning, off to the Pacific in support of landing troops at Saipan, Guam and Tinian. f L Collision of USS Tennessee and USS Calnfornia on Aug. 22, 1944, Stamo Stamos and he were in starboard forward washroom. Suddenly there was an awful crash and all went pitch dark. They could hear the sound of water coming in. Stamo said, Palmer, we've got to get out of here. They were fortunate to reach safety through what was left of passage way to main deck. The port washroom was completely destroyed along with about 75ft. of four deck. On to New Hebrides, repairs, then Philippines, Leyte Gulf, battle ofSurigao Strait, then Luzon tlsingayen Gulfj. kamikaze plane crashed into Sky Alt, while he was on quad 9, steel fragments and gasoline fire resulted many killed, burned and wounded. After repairs, on to Okinawa, Tokyo, then USA by round-'world-trip to Philadelphia. Arrived Dec. 7, 1945. He now lives in Johnson City. TN. He has two daughters and two grandsons. EARL DANNENBERG PATTON, USNR, boatswainls mate 2nd class, born April 3, 1916, in Stilwell, OK,joined Navy May 28, 1943. Boot camp at San Diego, 'K CA, then Bremerton, WA, assigned to USS Calnfornia, 8th Division. Participated in Saipan, Guam, Tinian, Leyte, Surigao Strait, Lingayen Gulf and Okinawa. Awarded the WWII Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, American Area Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. tBeing part ofthe crew that sailed BB44 back to her original berth, Fox 3, Pearl Harborl. Discharged Dec. 13, 1945. Married Jessie Flucard, four children tCaroIyn, David, Joseph, Johnj, five grandchildren. Retired linotype operator. JEROME J. PAVLICEK, Sllc, USNR, born April 7, 1925, Chicago, IL. Graduated high school June 1943. Joined Navy July 14, 1943. Had training at Great Lakes, IL. Completed training Aug. 24, 1943. Then shipped to Bremerton, WA, Naval Yard. There assigned to the USS California 7th Division. The California was in for modernization and refitting after Pearl Harbor mishap. Had shake down cruise along West Coast then on to the Pacific. First battles were in Saipan, Tinian, Guam. Then on to Surigao Strait sea battle and the battle of the Philippines. The last battle was Okinawa. Then on to Japan. After the war left Japan for the East Coast of the United States by way of South Africa. The Calnfornia, Tennessee, six destroyers and a fleet tanker were in their task group. Made stops in Singapore, Colombo Ceylon and Capetown, South Africa. Then good old USA. Was discharged March 7, 1946. Awarded WWII Victory Medal, American Medal, Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal with four bronze stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two bronze stars. ' ,, .fi J ,gif . f . , i I S .. fn li S357 ,f ff 4 is 1' f ff, TIT, ' X J ff My f Married Joan Vykruta Aug. 16, 1947. Children. Pamala Todd and Paul Pavlicek. Four grandchildren. Moved to Arizona 1960, and retired from Motorla in 1985. Attend local Arizona USS California reunion also USS Calwirnia Association Reunions. ORVILLE JACKSON PELFREE, L Division, born Bloomington, IN, Feb. 26, 1926. Enlisted May 20. 19-13, I . . , , Navy. Sllc V-6 LSNP serfice included Urea! lata . Diego. Bremerton Navy Yard f,,rfi1.,f.:d the lgduator .fi Pacilic, Indian, and Atlantic Ocean'-. the liiflllt Nl-:ral and has cireurnnavigated the globe Awarflslhfletlal'-,Z WWII Asiatic Pacific farrlpa Medal with lout bronze stars. American 'I heater Pr.iitpgl.rri Liberation Ribbon with two stars. Discharged Dec. 12, 1945. Great Lakes Il. -nit ranks of AS, S2C, SIC Married Lucille, N1arch29. 1947, has three sons l.lf,,f' Lee, Lester Lyle, Larry Lind I-'elfree one daughter Lit Pelfree Milakis, Also seven grandchildren, four girls a three boys. Retired from auto mechanic. drzue pan-2.7.9 for Ace Rent a Car. JACK W. PENHOLLUVV, born Wyornrng Sept 1921. Enlisted Sept. 20. 1939, and sent to boot earrp Chicago, IL. Served aboard LISS Calzhrnia until Septem- r 1941, with his brother. He requested China duty. He had make 3lc signalman before his chief would GK. ir. transfer. While in transit aboard the USS Chalrnon: Japanese declared war and bombed Pearl Harbor. at sef he transferred to the cruiser Pensacola and then tc t Marblehead in the Dutch East Indies. After being bad. damaged in the battle ofthe beach of BalaBala they returned to the Indies. While in dry-dock he was transferred tc ine flagship H.M.S. DeReuter Admiral Doorrnen rieedeg signalmen for communicating with all allied ships. All QT the ships were sunk Feb. 27. 1942. in the battle ofthe Jax a Sea. It involved the cruisers Houston, DeReiiier Jae Perth, Exeter Batavia and 12 destroyers. He was reported missing in action. He was able to get into a lifeboat along with 55 others. The following day the L'.S. Submarine S- 37 rescued him and another American sailor. They needed a signalman. After RSLR time, he was transferred to the S- 37 for duty. He had always wanted submarine duty. He made three more war patrols before leaving Brisbane. Australia. In 1943, the S-37 was to be a training submanne stationed in San Diego, CA. is He married his wonderful wife. Sally. Nov. 27. 19-13. They have three great sons. John. James and Patriclq 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He is a retired salesman and lives in Indio. CA. They celebrated their 50th year together with all of their family last month. MURRAY D. PENHOLLOYY. CWO-3. KSN Ret.. born Jan. 14. 1919. in Wayne. NE. Joined the Naxy in April 1938. Went aboard the USS California after training at Great Lakes. remaining on board trntil Dec. 7. 19-ll. ss . NX' -givin . ao At Pearl Harbor he was a Sbllic and superxrsor ot the signal watch. With Prep in the .iir they heard bombs exploding and obserx ed torpedo planes approaching battleship row. filflflfilflllltl receix ed tw o of rhtssi- roms,-,ings She was later hit with one lix e bomb and triachme gun fire When Abandon Ship was ortlered sw am to lord Island. Reported killed in action. Rtxissignetl to the ISS Sm' E no City for some of the first otliensixe action of the war 'l'rans1'err'et1 to the lflcct Marine l-'orce in S.mro.i for about six months very interesting duty Was in Tokyo Bay aboard ISS lfthirlttl X11 lrlo during stnreitdet eerenionies. prepared to tow ISS llixxttiui .i YICCCSMIIN Retired 1960 in San ltieptxh tffx XII -XX H. PI'fI'I'IRSUN. Seanian lfitst Class. Dixiszons 1- .intl 1 .tlxoartl ISS t'.:t'1ltu'rii.1 trout :Xing 28. 94-1 to Nlax 2. 1946 nv- He and his txx in sister xx ere borrt in a farm hottie in CJSICITI North Dakota on Oct. 9. 1925. He xvas drafted into the Naxx on Jart. 17. 194-1. at Fort Snelling. MN. He was sent to Farragut. ID. for seven xx eeks of boot camp. went home for I5 dax leave. then to Fire Control School, at San Diego for six weeks. frotn there to Treasure Islartd, CA, for txx o weeks temporary duty. On July 1. 1944, boarded a troop ship to New Hebrides. At New Hebrides from July 17. to .-Xug. 28. 1944. On Aug. 28. 1944. was assigned to the F Division on the LSS Ctzlirbriiia until attending a three day Radar- Counter Measure School at Hawaii then assigned to the I Dix ision. served aboard the Calnfbnzia for about 20 months. His most memorable experience probably was being a talker for the gunnery officer. Commander Mandelkom during the sea battle at Lingayen Gulf. On May 2, 1946, left the Ctriitimiirz at Philadelphia for Minneapolis to be discharged. Lpon discharge. he attended Concordia College at Moorehead. MN. graduated in 1950, taught rural schools in eastern Montana for 10 years and then taught small town schools in North Dakota. for 26 years. He retired in 1987. He was married to Beverly Gullingsrud in 1963. They are now living at Mandan. ND. ALFRED C.,I. PETRALIA, ENS. bom Sept. 2. 1923, Law renee. MA. Enlisted Dec. 8. 1942. USNR, line officer, I 1 th Division. Service included Asbury Park Pre- Midshipman School. Northwestern Mil'n School, Miami Sub-chaser. USS Calgfomia. MK37 Dir. School Anacoastia. Battles: Okinawa. South China Sea. Memorable experience: V-J Day, covering 6th Army landing Tokyo Bay. Avxards!Meda1s: America Theater, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one star. Good Conduct Medal. Discharged July 2. 1946, with the rank of LTtJGl. Widowed. one daughter. Alyson. Retired. RICHARD L. PHELAN. USMC. born to Mary and Richard Phelan. 1920. Winter. WI, Sawyer County. Last of nine children. five sisters, four brothers, including a set of twins. Father was a combination logger and farmer. Mother was a schoolteacher and managed a small hotel that catered to railroad employees and lumbermen. Father and older boys managed the livery stable in connection with the hotel. LMWZW, Nflox ed to Watersmeet. MI. and parents took over the Kelly Hotel. Father passed away in 1925. Mother, brothers and sisters operated hotel until depression. 1932. Graduated from St. Norberts High School. DcPere. VMI During the summer and vacation employed by Kings 2'ratev.a'. Hotel and Inn as bus boy. waiter. bartender. desk plerlr and anything else that needed attention. Attended Tm fefait .1 ol Wisconsin and worked as a salesman in f igaggf, klvriigy, war was derlarerl in 1941. he enlisted in l1nitetlSt.iles lxlarnie Corps on the 18t1iol llecentlier. 1941. llte next lout xeais were spent in the Pacific lheater and p.trticipatetl in various battles and mopping-up exercises. Receix etl battles star s for Saipan. Tinian. Guam. Leyte Gull and I ingaxen Gull' in tlte Philippine Islands. Also Okinawa and Occupation of Southern Island of llonshu. Hoitorably discliarged at Camp Stnall. Great Lakes. IL. Decetnber 20. as sergeant. with 40mm machine gun experieitce. Resutned sales in Chicago: was married to Dorothy lxlacdonald in 19-16. Returned to Rhinelander. WI. 1946. Ifather of six cltildreng three boys. three girls: Charles. Madison. WI3 Richard. Geneva, ILL Timothy. Rhinelander, WI: Patty Reitner. Appleton. WI: Mary Baron. Naperville. IL: Maureen Fisher. Appleton. WI. Was employed as sales representative for Celotex Corp.. Johns Manville Corp.. for 16 years. Continued as self-employed manufacturers representative for Grand Rapids Gypsum, Evans Homes. Capp Homes. and other manufacturers until semi-retirement in 1980. Served on Oneida County Board of Supervisors from 1972, until death in April 1993. DONALD FREDERICK PHILLIPS, C SK, Everett, MA. April 6. 1916. Enlisted Dec. 8. 1941, USNR, CSK, S Division. Training in San Diego, CA, and on San Clemente. Island. Boarded the USS Calyfornia in San Francisco during her shake down cruise preparing for her retum to war. He stayed aboard everyday thereafter except for 10-14 days while in dry-dock in Branerton Naval Yard. He was the first person to leave ship after the war in Tokyo Bay. His most vital recollectionslexperiences were: Their first bombardment at the Marianas of Saipan, Tinian and Guam. Their first shore leave on a tiny island with two cans of beer and most buried up to their chins in the sand. The day they shot down their Hrst kamikaze. The day a kamikaze followed another Japanese plane that was shot down but the second plane crashed into theirs after fire control tower. He was ordered top side from his station below deck and the first turret he saw had a gunner leaning against the side and said he needed help. He started up the steel steps and blistered the inside of his hands. One of his legs was blown away and the other was bleeding profusely. They got him down to sick bay and was soon transferred to the hospital ship with every chance of living. They were in convoy one night when their sister ships. the USS Teitizcfssee decided to cross their bow from the pon side. He was asleep itnmediately behind the sail locker and just ahead of an area occupied by 18-20 sailors who shared the stairs up to the next desk. The T6'l1l16A'.l'6'6' had rolled the steel skin back approxintately 30 feet and sealed offtheir stairs. The collision sent him to the deck and water rushed in and out as the ship plowed through the sea. He was able to crawl over the side of the ship and make his way to CPO mess. After reporting the condition of the sailors sealed in he poured a cup of coffee when his legs suddenly went out from under him. They were not able to release the men in the sealed offcharnber and all drowned. He was discharged at Okinawa shortly after the Japanese surrendered and caught the USS Admiral Ma-v0 back to the States with 599 Seabees, five of whom ended up with all the money from the other 594. Participated in all battles from the USS California shake down cruise until the end of the war at Okinawa. Received all tnedals given for action between the time the California reentered the war after Pearl Harbor to the end of the war. Married 1945. three children. one boy and two girls. llis wife died Jan. 27, 1987. remarried 1988. Has two grandchildren, one boy, 5 in October. and one girl, 3 in November. KENNETH P. PHILLIPS, Slfc. born Hillsboro, IL. 1'eb. 25. 1924. Enlisted June 1. 1943. Navy. 7th Division. Serx ice included Great Lakes. ll... NTS, Balboa Park. CA. Iirenierton. WA. Battles: Saipan. Tinian. Guam. 1,eytc. Surigao Strait. Lingayen Gulf, Okinawa. 1 I-L IHIV all sf? -f s gs 1' . . ,I Memorable experiences include coming back after war, stopping in Japan, Singapore. Colombo Ceylon, South Africa, the battle all experiences. most memorable sea battle. AwardsfMedals: Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars, American Area Campaign, WWII Victory Medal. Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four stars. Discharged Feb. 22, 1946. Married to Helen for 43 years. son Terry, stepson Mike Wright, granddaughter Wendy Baker. Grandson Jason Wright CUSMCJ. Retired from federal govemment after 32 years. also worked for Western Electric three and a half years as installer of telephone equipment. was in electronics and was electrician at Marine Corp Logistics Base. Two year ago had three bypass operations of heart. ROBERT BOB PITCOLE,joined Navy MACCN. 1943, spent eight weeks Great Lakes Training Station. spent 8-10 weeks at Balboa Park. San Diego. before transfer to Bremerton, WA. Assigned to USS Califbrnia September 1943. Before joining the Navy. he had never been further west than Chicago. he didn't know at the time he would end up seeing foreign lands and going half way around the world before tying up in Philadelphia Navy Yard. His life aboard the California was great. he met a great bunch of guys. made his rate aboard ship. seen many wonderful places and played on one of the fleets best baseball teams with a great group ofguys. Received all axvards from 1943- l945. Married his wife Barbara in 1974. between them they have 21 grandchildren. Retired. still enjoying fishing. golfing, biking and traveling. It was a honor to serve aboard the USS California and its crew. ALBERT L. PLANTAN, USNR, bom May 2, 1925, LaSalle. IL. Joined service Sept. 20, 1943. Discharged March 20, 1946. Boot camp at Farragut, ID. Assigned to USS Caljornia Bremerton, WA. SIC 2nd Division Turret II. 1 - v . I .4 .- 2.-- . Medals: American Area Victory Medal. Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal four stars. Battles participated in: Saipan. Guam, Tinian, Leyte. Surigao. Lingayen Gulf. Okinawa. 95 Married Mary Zickar 1951. Two children: Mark Albert and Mary Kay, one grandchild Mark Jacob and one due in December. Owned and operated a grocery store for 40 years. Now retired and living in LaSalle, IL. Proud to have served aboard USS Calyornia. EUGENE E. POPA, USNR, F2lc, was born June 29, 1924, Detroit. MI. Join the service April 7, 1943, went to Great Lakes, IL, Naval Training Station Camp Porter Co. 489, was assigned to the USS Calyornia, July 1943, in Bremerton, WA. Spent time in X Division before transferred to M Division. He took part in the battle of Marianas Islands. Participated in battles at Saipan, Guam and Tinian. After was transferred to Treasure Island, CA, was assigned to a destroyer pool. He went back to Bremerton, WA, and was assigned to the USS Wiley DD597, was in the Yellow Sea. When the war ended was discharged April 10, 1946. Married Ann Caplea,iSept. 29, 1946, had three children, two boys and a girl: also four grandchildren. AwardslMedals: Good Conduct Medal and two battle stars. Discharged April 10, 1946, with the rank of MM2lc. Retired. JAMES D. POPPE, Electrician's Mate Third Class, bom San Francisco, CA, Dec. 21, 1924. Enlisted Dec. 19, 1942, U.S. Navy, EM3lc, M Division. Service included Farragut, San Diego, USS Calhfornia, Cub 19, Navy 3913 USS Blackhawk, USS APL29, all located Tringtoa, China. Participated in the following battles: Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Conly done two times in historyj Sea Battle of Surigao Strait fCross the Tv six battlewagonsj Philippine Liberation, Battle of Surigao. Memorable experiences: It was early moming, he think it was about 0400. The USS Tennessee rammed the USS Calyfornia broadside, porbow causing a 80' hole. They were steaming toward Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides Island. They were suppose to be bait for the Japanese Fleet. The reason the USS Tennessee hit them, was it lost its hydraulic steering. They were using 20 Marines to hand steer the ship. AwardslMedals: Good Conduct, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars, American Area, WWII Victory Medal. Discharged Feb. 18, 1946, with the rank of EM3lc. Married with three sons. His wife is a school teacher, oldest son IBEW Elec. and other two general contractors. Retired I.B.E.W. electrician. ROBERT M. PUGH, USNR, SK3C, born Akron, OH, Jan. 3, 1927. Enlisted March 15, 1944, Navy, F 84 S Division. Service included Great Lakes for Boot Camp, OG Unit Shoemaker, CA, USS California, Philadelphia, PA, Navy Yard, USS Monterey. Battles participated in: Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Sea Battle Leyte Gull, Lingayen Gulf, Philippines, Okinawa. Memorable experiences include beer parties on the islands, walking under USS California in dry-dock, ship taking hits in Philippines. Awards!Meda1s: WWII Victory Medal. American Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with lour stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars, Philippine Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal. ,Ag . Discharged June 6, 1946, returned June 7, 1946 USNR. Retired Feb. 28, 1969, with rank of DK1. Married and has five children and six grandchildren. Retired from Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, 41 years. He and his wife are Civil War Reenactors. Also repair trains and run 100 acre farm, have helped make four movies: North di South, Glory, Dances With Wolves, Gettysburg. WINSTON E. PULLEN, LTCJGJ, bom Monson, ME, March 12, 1916. Enlisted Aug. 17, 1942, USNR, X Division. Military locations, stations: Midshipmanls School, Columbia University, February 1943 - June 16, 1943. USS Calhfornia Bremerton Navy Yard, Seattle, WA, X Division Officer. War Adjustment School, Harvard University, J une - September 1945. Material Redistribution Office, Hartford, CT, September 1945. Discharged Jan. 2, 1946. Battles participated in: Marinas CSaipan, Tinian, Guamj 1944. Leyte Gulf, crossed enemy's T at Surigao Strait. Rammed by USS Tennessee, repaired at floating dry- dock, Espiritu Santo. Battle of Lingayen Gulf, hit by suicide planes retumed to Bremerton Navy Yard. Awards: American Theater Ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars, Victory Ribbon. He is married and has five children and six grandchildren. Retired Professor and Associate Dean of Life Sciences and Agr., University of Maineg volunteer activities through Kiwanis, Developing an agricultural museum on University of Maine Campus. ROLAND L. RABER, USN, bom Corvallis, OR, May 3, 1920. Enlisted, NTC San Diego, CA, Jan. 13, 1942. Vessels and Stations: NTC, San Diego, CAL DD Base. San Diego, CAL USS Helena, USS California, USS Chandeleurg RS NB Philadelphia, PA. Rate: Firecontrolman First Class. Awards: American Area Campaign Medal, Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal with 13 stars, American Defense Service Medal, Purple Heart, Navy Unit Citation, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars, WWII Victory Medal. Assigned USS Calihirnia in 1943. as a survivor of USS Helena, served on USS California until she was decommissioned, then to USS Clmnrlelenr for further mothballing of various fleet ships. Married Barbara in 1946, one daughter. Separated frotn service Nov. 14, 1947. Now retired after 40 more years of hard work! GERALD L. REESE, COXtBM3l USN, born April 12, 1921. Enlisted Oct. 6, 1939, San Diego, CA. Reported USS California Dec. 15, 1939. On Dec. 7, 1941, he was on the boat deck near his battle station. He saw the lirst Japanese aircraft bomb Ilford Island. He also saw those that torpcdocd his ship, t'ulitoriiitr. As a rnetnbcr of CtlllflJI't1lill lv 6th Division anti -aircral't gun crews. lie engaged the enemy lor thc duration ol' thc attack. The ship was scriously damaged, atire and sinking. 2 . ' ' . WW ., . . , 'iii WW I f f When engaged personnel were ordered to leave the ship, he swam to Ford Island towing a shiprnate who cot- not swim. Under strafing attack, he and shiprnate voluritarll. retumed to the ship. There, they cleared still loaded 4.1. guns and relocated ammunition threatened by ire. He remained aboard ship through the night. rnanr.ir.g still operable AA guns. His parents received offigza, telegram notice that he had been killed in action. Later assigned to Naval AA batteries at Puuloa Point. Fifi Kamehameha and Hickam Field. While at Hickam he tiew a mission as a gunner in a B-18 Bolo bomber. In July 1942, he was assigned to IQSS Alabama. Advanced to BM2C. Served as Mount Capt. -LONINI .-XA. quad mounts. Alabamajoined US and British Naval Units moving in Atlantic, North Atlantic and .Arctic Oceans protecting Murmansk bound convoys and performing other strategies: among them, the Norway Invasion Feint and search for the Von Tirpitz. Mid 1943, Alabama entered South Pacific Operations. In late 1943, he was transferred to Y-12 Nav al Officer Training. Graduated and commissioned July 19-15. After warls end he was released to an organized reser- e unit. Left service April 1953. Graduated UCLA 1950. Graduated Southwestern University Law School January 1959. career covered private and public sectors ending in Washington. D.C. Retired from U.S. Govemment Service. 1985. and from own firm, 1987. Relocated from Northern Virginia to California Central Coast. Now married to Sally Marie. have three children, four grandchildren. Medals: American Defense Service Medal with Fleer Clasp, American Campaign with Foreign Service. Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal with Bronze Star. European- African-Middle East with Bronze Star. WWII Victory Medal, and Special Congressional Medal - Pearl Harbor. THOMAS JAMES REEVES, the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Reeves of Thomaston. CT. He attended local schools and before entering service was the chief operator for Western Union at Waterbury. CT. Thomas enlisted in the U.S. Navy on July 10. 1917. He saw service in WWI in the Transportation Service. In the following years he had service in the USS American. Whipple. Seattle. Tevas. C hicago. .91tllfYltll1t1'. New Mexico and California. He also served in Staff Headquarters of the 3rd Naval District and with the Naval Mission to Brazil. He also taught radio in Rio de Janiero. Thomas intended to retire in 1939. with more than IZ years of service completed. He had accepted an appointment as ground engineer with the Civil Service. The day before his retirement was to take effect President Rooscv elt declared a Limited Emergency and all persons xv ere prohibited from leaving the Navy. Thomas then re-enlisted at San Pedro for another four years. At thc time ot' Pcarl Harbor he was on the Admirals staff on board USS Ctilitoririri. The President of the l'nited States takes plcasttrc in presenting the Congressional Medal of Honor to Thomas James Rccvcs CRM tP.-Xi USN, Deceased. For Service during an attack on thc l'uucd States lflcct in Pearl Harbor. TH. .rs set forth in the follow mg lfor Distinguished Serv ice in thc line ot' his protcsstou. with extraordinary courage .uid disregard of his ow n safctv during thc attack ou thcl'.S 1-'lcct ru Pearl llarbor. lcouorv of llawan by .lapancsc forces on Dec . 19-ll Xttct the ntccliamzctl anuntuutiou hoists xt crc put out olcoinnussiot' in the ISS Kitiillltllllltl. Recxcs on his oxxn nnttatixe. in a burning passagcxx ax. assisted in thc maintenance ot an .nnniuintion supplx bx hand to the anti aircraft guns tintil be xx as ox ereonie hx smoke and llanics xx hich resulted in ltts tlcatllt The llhonias J Rcex es Memorial Wall in the Thoniaston Toxxn Hall xx as conceixed and built by Mario llellccol xx ith the assistance ofthe Thomaston Rotatx Club. lt xx as dedicated pnor to the 50th Annix ersaix of Pearl Harbor. It xx as attended bx one ofthe txx o suix ix ing nieces ol'Tliomas Recxcs Thomas Reex es did not marry and had no children. YINCENT R. REINSMITH. USN. born Sept. 3. 1921 Enlisted Oct. 23. 19-10. Allcntoxxn recruiting station. Boot camp at NTS Nexxpoit. Rl. Boarded USS Cizlifornia in Bremerton. WA. Was aboard ship Sunday moming xxthen Japanese attacked. Saxx the first bomb drop on Ford Island xx hen xx alking to his cleaning station on the Quarter-deck. When the order carrie to abandon ship. swam through burning oil slick to Ford Island. Received change of clothing and title. Sent to north side of Island to protect the beach from inx asion. Was reported killed in action. Not until December 3 1 st had the Navy Department notified his parents ofthe mistake. It was very traumatic for his mother. His whole Navy career was with the Calyfarnia fPrune Barget. Started in the 4th Division. Spent a few months with the Radio Gang and went back up top side to the 4th Division. just in time before the attack. Was glad not to trapped below deck as the ship was sinking. The 5 inch anti-aircraft guns were taken off the ship and set up at Hickam Field. They stood watch on the guns at night and worked to re-tloat the ship during the day. Came back with the ship to Bremerton, WA, for complete over-hall. Achieved the rank of Coxswain. Was Master-At-Anns until assigned to 12th Division as Division Petty Ofhcer with the rank of Boatswains Mate 2nd Class. Went back to sea. Battle station for his division as the 20mm gun mounts. Thirteen of his men were killed when Japanese kamikaze hit. On the way to the Philippines the ship was rammed by the USS Tennessee. Repaired off New Guinea in floating dry-dock. Crossed the Equator on all three oceans. On ship when not in battle he was on the boxing team. sat in on the drums for Micky Pallamary of Ships Band. was assistant editor of The Cub, studied for OTC. On record for Boatswains Mate lst Class. The California assisted in seven island landings, shot down ses en Japanese planes. sank one Japanese battleship. After the surrender they sailed around the world to put the Grand Old Lady in moth balls at Philadelphia Navy Yard. Discharged Dec. 30, 1946. after six years, two months and eight days. Medals are American Area Ribbon. WWII Victory Ribbon. Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal five stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars. Good Conduct Ribbon. American Defense Ribbon with one star. Married Lorraine in 1947. Four children: Danny, Gail, Lee. Mark. Six grandchildren: Philip. Jessica, Mike, Laura. Jasmine, Jade. Reinsmith. Still working in his own cabinet shop. GLENN H. RHEA, bom Aug. 26. 1925. Enlisted July 2. 1942. Long Beach, CA. IJSNT. San Diego, CA, Co. 42- 337 Fleet Fire Control Course, San Diego. CA, completed Oct. 10. 1942. Class it 2-43. promoted Sllc. F.C. tM1 to USS California Bremerton. WA. Division F. 3-43-20MM AA School Long Beach. WA. 1943. Radar School, San Diego. CA. TR to I tFYEi Division. 1944. C.R. Radarman Eff, +'T,. Dec 6. 1945. from ship at Philadelphia to San Pedro. CA. September CTR. Remember collision at sea. enemy shore battery hit. Saipan karnikaze attack. Lingayen Gull. crossing the T ol enemy ta'-,lf force. Surigao Strait. burial at sea ot brave xhiprnates Lasting friendship. respect for all members ot 'feta txt to last Algfjhflflllilfef if, was ttfimfatsitf iiischaigc, wwtt Yictorx Medal. Aiiierican Area xxitlt three stars. Asia Pacific xx ith tout stars. Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars. tlootl Conduct Medal. my 1 USNR, Ready Reserve, August 1947 - December 1948. organized submarine division November 7, San Pedro, CA, inactive same unit December 1948 - December 1952. Honorable Discharge. ROM 3lc. Now retired following major cancer surgery. Wife, Ruth and son, Glenn Jr. GARLAND E. RICE, Electrician mate 3rd C1ass.born Las Amimas, CO, Nov. 16, 1913. Enlisted April 24, 1933, U.S. Navy, EM3rd Class, E Division. Stations: Recruiting Station Denver, CO, and San Diego Naval Training Station. Served aboard USS Relief and USS Caliornia. Memorable experience was passing through the Panama Canal, crossing the Intemational Dateline. After completion of boot training went aboard the USS Langley for transferring to San Francisco and to board the USS Calybrnia on the way up to San Francisco as recruits spent their time down in the hole chipping and releading, some experience for a country boy. Went aboard the Caljornia and was assigned to 2nd Division Deck Gang. One Sunday some one asked if any of them new boots wanted to go out in the whale boat, he said sure so they go out in the San Francisco Bay, man it was rough and did he get sick. That was the first and last time he got sea sick, no more whale boat parties for him ha! Made S2C, but Deck Division wasnlt what he wanted and as he had studied electrical through a correspondence course, he wanted to transfer to the E Division. He became acquainted with some ofthe E Division personnel through the wrestling team. There were 3 EM mates on the team. Whitey Young, Tony 7, but he was assigned to the ICC Division. He applied for transfer to the E Division, passed F3C and F2C and then EM 3C. His nickname was Fuzzy to all in the E Division. Tony was 3rd Turret EM2C he transferred and lucked out and was assigned to 4413 Turret, Tony left a very clean and neat electrical system, and he continued and kept avery clean and neat system, never a failure during gunnery drills. Had he not married prior to his normal discharge. He would have shipped over as he liked the Navy. Discharged March 18, 1937, with the rank of EM3rd Class. Twice married, two sons and three grandchildren from present wife. Retired with 37 years of Federal Civil Service and Military time. ROBERT A. RIES, Corporal, USMC, born Nov. 13. 1925. in Luck, WI. Enlisted in the Marine Corps in Minneapolis. Nov. 11. 1943. Entered Basic Training in JMX January 1944, in San Diego. Attended sea school after basic and was assigned to the Calwirnia in April 1944. He served on a 20 MM gun crew. In November they crossed the Equator and he was initiated as a trusty shellback. January 6th at Lingayen Gulfthey were hit by a kamikaze. He was severely burned. He was transferred to Navy hospitals in New Guinea, Guam. Pearl Harbor and then to Farragut. llJ. After six months he was discharged and sent to Bainbridge, MD, and discharged from the Marines November 1945. His wife Lois and he were married July 1949. They have two married sons and five grandchildren. They all live in the Minneapolis Area. LAWRENCE H. RIESTENBERG, Corp., born Cincinnati, OH, Dec. 23. 1913. Enlisted May 22, 1943, Marine Corps,'AA Machine Gunner, Division G. Stations: Sea School San Diego, assigned to Calihzrnia Bremerton. Participated in the following battles: Asiatic-Pacific, Leyte Gulf. Marianas, Philippines. Lingayen Gulf. Saipan, Tinian. Memorable experiences include being wounded in action tLingayen Battle, ship was hit by kamikazej. listed as missing in action for three days. awarded the Purple Heart. AwardslMedals: Sharpshooter. Good Conduct Medal with stars, Purple Heart, all Pacific Asiatic Battles of Calnfornia January of 1944 - October of 1945. Discharged Dec. 13, 1945, Bainbridge, MD, after trip around the world on California Marine Corporal at discharge. Married May 1946. six children. two girls and four boys. Proudest moment - his daughters wedding September 1974, first grandson. October 1977, would be so proud of present 12 grandchildren. Diagnosed with cancer shortly after daughters wedding, passed away March 15. 1978. Proudest trip of his lifetime: after planning for two years, making reservations tpaying ahead when possiblej started out in July of 1973. with wife and four youngest children, in a new station wagon. for sightseeing trip across country, northern route, to Seattle, WA. To attend USS Calyfornia Reunion, on to Hawaii for a week. back to Seattle, down coast of Califomia, southern route, back to Ohio in late August in time for school to start, 8.000 miles on land, 2-3 days at each stop. his grown children still talk about the trip. EARL A. ROBEY, EMC. USN tRet.1bom Morgantown, WV, Oct. 17, 1918. Enlisted in the service Sept. 28. 1940, for six years. training at NOB Norfolk. VA. Sent to duty USS Arizona Bremerton Navy Yard. December 1940. Transferred to USS Caljornia Bethlehem Steel Ship Yard. Hunters Point. CA. Completed all dry-dock work in two days all hands. He worked dry-dock as electrician ships force did all work and painted bottom. Had ships party at Hilton Hotel. Long Beach. before leaving for Pearl Harbor. December 7. 1941. was on main deck when general quarters were sounded manned his G2 station repair four port boats and airplane crane electrician torpedoes hit aft and fwd of their passage and lost all power and lights, reported all tank soundings to Central Station until they said abandon ship. When they got the armor deck hatch open he swam to Ford Island. December 11. 1941 , at 2400 hours. he and several of his California shipmates reported for duty on USS Portland at anchorage. They were issued part of their clothes as they lost all of ours and they were glad to have a home. he went through the Coral Sea Battle and the Midway Battle on the USS Portland task force 17 USS lizrkrawn. on their return to Pearl Harbor he volunteered for sub duty. went to New 97 London, CT, for Sub School, spent the rest ol the war in submarines at Pearl Harbor Sub base, made EMC at Sub Base in 1945. Married his wife Mildred in 1942, Decetnber 26, from Morgantown. WV. They have five sons and one daughter. I-le has 21 medals from WWII and six years Korea on USS Hwirim APA45, he retired May 1960, from US Navy. Worked 20 years at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, retired July 1982. GALE H. ROBINSON, born Dec. 7, 1924, in Los Angeles, CA. Joined Merchant Marine March 16, 1943, in band twith members of T. Dorsey, Glen Miller, Etc. Ete.J Resigned tojoin U.S.Navy. May 1943joined USNR, boots at Farragut, transferred to USN Air Station in state of Washington. Transferred to USS Calyfornia at Bremerton, WA. Joined the Radio Gang CR Division, transferred to N Division as Quartermaster striker and stood watch on helm. On 20mm machine gun on port fantail. Involved in all actions Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Liberation of Philippines and Surigao Surface Battle. Awarded Purple Heart in Action at Leyte, result of suicide Japanese Betty Bomber. Requested by Meredith Wilson to join his AFRS Orchestra at NBC Hollywood to record Bob Hope, Command Perfomtances Etc. Etc. for duration. Rest of career, LA Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony, San Francisco Symphony. Paramount, NBC Tonight Shows, Etc. Presently involved in Seaquest and semi retired. Married 43 years to Beverly, a soprano with one daughter, star of Sister Act and others. One son killed in 1978 Guyana as Congressman Leo Ryan's photographer. FRANCIS A. ROMIG, Y3!c, USNR, bom Jan. 5, 1924. Entered service May 20, 1943, trained NTS, Farragut, ID. Temporary duty Shelton Naval Air Station, WA. Assigned USS Calnfornia 5th Division Bremerton Navy Yard Sept. 7, 1943. Worked on final repair. Was in 5 inch gun mount to begin, later transferred to Engineering A Division, Log Room Duty, Battle Station Main Engine Control. Served through all ship's wartime operation and until Phil. Navy Yard. Transferred to carrier USS Bataan. Discharged Bainbridge, MD, April 18, 1946. Married 1949, wife Lela. Home is in Salem, OR, have two sons and two daughters. Occupation: plant engineer, retired Mead Corp. 1988. From then to present with Hatch Eng. Inc. development rotary powerplants for experimental aircraft. Most outstanding memories aboard the Culilbrriiux The ship coming back to Pearl and tying up next to the sunken Arizona. Not asleep in that bank portside forward one memorable night enroute Espiritu. Tokyo and then the sailing for home. JOHN E. ROOTJES, BKR lfe S Division, was born in Seattle, WA, on May ll, 1921, and ,joined the service August 1942, in Seattle, WA. He trained at Naval Training Center, San Diego, CA. Upon finishing training he was transferred to Naval Air Station, Sand Point, Seattle, WA, aboard 1.8.5 f'l f'f'v'!ffU til 1119 fllfltlll' flr fl ' Cooks and Bakers School. Graduated ISKR '5fc, and then a'-,pitgrrefl to 1133 rl41fffff'ff!1'f '. '1fffff'72ff'ff 1 was transferred to Ships Company NAS Whidbey Island. Crflffnrfzia lor salvagf. iltff M15 l 75,5 ' WA. f,i!lfff0I'VlIlf was f?t1',tJfl and ?ernporar.i7 Qkillftflfi an sailed the '-,hip to Brerncrton fa fy Yard i',ffrwf1er:.:fa1.',' '72 ak , ,Maxi ' After a short stay he was again transferred, this time to Receiving Station, Bremerton, WA. After six weeks was assigned to the USS Calzfornia, then in dry-dock at Bremerton. His first assignment was chipping paint in the double bottom. Boy, was that fun! Later, he started to work in the bakery in the dock galley at night, in order to save space. He spent the rest of his naval aboard the Prune Barge, until they parted company in Philadelphia in January 1946, when he was put in charge of a draft to discharge center, Bremerton, WA. The day after discharge he went back to work as a baker for Manning's Inc. Later. He married Viola Mylly. They had three daughters and a son. Have four grandchildren, three boys and one girl. He is semi-retired, enjoying good health and doing what he please. ROBERT E. ROSE, USN, Phm. 3!c, H Division, born Burlington, IA, Oct. 2, 1923. Enlisted Sept. 28, 1942. Stations: San Diego NTC, USN Hospital Corp School, NAS Whidbey Island, WA, transferred to USS Calnfornia May 1943. Participated in battles at Okinawa, Saipan, Leyte and Lingayen Gulf, Surigao Strait. Memorable experiences include after end of war took round the world tour on USS CalU'0rnia. Awards!Medals: Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four Bronze Stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two Bronze Stars, WWII Victory Medal. Discharged Dec. 12, 1945, Great Lakes, IL, with the rank of Phm. 3!c. Married Pauline Rose, November 1943. in Bremerton, WA, one son Ron, one daughter Barbara, and one granddaughter, Kristie. Worked 10 years Portland, OR, SPRR, transferred to Sacramento, CA. Worked eight more years for RR then quit and went to work for Levin Metals, until retired in 1985. Deceased April 1987 from cancer. ROBERT R. ROSE, CM llc, USN, born Dec. 22, 1916. Enlisted Sept. 15, 1939, Portland, OR. Eight weeks boot training in San Diego, CA, Co. 29-39. Assigned to USS Nevada Nov. 10, 1939. Decetnber 7, 1941. he was serving al. and relitting Alter 15 months on the futtjorrna he na: to precornrnission ol flestroyer 1,33 lfmgpmff il 1 laungsltaw cornrrnssioned Def, 3. 1943 After . in the south Pacific he was transferred Sack t construction. 'I he war ended and the amp and he was discharged Sept 30, 1945 to refurr, rr. in Corvallis, OR. Life member Pearl Hamer SDJ Association. ROBERT H. RLIEHLE SR.. Pirerria grsi Ca.. born May 18, 1927. Joined the Navy Jar.. 7 1345 serving 18 months in the Merchant Nlarinez san rg .. North Atlantic on Gu1fTanker. carrying 120 meta 3 ptar.: fuel with six fighter planes on tank deck. Spent boot camp as instructor in rigging loft. Transferred rrif' Great Lakes to Shoemaker. CA. to the LSB Oilifffffta Participated in battle of Okinawa, mine sweeping dates Yellow River, China Sea and Occupation or Japar.. ffl' Q wr Awarded: American Defense Service fvledal. Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal with two stars. Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal. WWII Yictoqv Medal, and two medals from Merchant Marines. Should have gotten Purple Heart for getting circumcised just ...:l. before they went into Japan! Received captafr' commendatory mast for outstanding performance. Married Ruth. -17 years. seven children grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren. Have been refrigeration contractor since 1957. in Phoenix. AZ. Active in Elks Lodge. boating tnaturallyl and motor home travels. Still working and in good health. not looking forward to retiring. Was last of 36 men to leave the L'SS CtZlTfl7 .' rftz. transferred to Clzcmdeleur. and was on the crevv to pick up the USS Milwaukee from Russia. Honorably discharged Sept. 9. 19-19. -sa WILBUR R. SALINION, CTC. USN, bom March 12. 1919. in Bethany, MO. Joined Navy May 17. 1938. Boot Camp Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Co. li. Assigned to the USS Cnlrfimiiti on completion of training. Duty Station Turret 33. as S s- sss t S ss S S 9 tt NN s TS S as ss- Q s .Q X Reported lost in action at Pearl Harbor, Dee. '. 194 1 , help prepare ship to return to Bremerton after retloatiug Stationed on USS t't1lrtimi1't1 until August 19-15 Diseh.trgstl Sept. 29, 19-15. Married to Dorothy' Aslifortl. Mgirelt Stl. 19411. ll.rv tvvo children. one grandchild. .-Xvvartletl Good Conduct Nlctlal, XX Wll Xtrtoiv Medal. .-Xtiieiuaii Defense Serv tee Medal vt ith clasp one Bronze Star, .-Xtiteritxtii tluuptugn Mctlal, -Xstdltc Ptieriiit' t'gnuptugn Medal xv tth Silv er Star. Navy Uccup.tttou Service lX1ed.tl xv ith clasp and tvv o Bronfe Stars. l'luliopu:c 1 ibetattou Ribbon, Plulipptiie l'resu1entia1t'tt.utouB.tdgo Retired and living the good1i1ctnS,nu.i -Xu.t. t' X ist.. ie 1S -sf: 1 R, in E .P-:ix it V 18 ...L 1 THOMAS J. SANDERS. USNR. S1st.bom DeQuiiicy LA. June 18. 1924. Enlisted May 24. 1943. USNTS San Diego. CA. USS Califomiti. Participated in battles: Asiatic- Pacific Area and Philippine Liberation. Avxardsi'lN1edals: Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal xxith four starsl Philippitie Liberation Ribbon with tvs o stars1 and American Area Campaign Medal. Memorable experiences include suicide plane in Philippine and sea battle in Philippine. Discharged February 1946, with the rank of S lfc. Married Edna M. Stansbury. 1947. Have four children: Janice. Cheryl. Ken and Teni: four grandchildren: Jennifer. Jeremy. Mallorie and Megan. Retired from Dupont after working 36 years. .JOHN JOSEPH SANSONE, USNR, bom Aug. 6, 1925, in New Orleans. LA. Joined the Navy April 3. 1943, 12th Division. Discharged Feb. 20, 1946, rating held S lfc. are X , ggi ' 'uns of i Medals: Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four stars. American Area Campaign Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two Bronze Stars. Trained at Navy Training Station in San Diego. CA, assigned to USS Calqfornia, which was in dry-dock Puget Sound. Bremerton, WA. Gunner twin 2OMM Ackack Battery Battles participated in were Saipan, Guam. Tinian, Leyte. Surigao. twhere she dealt fatal blows to an enemy battleshipj Lingayen Gulf and Okinawa. Memorable events were playing music with band members for fun since his profession was musician in N.O., LA. Married to Elouise Cherry of Dothan, AL. and residing in Dothan. Has two sons, two grandsons, one great- granddaughter 2 l!2 years old. Have Pulmonary Fibrosis due to asbestos exposure. on oxygen 24 hours a day. PETE SARRIS, RM3!c. born Alliance. OH. May 1. 1924. Enlisted Dec. 9. 1942, Navy, CR Division. Stationed at Great Lakes for Boot Camp. Great Lakes Service School, Bremerton. WA. Naval Base and then to USS Culyornia BB44. Participated in all battles California was in after raising from Pearl Harbor. Memorable experiences: Lt. JG. Humphries had him send their two observation sea planes to a Japanese Destroyer to reiuel. Missed ship at Ceylon. LT. McVey always tried to send him to captains mast. His buddy. Received all the medals the ship received during its tour ol' duty Discharged Dec. 13. 1945. with the rank of RM3C. Married in 1946. divorced 1972. have two sons David 36 and Dorian 39. Have tvvo sisters Mary and Freda. Parents deceased. Operate a metal trading company that supplies Hi Temp alloys to precision casting foundries and steel mills. LEO E. SAWIN. born Barnes. KS, May 1. 1928. Enlisted Nov. 21. 1943. USNR. Boilermaker B Division. Service included Caitip Scott Fanagut. ID. and Shoemaker USS Czilifiirziiu. Battles include Saipan through end of war on Culijizrnici. P ul -,,.....,.-.,.... X! 4 Discharged April 20, 1946, with the rank of B 3!c. Probably youngest aboard, tumed 18 May 1, 1946. He and his wife Twila have six children. Today he is retired. ALTON T. SAYER, USN, bom Aug. 17, 1925, Ucon, ID. Enlisted May 27, 1943. Served on the USS Caliornia as a gunner. Participated in battles in Surigao Strait and Lingayen. Wounded Jan. 6, 1945, hospital Farragut. Location Coeur d'Alene, ID. Discharged Sept. 11, 1945. 1 , V , a,,b'w ,Mft 13 a, IQ' :fy 1' it f is 9 V W f , X I if a X we W Married and have two sons and two grandchildren. Deceased. killed in automobile accident on July 21. 1991. Alton farmed and taught his youngest son to farm and ranch. Lived in the Lost Rines Valley, ID. Alton liked the Navy and would have stayed in if he hadn't been wounded. Life isn't very easy for service men retuming from a war so feel proud of each one that survives their obstacles and makes the best oftheir lives. Submitted by his WUQ2, Edvvtlie. ROBERT G. SCHAFFRAN, S llc. bom Castle Rock. WA. Nov. 9, 1923. Enlisted May 15. 1943. U.S. Navy, 7th Division. Service includes NTC Farragut, ID, USS California, PSC USNB Bremerton. WA. Battles participated in are Saipan. Guam, Tinian, Philippines. Battle of Surigao Strait. Awards!Medals: American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. Philippine Liberation Ribbon 121. Discharged Feb. 26, 1946, seainan first class. BERNARD SCHIEFERECKE, USMC, born June 20, 1905. Enlisted in Kansas City. Dec. 8. 1923. Boot training in San Diego. Served aboard USS Calyfornia July 2, 1924 - June 27. 1927. Made Corporal June 15. 1925. Expert Rifleman. yearly. Memories: The silent movie picture, Tell it to the Marines was made aboard ship. Lon Chaney played the pan ofGun Captain of Gun No. 12. of which Bernard was Gun Captain. The USS Culilrirniu, Flagship ofthe Pacific Fleet led the way into Sydney Harbor in 1925, on a goodwill tour to Australia. New Zealand. and Hawaii: later, sailed through Panama Canal on tour to Nova Scotia. A stopover in New York City provided an opportunity to see Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. New York Yankees play baseball. Bemard was assigned to guard the celebration dinner in honor of Charles Lindbergh after his solo flight to Europe. Honorably discharged Nov. 18, 1927. Honorably discharged Corporal of Fleet Marine Corp Reserve Class III Dec. 7, 1931. Bemard married Clara Schroer in 1930. bought a farm in westem Kansas. survived the dust bowl era, raised a family of 11 children. Five sons served in the service. The Marines was home for him. He enjoyed the service and bene5ted from rules and regulations of Marine life. ERVIN O. SCHMIDT, Seaman IIC. bom Koselitz, Germany, Feb. 10. 1916. Enlisted October 1940, U.S. Navy. Service includes a barber shop on USS Caljornia BB44, Pearl Harbor, Sub Base, USS Chicago CA29, USS Saury SS189. USS Torsk SS423. Dec. 7, 1941. Marshal Gilbert Raid, Coral Sea, Guadalcanal, seven war patrols. Memorable experiences: His ship SS-423 USS Torsk sank last two ships of WWII with two torpedoes each on Aug. 14. 1944. U.S. historical submarine at Baltimore. Awards!Medals: Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, American Defense Service Medal. American Campaign Medal, Navy Occupation Medal. China Service Medal, WWII Victory Medal. Good Conduct Medal. Submarine Combat Pin. Discharged December 1946. with the rank of RMl!c. Married June on April 21, 1944. raised three sons and one daughter. Today. retired and doing things. DONALD A. SCHULLER, bom Aug. 29, 1917. at Mallard. IA. Enlisted at Des Moines. IA, March 23, 1938. Boot camp at Great Lakes, IL. Assigned to USS Calyfomia, iv. Y' A , , X , 4' x V s Bremerton, WA. Guantanamo Bay 1939. Operated from home port, Long Beach, then to Pearl Harbor for fleet exercises. Was attacked there Dec. 7, 1941. Ship was sunk. While raising ship took 5 inch guns from ship and set up shore batteries around the island. Left eye was damaged. temporarily blind in eye for a few weeks. Eye still not very good. Ship retumed to Bremerton for repair. Went to FC 99 l00 school Washington. D.C., on new FC equipment ship was getting. Married Irene Johnson of Minnesota. Went to sea on ship, bombarding various islands and Philippines, Naval battle of Philippines, and Japan landing. Returned to States from Japan to Ceylon, Singapore, Capetown and Philadelphia. Had two 3-year recruiting duty tours. Served on USS Salumonie Mediterranean, Elokoinin East Coast, DD7l7 Chandler Korea, USS Hamill repair ship Japan, USS Rochester West Coast. Retired Oct. 10, 1957. Nine children, Mark, Mike, Patricia, William, Donald Jr. deceased, Eileen, Mary, Theresa and Loretta. Eight grandchildren. GEORGE F. SCOTT, USNR, MM3!c Division M, bom Jan. 19, 1912, at Rowland, NV, was working as laundry foreman at Camp Beale. Was drafted into the service from Grass Valley, CA, 32 years old married, one child. March 2, 1944, bus load of draftees was sent to the induction center in San Francisco, He was asked which branch of the serviced preferred. He said Navy. After tests and examinations his papers came back stamped Navy. Navy ones sent to Farragut, ID, to Boot Camp, after boot training were sent back to Camp Shoemaker to await assignment. First part of May 4,000 of them were bused to San Francisco loaded on a troop transport. Taken across the Pacific to Eniwetok. The fleet came there, they were all transferred to different ships. He landed on the USS CalU'0rnia officer on board said either gunner or engineering. He took engineering, landed in M Division, Forward Engine Room, changed from apprentice seaman to apprentice fireman, in a short time advance to fireman first class. Was in all the battles out there Rota Leyte Sea Battle, Luzon took a kamikaze plane at Luzon came back to Bremerton to be repaired. Lost 50 men. Back out there he took the exam for MM3!c. He passed it and was advanced to MM3!c. After the war ship was to report to Philadelphia. The captain took them to Tokyo, Singapore, Ceylon then Capetown on the way to Philadelphia, December 1, was in Philadelphia. Loaded on a train coming west arrived in San Francisco, bused to Camp Beale where he received his discharge Dec. 15, 1945. ERWIN LEROY SEARLE, Gunners Mate 3!c, USN, USS Calnfornia, was bom Nov. 7, 1919, in Bancroft, IA, and moved to Mason City, IA, in 1925. Graduated from high school in 1938, enlisted in the Navy Sept. 21, 1938. Recruit training at Great Lakes, IL, served aboard the USS Calnfornia BB44. His battle station was forward flooding station for mount one and two, 14 inch .50 caliber guns on third deck. The Calzfornia was struck with three torpedoes, two amidships and one forward, causing the ship to list forward. The third deck commenced flooding with fuel. Three dive bombing attacks were made, coming successively from the port bow, from ahead and from the starboard bow. The hits and near misses left the ship listing eight degrees to port. Erwin died at his battle station. When ship was refloated, he was interred grave 611, Halawa Naval Cemetery, Oahu. August 6, 1949, final resting place, Field of Honor, Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City, IA. HARLAN JAMES SEARLE, GMl!c USN, born March 13, 1922, Bancroft, IA. Moved to Mason City, IA, in 1925. Graduated from high school in 1940. Sept. 10, 1940, enlisted in USN. Recruit training at Great Lakes, IL. Reported aboard USS California in November 1940, special order brother. Was in 1- Division with his brother, Erwin, until December 7th. Work station was Ordinance Tool Room, third deck, with Killingsworth. GM llc. Battle station was alter llooding station. third deck for mount 3 and 4, 14 inch .50 caliber guns main battery. Plambeck, GMl!c was with him at station. When water and fuel lilled compartment requested permission to leave battle station. Told to remain so would not endanger flooding rest of ship. Woke up in temporary hospital on Ford Island with Plambeck in adjoining bunk. Helped remove 5 inch 51 caliber guns from ship, setting them up on island for use by Army, teaching them how to maintain and fire them. Sent to anti-submarine school in Miami, FL. Served aboard PC 512 then SC643, at Hawaiian Sea Frontier, Pearl Harbor. In 1944, sent to Advanced GM and Hydraulic School in Washington, D.C. After nine weeks of school went to Norfolk, VA, for new construction. From there to Todd Shipyard in Seattle, WA, to supervise fitting out gunnery department on USS Gurke DD783, March 1945. Ship commissioned May 12, 1945. After Shakedown cruise to San Diego left for Japan on Aug. 27, 1945. They helped evacuate Japanese troops from outer islands to Tokyo Bay and main islands. Left Okinawa Jan. 22, 1946. Arrived San Diego Feb. 10, 1946, after logging 530,608 miles. He was discharged Nov. 12, 1946. Married in San Francisco, CA, Nov. 28, 1942, to Amita Bruns of Mason City, IA. Have six children, 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Retired from construction business in Mason City, IA 1985. ROY H. SEIFERT, U.S. Marines, born April 7, 1919, Sacramento, CA. He joined the Marines April 12, 1937, and was trained at the Marine Base, San Diego, CA. He 3 vw -i A 7,.. - 1'-1.1.-rm ' A1+'fftf5f'l . . ' ' j ' Q-4-'ig ' 'Car' 1 3' Cs 1 I , I - F I x-'sa' 115, I X tr at ' ,gi 1, . .5 r l -' !',K K fy .T-it ag-f 7 I 4-.gg . r te 2 f , X15 was assigned to the USS CalU'0rnia June 30, 1937, at San Pedro, CA. He was stationed for a time at Bremerton, WA, later he was transferred to the San Diego Marine Base. While there his battalion was picked to field test the new M1 Garand rifle to replace the old 30.06. The tests found it defective and had to be retrofitted by the factory, later it was used extensively during WWII. During maneuvers he was injured and honorably discharged with Good Conduct Medal. He then went to work at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, CA. When war with Japan broke out he tried to re-enlist but was rejected for medical reasons. He subsequently worked 30 years for the defense department. He married Mildred Young in 1944. They have two children, six grandchildren and one great-grandson. They have a small horse ranch in Northern California and ride horses extensively. As an avocation he works as a reserve deputy sheriff on boat patrol. CLYDE SENTERS, USN, born March 5, 1923. in Georges Cr., KY. Trained at Great Lakes, IL, beginning May 28, 1943. As coxswain he would transport officers ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore. He liked that cause it got him out of ships duties so he could train for the boxing team. He was heavyweight champion of the 7th Fleet. His battle station call put him at the five-inch guns. ' an www J llc always thought it ,trange that ni. lreend kificti ,itz f kainikafe strike wa'-, lroin Iowa and he rnowfzd to lo ao 40 miles lrotn places his lrienfl :poke about He participated at Leyte. Surigao lnrtgayes ant, Okinawa. His rnedals wereg Philippine Liberation Ribrlor with two stars, Pacilic Theater with tour stars. Arriericar Theater Ribbon, and the Victory Medal He wa'.f1i'-,chargee Feb. 3, 1946, at Bainbridge, .VID Married to Emma Stephens and had tnree chitdrer. and four grandchildren. Before his death in 1980 in Dundee IA, he received his BA and .VIA degrees from Lazterri Kentucky University and was a school adrninistrator for 28 years. CHUCK SHARMAN, from Tacoma, WA reponed aboard the USS Calyornia in July 1940. She was in dock in Bremerton, WA. Bob Mitchell was 17 and Sharman was 18. They became signalmen strikers, made Slfcg got off and on a shit list or two, had lots of good liberties, drank gallons of bad coffee and missed their high-school sweethearts. They left the California about a week after Pearl Harbor for the USS Portland. Following the Coral Sea and battle of Midway, Mitch was transferred to the LISS Atlanta. He vt as the only one on the bridge to survive her sinking during the battle of Guadalcanal. After nine months and several hospitals he went aboard the USS Hanford. where he finished the war as a CQM. Shamian was transferred from the L'SS Portland to the USS Crescent City. then to Lunga Pt. signal tower on Guadalcanal, subsequently to USS Ibn lkzlkenberg. ended the war as SM1!c in Pearl Harbor as an instructor at signaling school. Bob and Stella Mitchell live in Port Ludlovv. WA. and Sun City, AZ. They have three children: Tom. Jim and Cindy. Sharrnan lives here and there and has three sons: Mitch, Bill and Dave. WILLIAM CONRAD SHEA, Ships Cook Ind Class. bom Nashwauk Village. MN Enlisted Jan. 6. 19-13. Navy. Division S. NTS Farragut. ID. and L'SS Ctzlilnvrnirz. Memorable experiences include the card games. and all the good shipmates. Discharged June 9. 19-16. On April 13, 195 1 .joined the Navy again and Honorable Discharged on April ll. 1955. was in Saspo. Japan. during the Korea War. He had three sisters and three brothers. fix e ot' them were in the service. Today he is 68 years old and retired from working in the iron ore mines of Minnesota. PIERSON R. SHELTON JR.. BRCS. ISN tRet,t. enlisted in the USN .luly 1938. Raleigh. NC. boot tztnip in Norfolk. V.-X. Sailed to Long Beach. CA. aboard the USS Hetitlerwrz. assigned tothe I'SS CrIlllf'l17 Ilitl. Dis ision 2, and transferred to the B Dix ision in 1939. Rated XYTIC in 1941. l'lonornbly discharged on Oct. 30, I9-ll. front the USS Cnlififrnia anchored in long Beach. C -X. enroute to Pearl Harbor. Rcenlistcd in I9-12. Receixcd the Presidential Ilnit Citation in the Battle ofthe -Xtl.intic Deployed to the Pacific in 194-1. XX hilc aboard the ISS Hint' DD74-1. nas anchored in Tokyo Bax near thc ISS Mivsoiiri' for the .lapnnesc stirrendei' in Scpteniber I9-15 Wits also aboard the I?SS Hlnt' DIY'-14. in M.mil.t Bas for thc Philippine liitlcpeittlcticc Day on .luls 4. lt?-to it .-tt thc IISS Hint' 151174-1. lrttc in 1946. in lsingtao. t'htn.t. for discharge. Reenlisted in 1949. served on various ships on the East Coast. transfen'ed to the Fleet Reserve on Dec. 4. 1964. as a Senior Chief Boilerrnaker. Retired from the LSN on Jan. 1. 1972. Living in Cape Coral. FL. since December 1980. ERYIN A. SHIINIINIAN. S llc. CS Division, born Toledo. OH. Jan. 29. 1925. Enlisted Dec. 9. 1942. USNR. SM CS Division. Service includes Great Lakes, IL. Farragut. ID. LSS Calitiirnia. Participated in the following battles: Lingayen Gulf Okinawa. Saipan, Guam. Tinian, Leyte Gulf. Surigao Strait. Memorable experiences: He was in Admiral J.B. Oldendorf staff in the Philippines Campaign. He circumnavigated the globe and crossed the Equator in the Pacific. Indian. Atlantic Oceans. Traveled by water 100.150 miles during WWII. Awards!Meda1s: American Theater Medal. Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal with four stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars. WWII Victory Medal with one star. Good Conduct Medal. Discharged Dec. 12. 1945. with the ranks ofAS. S2! c. Sllc. Married to Barbara. Retired from Ohio Operating Engineers with 47 years service. was a crane operator. He passed away March 4. 1994. .ALEXANDER SHIMSKEY, BM 3!c. Sth Division. born Baxter. WV. Aug. 7. 1919. Enlisted Sept. 28. 1940. Boot training NTS Norfolk. VA. Nj i if A af ff Military locationslstations: Long Beach. Bremerton. Pearl I-larbor. Oahu. .Assigned for only two weeks to the IQSS Arigona while waiting for the California. Attended fire fighting school. Battles participated in: Pearl Harbor. Marianas. Saipan. Tinian. Guam. Surigao Strait. Leyte. Luzon and Okinawa. Memorable experiences include being reported dead bl. the Naxg Department lor 31 days and being buried in absentia Went on around the world cruise. Assigned to a prison ship guarding general courts martial prisoners. AwardslMedals. Asiaticallacilic Campaign Medal. Philippine Liberation Ribbon. Pearl Harbor Medal and lhbbon. two Good Conduct Awards. 111'-.charged Sept 256. 1946. Married with three sons. Iwo ol which went into the Navy and one. the Air I-orce. lout grandchildren Retired front Burlington Northern RR. Now gardens. and talks to grade and high school students about his experiences. KERMIT A. SIEIVIERS, Seaman lst Class. born Marshfield. WI. April 5. 1910. Enlisted May 20. 1943. USNR. CC Division. USS California Print Shop Operator. Service includes Great Lakes Naval Training Station. Bretnerton. WA. Participated in the following battles: Saipan. Tinian. Guam. Leyte. Battle of Surigao Strait. Okinawa. Lingayen Gulf and Occupation of Japan. Memorable experiences include when hit by a kamikaze nearing Lingayen Gulf. AwardsfMedals: Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars. Asiatic-Paciic Campaign Medal with five Bronze Stars, WWII Victory Medal. American Area Medal. Discharged Dec. 12, 1945. Married Lileen Luetke. June 1939. of Ripon. WI. Had two children. Paul and Mark. Retired, worked for American Totalisator at race tracks. JAMES JIM SIMMONS, bom March 20. 1926, Warren, OH. Grew up and attended grade school and high school in Akron, OH. Enlisted in the U.S. Navy in March 1944. Went through boot camp at Great Lakes. IL. where he celebrated his 18th birthday. After a 10 day boot leave they were shipped to an embarkation base at Shoemaker. CA. for approximately one month at which time they were shipped out on a troop ship. the General Scott and waved good-bye to the Golden Gate Bridge in June 1944. After a shon two-day stop at Pearl Harbor during which they were not pemiitted to leave the ship they left and sailed to the Island of Eniwetok. Marshall Islands. At Eniwetok. to his good fortune. he was assigned to duty on the Prune Barge. BB44 USS California. He feels that he was also fortunate to be assigned to the F Division Fire Control on the 5 inch 38 Dual Mounts eventually being assigned to the computers in Sky Plot. One of his many fond memories aboard BB44 was the first night he went aboard at Eniwetok. It was 11:30 p.tn.. they carrie along side in a landing craft with supplies plus seabags. The deck crew swung the Fantail Crane out over the starboard quaterdeck. lowered the cable and picked up all the supplies which were in a cargo net and about a dozen raw recruits were told to get a foothold and hang onto the cargo net. They did and were lifted up onto the quarter-deck. His introduction tot the Prune Barge. Another fond memory was after V.J. Day when they left Japan and sailed the rest of the way around the world stopping at Singapore. Colombo. Ceylon. then Capetown. South Africa and finally arriving at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on Dec. 7. 1945. He was still 19 years old. He helped ptll 'ole BB44, into moth balls and finally got enough points to be discharged on May 5, 1956. at Bainbridge. MD. God bless the guys who did not come back. ERWIN RAYMOND SKOWRONEK. Fireman First Class. V-6. born Alpena. Ml. Dec. 16, 1925. Enlisted March 3. 1944. Navy. Service included USNTS Detroit. Farragut. ID. USS California. Awards!Meda1s: Pacific Theater Ribbon with one star, American Theater Ribbon. Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars. WWII Victory Medal. Discharged May 5. 1946. Married with four children. Retired. but work all week overlooking three businesses his children are running. BENJAMIN JAMES SMITH, SKC, born Nov. 19. 1920. in Shawmut, MT. Joined the Navy on Sept. 15, 1939. at Los Angeles and trained at the Naval Training Center. vit. Z 3--A gxg: ,,, 'di-in-.mug P--- - i. 2 -1.1. a San Diego. in Co. 39-28. Transferred to the USS Calybrnia in November 1939. and assigned to the 3rd Division. In March 1940. reassigned to the S Division as a Storekeeper Striker. Was serving in the Disbursing Ofhce as a SK3!c on Dec. 7. 1941. Served as part ofthe nucleus crew during the salvage and return ofthe ship to Bremerton. WA. as the Canteen Storekeeper. During reconstruction was assigned to the supply office and served in that capacity until May 1945. at which time was appointed APCKTJ and reassigned to the USS Zeilin KAPA-33 as assistant stores officer. Awarded the American Defense American Theater. Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal. Good Conduct Medal. WWII Victory Medal. Philippine Liberation Medal KPLMJ and the Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Badge QPRPUCBJ. After discharge in 1946. joined the Naval Reserve C12NDl and finished serving 30 years. Married. the father of two daughters and has four grandchildren. now retired and lives with wife in Yucca Valley. CA. BILLY E. SMITH, CSC. USN. CRet.J. was bom Jan. 5. 1923. in Ft. Worth. TX. Enlisted in the Navy Aug. 3 1. 1940. Received boot training at San Diego. CA. Co 40-65. Assigned to USS California BB44. October 1940. promoted to Bkr. 3!c Dec. 1. 1941 . Was on board December 7th during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Later assigned to CASU 143 Kaneohe. then to U.S. Submarine Base. PHTH. Commissioned and spent the last years of WWII on board the USS Granville CAPA-171 J transporting troops to Guam. Saipan. Tinian and was at Okinawa during the kamikaze attacks. K V ,JE -3112 ' ft 5 Over a 20 year Navy career served on the USS Riddle tDE185J. USS Nueces CAPB-403. at Naval Communication Stations Haiku and Wahiawa and U.S. Naval Air Station in San Diego. CA. Served on board USS Mocking Bird tAMS27l during Korean Conflict as CSI. Also served on board USS Competent tAM316J and USS Pittsburgh CCA72D. Was promoted to CSC on board USS Toledo tCA133J in 1956. served on USS Douglas A. Munro CDE-1223 and retired from Navy March 16. 1960. at U.S. Naval Torpedo Station. Keyport. WA. Retumed to Texas and became a successful Mobil service station dealer. A recipient of numerous marketing and service awards until retirement in 1989. Father oftwo sons. David N. of Irving. TX. and Jeff K. of Houston. TX. and daughter Kimberly Childress of Longview. TX. Resides with wife Beatrice Hare of Porterville. CA, at their cattle ranch in Waller. TX. CHESTER W. SMITH, USN. born May 11. 1912. Cuyahoga Falls. OH. Joined Navy May 1942, and was sent to the U.S. Navy School of Music, Anacostia. Washington, D.C. for 18 months. Was xylophone soloist with the broadcast band while there. Sent out with a 20 piece band unit on the USS California BB44, which served in the Pacific during WWII. iii gi He soloed with the band which played aboard ship and in port. He ,also operated a radio station, broadcasting throughout the ship and received a Commendation from the captain for morale building. His duties during battle was passing 5 inch powder cans to 5 inch guns. Their ship was hit by the USS Tennessee while in the Pacific and was taken to New Hebrides for repair on a floating dry-dock. They went back to Bremerton, WA, after being hit with a suicide plane. After a month in the States, they went back to the Pacific. When the war was over and after stops in Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Ceylon and Capetown, South Africa, they docked in Philadelphia, where the ship was put in mothballs. He was transferred to the Naval Amphibious Base and later to the Naval Training Center in San Diego, CA. The last 18 months of a six-year enlistment, he was with the U.S. Naval Academy Band in Annapolis, MD, and was discharged in March 1948. He and his wife Venus celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 1993. They have one married daughter. He was in real estate as a broker for 20 years in Spring Valley, CA, and retired in 1974. He retumed to music professionally and gave mini concerts on Xylophone with piano accompaniment. He still lives in Spring Valley where he have been active in the community, being past president of the Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis Club and am a Presbyterian elder. JOHN T. SMITH, lfc, bom Jan. 12, 1927, in East Pittsburgh, PA. He joined the service March 14, 1944, and served aboard the Caljornia from June 1944, until May 1946. John T. Smith now resides in Rock Creek, OH, after retiring as a locomotive engineer in Pittsburgh. His daughter, two grandchildren and great-grandchild all live in the same locale. f t , Q ?4 4 eq! 7 f 6 W .ia Yff . My .1 W, 2 Z f He was assigned to the llth Division along with a mate named Snyder. Upon arrival only one of them was needed. They drew straws, he drew the short straw and was then sent to the 6th Division. On the morning of the Battle of Manilla they were hit with a suicide, Snyder was killed. That short straw that he drew became a very significant memory of his war time service. On another occasion they were on their way to Peleliu on a morning when they were rammed by a sister ship, the Tennessee. He was on port side and awakened by rivets flying and steel tearing. His sack and lockers among other things were burst loose and thrown about during the hit. By the end of his service with the Califmviiu they had fought six battles. Discharged May 23, 1946. Married in 1959, one daughter, two grandchildren, one greategrandchild. Retired locomotive engineer from U.S. Steel. PAUL EUGENE SIVIITH, Fllc, born Onargh, ll., May 16, 1921. Enlisted Dec. 29, 1941, USN, six years regular, E Division. Service includes three weeks boot camp Great Lakes, to raise from 20 feet of mud, Spring ol 42 USS BB44. Participated in battles on the Golden Bear. Memorable experiences: Stood shaft alley watch back to Washington, where two men were trapped, the 7th and were cut out by Oran Bell Shipfitter. In fall of 1943, to USS DD538 to August 1945 to DD879, Leary to October 1947, Stephen Potter, eight Bronze Stars. Discharged Oct. 31, 1947, with the rank of MMl!c, USNR-R October 1953 - May 1, 1976, MMC. Have one son, Sept. 22, 1949 to June 30, 1985. Married Mary F. Taylor, July 8, 1947, NOB Norfolk, VA. WAYNE E. SMITH, USNR, was born July 10, 1921, in Jefferson, OR. He joined the service Aug. 12, 1942, at the Portland, OR, Navy Recruiting Station. He trained at the Navy Training Station in San Diego, CA, and was then assigned to the USS Calnfornia in Bremerton, WA. He was ship's service man B 2CtTj USNR V-6, officer's barber. One day he was called to the bridge to give the captain a haircut. When he got there he discovered he had forgotten his clippers. The captain was nice about it anyway. Battles he participated in were Saipan, Guam. Tinian. Leyte, Surigao Cwhere she dealt fatal blows to an enemy battle shipj, Lingayen Gulf and Okinawa. His medals are: WWII Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars, American Area Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four stars. He was discharged Dec. 16, 1945. In 1947, he married Velma. They have three children Robin, Debra and Terry and two grandchildren, Reuben and Rachel Newport. Smith has been a barber in the same shop for 47 years, Wayne's Barber Shop in St. Johns, Portland, OR. He now works halfdays. In 1991, his shop was used for a Nikon Camera advertisement. He was featured in the December 1991, issue of Life, Esquire. and National Geographic as well as several other magazines. WILLIAM JOE SMITH, Gunner Mate 3rd Class. born Eastland, TX. June 18, 1920. Joined the Navy Aug. 28, 1941, at Abilene, TX. Six weeks boot camp San Diego. CA. Boardcd USS California BB44 Oct. 23, 1941, at Long Beach, CA. Left Oct. 26, 1941, for Pearl Harbor, he was aboard the Prime Barge, when they hit,-just left chow table. A chief said, You heard him, this is no drill! They' scattered like quail for battle stations. They hit them before they got to stations. About a week after December 7th, went aboard the USS A.y'toria heavy cruiser. Went to Coral Sea for 108 days, patrolling before the Coral Sea Battle. During the battle they were doing full speed and doing full right rudder to miss a bomb and a torpedo. USS . l.ylor1'ii, USS l4n'k1on'n into Pearl llarbor. 1 or72 hours. then 0111 to Midway. l'1iat's when USS l'in'ktou'n was stink 'l'he USS fl'iffIfllllf1OiC admiral and staff aboard then to Pear! Haro' then lOfilJL'ttl?1lY.?JIli1l Aug 6 1942 Z Served on: USS Astoria, USS Qttincrd. all her., cruisers. Sent State side to a new ship DD770. Back to sea - Philippine, Leyte, Luzon, and Okinawa. Spent three-foci? of his six years of service actually at sea: Aug. 255. 1911 - Aug. 28, 1947. KENNETH C. SORENSEN, Slfc. born Early. IA.. April 23, 1926. Enlisted fvlay 12, 1943. Navy 6th Diwisifir. NTS Farragut, ID, USS Caljumia. Participated in battles at Marianas, Philippines, Okinawa. Surigao Strait. ' 3. It 1' . X, Memorable experiences include everything from Sept. 7, 1943 until Feb. 12. 1947. when decommissioned. AwardsfMeda1s: American Area Ribbon. Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars. Asiatic-Pacific C ampm gn Medal with four stars. WWII Victory' Medal. Good Conduct Medal. Discharged April 21. 1947. with the rank of S1 el Married and has two children and three grmdchildren, Retired. ROBERT DOYLE SPRATT. Slfc. born March 29. 1925, Sommerville. IN. Enlisted May' 26. 19-13. USNR. Sth Division. Service includes NTS Great Lakes. IL. LSS Calyfornia. 'us j s Ayvardsflyledalsz Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Nledal with four stars, American Victory Medal yyith one star. Philippine Liberation Ribbon yyith tyyo stars. Nayy Occupation Medal. WWII Victory Medal. Discharged Dec. 12. 19-15. Memorable experieneei President Rooseyelt died in office on day' scheduled to get their rnairiage license. had to appear before a judge also for yyaiy er for three day waiting period. Met his yyife. lois. an employee of Army Engineers. at .Jefferson Beach, USO. on Faster Sunday ekpril 1, 19-15. Married April 1S. 19-15. .it Xyestintnster Presbyterian Church in Seattle. Been m.irried JS years. Other memory yy as being in lioky o Bay yy hen peace treaty signed. Married. tyy o sons. three gratitldaiighters. one great granddaughter. Nlarricd -lS years to girl l'd knoyy n only 18 days. Retired, Italy cling. yolimteer yy ork, boyy ling ROBERT E. SPR.-X'l l'. Sle. born Xlarelt 29. 1915. Someryille. IN. lfnltsted Xlay 19. 19-13. 11 S Nayy, 1 XS tltlitlu-rim, 8th CS Diiiston. Participated in battles at -Xsiatic-Pacific and Philippine Liberation. .5 Y Memorable experiences include being rammed by USS Tenriessee. and being in Tokyo during signing of peace treaty. Married in Seattle April 18. 1945. AwardslMeda1s: WWII Victory Medal. Navy Occupation Service Medal. American Victory Medal with one star. Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars. Discharged Dec. 12. 1945. Married. two sons. three granddaughters, one great- granddaughter. one great-grandson. Retired, volunteer work. bowling travel. IRA C. STAMM, S llc. bom Gardner, IL, Jan. 22, 1922. Enlisted Feb. 6. 1940. Navy, Seaman 3rd Division. Service include USS Calmnrnia BB4-4. Hawaiian Sea Frontier, USS Pringle 477. Treasure Island. Panicipated in battles at Pearl Harbor. Solomon Island and Bougainville. wg' Memorable experiences include USS Calyfornia ship service driver, chauffeured Capt. Moman Fraxtion Hawaiian Sea. AwardslMedals: Good Conduct Medal, South Pacihc, Solomon Island. Discharged Feb. 6, 1946, BMllc. Married to Elaine Walker, November 1944, three children Bruce, Janet and Kristi. Retired helping his son on two acres near Placerville. LOY L. STAPLES JR., USN, born Sept. 26, 1920. Enlisted in the Navy July 28, 1942. He served aboard the USS Calnfornia in Division 12 as Seaman llc. He trained in CalU'ornia and then went to Idaho to Radio School. Some of the battles they took part in were Hawaiian, Marinas, Marshall. New Hebrides, Solomon, Philippine, Peleliu, and Caroline Islands. One thing he will never forget was the time they were in a surface engagement at night in the Lingayen Gulf when someone noticed their sister ship, the Tanne.sns'aa, had their guns pointed at the Caljomia preparing to open fire on them. He was awarded the APO Ribbon with five battle stars. Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one Bronze Star. Purple Heart. Presidential Citation. Victory Medal, GC and American Campaign Ribbon. He was wounded in battle at Luzon in 1945, when they took a suicide plane. He was discharged Dec. 10, 1945. He manicd Kathleen in June 1947, they have two daughters and three sons, they also have nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. They lived on a small chicken farm and raised broilers for about 25 years. also he was president of a community Wallet' system for 32 years. His regular job was in maintenance with the Lincoln Parish School Board for 16 years, had to take early retirement because of his health. VIRGIL ALEXANDER STARR, born March 27, 1916, near Smithville. OH. Enlisted Oct. 8. 1935, at Cleveland, OH, Boot training at Great Lakes, IL. To GRP ll School NTS San Diego, graduatedJune 1936, designated yeoman striker. iff X W cw Z .farm Ordered to COMBATFOR Flag unit, aboard temporary flagship USS New Mexico and to the USS Calyornia in August upon retum from overhaul. tat Great Lakes and aboard New Mexico, it was L' sea bag and hammock Navy the overhauled Prune Barge was locker and bunk Navy.J Requested and was transferred to the Flag - Aerological unit early 1937, his career CSlc to CWO2l. In 1937 was a full year War Games cruise to Hawaii area, Lahaina liberty and pineapple juice. Ughl After War Games, Seattle Potlatch San Francisco, Oakland bridge opening. Continued weather and shipboard training. In 1938, Primary Class Aerographer School. Promoted to AG3c as fleet sailed for Panama and the East Coast, German sub scare. Guantanamo area war games then Orders to Aleutians Aero Unit. Fleet sailed north at Norfolk, he was met by soon to be wife and parents. His Prune Barge adventure at it's end. April 1939. Family, wife of 55 years, one daughter and three grandchildren. Currently enjoying memories. GEORGE J. STEGER, born Chicago July 18, 1920, raised in suburban Westmont, IL. Joined the Navy Dec. 26, 1941, three weeks of training at GLNTC. to Hawaii of SNS to help restore the ships sunk by the Japanese. Assigned to USS California, arrived in Bremerton 1942, was there over a year. Shortly thereafter he met Donalda Sather, married in December 1943. In 1944, sailed for the South Pacific and was in battles at Midway and the Philippines among others where he was awarded several ribbons. He received four Bronze Stars and Ribbons for the Asiatic and Pacific Theaters. May 1945, he was transferred to the USS Iowa when it was deemed that brothers should not serve aboard the same ship. Saw the signing of the surrender of Japan from the USS Iowa. He was part of the temporary occupation of Japan. He told how they were interested in eating when on duty and the Japanese were scared but through hand motions they understood they just wanted to eat. He was discharged in Seattle on Oct. 22. 1945. He returned to the Chicago area but George missed the great outdoors of the Pacific NW and he returned to Seattle. He enjoyed pursuing his hobbies of hunting tmostly birdsl and fishing with one or two Labradors by his side. He had three children, Carlton, Dan and Susan with one granddaughter, Danielle. born in 1983. George passed away on Nov. 30, 1973, from lung cancer. November 30, 1973 to Jan. 10, 1978. Their son, Dan passed away on Jan. 10, 1978. Submitted by Donalda Stegerp his wife. JOHN E. STERLE JR., F 2lc, born Cleveland, OH, Oct. 10, 1920. Enlisted Dec. 26, 1941, U.S. Navy Res. V- 6, A-M Division, February 1942 - December 1945. Service included Navy Pier, Chicago. Great Lakes, Pearl Harbor, Bremerton Etc. Battles: Marianas Campaign, June l944g Philippine Liberation, Leyte, The Battle of Leyte Gulf, October 19443 Luzon. The Battle of Lingayen Gulf, January 1945: Damaged by kamikaze Attack, Jan. 6. l945g Return to Bremerton for Repairs, March 1945, Okinawa, May l945g Sortie East China Sea, July 1945. Memorable experiences: Raising Calyornia from mud of Pearl Harbor, 1942. Commended along with Anthony Jess EM2lc for regaining control of steering mechanisms which had fused together losing steerage which narrowly resulted in collision with ships of task force August 1944. Commended with two others for repair of radio communication parts by Adm. Jesse B. Olendorf after kamikaze attack, January 1945. VJ Day off Samar Island in the Philippine Islands August 1945. Awards!Meda1s: American Area Medal, Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal with four stars: Philippine Liberation Medal with two SIHFS, Presidential Unit Citation with one starg Good Conduct Medal: Victory Medal. Discharged Dec. 12, 1945, with the rank of machinist mate first class. Married Marie, and have a son Gary. and daughters Constance and Sandra. Retired. RICHARD W. STOIBER, SF1lc R Division, bom Aug. 31, 1921, in Kenosha, WI. Joined service Oct. 22, 1940, Oshkosh, WI, Naval Recruiting Station. Trained Great Lakes NTS. Co. 96, 1940. Attended Naval trade schools at Great Lakes and Henry Ford's River Rouge Plant Dearbom, MI. December 7, 1941 , aboard USS Calnfornia. Reported missing in action by Navy Department. Commended for meritorious performance of duty Dec. 7, 1941, and advanced one pay grade to shipfitter 2lc, Jan. 12, 1942. Received Citation for exceptional courage and judgment and performance of duty in the California during attack of Pearl Harbor by Japanese forces. Auth. Board of Awards Pacific Fleet July 3, 1942. Remained with ship during salvage operations and rebuilding. Participated later in striking heavy blows to enemy at Saipan. Tinian, Guam, Leyte Gulf, the great sea battle of Surigao Strait, and Lingayen Gulf. Assigned to USS ARD July 16. 1945, in the Philippines. Advanced to grade of Chief Shipfitter Dec. 1, 1945. Discharged at Mare Island Dec. 12, 1946. Pursued plumbing and heating trade in civilian life and made Wausau, WI, home. Married in Bremerton. WA, Oct. 2, 1943. Have two wonderful daughters and two beautiful grandchildren. Am a charter member Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. Retired 1983. 103 CHARLES PRESTON STOKES. Slfc, USN. born April 14, 1921. deceased Feb. 21. 1993. Enlisted in Navy day after Pearl Harbor on Dec. 8. 1941. Date into active service was Dec. 26, 1941. He was stationed at NTS Great Lakes, IL, than transferred to USS Calnfornia for four years. Was wounded Jan. 6, 1945, than transferred to a hospital somewhere in the Pacific. Was discharged, November 1946, from Mare Island Navy Shipyard, Vallejo, CA. , He was awarded the WWII Victory Medal, Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal with three stars, American Area, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Purple Heart. He was in Division 12. Married to Vivian Richards on March 2, 1946, and has one son Benny Charles, wife Pamela, and two grandsons Jeffrey and Gregory Stokes. CHARLES L. TIGER STREETER, EMC-RET, USS Calqfornia February 1940 - Dec. 7, 1941. Enlisted in the Navy in April 1938, at Stockton, CA. Boots at San Diego and then on to the USS Utah for duty. Transferred to the Prune Barge in February 1940. Was on the boxing team and had some wild and interesting bouts in the smokers aboard the ships and block arena. Very fond memories of Luet Luettenger, Timor, Grabil, Cortesi, Sweat Shirt Clark, Spud Murphy, and ENS. McGrath. On Dec. 7, 1941, he was an EM2!c and assigned to a repair party outside the shipfitters shop on the 3rd deck. After the bomb and torpedo hits the ship listed to port andjammed the dogs on their exit door the compartment soon filled with fuel oil fumes and their men started passing out. Only three of their repair party were still conscious when a repair party wrenches the dogs off let them out. When he heard abandon ship, he dived off the fan tail and swam to North Island, where he met a very tough and determined Marine, who ordered him back to the ship to fight fire. Back aboard ship hejoined a party working to rescue men trapped in this forward distribution room, and the forward battery locker. The rescuers used cutting torches to get these men out. ENS Gavin, Doty and Mason are names he recalls that were among the rescued. He was later awarded a Commendation and medal for his small part of this action. Transferred to the heavy cruiser USS Chicago, the 13th of December and went through the Coral Sea Battle, Invasion of Guadalcanal, Savo Island where four heavy cruisers were sunk. On the 29th the Chicago was sunk by torpedo planes, 50 miles off Guadalcanal. A He stayed in for his 20, served aboard several ships and stations. Retired in San Diego and did Civil Service in San Diego and Vallejo Ship Yards to get his 30 years. Retired, RV's the country, Alaska, and Canada. Try to make all the reunions ofthe different ships and the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. He keeps in touch with several shipmates who are special to him. The Prune Barge was the best. I 04 SHERMAN SUITS, Ci1Vl2If, born Sept. 21 , 1915 Litchfield, lL. Entered active duty Dec. 30, 1941 , and went to Great Lakes Naval Training Center.'1'hen Sherman was sent to Bremerton, WA, and the USS CalU'arnia. He was gunners mate second class in the 4th Division. Sherman received seven ribbons including the American Theater, Pacific Theater and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars. Sherman was married to Norma Owens on April 15, 1945, while in Bremerton. Sherman was discharged from active duty Dec. 15, 1946, while at Naval Base in Philadelphia, PA. Sherman worked for Litchfield Grain Elevator for several years and later for Litchfield Grain Elevator for several years and later went to work at Monterey Coal Company where he retired in 1990. Sherman was a past director of USS California Association and enjoyed the reunions very much. Sherman's wife Norma died in 1982. Sherman died on Oct. 16, 1992. They were survived by two daughters, one son and three grandchildren. ROBERT E. SUNDIN, EM1!c, born Mora, MN, Feb. 23, 1920. Enlisted Dec. 29, 1941, USNR, EM1!c, E Division, 42-45. Service includes Great Lakes, IL, Pearl Harbor, USS CaiU'0rnia. Participated in all USS Caliornia engagements between February 1942 - September 1945. Received all USS Calhfornia Medals earned between February 1942 and September 1945. Discharged Oct. 29, 1945, Minneapolis, MN. Married Dolores on Jan. 16, 1943, and has four children, and five grandchildren. Retired Minneapolis Public Utility, Minneapolis, MN. F.L. PHILLIP SYRACUSE, MM 2nd Class, born Cleveland, OH, Nov. 3, 1920. Enlisted December 1942, Navy, MM 2nd Class, Division M, motor rooms, shaft alleys, generator room. Participated in Tinian, Saipan, Guam, Leyte, Surigao Strait, covered invasion of Philippine Island. Memorable experiences include Calnfornia rammed by USS Tennessee, USS Calyfornia hit by Japanese suicide plane. Discharged Dec. 19, 1945, with the rank of MM 2nd Class. He is retired and has three children and two grandchildren. ALTO ROSS TEMPLETON, BM3!c, Coxswain, bom Collinsville, AL, June 9, 1921. Enlisted Aug. 11, 1942, Birmingham, AL, went to boot camp, San Diego, CA, Bremerton Navel Station, went aboard USS Calijiirnia December 1942. Service included V6 USNR 3rd Division and llth Division USS Califbrnia. Participated in battle at Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Leyte Gulf, Surigao Strait, Lingayen Gulf, East China Sea, Okinawa. Awards!Medals: American Theater Medal, Asiatic-A Pacific Canrpaign Medal with four sluts, Philippine Liberation Medal with two stars, WWII Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Presidential Unit Citation. Discharged Dec. 12, 19-15, with the rank ol' BlXl.lit' Coxswain. Vvlarried Vlattre 1,firi an 111433 lla 1 1 'tire tif:-i one yranrlflaughtei Retired painter ffififr traveling fishing and church ,fork ROBERT H. THONIAS .V1V1'6f,f'1, riorr.-Pfirirrat. il! Uct.3, 1922. Enlisted Oct. VG 1942 1, T-tau, lit viator October 30, 1942. Great Lake'-, Naval 'lrainrfrg '-,tart April 1943, Bremerton, WA, ther: assigned to the Calqifmftr . May 1943. Participated rn the trillowlrrg riattle. Sapar.. Guam, Tinian, Leyte, Surigao Strait. Lingayen fruit and Okinawa. Memorable experiences include when a karnikaze :it the super structure and also enjoyed playing ball on tlzez team at Lingayen Gulf. Awards!Medals: Philippine Liberation Ribbon wit two stars, Good Conduct Medal. Victory Medal. America: Area Ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Ribbon with foci stars. Discharged Jan. ll, 1946. with the rank of NINIEC Married Sept. 9. 1950. to Mary Jane. haye one Robert, June 7, 1952. Special agent and insurance broke: for insurance agency. G.L. THORNTON 'CMR T. retired S.-X-SO Teammate, passed away July 23rd after a short illness. Mr. T.joined SA-SO in 1961, after serving 20 years in the US. Navy. During WWII his battleship the USS Califamia was sunk at Pearl Harbor. The surviving crew salvaged the ship and brought her back to the states for repair. Mr. T. vt as also aboard the USS Caljornia when she returned Generi Douglas MacArthur to the Philippines. 1? Tl' is 4, During his 17 years with S.-X-SO George Thornton was instrumental in SA-SO's rapid growth in sales. expanding to new offices in the 1185 108th Street building in 1968. He attained the office ofExecutiy'e Vice President and responsible for the operation of all departments .it SA-SO. Mr. T. will always be remembered for hrs hard work. honesty. understanding. sincerity. patriotism. and fair play. Many procedures instituted by Nlr. T. are still in use at SA-SO today. He retired in 1979 and moy ed to Kingsland. TX. to enjoy a quiet leisurely life on LBJ lake. He is sury'iy'ed by his wife Suez a son Ray: it daughter Diana Presleyg two grandchildren. many relatives and friends. LEO A. TOLZDORF, was born Dec. S. 192-l. in Alpena. Ml. Hcjoined the US. Navy' on Dec. 31. 1941. .it the age of 17. He served at the Great lakes Boot Craig and was later shipped to Pearl Harbor aboard the troop ship. Hrfirtlcrsrvr. llpon arriying in Haw .tii. he worked .ti .tn ammunition factory near Pearl ll.rrbor. lle w .rs assigned to the USS t'r11riiti'r1r'r1ottMarch3. 19-12. to help salt .ige ber He later went to the Navy Ship Xard .it Brernerton. XX -X. to rebuild her for modern warfare later assigned to R Dix ision as fireman. 3.-'e. lle participated in battles .rt Saipan. l'mr.rn. titrarii. l ey tc, Surigao.l ingay en tltrlfaud Okrnaw a Xxx .trdetl w nh fkrnericari l'he.tter. .Xsiatte Pacific tkrrupargn Nletlal xt ith four stars, Philippine Seasl rberatrotr xy ith tw o stars, XX XX ll Xrietory .intl tlootl tlontluet Xletlals if 'diurnal One memorable experience ofthe war occurred when Hairy lselekien demanded his smoke watch one morning at Saipan Kelekien was later killed that same day by enemy gun fire from the beach. Had it not been for this switch. Tolzdorf w ould have been the first casualty. His brother Harry was also on the Cullforzziu from 1942 to 1944. before being transferred. Discharged as a WT. 2lc December 1945. He re-enlisted for two years and served on the U.S. llirelt S48 and US. Piirdy 734 in the Atlantic. He married Dorothy Shorkey in 1950. They have four children: Lee. Ann. Kay and Amy, eight grandchildren and one great-grandson. Leo worked for Wyandotte Chemical Company and National Gypsum Company for 38 years. He is now retired and taking life easy! JAINIES E. TOTH, USNR, born March 22, 1923, in Bedford. OH. Enlisted in the service Nov. 27, 1942, at the Nay y Recruiting Station. Cleveland, OH. Trained Navy Training Station. Great Lakes. IL, followed by 16 weeks at Signalman School. Farragut, ID. Upon completion assigned to USS Calutornia. While aboard the USS Caljbrfzia, Division 11, he served in the South Pacific as Gunner's Mate Third Class V-6 manning an antiaircraft gun. His most lasting memory of this time happened during the kamikaze attack in the Lingayen Gulf where 203 casualties occurred. He was awarded the WWII Victory Medal. Asiatic- Pacihc Campaign Medal with five Bronze Stars. American Area Medal. Philippine Liberation Medal with two Bronze Stars and Good Conduct Medal. Discharged Jan. 19. 1946. Married Dec. 26. 1945. to Sp.lPl Second Class Lillian A. Obermeyer. WAVES. Resided in Bedford raising one daughter and three sons. the youngest ofwhom is presently serving in Nav al Aviation as a Lieutenant Commander. Passed away on March 31. 1985. Survivors also included two grandchildren. .JANIES L. TREHERN, CSKlPAJ USN. born Jan. 22. f920. Pascagoula. NIS. Joined Oct. 19. 1940. New Orleans. si! years. Co. 40-82. NTS. San Diego. Assigned Disbursing Office there in December from T Unit. Requested sea duty Januar? 1942. Detailed to commission Treasure Island. San Francisco. thence to Cub Three. Moffett Field for training. Ternporarily in Fiji Island and NSD. Noumea. Caledonia. ff li A - .... I .Xssigued USS tlrlrfoniio, aboard at lzspiritu Santo wliile dry tlockctl. mid 1944 NN as through Pliilippiiies. back to Brenicrton and Yallcjo lor repairs. 'l'ranslerretl from BB44 to NSD. tlkmitw a. at Cease liirc. Aug. 14. 1945. Alter six months assigned USS li'exmr. APA237. did A-bomb tests at liikmi1 discharged Dec. 29. 1946. Lived in Alameda. C.-X. worked Realty till 1957. Retired from Fed. Civil Service in 1972. Worked in motel business in Reno until 1984. He is married to Helen Have lived in Oceanside since. EDWVARD D. TUNGATE, born Sept. 17. 1920, in Biddeford. ME. Joined the Navy in Cincinnati November 1937. Recruit training at Great Lakes, joined the USS California at Long Beach, March 1938. Assigned to the 5th Division as a deck hand, member of gun crew 443 casemate. Bowhook in itll motorboat Bugs Breedlove, coxswain. Made seaman in 1939. Coxswain in 1940. Went to Sail Locker, R Division. Made BM2 in 1941. Transferred to USS Harris APA2 October 1941, at Tacoma. Made Anphib landings at North Africa, Attu and Kiska, and Tarawa. Made BMI. Transferred to new construction, USS Takanis Bay CVE89. made CBM 1943. Transferred to USS Kalinin Bay CVE68, bringing troops and sailors home for discharge. In 1945 went to Recruit Training Center, San Diego, training recruits. In 1949, promoted to Warrant Boatswain, and assigned to USS Uvalde AKA88, carrying groceries to West PAC. Advanced to CW02 in 1952. and was assigned to Pacific Reserve Fleet San Diego. late 1955, went to USS Mississinewa A0144 homeport Naples, replenishment oiler for 6th Fleet. Retired in 1961 to San Diego as CW03. ROBERT M. TURNER, PFC. bom Alexandria. VA. March 19. 1927. Enlisted Dec. 8. 1944, USMC, Spec. 606 G Division. Service includes PISC Camp Lejeune, NC. San Diego, CA, Pearl Harbor. USS Caljornia, USS Wisconsin and Okinawa. Memorable experiences: Each and every day from Dec. 8. 1944 until July 3. l946. Discharged July 3. 1946. with the rank of PFC. Married Margaret. one son and one grandson. Retired U.S. Secret Service. U.D.. Sept. 1. 1969. ROBERT J. ULRICH. USN. born Dec. 4. 1923. Enlisted June 17. 1941. trained at Great Lakes. IL. Transferred USS Oklcrlroma, SEA2C. August 1941. Transferred USS California. F3C September 1941. Survived Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Dec. 7. 1941. Lost brother. George Vernon Ulrich. FIC. USS California. same day. Transferred to USS Lexirrgrori Dec. 13. 1941. Participated in Marshall and Gilbert Island battle. Salamua and Lac action and Coral Sea where Lexrzigrorr was sunk May X. 1942. Promoted to F2C. Trained at diesel school. Nav y Pier. Chicago. June - July 1942. Transferred to USS .Sitmlvol August 1942. as FIC. promoted December 1942. to MM2C January -July 1943. participated in escort duty. Iceland. Protnoted June 1943. MMIC. Jtily 1943. participated in Mediterranean invasions at Salerno. Anzio and Southern France serving escort and picket duty between imne sweeping duties. Returned Svnrhol to the states January 1945. lor repairs and transferred to USS l'7'l'5 March 6. 1945. Honorable discharge issued Sept. 12. 1945. Bainbridge, MD. Awards!Medals issued: American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacihc Campaign Medal with three stars, American Campaign Medal, African-Mediterranean- Middle Eastern with three stars, Navy Good Conduct. WWII Victory. Order of Golden Dragons. Shipwrecked Sailors of the South Seas, Shellbacks, Polar Bear and FBI lFrozen Bastards of Icelandl. Now living in Lisbon. IA. Retired from FMC Corp. as maintenance superintendent. Byrdena, wife of 49 years. one son, one daughter, six grandchildren and two great- grandchildren. Bob's hobbies include gardening and woodworking. MICHAEL J. URBAN, USN. was born Oct. 5. 1922. in West Nanticoke. PA. Hejoined the Navy Oct. 23. 1940: trained at Newport. RI. and was assigned to the USS California in Bremerton. WA. ...I ,W ,W W... V. , . . Z, kv. fs, ,A W K A, .... 1 4,310 ' .f , .W 1 af During the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. he witnessed the first bomb blast of WWII on PBY hangar on Ford Island. After the first abandon ship order was given. Urban was in the middle of many survivors trying to swim ashore. A request by the O.D. was relayed to the sailors near Vice Admiral Pye's whale boat to pass his uniform jacket as he was in civilian clothes. The jacket was finally passed to Urban as he was nearest to the whale boat. The jacket became completely soiled when it was placed on top of the whale boat engine. Admiral Pye remarked Don't worry about it son. carry on. Urban was a GM First Class prior to entering the Navy V- 1 2 Officer Training Program in late May 1944. and was subsequently discharged on Nov. 22. 1946. Awarded the American Defense Medal. Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal with one star. Good Conduct Medal with one star. WWII Victory Medal and Fifty Year Pearl Harbor Attack Survivors Medal. He married in 1946, has three children and four grandchildren. He earned a BS degree in 1948. from Franklin and Marshall College. Lancaster. PA. and a master's degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1952. Urban retired from the Veterans Administration Hospital System as a chief psychiatric social worker after 33 years of service. JAMES R. VANDIVIER, USMC. was born Aug. 5. 1925. in Franklin. IN. He enlisted in 1943. and completed boot camp and sea school training at MCB. San Diego. CA. Reported aboard USS California March 24. 1944. at Long Beach. CA. had served aboard continuously until War's end and final benhing in Philadelphia. Served as AA gun specialist. guard duties and was a corporal at time of honorable discharge Dec. 13. 1945. Returning home Vandivier graduated from Franklin lINDl College and in 1951. entered the Foreign Service of the Department ol'State as a Diplomatic Courier. His duties entailed safe-hand carriage and delivery of highly classified government documents and materials tolfrom some 120 diplomatic posts and military commands throughout the world, including many of the locations visited by the ship in wartime. Vandivier was named chief of the Diplomatic Courier Service in 1974, and served in that capacity for three years. He also held administrative positions in Moscow, Oslo, Manila, Frankfurt, and Washington, D.C. He retired from the Foreign Service in 1985, and now lives in Franklin, IN. B. if , Mi.. K7 ff i 2 I. I In 1954, Vandivier married Maryellen Evans. They have two children, Stephen and Dianne and two granddaughters all presently living in the Washington, D.C. area. MILTON VAN EPPS, Slfc, Gunners Mate Striker, 10th Division, joined the Calyfornia while it was in dry- dock, Bremerton, WA, December 1943. Graduated GM School, Newport, RI, member of gun crew, 40mm quad mt, port side. Survived kamikaze hit, Jan. 6, 1945, Luzon. Lost his good buddy Joe Horky at that time. Was a member of the Burial Party at sea, late at night. Was aboard when the Tennessee rammed them, crossed the 180th Meridian June 5, 1944, and the Equator Aug. 21, 1944. Received a fleet appointment to Annapolis, but arrived back in the states too late to join the current class. Assigned to the M.C. Fox, DD829, and took part in the surrender and occupation of Japan. He thanks God for the atomic bombs. Awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with six stars, Lingayen Gulf with one star, Philippines Presidential Unit Citation etc. RALPH T. VAN VLEET, Chief Electricians Mate, USN, USS Caliornia was born June 1, 1919, near Pretty Prairie, KS. Graduated from high school in Langdon, KS. Enlisted in Navy Nov. 20, 1939, at Wichita, KS, and was sent to Great Lakes Naval Training Station. Reported aboard the USS Caljornia on Feb. 10, 1940. When the bombing started, he was on his battle station, and had the station battle ready when the rest of the station crew arrived. He was transferred to USS Chicago a week after the raid. The USS Chicago went to Australia and joined the ANZAC force, and operated with them until the ship was torpedoed at Guadalcanal. The USS Chicago returned to Mare Island for repairs, at which time he was transferred to USS Es.rex. He served on the Essex until discharged as a chiefclectricians mate Nov. 27, 1945. After leaving the Navy, he worked in electronic manufacturing anti later in real estate sales. He retired in 1986. He married in 1944, has six children, and eight grandchildren. AwardslMeda1s include: Good Conduct Medal, 106 American Defense Service Medal, American Theater Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 15 stars. Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars, WWII Victory Medal and Presidential Unit Citation THOMAS W. VERBRICK, PFC, Marine, born Kaukauna, WI, Sept. 5, 1925. Enlisted Feb. 24, 1943, U.S. Marine G Division. Service included boot camp at San Diego, and USS Calwzrniu Oct. 21, 1943. Participated in the following battles: Saipan, Guam, Tinian, Philippines, Surigao Strait, Okinawa. Awards!Medals: Philippine Liberation Medal with two stars, PAC Area Campaign Medal with four stars. Discharged Dec. 16, 1945, with the rank of PFC. He and his wife of 47 years, Millie, have four children and five grandchildren. Retired after 37 years from Wisconsin Telephone Company. Today enjoying grandchildren, and beautiful Wisconsin weather. BENJAMIN A. VERMILLION, MM2C, born West Terre Haute, IN, April 14, 1924. Enlisted Dec. 10, 1941, served on the USS CalU'0rnia April 1942 - June 1946. Stations: NTS Great Lakes, ILQ USS Calnforniag USS Taconicg NAS Norvag USS Coral Sea, USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. Battles: participated in bombardment and occupation of Saipan, Guam, Tinian. Participated in the initial landing operation on Leyte Island, P.I. and engaged enemy surface forces in the Battle of Surigao. Z 1 -.a W . ,, an 21 f f 2 M l ' 1 .5.2 ... , s if 3' Memorable experiences: Served with a great crew. AwardslMeda1s: American Area Medal, WWII Victory Medal, American Defense Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two stars. Discharged Aug. 1, 1949, with the rank of MM2. Married in 1947, and has five children and six grandchildren. Retired, residing in West Chester, PA, from United States Steel Corporation. JOSEPH A. VHELSZKI, S llc, bom Detroit, MI, March 4, 1925. Enlisted May 17, 1943, U.S. Navy QRJ, USNTS. Great Lakes, IL. Participated in battles at Marianas, Saipan, Guam, Rota, Tinian, Philippine Islands, Leyte, Sea Battle of Leyte Gulf, Lingayen Gulf, and Okinawa. t 1 . Memorable experiences: The apprehension prior to the sea battle of leyte Gull. Afterwards, tht-joy and relief alter the victorious conclusion of the siiccessful sea battle Awardslfvledal'-, Pacific 'Iheater 'Milli tour Hrorw. Stars,Arriericanf1 heater Ribbon Victory Vledal Ptirlrppirif. 1,ibcrat.ion Ribbon with two star, Discharged feb. 17, 1946 Married wife lylifabeth Nou. 211, 19439 'wo daughter ,lanet and Joann. Retired from lord Motor fforrtpariy are 40 years and eight months. HARRY J. VOLLMER, USN, born Oc' 16. 1921 it Omaha, NE. Enlisted Omaha recruiting center Feb 24 1934. Trained at Norfolk, VA, Naval Training Sfatzor. Completion of training was assigned guard duty at the officers swimming beach on base. .Assigned LSS Calnfornia visiting at Newport, RI, travel to ship vt as by Navy tanker. Assigned to the engineer division. His shipboard duties were the evaporators. ice machines and then to the engineer maintenance and repair shop. Participated as a member of the whale boat racing team and the championship swim team of the California. Attended welding school USS Rigel April 30. 1933. Ratings held A.S., Sea, 2!c, F 3!c. F 2!c. F llc. N131 lic. MSMTH 2!c, MSMTH llc. Extended enlistment for tvs ct years, was recommend and took the exams for promotion to warrant officer. Awarded, American Theater. ASI PAC 1 Star, Philippine Liberation Ribbon. .American Defense Service Medal with star. Good Conduct with star. Victory Medal. Honorable Discharged USN Feb. 23. 19-10. Voluntarily re-enlisted Sept. 3. 1943. IQSNRS Minneapolis, MN. Indoctrinated. Farragut. ID. A.S. Then to MSMTH llc and to warrant officer W-1 June 15. 19-L-L. Assigned sea duty USS Dobbin AD 3. ships carpenter and assistant repair officer hull 10th Division officer. Honorable release from active duty June 2-1. 19-16. Honorable discharge Jan. 31. 1950. Enlisted USAR June 23, 1953. Retiring commissioned CW-4 USAR Active Reserve Oct. 16. 1971. Civilian vocation. pipetitter vvelder journeyman steam and hot water heating. Complete retirement 1975. LEO R. VRANA, trained at NTS. San Diego. CA. Assigned to USS Calnfornia November 1940. Gunnery Striker, main battery Turret 151 also battle station. During attack on Pearl Harbor was sent belovv for gas masks. Lights and power went off reaching third deck. Worked way back up to topside crouching under overhang of Turret I-'1. Witnessed two Japanese planes release torpedoes each hitting the California. .Abandoned ship and svvam ashore. After attack was sent to Ewa to help set up salvaged 5 inch anti aircraft guns from California. Back to the ship for salvage duty. Oct. 10. 1942. left P.H. under ovv n povvcr for Bremerton Navy Yard. While ship was being retitted .ind modernized attended gunnery school. Washington. D.C. Returned to ship for trial mins in maneuv cring. gtrnnery and machinery tests. Resurrected from bottom of Pearl Harbor they rejoined the xvar with an assault on Saipan. Tinian and Guam and on across the Pacific to Tokyo engaging in numerous operations earning six battle stars. Pearl llarbortbltdxvay, Nlat'iarr.is. S.rip.iu. li'irti.iit. t 1 Guam. l cvtcOpcration, l.lI1gllfCllkilill-,kllxl1l.lXX.l.Killlllv. Third lflect operation against .lapair Xlso P11111 1X11111xc1's.1ty 110311 Harbor Cotigrcssiotitil K1Oll1ll1C1l1t'1'LI1lX c Nlcdal. Returned to Pliiladclpliia Naxy Yard. Dec. 7, 1945. 11.1111 liokx o. N111 Siiigaporc. Coloiiibia and Capcton 11. The sltlll u.1s tiiotlihallcd. l'1'a11sfc1Tcd to USS Colianlvia for inoililxill duty Discliatgcd Scptcinhcr 1946. X1.I1T1Ct1 1IC1l1'1C11Ll1lI'OC1l1IS1s11.1i0lIl'C1ll1C1fCll. Suzanne. 'X1.1lN. Slcpltclt and Cit'Cgo1'y. 11111 g1',111dtj,111gl11Q1- ,md gmc g1u.11'g1'.1111lso11. Rctircd after successful General t onstnictioii business 111 Corpus Christi. TX. Xcry proud to have serx ed their country aboard a g.l11.ll11 xx ar ship with gallant and patriotic IIICII. let history rscoixi they are unlike the 42nd president tdraft dodgerh occtipy ing thc White House at this writing. who refused to M-NC. JOHN R. VYAI,SH. QM1lc. USN. bor11 St. Louis. X1O..1a11. 23. 1924. Enlisted Dec. 30, 1941. U.S. Navy. N D11isio11..-Xttended Training Station at Great Lakes. Went aboard the California early in February 1942. Raised her fro111 seven and a half fathoms of water, soaped and wire-brushed for a month. Brought her back to the States for remodeling and they did a fantastic sob. Made shake down drills down ir1 California and then returned to Pearl Harbor to rejoin the fleet. Went front Saipan and Tinian. Then to Guam and on to the Philippines Liberation. Took hit from a shore battery .11 Saipan. then a kamikaze knocked it out a little bit. Lost 50 men and over a 150 wounded. Were at the battle of Surigao Strait and were credited with the sinking of a .Japanese battleship of the Fuso Class. Received a Presidential Citation for her victory in the Philippine. She really was the Pride of the Fleet and she will always be a proud memory in his young life. Left the USS California in 1946. She went on to be in Tokyo waters for the signing of the Surrender Treaty. . 2.1 Discharged Dec. 9, 1946. Married and has three children, two girls and one son. Also has 7 grandchildren. Today has real good health and is retired. HAROLD WHITCOMB JR., TC1lc, born Gaines, MI. Sept. 3. 1922. Enlisted in December 1941, U.S. Navy, Turret Captain. First Class. 3rd Division. Arrived at Pearl Harbor right after the bombing and helped raise the USS Maid if California from the bottom and helped restore her. Discharged in January 1946. He and his wife Leona have a son Michael and a daughter Darlene. Also have three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. After the service he drove trucks. first in a lumber yard, than a milk truck. and ended up driving a 151 'fiheeler with a 30 years safe driving record. In 19811 he lost his left leg and in 1992 suffered a stroke, paralyzing 191'-fl'igfl1SldC.HC now resides at Shawasse County Medical Care Facility CHRISTIAN LEON WILDHAGEN, WT2. USN, born San Jose. CA. Sept. 29. 1921. Enlisted July 27. 1942. LVSN' VVT2 Statioried at 1JSNTCfGrcat Lakes. 11.1 USS Can 12111511 IQSS California. USS ltll. Roosrfwlt. Participated 111 battles at Asiatic-Pacific and the Philippine l.ihc1'atio11. Memorable experiences include crossing the T in the Big Battle. AwardslMeda1s: American Area Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Paciic Campaign Medal with three stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars, WWII Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal. Discharged Feb. 14, 1947. Married and had five children and 12 grandchildren. Chris was a retired machinist one week when he had a massive M.I. and died Oct. 23, 1983. He and his Calnfornia Navy buddy were planning to attend the Reunion in 1983. His close friend was H.R. Summersgill of Spanish Fort, AL, who was also a W.T. on the Calyfornia. Submitted by Bernice Wildhagen, his widow. DONALD W. WILSON, EMllc, CEM, bom Guthrie Center, IA, Sept. 14, 1916. Enlisted Feb. 10, 1934, USN, Electricians Mate E Division. Service included NTS Norfolk, VA, USS Chicago CA29g EIC School, Material Lab, Washington, D.C.g USS Yorktown CV-5, Camp Gatling USS Caliornia Pearl Harbor to Bremerton, USS Hancock CV-19, USS Leo AKA-60. 4 I L iff, Participated battles at Coral Sea. Midway, Philippines. Rykus Okinawa, Iwo Jima, Japan Etc. Cseven totaly. Memorable experiences: His steering motor room ride, in the Coral Sea Battle, on Yorktown. CV-5. abandonment, No. 2, off CV-5, member of salvage crew. all U.S.N. service. AwardslMeda1s: Commendation, Navy Unit. American Defense Service Medal, American Area Campaign Medal. Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars. Asiatic-Pacihc Campaign Medal with seven stars. China Service Medal. Occupation of Japan, Good Conduct Medal. Discharged Dec. 26, 1946. CEM KPAJ I.C. USN. Married Rose Erickson, Jan. 18. 1943. 151+ yearsl Downtown Methodist Church. Seattle, WA. and has one son. Careers: USN, Construction Elec.. Commercial Fisherman. Retired fron1 Washington State Highway Department tD.O.T.J. September 1978. Main hobby since retiring is spon fishing. He does this today. along. with senior club, Honey Do Jobs. and home and yard maintenance. WILLIAM C. WILSON, RM2lc, USNR, was born March 31, 1925. at Charlotte. NC. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy Sept. 30. 1942. and was assigned to the USS California at Bremerton, WA. In 1945. when the Calihirnia returned to Pearl Harbor for repairs. he was transferred to the Naval Aviation Program. In 1946, he was assigned to the Moffett Field Naval Air Station. San Jose. CA. After the war, he was allowed a discharge under the point system. A QQ- During the next 20 years. he served in law enforcement with city, county and state police agencies. including 10 years. with the NC Bureau of Investigation. ln 1964, he started his own investigative agency for business and industry. which he continues to operate from Charlotte. NC. He was married in 1946, and has two sons. a daughter and two grandchildren. ALVIN L. WINTER, USNR. was born May 8, 1925. at Nashville, KS. Joined Navy February 1944. He trained at Farragut, ID, after being inducted in Kansas City, MO. After training he was shipped to Shoemaker. CA. Later to Treasure Island and on to troop transport over to were the USS Calqfornia was anchored at the Marshall Islands. Went aboard the USS California, June 1944. just after invasion of Saipan in the Marianas Islands. ti -fa , v 'Qi He was aboard the ship for the following combats. Guam. Tinian, Palau's, Leyte Gulf, Surigao Strait Sea Battle, Lingayen Gulf. Luzon. A kamikaze hit sent them back to USA for repairs. He was aboard when USS Tennessee, USS Calnfornia, collided at sea while crossing the Equator which sent them to Espiritu Santo Islands for dry-dock repairs in readiment for Philippines Tike Back. Invasions. Retumed to Paciic Action for Okinawa Invasion and end of war with Japan. Was aboard when a Fleet of ships were assigned new East Coast home ports. Philadelphia. PA, which formed the Good Will Cruise around the world with several day stopovers in Tokyo. Japan: Singapore. Malyag Colombo, India lnow Sri Lankijg Capetown. South Africa and Philadelphia. PA. He attained rank of disbursing clerk 3rd Class P.O. He was sent for discharge in April 1946. and by train arrived at Newton. KS, going West. where he boarded a train months earlier. going from leave to go overseas. going West to the USS California. He believes he has a Guinness record for a boy under 20 years of age going around the world Newton. KS. to Newton. KS. He was enroute to Norman. OK. his discharge center. The above was purely happen stance. He worked for Santa Fe Trail and Continental Trailways until his organized Reserve Unit was back from Wichita. KS. He boarded a large carrier USS Bon Homme Richard CV-31. at Bremerton. WA. in January 1951 . They did patrol duty on coast of Korea and was sent home on hardship discharge. September 1952. Worked for Boeing tBoeing Computer Servicesb Company and retired there October 1987. after 35 years service. AwardslMedals: WWII Victory Medal. American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars. Korean Conflict Medal with three stars, United Nations Medal. He was married to Florence C. Meyer, Nov. 16, 1947, and they had two sons Rodney Alan and Craig Darr. deceased 1985. ROBERT W. WOLFE, WTllc, bom Bryantown, MD, Dec. 3, 1922. Enlisted Dec. 29, 1941, USN. B Division. Attended boot camp Great Lakes, seven days. and USS Calnfornia. Participated in battles at Saipan. Tinian, Guam. Philippines. Surigao Strait, Leyte, Tokyo Bay. Graduated from Hughesville High School in Maryland 1939. Moved to Ashland. KY, and went to work for Davey Tree Company. in Ohio. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, He left for Ashland, KY. so his father could sign for him tojoin Navy in December 1941. Great Lakes was a very short stay and they were shipped to Pearl to begin the job of raising the California from the bottom. They slept in oil. tile in oil. pulled bodies from the ship in parts and pieces. After raising ship sailed to Bremerton, WA, for a complete remodel job. Boiler School and Fire Watches along with short leaves home. Went home to Ashland, KY on leave and married Mary Frances Wheeler Jan. 4. 1943. After shake down cruise they ended up in Eniwetok Atoll to join other ships and headed for Pacific Island Bombardment. he think Saipan, Tinian and Guam were their first taste of war. Bob Dahl was on smoke watch sailing off Guam, when a motor hit their ship in the Smoke Watch Station in the super structure. Bob was killed. Down in his fireroom was an Armenian named Kalelian who volunteered to take over as smoke watch. He believes that he was killed when kamikaze hit their stack in Lingayen Gulf Philippines. He thinks this was the hardest part for him to handle during the war. Concussion from the crash came down the stack and fire from the bumers blew 10- 15 foot out into fireroom. Smoke very quickly entered the tireroom and the forced air blowers were put on high to clear area and keep some fire in boilers. He guesses a lot of smoke entered the main deck area because of smoke stack being ruptured. This being the reason for emergency repairs in floating dry-dock so they could proceed to Bremerton for pemianent repairs. Most of Okinawa was over by time they retumed. The Typhoon at Okinawa was very scary for him. The rest of the cruise into Tokyo Bay and off Nagasaki was mine sweep using Paravane on ship. Sailed ship around Capetown, South Africa and back into Philadelphia, PA. Discharged and as a civilian worked for Navy Department, Washington, D.C. C16 yearsl. Transferred to NASA in 1960, and was in on every space shot until retirement in 1975, from Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD. Moved to Florida in 1977, and have been very, very fortunate to have improved health. Memorable experiences include kamikaze plane dived into Calyfornia, smoke stack rammed by Tennessee, motor shell at Guam. Awards!Medals:A11 medals awarded Calyfornia until wars end. Discharged Dec. 12, 1945, WT1!c. Married .Ianuary 1943, one son Leonard and two grandchildren. Enjoying retirement from 16 years Navy Department, 17 years NASA. LUTHER DOUGLAS WORLEY, Private, born Medicine Mound. TX, Marine Corp. Went through boot training in San Diego. After boots went on BB44 CalU'0rnia. W,,W.W W W .W ., ., W 1 re f Z fa fn? ' ' fy ' W V .QQZEZQ 4 g ,V . - , f, gf , ff 'A' 4 V ff: ff ' W ' 'J r A 3' fic , Vaff 2 I :rf ' iw 'W if 1 M.,,.,.f a, if .5 ff!! W ,Z ,,.f , , Memorable experiences includes being on ship when the bomb hit fire came through watertight door. Discharged September 1945, with the rank of tech. sergeant. Married Norma Lynn, Nov. 26, 1944, at Norman, OK. L.D. Worley died Aug. 27, 1993, of cancer. DONALD C. YACKLEY, USN, born Lisle, lL, May 21, 1923. Enlisted lan. 10, 1941. Memorable experiences include Dec. 7, 1941, aboard USS C'alifornia iii Pearl llarbor. Awards!Meda1s: National Defense Service Medal, Joint Service t'oiiiineiidation Medal, Pearl llarboi' Coiiiiiieiiiorative Medal. Discharged Dec. 1. 1969, with the rank ol iiiastei chiel personnelmaii, with 28 years in the Navy. Married Ruth Burtle, and has two sons. 1.1. Vol Thoinas M. Yackley USMC, and Major James D. Yackley, retired U.S. Artny. Mr. Yackley died Dec. 7, 1985. ,I.D. YELTON JR., USN, was born May 29, 19211, in Rutherford County, NC. He joined the service Aug. 31, 1940, and trained in Norfolk, VA. He was assigned to the USS California, S llc, Division 6. He received the Purple Heart as a result of f W injuries Dec. 7, 1941. , He was next assigned W - . to the USS Barton and was K a survivor after the Barton fire was sunk in the battle of Guadalcanal and Coral Sea. His next assignment was the USS Frankfort, which participated in the D- Day invasion and was among the first Navy ships to enter Nagasaki after the A-bomb. He was a plankowner of the Frankfort and remained a crew member until she was de-commissioned in March 1946, in Charleston, SC. J.D. was discharged Aug. 31, 1946, with the rank of CGM. In June 1945, he married Ola. They had two children, Michael and Susan and three granddaughters. J.D. was a survivor but lost a three year battle with cancer, Sept. 9, 1986. ROBERT L. YEROSHEK, USN, bom April 14, 1922, Waukesha, WI. Enlisted Dec. 26, 1941, Milwaukee, WI, Naval Training Station Great Lakes, IL, Dec. 26, 1941 to ayyf lj, ya N M , Jan. 17, 1942. Transferred to USS Henderson AP-1, Jan. 17, 1942 to Feb. 18, 1942. Transferred Feb. 18, 1942 to March 14, 1942, Camp Andrews. Nanakuli, HI. Cleared firebreaks and hauled lumber up trail to lookout on mountain above Kuli-Kuli Pass. Lived in tents. Transferred March 14, 1942, to USS Calhfornia, Ford Island near Fox 1413, Tent City. Worked as salvage crew on ship. Brought ship to Bremerton NSY, WA, October 1942. Remained aboard until June 1946. First assigned to lst Division SIC. Attended Radar School, San Diego, CA, March 1943. Transferred to Item Division, April 1943, Rdm3c, Battle Station fwd main battery F.C. Station tRadar Opl Artist for ship's newspaper The Cub designed masthead and illustrated stories. Helped put ship in inothballs at Philly. Transferred from Calgfornialune 10. 1946. Rdm2c, to NAB Little Creek, VA. Assigned to LCStLl t3J6. June 21, 1946 to Sept. 5, 1946. Left ship at Boston, MA, returned to NAB Little Creek, VA. Transferred to Engineering Base,Rdm1c, Radar Tech. Transferred USS Huicoizir' AGC-17 tteinp. dutyl Feb. 18, 1947, for Midshipman Training Cruise. Caribbean Area. Returned to Little Creek. VAN March 26. 1947. Discharged Honorably, Oct. 27, 1947. Issued WWII Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and Philippine Liberation Medals. Order ofGolden Dragon. and Shellback, Participated in Saipan Bombardment, Occupation ol'Gtiam, Landing Operations Leyte Island. Battle of Stirigao Strait. Lingayen Gull' Landings. Now living in Sequim. WA. tRetired School Teacherl. Wife Marcelle, two children. three grandchildren. FRANK ZACCARICLLO, WT2!c, born New York City, April 1, 1922. linlisted in the 11.S. Nitty, li Dix isioii, served iii the llaciliic. Awartls!lV1etlals: Pliilippiiie 1 iberation Ribbon with lWtlS1111'S,!NSlil1lL l,11k'll'lCfldllllllllllll Medal with t'oiirstars. Amer ican 'Iilicalcr Victory Medal ,si ff 44 V! I f fa M, iv- 'lafl V, X , . navy of ix 75. H 4' 1 'W 7 .1 ' f . ' 'f S 4 . I , 1 ' Discharged December 1945. with the rank 'if was tender 2nd class. Still working as a rnacriinist irie Def Mrk Times. Memorable experience: His happiest day 1. a the USS California were as a member of ships oasera. team, The Calgornia Bears. They play ed in Brernefor WA, Port Orchard and Pearl Harbor. On their norrfew ar C, and Capetown. South Africa. Baseball was new in ir. parts so they had to go ashore to lay out baseball fi Their opponents for these games were the baseball ie from their sister the USS Tennessee. At Capetown tr were treated royally. Their games were play ed before nag crowds and the games were broadcasted other the radio they played a group of college all-stars, Cape Town it - the last game the Bears played together so they donated a.. their baseball equipment to the college all-stars who wer just getting started in the sport. He will alvt ay s treas are the happy memories of his good times with his shipiriates 1 the Calnfornia Bears. bound course they played in Leyte Gulf. Singapore BILLY J. ZACHARY, Y3C. born High Point. NC. March 16, 1921. Enlisted July 9. 1940. L'.S. Naiy. A.S. Flag Allowance, ComBatForPac. Military stationsi NRS Raleigh, NC, NTS Norfolk. VA: USS California: LISS Maijvland: USS New Mexico: USS Pe11n5j.'li'ariia.' Pre- Flight St. Marys College: NAS Pasco. WA: NAS Corpus Christi, TX: NTS Great Lakes. IL: NAS Gordon Field. Atlanta, GA: VR-5 Seattle. WA: CIC School Glenxiett. IL, CarDiv 15 Staff: VW-1 Barbers Point: FTC Norfolk. VAQ CIC School Glynco. Brunswick. GA. Participated in Midway Battle. Memorable experiences include Dec. '. 1941. .ind Flight Training. Awards!Medals: Good Conduct Medal. Asiatic' Pacific Campaign Medal. American Defense Sertice Medal. American Campaign Medal. WWII Victory Medal. United Nations Service Medal. Korean Sertice Medal. National Defense Medal. Naval Reserve Medal. Released to inactive service on .luly 1. 195' Transferred to Nax'a1Reserve. retired list March lb. 19S 1. with the rank of lieutenant. Married Hortense Pedravia tdeceasedl. daughter' Cheryl Ann Zachary. Married to Donna L. liietler xx ith ltl step-children. Retired Navy and Cix i1 Sert ice. DONALD L. ZIEGL.-XR. l'SN. born Dec. 29. 1923 Grew tip in southern Idaho aiidgioined Naxy Dec lb. 19-11 After boot camp at San Diego was assigned to -X1.imed.i N.-XS in aerography ttveather obserx .ition .ind lorecastiiigt .1oined1lSS t'iilitiwii'ii in late 1943. as .ierogr.ipher's mate lfc, Participated in activities .it Saipan. Guaiii. 1'iiii.iii. leyte. Surigao Strait. 1 ingayeii Gulf and Ukiii.ixx.i Translierred from t'tilifiwii'.i in August 19-15 Siibsetiueni assignments at Wliidbey 1s1.indN -XS.1'SS tlissi-.i.1:. 1 SS Rwitloiti, llSS Siliornw. ,md l'SS Siiiiitiit P.irticip.ited in Operation tlrossroads, the 19-lo atom bomb testing .it Bikini Atoll. l'5iscli.1i'getl in -Xpril 19-17. Xledals .ire XX XX 11X 1Q1Ut'X. Pliilippinel iberation Ribbon o ith txt o stars. -Xiiiericaii Xi-ea thiiiipaigii. .Xsi.tticAl'.icit'ic Xrea t'.imp.iigii xx ith toni stars. and tlood Coiidiict Medal I is . LVM, 'ng n wulvf' 5 A4 i fi Q e717 4 Studied geology at University ol' New Mexico and Hari ard and received PhD. Worked us petroleum geologist until retirement in l988, and have traveled on six of seven ' continents. Married Mary Jerry Callaway from Pueblo, CO. in l95O. Two daughters and four grandchildren. 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' MW, ,, A .wt Index Symbols 136th Infantry Regiment 29 27th Division 18 6th Marines 29 9th Tank Regiment 29 A Acocet CAVP-45 224 Adelaide 37 AES Radio Station 18 Aessi Island Theatre 18 Alaska 36 Aleutian Islands 36 Alford, L.B1 27 Allen, Fred 18 Anglo-Dutch Wars 10 Ann Arbor, Ml 53 APA 104 18 APA 226 18 Applebye-Robinson, W. 15 Applegate, H.A. 27 Arizona 23, 48 Ashley CENSJ 19 Asia 10 Asiatic Station 14 Astoria 23 Athens 10 Atlanta, GA 53 Atlantic 10, 11, 20 Atlantic Fleet 14 Attu 49 Augustus 10 Australia 20 B Babelthauap 48 Bacot,J.D. 27 Badger, Carlos J. 54 Baja, CA 10 Balboa 37 'Balboa Station 20 Baldwin, R.M 28 Baltimore 52 Baltimore, MD 32 Barden, John W. 46 Bamer CLTJ 38 Baron Munchausen 50 Battle of Actium 10 Battle of Jutland 15 Battle of Lepano 10 Battle of Leyte Gulf 53 Battle of Salamis 10 Battleship No. 44 15 BB Maryland 52 BB Pennsylvania 52 BB Tennessee 52 BB-44 16, 28 Bean, Harold 13, 19, 26, 32 Belden, E.W. 27 Bell, C.R. 27 Benny, Jack 18 Benson, Robert 52 Bergen, Edgar 18 Bemstein, H.E. 25 Beverly Hills 38 Bezvoda, S.F. 27 Big Five 17 Bitting, Ed 18 Blair, E.R. 26 Bly,C.L. 27 , BobolinktAM-203 22 Bonthius, R.C. 27 Bomeo 49 110 Boston 53 Bostwick, L.A. 19 Bottolfson, R.L. 27 Bremerton Navy Yard 37 Bremerton, WA 17, 18, 32, 37,38 48, 54 Brewer, Captain 16, 18, 32 Britain 10, 14, 15 British General Hospital 18 Brooklyn, IA 53 Brooks, W.M. 27 Bunker, F.R. 53 Bunker, R.F. 29 Bunkley, Captain Joel W. 21, 22, 27 Bureau of Ships 21 Burnett, Captain Henry P. 28, 29, 30, 31, 53 Burrows,B.V. 36, 47 Butte, MT 51 C Cage, w.F. 26, 27 Califomia 10, ll, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21 Camden 19 Camp Kitsap 38 Campbell, E.R. 27 Canal Zone Club House 20 Canfield, R.B. 27 Canopus 50 Cape Trafalgar 11 Capetown 32 Capetown, South Africa 18 Caroll,R.N. 43 Carroll, Bob 43 Cartagena, Spain 36 Carthage 10 CB battalion 18 CB Number 11 18 CB Theatre 18 Celesteine, B. 27 Champion, C.H. 27 Charon Kanoa 29 Cheefoo, China 54 Cherbourg, France 14 Chesapeake Bay 32 Cheyenne, WY 53 Chicago 53 Chile 14 China 14 Christy, H.H. 37 ChuichiNagumo 21 Civil War 11 Cleveland, E. 27 Clitz,J.M.B. 14 Colombo 18 Colon 20, 37 Columbus, OH 52 ComSec Hall Dance 18 Conley, L.M. 43 Conner, Durrel 22 Connolly, Richard 29, 30 Coon, R.V. 27 CoontzCADMJ 37 Corinto 14 Cottman, V.L. 14 Cottrell CLTJ 52 CPO Club 18 Craven Center 18 Cmiser Division Two 15 Cruiser Force 15 Culebra 37, 38 Cunningham, Dick 18 Curtis, Charley 53 Curtiss, Herb 48 D Danae 37 Dauntless 37 Dave Kennedy 45 Dawson, KY 27 de Montalvo, Ordonez 10 De Stwolinska, A. 43 de Villeneuve, Pierre ll Delhi 37 Denton Shore Lumber Company 15 Deutschland 15 Diamond Head 21 Dickes, Captain 19 Dinagat 50 Doran, G.P 27 Drop, Commander 48 E East China Sea 32 Ebberson, L.F. 27 Edelen, Ken 53 Edison, Thomas A. 15 Edwards, Linton 20 Emperor William II 11 Engebi Island 18 England 10, 15 Eniwetok 18, 42 Espiritu Santo 18 F Fain, Edgar M. 22, 27 Faries,J.P. 53 First Air Fleet 21 Flamingo Beach 37, 38 Fleming, C.H. 27 Fleming,W.S. 27 Ford Island 21, 22, 23, 25, 27, 28, 44, 47, 48 Formosa 49, 50 France 10, ll, 14, 15 Franck, D.E. 27 French Revolutionary War 10 Fuhriman, Bill 49, 53 G Ga1yean,C.W. 27 Garbo, H.F., 43 Gardner, Robert 23, 29 Garland, G.P. 53 Garoutte,J.H. 27 Gary,T.J. 27 Gasperino, Tony 51 Gatun 20, 37 Gatun Dam 20 Gatun Lake 38 Germany 11, 15 Gillette,N.C. 19 Glendale, CA 53 Golden Gate Bridge 49 Golden State 10, 15 Golden State Battlewagon 2 Grady, Jack 53 Graham, Marvin B. 42, 46 Great Britain 11, 13 Great Gildersleeve 18 Great White Way 38 Greenbaum, H. 27 Greenway, Eddie 56 Guadalcanal 11, 23 Guam 10, 48 Guantanamo Bay 48 Gunnels, C.W. 27 H Hagushi Bay 32 Halekulani 22 Halifax 15 Hall, B.C. 27 Hall, C.H. 27 Halsey, Admiral 50, 53 Hamilton, Commander 48 Hampton Roads, VA 15 Harber, Giles B. 14 Harding, Warren G. 42, 43 Hanman,O.I. 18 Hasbrouck,Captain 37 Hauoli 15 Hawaii 10, ll, 14, 18,43 44 Hazzard, W. 48 Heman Cortes 10 Hiroshima ll Hitchcock, Elmer 42 HMS Dreadnought 13 Holland 10 Hollywood, CA 38, 52 Homer N. Wallin 28 Homonhom 50 Honolulu 14, 23, 43 Honshu 32 Hope, Bob 18 Howell, Ensign 19 Huge Now 54 Huges, Charles Evans 11 I Illian, E. 27 Indian Ocean 36 lrenes Sincerity 36 lsenhour, R.A. 27 Isthmus 20 Italy ll Iwo Jima 11 Izzi, Carl 51 J Japan 10, 11, 14, 15, 32 Japanese Fleet 52 Jasperson, Ensign 19 Java 49 Jeffery, I.W. 26, 27 Jewell, J.D. 27 Joint Congressional Committee 21 Jones, Davy 30 Jones,H.C. 26, 27 Jones, HP 19 Joyner, Joe 53 K Kahoolawe 29 Kaimuki 43 Kamp McKean 37 Keener.J.C. 27 Kelley 19 Kenealy, Chaplain 16. 18 Kennedy, D.E. 43 Kennedy. Dave 44 Kiefer, Dixie 38 Killingsworth, Sam 53 King Xerxesl 10 Kingman. Howard F. 30 Kinkaid. Vice Admiral 49. Kirkpatrick, R.D. 27 Knights of Columbus 20 Koepplinger. C.F. 27 Kogel.Admiral 38 Kohl, Frederick 38 Koolau Mountains 21 Kossol Passage 32 Kramer, Bob 43 Kwajalein 29 L La Barre, C. A. 27 LaCrosie. France 15 Laird. Robert D. 39 Lake Kitsap 37 Lane, Chet 49 Lee.C.J. 10. 11, 54 Leonard., P.E. 43 Leppeit, Ensign 19 Leto. John 16 Levenz. Joe 26. 28 Lewel1en.B.E. 48 Lewis. Jim 52 Lewis. W.A.J. 27 Leyte 18. 32. 49. 50 Leyte Gulf 31, 32, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52. 53. 54 Leyte Island 49 Lindahl, Wayne 21 Lingayen Gulf 32, 42 Little. M.M. 21 Little. M.N. 25 Litz.C.L. 27 Logan, UT 53 London. J.F. 27 Long Beach 18. 38 Long Beach, CA 23 Long Beach Harbor 47 Long, H.A. 22 Los Angeles 10, 38 LST 227 18 Luckenback, L.B. 43 Lunga Point 23 Luzon 32, 42 Lyden. C.J. 27 Lynch, Jim 53 M MacArthur, General 31, 49, 52 Mack, Leo 53 Magadalena Bay 19 Main Red Cross Center 18 Maine 53 Mandelkom, R. 53 Mare Island 14, 15, 19 Marnette RA. 43 Marshall Islands 42 Mason, Captain Lunsford Maui 29 Maxwell, G.R 27 Mayfield,A.B. 53 Mayo, Henry T. 14 McCarthy, Charlie 18 McComsey, Ensign 54 McGrath, T.P 27 McVey, Charley 53 Melody Lane Club 18 Melville, Albert G. 47 Menner, R.T. 37 Merry Point 21, 22 Miles, Hiram 43 Miller, Floyd H. 33 Miller, R.W. 27 Milwaukee 53 Minckley, R.F. 27 Mindanao 49 Minnetonka 14 Miraflores 37 Mississippi Squadron 14 Mitchell, Bob 23 Mitchell, John 12 Mogami 31 Moline, Wilbur F. 42 Moore, Ensign 19 Morison, Samuel Eliot 21 Murphy, Frank M. 23 Murphy, Y. 19 Mark Antony 10 Y N Nagasaki ll NAN Signaling School 23 Napoleonic Wars 10 Naquin, O.F. 27 Naval Advanced Base 18 Naval Repair Base 18 Navy Yard Workers 18 Negato 32 Nehl,Earl 48 Nevada 45 New Guinea 31 New Hampshire 14 New Hebrides 31, 32 New Mexico 15, 16 New York 15, 38 New York Navy Yard 15 New Zealand 20 Newman, J. 27 Nicaragua 14 Nicholas 19 Nicholson,A.T 27 Nimitz, Chester W. 28 Nishimura, Admiral 31 Nix, J.P. 27 Nixon, Patricia 33 Norfolk, Virginia 36 Norman, Bob 18 North Africa 11 North Atlantic 15 North Pacific Squadron 14 North River 37, 38 North Sea Mine Barrage 15 Nova Scotia 15 Nunnelley, L.E. 27 O O' Boy 20 Oahu 21 Oakland 10 O'Connell 27 Octavian 10 Ogalala 47 Okinawa 10, 11, 18, 32 Old Saint Mary's 18 Oldendorf, Admiral Jesse 29, 32, 53 Olympia, WA 53 Operation Sea Orbit 32 Oregon 23 Osmon, S. 27 P Pacific Bridge Company 28 Pacific Fleet 11, 14, 20 Pacific Islands 10 Pacific Ocean 10, 14 Padang Field Concert 18 Painter,W.L. 28 Palace Hotel Dance 18 Palau Island 18, 48 Palchefsky, Mike 43 Pallamary, Mickey 18 Panama 19, 54 Panama Canal 11, 17, 37 Panama City 20, 37 Panyon, P.P. 43 Pardee, F 14 Pardee, George C. 14 Park, Ralph 52 Parker, R.V. 43 Pav1in,B.F. 27 Pax Britannica 11 Pearl Harbor 10, 11, 17, 18, 20, 21, 23, 27, 28, 29,31 32, 39, 42, 43, 44, 45: 46, 48 Pearson, G. 27 Penhollow, Murray 48 Pennock,A.M. 14 Pennsylvania 14 Perry, Joe 53 Persian Gulf War 13 Perth,Austra1ia 36 Pharris,J.C. 26, 27 Philadelphia Naval Base 39 Philadelphia Navy Yard 32 Philippine Islands 10, 11, 14, 3 32, 49, 50, 51, 52 Pitco1e,R.L. 56 Pluard, F.D. 27 Port Orchard Center 18 Portsmouth, NH 14, 15 Portsmouth, NH, Navy Yard 48 Portugal 10 Prange, Gordon W. 21 President Roosevelt 20 Price, E.V. 27 Price, Forrest M. 32 Pruitt CDD-3473 16 Prune Barge 18, 20, 21, 29, 31, 32, 36, 38, 39, 46, 51 Puget Sound Navy Yard 17, 20, 28, 32 Pulaski, TN 54 Punic Wars 10 Pye, Admiral William S. 21, 22, 43 Q Quasi-War 11 Queen Elizabeth 36 R Recreation Center 18 Redondo, CA 11 Reeves, T.J. 27 Richardson, James O. 20 Robbins Drydock Company 15 Rountree, W.H. 27 Royal Hawaiian Hotel 48 Royal Navy 11 Rudden, T.J. 27 Rutledge, J. 43 S Sacramento, CA 31, 39 Saipan 29, 39, 48 Salt Lake City 48 Samoa 14, 20 Samuel, H. 27 San Diego 10, 15, 48 San Diego, CA 36, 37 San Diego Training Station 47 San Francisco 10, 14, 15, 18, 37, 38 San Francisco Bay 10 San Francisco Forty-niners 10 San Pablo Bay 16 San Pedro 18, 19, 20, 37 San Pedro, CA 11 San Pedro Harbor 37, 54 San Pedro Miguel 37 Santiago Island 32 Santo, Billy 47 Satt1er,R. 49 Schmidt, Ervin O. 48 Scott, Dan 53 Sea ofJapan 48 Seattle 38 Seattle, WA 21, 37 Seeadler Harbor 31 Senters, Clyde 46 Servicemen's Center 18 Settle, R.L. 27 Seven Years' War 10 Seventh Fleet 49, 50 Shanghai 32 Shamian, Chuck 23 Shelly, R.K. 43 Shoji Nishimura 31 Sicily ll Singapore 18, 32, 36, 49 Sitka Sound 36 Ski Lman, J.H. 27 Sky Forward 52 Smith, Charles J. 36 Smith, Chet 18 Solomon Islands 10, 23, 38 South Dakota 17 2 Soviet Union 14 SP-249 15 Spain 10 Spanish-American War 11 Stage Door Canteen 18 Statue of Liberty 38 Stephens, William D. 16 Stocker, Clara B. 15 Stone,E.E. 21, 27 Straights of Magellan 14 Straits of Gibraltar 30 Streeter, C.L. 27 Sulu Sea 32 Sumatra 49 Sumpman, R.S. 43 Suiigao Strait 31, 32, 39, 50, 52 Sutterls Mill 10 Svensen, Oscar 22 Swacker, Stu 53 Swain, Roscoe 52 T Tacoma 23 Takeo Yoshikawa 21 Tampa, FL 15 Tanapag Harbor 29 Task Force 38 50, 52, 53 Task Force 58 29 Task Force 95 32 Tasmania 49 Taylor, L. S. 27 Tennessee 16, 17 Tennessee CNo. 435 15 TG 52.17 29 TG 77.2 32 Theis, R.E. 43 Tinian Island 29, 48 Tokyo Rose 50 Tompkinville 15 Toth, H.J. 27 Toth, James 31 Tsuken Shima Island 18 Tumer, Gordon 53 Tumer, Richard K. 29 Two Bottle Tavem 18 U U.S. Armored Cruiser Squadron 14 Ulithi 18, 32 Underwood, R.C. 27 Union Iron Works 14 United States 10, 11, 14, 15, 18 USA 27th Division 18 USA Evac. Hospital if 25 18 USA Signal HQ Dance 18 USN Base Hospital if 15 18 USN Base Hospital 44 3 18 USN Base Hospital if 6 18 USN Main Base 18 USN Seaplane Base 18 USO Bremerton 18 USO Oak Street 18 USO Seattle 18 USO Tacoma 18 USS Gansevoort 28 USS America 36 USS Arizona 21, 23, 43, 46 USS Arkansas 18 USS Astoria 23 USS Atlanta 23 USS Bagley 21 USS Bainbridge 32, 33 USS Briareus 18 USS Califomia 10, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25.26, 27. 28, 29, 31, 33, 36, 37, 38, 39, 42 43, 48, 49, 54 USS Califomia Band 26, 43 USS Cassin 21, 23 USS Castor 18 USS Chicago 23, 48 USS Colorado 42 USS Crescent City 23 USS Custer 18 USS Detroit 21 USS Downes 21, 23 USS Enterprise 32 USS Halford 23 USS Harrison 18 USS Hector 18 USS Helena 21, 22 USS Hogatt Bay 18 USS Honolulu 21 USS Iowa 13 USS JacoQLand 18 USS Kearsarge 14 USS Leon 18 USS Long Beach 32 USS Makin Island 18 USS Maryland 21, 29 USS McKee 18 USS Mississippi 54 USS Missouri 13 USS Nevada 16, 21, 25 USS New Jersey 13, 15 USS New Orleans 21 USS Oglala 22, 23 USS Oklahoma 21 USS Pennsylvania 21, 23, USS Phelps 23, 25 USS Phoenix 21 USS Portland. 23 USS Prometheus 18, 37 USS Raleigh 21 USS Salamana Bay 18 USS San Francisco 21 USS Saury 48 USS Seattle 37 USS Shaw 21 USS Sierra 18 USS Sotoyomo 21 USS South Carolina 33 USS St. Louis 21 USS Tennessee 21, 29, 30, 31, 32 USS Torsk 48 USS Utah 21 USS Van Valkenberg 23 USS Vestal 21 Werthmuller. Roy 48 West Virginia 14 Wlbur Curtis D 37 USS Vincennes 23 , ' ' , A P USS West Virginia 21, 22, 31 yill1arrirXdlgLdl23l4 - - 1 son, ' x N USS Wisconsin 13 WilS0n,K,LM 27 V Wilson, Woodrow 15 Vallejo, CA 15, 38 Vandiver, James R. 48 Viequez Sound 37 Vietnam War 13 Vireo CAM-525 22 Winslow, John Al 14 Wiser, Cordell 54 WorldWarl ll. 13. 14 WorldWarI1 ll, 13, 14 lv Virginia 15 Y Yamatos 13 W Yamishiro 31 Waite, J.E. 27 YMCA 18 Wa1ker,W, 27 Yokosuka 32 Wallace, H. 27 Wallace, Ray A. 48 Z Wallin, Admiral Homer N. 17, 20 Zachary, Clinton 23 Wanat, Frank 43 Zane, Barbara Stephens 16 Ward,D.E. 27 Ziegemeier, Henry J. 16 19 Warris, Commander F.J. 28 Welch, Bill 53 S M, 5 .MW lx 'M mmm is , Q WR , vi - sm . xg., 4 1 , -il E m ,. X 351, M gn , , -Q--5,-, vii A 'J Vw 3 , . VJ , .QQ ' -' ,Q zwg.. ' mf? f ,, af, , Q43 - .Q 1 . 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