California (BB 44) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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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.

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