California (BB 44) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 106 text:

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

Page 105 text:

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.

Page 107 text:

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