California (BB 44) - Naval Cruise Book

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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.

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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