California (BB 44) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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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

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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.