California (BB 44) - Naval Cruise Book

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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.

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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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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.