California (BB 44) - Naval Cruise Book

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then fall of 1949-1952, reported for duty on USS Norton for three years. They shot offthe first experimental tnissile, 1952-1954, had shore duty at CBC Base, Port Hveneme, CA. They have three daughters, all nurses. He retired frotn shore duty at CBC Base Port Hveneme, CA, 1955. Now lives in Oxnard, CA. He was awarded the WWII Victory Medal, American Defense, American Theater, Asiatic-Pacific, Good Conduct with five stars, China Service, National Defense and Philippine Liberation. RUDOLPH M. BALDWIN, Commander, USN, born April 23, 1909. Enlisted in the Navy 1926, at age of 17. After Boot Camp at Norfolk, VA, he was assigned to USS Calfornia, he spent several years aboard Calgfarnia. In 1937, he and his brother Maurice G. Baldwin served aboard USS Calyfornia. He spent time in South Pacific, tour shore duty at Naval Station Tutuila-Samoa. He retired 1950 the thinksj with 24 years, was called back three years later and sent to Alaska for two years. Chief Yeoman Baldwin was serving aboard USS Calyfarnia Dec. 7, 1941, when the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor. He did a heroic act during those few minutes. The Calgfornia was badly damaged, the commander was ashore for weekend. Chief Baldwin gave orders to flood the ship, so would sink straight down and to abandon ship HI do not know this for a fact, fquoted Bertha Baldwinj 'tHe did get a Letter of Commendation. He was married to Betty, they had a daughter Trudy and a son Reed. Mr. Baldwin did spend time duty at Bureau. Chief Baldwin was authorized to wear following ribbons. World War II Victory Medal, Medal Campaign Service, Defense Service, American Defense, American Theater Campaign C1941-19451Asiatic-Pacific Theater. Unlimited emergency proclaimed by the President on May 27, 1941. A medal, Remember Pearl Harbor, for those who served Dec. 7, 1941 for service during the limited emergency proclaimed by President, Sept. 8, 1939. 'Tm sure there are more medals, I do not know. Chief Commander Baldwin received orders to serve on the staff of the Supreme Commander, Feb. 26, 1960. He was laid to rest in the Arlington Cemetery, Arlington, VA, with a 21 gun salute, near President Kennedy. ,I.C. BANKS, born April 22, 1918, Mt. Vernon, TX. Joined Navy Aug. 20, 1940, at Salt Lake City, UT. Boot training at San Diego, CA. Transported via Saratoga to Hawaii for assignment to 3rd Division aboard Calyfornia. 'W-.cf wifi 5: Hilti? Stayed in 3rd Div. for about a year before being transferred to Engineering Department, A Division, about two months before Pearl Harbor. December 7, 1941: I hadjust opened my locker to get a white hat to go up to the forecastle when the attack came. Upon arriving at my station, fuel oil transfer station 1113, the first torpedo hit us. My first thought was that the main battery had been fired. When the order was given to abandon ship, l swam to Ford Island, where I stayed for a couple of nights before eventual transfer to the USS lwrllfzrzd, where 1 stayed for two years. V Upon being discharged he settled in Dallas. IX. lle retired as air conditioning and sheet metal worker. RAYMOND ALBERT BARBEZAT, Division B, born Filer, ID, March 12, 19183 enlisted USN Nov. 10, 1939. Boot camp: San Diego. Assigned to USS Calyarnlu, Jan. 1, 1940: after Pearl Harbor attack assigned first to the USS Astoria, then USS Anglo CVE-57. Participated in 15 battles. ,lp AJ f Q' ' During attack he and Eve others were trapped in the lower shell handling room outboard turret if2. Hatch sprung on first torpedo hit and water poured in from overhead. Waste deep in water, they finally gained access to turret 1452. Several days later, he learned his parents had been accidentally notified of his death. While on Astoria, received shrapnel wounds which caused a ten month hospital tour. Returned to duty August 1943, aboard CVE-57. Discharged Nov. 28, 1945, WT 1! c. Married, with three sons. Retired steamfitter and pipefitter. JOHN W. BARDEN, bom Dec. 31, 1913, Spencertown, NY. Enlisted Navy April 26, 1934. Trained at Norfolk, VA, reported to USS Calyfornia at Newport, RI, July 26, 1934. Served on Caljornia 11 years. Enlisted rates: App. Seaman to CPO. Officer ranks: WO, Ens., Lt. CJ.G.j. . t, .I 4 I My X 3 0 AW YQ ' F Q B A Y a , W 2 5 yy f , W December 7, 1941, in charge of all counter flooding to keep ship from capsizing after torpedo hit. Then transferred to Pacific Bridge Corp. for temporary duty as a diver to assist on raising or salvage of many ships. Sailed to Bremerton, WA, Oct. 1942, on re-floated Calyfornia for re-fitting to retum to fleet. Took part in assault on Marianas Islands and in the battle of Surigawa Strait. Served as Repair Officer, X-Division, R Division and Ships Diving Officer until transfer November 1944. Other Navy service: USS Fall Riven USS Salt Lake City, Bikini Operation, Cross Roads, Staff Com. 13, USS Pickaway, Nav. Phib. Tra. Unit, Coronado, CA, C.O.LSM 226, Division Com. LSM Division 12, Staff Com Phib Gru ffl, Nav. School Com, Newport, RI, StaffAmphib Sqd. 43. C.O. BMU one until retired May 1, 1964, in-grade of Cdr. USN. Awards!Meda1s: Navy Occupation, National Defense, Good Conduct with three stars, American Defense, Korean Service with two stars, United Nations, CSM. Philippine PUC., WWII Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation, Korean PUC, Vietnam PUC, Asiatic PAC with three stars, Navy Commendation, t2J each with medal pendant and stars awarded in action. Married Marjorie Chadbournc, one daughter. two granddaughters and two great-grandchildren. CLYDE JAMES BARNES, born May 29, 1918, in Mountain Grove, MO. Joined USN St. Louis. MO, Sept. 8, 1936. Assigned to USS Califiwiizi Division 5, from Great Lakes Boot Camp, January 1937. Transferred to V Division October 1937. Worked as plane captain on Aircraft 2--tl.-9 in 1939 and 1940. Promoted to AMMXIC .lune 19-10. llonorablc discharge from V altffirma fr mtiffrt 'fu , '50, 1940 World War II. Graduated LSNIS Officer'-, Sefton F' Trumbull, New London, CT, with rank of ensign. Sexes as USCG Licensed Officer in CS Nlercriant Nlarigues 5. Atlantic, Pacific and Aleutian War Zones ir. the 194712. Honorable discharge from USCG in 1945. Returned to Commercial Aviation 1945. Race. Federal Licenses as pilot, AEQE mechanic. and rriaintena inspector. Spent total of 40 years in awiation. Retire: Phoenix, AZ, as an overhaul crew chief from Nonrfffe Airline on Dec. 31, 1980. Married since Jan. 19, 1941. hate two sons an: grandchildren. JOHN EDDIE BARNES. USN. LSNR. born Jan. 1, 1928, in Denver. CO, joined Navy Jan. 6. 19-15. Baci Camp at Great Lakes, troop train to OGL' Shoemaker. CA.. AA an-, S. 1 1 then Bremerton, WA. as replacement for radioman killed on Calyfornia during Battle of Surigao Strait. Passed Radioman 3rd. not given rate as ship placed in Nlothball Fleet. Remained aboard until ship was decommissioned in 1947, transferred to Clzazzdelezirz discharged Dec. 31. 1945. Joined Reserves and accepted in OCS. Studied Court Reporting in Philly and Denver. first job Federal Conn. Guam, 1950. Retired from Court Reporting 1975. Participated in Battle of Okinawa. Minesweeping duties. Yellow River-China Sea. and Occupation of Japan. Awarded American Defense Medal. Asiatic-Pacific. two stars, Philippine Liberation. Good Conduct. one star. and WWII Victory Medal. Married Peggy Guckin. three children, five grandchildren. Now collect. study and xx nts aboutjade. Cancer took Peggy Feb. 21. 1991. Diagnosed with Leukemia April 1. 1992. Youngest man aboard in 19-L5 EMIL E. BARTYLLA. Division L. known .ts the lookout division: Seaman 2!c. Bom Broxverville. BIN. Dee 24, 1925. Drafted into the Navy Nov. 14. 19-1-1. Locations stations: US Naval Training Station. Farragut. ID: LSS Calybrnia, BB--14: USS Denver: CL-58. Memorable experiences: mine sn eeptng nt the Chitra Sea: participated in the bombardment that cox ered the landings on Okinawa. liberties in Tokyo and NN'ak.tttoi'.i Wan. Japan: held the same battle station .t former sehoolmate ol' his nas killed on. by .t katnikaxe h1edalsfaw.trtlsi .-Xtneriean t'.unpaign. Pacific -Xrea.

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J.H. Al4'.tai1tIr'i' on the FSS f't1lifori11'c1 liolding a pistol .for K1 Ivpical photo opporfiuiitvv to swid lmnw to Mom and Dari, Block Room. The Forward Battery Locker, and The Forvv ard Distribution Room of the USS Califiirriia. Also numerous medals. Retired in Seattle June 1955, with the rank of chief electrician. Resided in Tacoma. WA. then Long Beach, Ca, was electrician with Norris. IN. 14 years, moved to Oceanside 1984. Was member of Elks. and Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. Married to Barbara 42 years, three sons and four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. After Barbara's death. married Lillian. Leslie passed away Jan. 17, 1991, from complications of bladder cancer. ROBERT L. ALLBERRY, Signalman 2nd Class, bom Omaha. NE. Jan. 8. 1925. Enlisted U.S. Navy, January 1942. Served at Bremerton, WA, and Pacific. Memorable experiences include suicide plane hitting USS Calyfornia. Discharged May 1946. Married, seven children and nine grandchildren. Deceased May 1988, retired U.S. West executive. DAVID G. ALTHOUSE, CBM KAAJ, USN, born Feb. 26. 1918. Enlisted in the service Jan. 27, 1937. He was stationed in the South Pacific. .yi . at ' i illiliwt .. ' 1 1' ,tiliqlllll ,ft at ft ' ' . 1'1t1ii .l',i ' . 'lti 1 ll'i,1i'lall1litt'. ll lllllll l ' . tflllttw it ilt. lllllit i, , ll at is iil ill l m W lllltlllllt t iii-tri 'Nil it by P. ti:-ll -. wmw I . it-1 i iiis w www? it 1 1 ,W W alla ilu l ill glut l i l il ' 'Qlff'wf l l ll' W' if Dec. 7, 1941, serving aboard USS California, Division 7, assigned to rig for church services on forecastle under awning. He saw the first Japanese planes making their torpedo runs. Dived below deck calling out the alarm before general quarters sounded. Went to battle station in central stations and listened to bombs and torpedoes hitting ship. Decks above central station flooded. When abandon ship: was ordered, escaped from central station through escape tube. Assigned temporarily to anti-aircraft battery set up around Pearl Harbor. Transferred to USS West Virginia for salvage duty early in 1942. Shortly after the attack, his parents were notified by telegram that he was missing in action. Each of them at Pearl were permitted to send a postcard home saying they were okay which he did. After the West Wrgznia was raised and temporarily patched up, they sailed the ship to Bremerton Navy Yard in Washington for modernization and refitting. ln May 1944, they sailed to South Pacific to continue the struggle. The ship participated in the Philippine Liberation. Iwo Jima, Okinawa. and finally into Japan lor the signing of the surrcndcr aboard the Mi.v.wiu'i. Then hack to Hawaii where their ship participated in ferrying men with enough points for discharge to the mainland. On their second trip to Haw aii. the medical doctor aboard ship diagnosed his illness as a moderately advanced case ofT.B. Sent to Navy hospital in Hawaii. transferred to hospital ship, ashore in Oakland. flew to Corona Navy Hospital. underwent series of operations on chest. finally discharged with medical survey in March of 1947. He has an 80'k, permanent disability. He was awarded the WWII Victory Medal. American Medal. Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four bronze stars. Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two bronze stars, Good Conduct Medal with one star and the American Defense Service Medal with one bronze star. He was married to May Patricia and they had a daughter Linda Kay. ALBERT W. APPEL, Gunnersmate First Class, bom Anna, IL, Jan. 29, 1917. Enlisted in USN Sept. 5, 1939, serving as Gunnersmate lst Class, lst Division. Training station San Diego, USS Calnfornia BB44, USS Queens AP103, Gunnery School San Diego, CA. Advanced Gunnery School Gun Factor Washington, D.C. Participated in battles at Iwo Jima. Memorable experiences include helping raise USS Calnfornia BB44 from the bottom of Pearl Harbor. Discharged Sept. 27, 1945, with the rank of gunnersmate first class. Married Eva Rose Appel, Dec. 12, 1942, two daughters. Retired the past 17 years, worked for Caterpillar Tractor Company, Inc. for 31 years. CARLOS J. BADGER, LCDR USN tRet.J, bom April 14, 1902, Salt Lake City, UT. Admitted Naval Academy on July 13, 1918, commissioned ensign on June 6. 1922. Joined Calnfornia Bremerton July or August 1922. Boiler and F. Div. Won Dinghy Sailing Championship Battle Fleet 1922. USS Argonne 1923-24. USS Truxrun 1924-27. In command U.S. forces ashore protecting Shanghai Intemational settlement 1925 and 1926. Broke down with t.b. 600 miles up Yangtze Jan. 1. 1927. Retired lieutenant junior grade May 1928. Studied law University of Utah and Stanford. Graduated latter with Llb. and J.D. degrees in 1931. Practiced law Utah until called back to duty in WWII. Officer in charge Primary Radar School Logan, UT, 1942-43. Staff Commander Westem Sea, 1943-45. Retired as LCDR December 1945. Practiced law San Francisco, 1945-47, Modesto 1947 to present. Won case in Supreme Court United States. Married twice. three daughters, eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren. Medals: WWI Victory Medal, two China Expeditionary, American Theater. Qualified expert with rifle and pistol, Naval Academy and WWII. WILLIS P. BAILEY, USN. born on April 13, 1912, Dunn. NC. died Feb. 2, 1985. He was buried in Cypress, FA. with Military Honors. and a Masonic Memorial Service. He leaves his wife, and son and two grandsons. He joined the Navy in the year 1928, at the age of 16, signed in at 18. Won the Light Heavy Weight Boxing Championship belt in 1938. He was assigned on the USS C'ulifhrniu, and was on board on Dec. 7, 1941, when Pearl Harbor was bombed. He was one of the survivors. He did duty in Japan during the time of occupied Japan. From 1950 to 1952, he was company commander at the U.S. Navy Training Center in San Diego, CA. The San Diego Training Center was his last Navy duty. He retired in the year 1952. NEIL D. BAKER SR., Slfc, Plainfield, NJ, bom Jan. 26, 1926. Enlisted Sept. 6, 1943, Salt Lake City, UT, Navy, USS Caliornia Div. 2, USNTS Farragut. Idaho, USS Calyfornia. is yy ' , K .ly v UQ .4 fi 9 Marianas Operation Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Leyte Operation, Leyte Landings: Luzon Operation, Lingayen Gulf Landing, Assault occupation of Okinawa Gunto 3rd Fleet Operation against Japan. Medals!Awa.rds: Pacific Theater Ribbon with one starg WWIIQ American Theater Ribbong Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars: and Victory Medal. Discharged Bainbridge, MD, March 18, 1946, Slfc. He and his wife Mary, have six daughters. three sons, 28 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Retired. MAURICE G. BALDWIN, Skc USN, bom March 9, 1915. Enlisted in military Nov. 8. 1934, at Indianapolis, IN. After Boot Camp at Norfolk, VA. He was assigned to the USS Calnfornia. After his first four years, June 1938, he got a discharge to farm. It didn't work out. October 1, 1938, he married Bertha M. Bingham of Alfordsville, IN, and re-enlisted the last of October of 1938. He requested assignment back to the USS Calnfornia which was in Long Beach at the time, on which his brother Rudolph M. Baldwin was stationed. When he reported aboard in the fall of November of 1938, he had orders to go to China, for a tour of two years. From November of 1938 to December of 1941, Che did 27 monthsj after the attack on Pearl Harbor, he was with VP 84, which was being formed in Norfolk, VA, 1941-1943, first two years of war, he outfitted PBY's at NAS in San Diego. later reported for duty aboard the aviation Supply Barge YF-611. He was one of the plank owners that put the USS Kearxarge in Commission. From 1947-1949. had tour shore duty in San Diego.

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.K at .X taiiiit- stats. mi it x it-ian twist-ii.ii-gt-it -tug is. nuts. i eonian. llc Nlarried Plivllis in 1950. three daughters. one son. .ine gi'.nidclnldi'en Was an .tutornotiv e parts nianagei tor ' - ' w .4 years and tlien .tn engineerin.nntenanee tor -tl years. Today lie ls retired in NN'oodbut'y. MN .JOHN T. BASHAN1. S lac. born Yt1baCity.CA. Sept. l'. 191-1 Fnlisted May 27. 19-l3.l'SNR.1Nlilitary locations and stations lie served vs ere NTS. Farracut. ID. 5 WRC. L SS kldfIltlI'!1IiI 1943 to December 1946. All battles USS tltritortzitr was in after Bremerton. NSY. WA. until niotliballed in Plnllv Avi ardsfmedals: Asiatic-Pacific four stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one star. Discharged Feb. 21. 1946. Shoemaker. CA, with the rank of Src. Married Ruth J. Mogg. Aug. 13. 1947, one son, Jim R. Basham. bom 1952: tvvo grandchildren, Jim and Terry. Retired from Operating Engineers Local Union No. 3. after 35 years. NILRRAY D. BAXTER, Chief Yeoman QPAJ. born Bravvley. CA. July 24. 1922. Enlisted Aug. 9, 1940, U.S. Navy. C Div. USS Calnbrnia CBB-443. Locations served: CSS Calrtbrnia receiving station, Pearl Harbor, T.H., USS rm-rn tDD 7941 Nav Barracks. Washington D.C., Fleet Service School. Naval Repair Base, San Diego, CA, HQ llth Nas al District San Diego, CA. Battles participated include Pearl Harbor. Midway, Eniwetok, Philippine, etc. Everything throughout South Pacific while on board USS Irwin tDD 7941. 1 Jw F A ' B 7 1 .Sign .X .67 Z f 4 . 1 W! Z e ,t -. , X , , if 4 355.5 ' , Q -5 it 1. '- af ak gy if z 35 I y f - -as 1 ' 0 fa W , ff fy f , gg., 1... I ' 7 'L . ' gf , ar X . Av. ardsfmedalsz American Area, Asiatic-Pacific. Philippine Liberation. American Defense. WWII Victory Medal. Good Conduct. Air Force Commendation Medal. Bronze Star. Discharged from USN Aug. 9, 1946. retired from IQSAF June 30. 1967. as CMSgt KE-91. Married Sammie Lee Poore. two sons and one daughter. still have same wife. Today spends his time playing golf. fishing, travel, goofing off. enjoying life, etc. Celebrated 50th Wedding Anniversary Feb. 10. 19941 HAROLD ALLEN BEAM, Corporal, born Hooks. TX. Feb. 3. 1919. Enlisted May 9. 1940. U.S. Marine Corps. Cpl G Division. Served aboard USS California, USS fltllllllfltlllltl..lIltllVl11llllCl,ll. Marine Recruit Depot San l1iego.l X.C'ainpl1lliotl'anip MeCay. New Zealand. Battles participated include Pearl Harbor and tiuadalcanal Discharged Jan. 25. 1945. with the rank sergeant. lklarried Anti Babcock June 1955, four children. three sons and one daughter. and seven grandchildren. Retired after 35 years in teaching and administration in the public schools. Currently teaching part-time in Vernon Junior College. HAROLD BEAN. National Chairman, USS Culmfrnia Association. born June 1925, in Sorento, IL. One of nine children of Fletcher and Irene Bean. Eight boys and one girl. which were two sets of twins. which he and his twin Gerald were of older set. Bruce and Burl younger set, Burl died at six months of pneumonia. Their father passed away at age 43 in 1932. All eight children were still at home, oldest being 20 youngest being 3. Five of the boys served in military. First three went to the Army. he broke tradition and followed by another brother in the Navy. His twin Gerald and he, are only two left of the family. Was bom in 1925, in small town of Sorento, IL, with three older brothers in Army, when he reached 18, he volunteered for service, without his twin knowing, and when given choice of branch he wanted, he broke tradition and went Navy. To Boot training Farragut, ID, Co. 747 Camp Scott in September - October 1943. Then to Bremerton to BB 44 USS Calyfornia where he spent rest of his Navy career. Was in lower powder room of Turret 142. Until kamikaze hit in Lingayon Gulf, transferred to 10th to Quad 10 above turret 413. Where the kamikaze plane hit the control tower above. Later transferred to L Div. His memories of his first visit to Hawaii. The first day in action at Saipan. Where they bombarded most of day. And the first hit they took from shore battery, killing one. Then of after bombardments of Guam and Tinian on way to New Hebredes, the USS Tennessee collided with us killing numerous number of crew. The large floating dry-dock there, where repairs were made. Then on to the Philippines with invasion of Leyte, then the historic sea battle of Surigao Strait. Where Calyfornia is credited with sinking of Japanese's battleship. Then to Lingayen Gulf where again suffered casualties from kamikaze hit. Back to states, back to Okinawa, China Seas and War End. Their trip and visit to Japan and Tokyo Bay and Tokyo itself. The around the world cruise via stops at Singapore, Ceylon and Cape Town to Philadelphia Navy Yard arriving Dec. 7, 1945, discharged at Great Lakes March 20, 1946. Returned home to work rest of his life on different railroads with last 30 with Nickle Plate and Norfolk and Westem Railways. USS Calyfornia Association. Idea of keeping the crew together came to him while he was still aboard ship. He was S lfc in 2nd Div. t14 gunsj then to 10th Div. 140mm gunsl. He met with LCDR Kenealy-Chaplain: his ideas of reunions which he was IHOSI supportive of. He arranged for Bean to meet and give his ideas to CDR Mayfield Exec- officer. After the discussions, CDR Mayfield advised he would do his utmost to see Bean received a complete list of all that served aboard beginning Jan. 1, 1944. That he would receive this list before ship arrived states. and before all were discharged. After War. they arrived in Philadelphia Naval Ship Yard. Where ship was to be mothballed and placed in Atlantic Reserve Fleet. He went to meet with CDR Mayfield in regards to this list, only to learn he had already departed on arrival. tHe was toldb. No one in his office knew of the roster. Bean almost gave up the idea. In 1953, with the idea of getting the crew back together. he visited a former shipmate S lfc Michael Coleman F Div. 43-46. who had a list of 120 names and addresses. List was about seven years old. His initial idea was to contact only 43-46 crew, those that were aboard after ship was rebuilt. As he had no idea, as how to contact those that served aboard earlier. The response was a most pleasant surprise. As most wrote they were interested. But more surprising was. when he had notices placed in Military magaaines. He not only heard from the 43-46 crew, but Pearl Harbor crew those ofthe 1930s. 1920s. and yes even 10 of original crew. Plus also the Marines. This was very exciting to him. DORCIE GLENN BEA RBOWER, discharge rating S.l'.1. Born in Brandon, IA, June 3, 1902. Enlisted Dec. 29, 1924. Went to Great Lakes for training, To New York to board the USS C 'ulrforniu and down through the Panama Canal to lionie port San Pedro. In-and-out lor battle practice. In 1925, trip to Honolulu - had a mock battle to take Pearl Harbor, but No Can Dol Then on to Sydney Australia, Auckland, New Zealand. and back to San Pedro. Then up and down the coast to Bremerton Navy Yard to trade their hammocks for those nice hunks and locker and many more happy experiences. In 1927,just before being paid off with a honorable discharge twith a Good Conduct Medall, he helped to get stell from the repair ship Medusa, to install a catapult on top of the 413 turret. Also had orders to take caulking gun to eaulk any rivet that showed a leak at the keel or elsewhere. Their chief and captain had been concerned about this for sometime. ......i.-J., In December of 1941, right after Pearl Harbor, his wife Martha twho was expectingl, their daughters Stacy Lee, age 7, and Sharon Dee, age 5, went to Des Moines, IA, so he could re-enlist in the Navy. The Hospital Corpsman who did his examination was from the USS Calyfornia. He told him that due to his age, 39, they couldn't take him, but that he could get in the First Battalion of the Sea Bees. He signed up on Dec. 29, 1941, and again went to Great Lakes for training. Then on to Quonset Point, RI, for extensive schooling, then on to Camp Allen-Norfolk, VA, for final training with a very strict Marine. then their final graduation, After graduation, in May they boarded the USS Nevelle for the Southwest Pacific. via the Panama Canal. After days they were approached by a USS destroyer that shot a message to them for the captain. He came down from the bridge and read the message to all hands. The next night, which was their 31st day out, they went ashore at Tonga Asmall Island, in a nice gentle rain. Some of the crew had tents. but his buddies and he found three coconut trees, especially for them in order to hang their hammocks and their rifles, of course they had Ponchos to keep them dry-HAI HAI He thinks it rained some time during the day for a month or more while they were unloading the ship. Their cook would prepare the food and some of the boat crew and he would take chow to the crew. They worked two 12- hour shifts until the ship was unloaded. One of his duties also, was to wake up each person on the night shift. He must say. they had men of all ages who really got in there and got the job done, NOW! They did all kinds of work at Tonga. After a year and better they went on further to New Hebrides to join the other half of their First Battalion. This is where he was severely injured and sent to Auckland. and met Marvin Shector from the USS CaIU'0rnia 1927, then on to Pearl Harbor for further repairs. After a month or so he was sent to Seattle, WA, and the Navy Hospital. Dr. Haven. a commander really did the job by installing a Tantalum plate in his skull. The plate is approximately 2 in diameter and .064 thick. will not rust or corrode. What a Doctor! He was the best, and was from his home-town. Waterloo, IA. He was discharged March 1944. He has survived to be 92 years old with the same wife, Martha tfor 66 yearsl and their two lovely daughters Stacy and Sharon, their children, and their son D. Wayne, bom May 29. 1942. while he was still in Tonga Tabu. and his children. He woulf like to thank all of the doctors who made this possible, and above all, our Gracious Loving, Healing Father. HUGH WINSTON BEDINGFIELD, Ens. USNR. bom Bartow, GA. Jan. 15. 1923. Enlisted November 1942, Navy V7 Program, USN. EVG. while on Calmzrnia was in B Division and later A Division. July - October 1943. Vl2. Program at GA Techy November 1943 - February 1944, Midshipman's School. Colombia UniversityL March 1944 - June 1945, USS Calijbrniug July 45 - June 1946, NAS Dallas and NAS Corpus Christi. Participated in battles at Saipan. Tinian. Guam. Leyte Gulf. Surigao Strait. Lingayen Gulf.