California (BB 44) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 74 text:

barring was out on the electric motor. He reported to Lt. Wilson and Lt. Dulling that he could fix the gun with the help of the machine shop on the ship, which they did. So they had 12 working guns, instead of ll. He wanted all grins in working order if at all possible, in the situation the way it was. The battles he was in were Guam. Tinian, Leyte, Surigao, Lingayen Gulf and Okinawa. His medals are: American Defense Service Medal, American Area Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon ttwo Bronze Starsl. He was discharged on Oct. 15, 1945, as a electrians mate lst class. CEMllcJ. In 1946, he married Doris Paul. They had seven children, one deceased at birth, six surviving children, Corliss, Doris, Mary, Betty, Brenda and Clyde. Several grandchildren. He is a retired lineman and is enjoying gardening and growing old. Submitted by daughlen Betty Williams. ROBERT L. CROYLE, USNR, was bom June 21, 1922, in Spokane, WA, joined the Navy in October 1942, and went on active duty in February 1943. He went to boot camp at NTS, San Diego, W and was selected for training , 'suggg as a radiolradar technician jj ' ,W f which led to training f ' Z 1 assignments at the Naval s P Reserve Armory, Chicago, IL, University of Houston and the Fleet Electronics , .K-Q- , I fy l fffhf f Q ff . 14 School, Treasure Island, A f CA, graduating with the rating of RT2lc. X In April 1944, was assigned to USS Calgfornia, C-R Division, just prior to her deployment from San Francisco to the Saipan Operation. He remained aboard BB44 for the balance of his Navy career having been re-assignment to I Division prior to his discharge at PSC, Bremerton, WA, February 8, 1946, with the rating of ETM1lc. After the WWII, he earned a BSEE degree and worked for Philco Corp, G.E. Co., and Honeywell Inc., retiring in 1982. He married Ann on April ll, 1953, and they have two daughters Karen and Nancy. WILLARD DANLEY, Corporal, USMC, born Bismarck, ND, March 11, 1924. Enlisted July 2, 1942, USMC, Anti Aircraft Battery, G Division, USS Calnfornia. Served the following locations: Boot Camp Navel Air Station Sea School, San Diego, Navy Yard, Bremerton, WA, USS Calyforniag Aleutians Adack, Dutch Harbor, Great Lakes, Norfolk, VA. Participated in following battles Marianas, Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Philippines, Leyte Gulf, Surigao Strait, Luzon, Okinawa. nr' Memorable experiences include hit by Japanese shell offSaipan, Sea Battle Surigao Strait, and the day hit by the kamikaze oll Luzon. AwardslMedals1 American 'lheaterg Asiatic Pacilit. Service Medal with four stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars, Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, flood Conduct Medal. Discharged July 2, 1946, with the rank of corporal. He is married and has two children. Retired. EDWARD A. DAVIS, leirecontrolrrian, USN, 1' Division. Enlisted Aug. 14, 1940. Served aboard Califorrziu March 1941. Reported missing after Pearl Harbor. Put on guard duty around fuel tanks. Must have missed a muster. Transferred USS Louisville for three campaigns, then Aleutians. Transferred to V12 Officer Training. Back to USS Wisconsin, then USS AJ. Luke. Discharged Aug. 10, 1946. Recalled October 1950, USS Essex, then USS Antiezam. Discharged August 1951. NAPA Parts salesman in Pendleton, OR. Retired in 1987. , fu f 7 f f'.,Qv'Z, ' . ,, ff f, , 'f M f . C ., 531 ,f f :fe wi ' 0 7 ff W f sf 4 Qf fl Mn -Y ff f f isa f N f ' em' f J 1 a , Q I v f l ,r , 'Y ' I f f. la if ,uf , 4 1, . ,fiwf - ff :Tw iff' 9. ,, ' Q7 ' I H af 4 , ,ya A I - t 7 f 8 L fy 1 Davis married in 1945. He and his wife moved to cattle ranch near Long Creek, OR, next door to their daughter. Have two daughters and five grandchildren. Member of Pearl Harbor Survivors Association and USS Calqbrnia Association. Awarded usual service ribbons with five campaign stars for WWII. ERNEST E. DAVISON, MMCR, bom Dalton, NE, Aug. 16, 1919. Enlisted Sept. 8, 1939, U.S. Navy, Division A-B-M. Served following locations: Naval Training Station San Diego, CA, Nov. 10, 1939-Aug. 20, 1946, USS Calnfornia BB44, USS Delta AR9, Philadelphia Group Atlantic Reserve Fleet SubGrpTwo, Civil Administration Unit, Yap Island, Bremerton Group Pacific Reserve Fleet, U.S. Naval Group, Jammat, Golcuk, Turkey, USS M.J. Manuel DE351, USS Wilkinson DL5, U.S. Naval Missile Vlarritzil llorr. lrioriipzrtr. f'ifl'1 'ft Mrarult,hitr1reri and one great yraiitlmri . .fa .. CA, Vvfryrlqgrl lryr ll'it,1 ',lly ffl l,'i',fkt1Lfl.:if' , lfff X. lanuary 19962 MORRIS Al.l.IIi DAWSUN, 'W'lf1f', li Ina it born Pittsyl-xariia VA, 'vlarch ffl' 19223 lm-i 1941, Navy Boot fjarrip Norfolk VA prispja aboard USS Yurklnwri, 194142 Pearl l larl'i'fr WA, and Long Beach. CA Participated fri fulfil... ,i USS lvirklown, Coral Sea Midway island 1, SS f fififof 194245, Nflarianas Operations. Saipan. Tinian firf' Leyte Gulf, Philippine Liberation and Ukiria iid 'UW ' Memorable experiences include some good times with shipmates in ports abroad and LSA. AwardsfMedals: received eight major battle stars. th American Defense Service Medal and Asiatic Campaigr. Medal. Discharged Oct. 21. 1945.Norfo1k.VA. vviththe ran of WT 2!c. Morris married Helen Feb. 25. 1945. They hav e three girls and seven grandchildren. Morris vvorked for ADT Securities as sales representative for -10 years. He retired 1988, taken sick Feb. 2, 1990. died July 12. 1990. Morris had asbestosis, he acquired while re-furbishing th CalU'0rnic1. It stayed dormant 45 years. EARL R. DEANER. WT!2. born Lancaster. PA.Api1 20, 1920. Enlisted October 19-ll . Navy. B Division. Sem ed at Norfolk Naval Station. ESS lfbrkroivzi. USS Califbwzttz. USS Wisconsin, USS F0rI.lfIf11ra'01z. Participated in Ccral Sea Battle. Midway Battle. Surigao Strait. Center, Point Mugu, CA. Participated in following battles: Pearl Harbor. Marianas Operation, Leyte Operation tSurigao Straitj, Luzon Operation, Okinawa Operation, Third Fleet Operation against Japan. Memorable experience occurred on Dec. 7, 1941. when they were hit, he was at his GQ station in the shaft alley, with four other men when the word was passed to abandon ship, they tried to get out, but the deck above was flooded. When they came back aboard, someone checked all sound powered phone and contacted us. The only space around them not flooded was the central control room. They couldn't use a torch and ctit them out because of the oil fumes, so they removed the seal over the propeller shaft. they were all thin so they were able to squeeze through the opening. He was one ofthe original crew that remained aboard and helped relloat the ship and bring it back to Bremerton. Awards!Medals: Good Conduct, seven awards, Asiatic- Pacific Campaign, six stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars, American Defense, with one star, American Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Occupation Service Medal, WWll Victory Medal, Pearl Harbor Commcmorntion Medal. Disclrargetl Fleet Reserve .luly 7, 1960, with the rank of MMC. Retired .ltrly 1, 1969. ,se Memorable experiences in Battle of Surigao Strait and also the Good Will Tour. The suicide dive at Leyte Gulf. going into floating dry-dock and being rammed bv USS Tennessee. Awardsllvledalsz Good Conduct N ledal and others ship earned. Discharged Nov. 10, 19-15. xv ith the rank ot'WT l. Married 4-l years and have one son. Retired after' -ll years from Pennsylvania Railroad. enjoying gardening. some traveling. etc. CONCETTO JAY DELUCA. SlC. St. Louis. NIO. Feb. 20. 1926. Enlisted April Ib, 19-1-1. Navy. Povvder Room. 2nd Division. Military locatioiis served include

Page 73 text:

f.1111.1s1 11.1s 1111111111111 111 111111 111 111111. .ts 1111 11115 j1r111l11gQ11 111111l1111111s111a1111111111'1'SS1i.:iit11t'r11.11111 11ett1'1 1111111 11111 1 11.1rs 11111'111g V1 1111 lt is .1 great 1111111 111 1111 sta11111ng 1111 the 111'111g1' 111,11 JI 11111111111 111ss111 11111111111 the steering 11 heel .11111 11111111 111.11 NN 11.11 1 KJLJ 1111 11 111 guide that great ship and itis fine 1'r1'11 111 'ts 111's1111.1t11111 HFRBI-1R'l' E. COONS. 80111111111 lst Class. born 1N.1lWe11.1.MN.Ap1'1l 1. l9l4.F11lis1e11 May 25. 19-13.178, N111 1.8611111111 1s11'lass.D11. 1. l.11111111t1t. SCl'XC1lL11l:11ITi1g1l1. 111 131'e111e111111 N1111 Base. WA. Partie1pa1e11 111 battles at Rel. Saipan. li11i11et1111. Guam. Surigao Strait. Espiritu S.111lU5. Tinian. Mantis. Ley te Gulf. liossol Passage. Memorable experiences: aboard the Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Japan. signing of Peace Treaty by Lt. Gen, Sutherland. Mac.-Xrthur's Chief of Staff. .-X11 arded the Presidential Citation. Discharged Feb. 19. 1946. with the rank ofcoxswain. He and his wife of 46 years, Grace. have four children and five grandchildren. Retired. DLAHNE VV. COOPER, bom Sept. 15. 1914. to a German immigrant mother and an Oklahoma Cherokee father. Duahne Cooper spent his early childhood years on .1 high desert Oregon ranch homesteaded by his parents. After high school graduation in 1932. in Drain, Oregon, he sera ed a tour of duty in the Navy as an enlisted man before returning to complete his bachelor's degree at Oregon State Lniversity. After completion of Officer Training School, he was transferred to the USS California and was aboard when the ship was attacked at Pearl Harbor. He was transferred ts the CSS Ralph Talbot, then later to the USS Hamntona' and the L'SS Tennessee. He was involved in 17 major Naval engagements. and by the end of WWII was entitled to wear the following nbbons. medals. and insignia: American Defense. one star: Asiatic-Pacific. I7 stars: Philippine Liberation. one star. He w as recalled to service during the Korean Conflict and serued at Great Lakes Naval Training Station, ending his Na . al career with the rank of commander. He returned to Oregon State University to acquire me masters degree. later taking sabbatical leave from 1 rn' ersity of California Extension Service to pursue a PHD. at Cniyersity of California Berkeley. After a 20 years career as county farm advisor with L r.:.ers1tj. of California Extension Service. he retired with rf' v. ile Nelsie to Yuma. AZ. spending some months each ,ear in the hill country of Texas and fishing from South Padre lsland He was a member of the American Legion. Survivors ' Pearl Harbor. ljrntcd We Stand. and was a former tzflent of the Society for Range Management. l1ed1edAug 28. l993.1nYuma.AZ.l1e1s survived I nf. wife Nelsie. sorts 'lhorrtas ol Glasgow. Scotland. 47,13 1131, ,rj 1,1 Clhlfdfi CA. daughter Leslie of lzureka. CA' Atfgr,-fiaugliters Lorratrte llagnerol TVl1.Aller1. 'l X, and Kelly lgy,m,,y,p f,t Pagigjjrjgjv C A s,tt5pfst1r1Sq,olt l't:ll'1I111'1tilAtlslltt. 'lf M.l1'Rl1IlD l.0YlCl.l. COPl'l.IQ1't.lti1 USN. born Dee 14. 1909. S1lX1l1lI1111l. UA. k1l'11LlllL11L'kl front the U.S. Naval .1X1'a11c1111. .lune 2. 1932. Ensign. llc served 111 the regular USN.l.1l1Ctlll1lCS.k,i1llIIlClij. 'llurtet ll. 31111 llivtsion Ol'fice1'. lioxing Officer, SLll1lllgOllilL'CI'.111111l.L11lLl1llg lforee Officer. aboard the 1'SS California front March ll. 1938 to March 3. 1940. During this period they were stationetl at Long Beach. CA. 111a11e a trip via Panama Canal to East Coast, operations en route New York. Upon detachment ffOI1l the CalzjQ1rnia, reported to the USS Blue DD387. as gunnery officer. On Dec. 7, 1941 , during Japanese air attack went alongside Calyfornia in a motor whale boat. Calnfornia very low in water. Called over to Lt. Foley who was on low forecastle deck to inquire whereabouts of the USS Blue. lt had put to sea so he reported aboard USS SeUridge as gunnery officer. Late participated in Blue in Marshall and Gilberts raid with task force. Also. made logistics trip to Midway Island. During night battle practice, steaming Darkened Ship the USS Pennsylvania lost all power while steaming 300 yards ahead and drifted alongside the California tnext asternj as officer of the deck, he missed Pennsy and called CalU'ornia Capt., who was shocked by emergency. Served most of the war in LTA anti-submarine warfare. Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross and Commendation Medal. On June l, l960, he retired as captain, USN. He was married to Esther A. Moyer for 49 years, and who died March 8, 1986. They had three sons, one daughter, 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He married Elizabeth Burns December 1987. Two sons served in the service, Vietnam, Helio Pilots. One son, Navy Flight Surgeon, Japan. Today he is KHB tkeeping home fires burningl. For 26, after retirement, Gen DynamicslAstromanticsg Components Corp., and Manager, Rancho Santa Fe Association. Now traveling and trying not to get involved! . Z , 1 if JERRY A. COSTACOS, SKtDJ3lc, bom Longview, WA, Aug. 28, 1926. Enlisted Aug. 26, 1944, U.S. Navy. 5 Division. Served at Farragut. ID, Bremerton, WA. USS Calzfornia, USS Augusta, APL56. USS Consolation. Participated in the battle of Okinawa. Memorable experiences include sailing around the world on USS California. AwardslMedals: Asiatic-Pacific. American Theater. WWII Victory Medal. European Theater. Discharged June 20. 1946. with the rank ofSKtD13!c. He and his wife Eva have sons. Constantine. John, and daughter. Marianne. Owner of car rental company and parking garages in Seattle. CURTIS O. COY. USNR. was bom Jan. 7. 1925, in Keytesville. MO. He joined the service March 1943. He trained in Farragut. ID. After boot camp. he was stationed on an Air Base by Arlington. WA, for a short time. Assigned to the USS California in Bremerton. WA. He was a fireman lst class. Fllc. Battles he participated in were Saipan, Guam, Tinian. Leyte. Surigao, Lingayen Gulf and Okinawa. He was discharged in 1946. at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. ln 1945. he married Varine Capps. They have four childreni Teresa l,yllIl.Ji1lIlCS, Mark an1l Kimberly and six griintltrlttldren ln 1948. they started Coy's Moving and Storage an1l 1lJ1tlt1lllLL'Slll.lCll1TfN1llJfill1y.Mflicwlllllllihlll.MfJ,SC1lZl1ll1, tv MOL and Springfield. MO. ln 1989. they sold Sedalia, MO, and Springfield, MO. They still have an office and three warehouses in Jefferson City, MO. and an office and warehouse in Columbia, MO. Coy's Moving 8: Storage is an agent for Allied Van Lines. Coy's has straight vans and tractor-trailers that travel nationwide and also ship and receive overseas shipments. JOHN H. CRAIG, born Nov. 9. 1923, San Pedro. CA. Joined Navy December 1940, reported aboard the USS Caljornia BB44, May 1941. On Dec. 7. 1941, he was a CM Stricker and in the shop at the time ofthe alama. Shop was on the third deck aft on port side. When GO sounded he ran down the Starboard passage way on the third deck to repair 1112 fwd., where he was a phone talker in repair 112. The hatch above on the third deck was still open when they took their first two hits port side fwd. Reports were made to central station, but like most stations they were not fully manned. They started to list and the compartment was flooding with oil and kept getting deeper. It was hard to see his shipmates pass out with the oil fumes and sink in the oil, the first he remember was a shipfitter 3c who was going home in a week for discharge. When the repair party came to close the hatch above they pulled three sailors out and he was lucky to be one of them. another was a painter stricker, and the third he does not remember. He passed out and came to in front of the ship's store on the main deck. One of the shipmates and he went aft to get some fresh air and clean the oil off their face and body. The Japanese planes were strahng the deck. so they got under the turret. The Chief Warrant Bosn. came by and asked if they were O.K. and to take a Motor Launch to l0ll0 dock and pick up any officers and crew and bring back to the ship. That was one hell of a trip from the ship to the liberty dock and back. When back on board ship he joined the repair party to get sailors out from below deck. Then the word came to abandon ship and over the starboard side he went and swam to Ford Island. Three days later transferred to the USS Chicago Ca,29. lost her Jan. 29. 1943. another story. Discharged 1946 CCM tal. EDGAR R. CRAIN, USNR. LTCJGJ Staff. born Bicknell. IN. Boot Camp Coeuvr'd Alene. ID. COMM School Harvard. Participated in Surigao Strait. Lingayen Gulf Landings. Memorable experiences include passage through Surigao Strait. daytime with kamikazes. Discharged April 1946. with the rank of lieutenant junior grade. His wife's name is Virginia. Retired attorney tGuam1. have lived in Guam since 1946. JESSE L. CROW, USNR. EM llc. Serial on file ff 624- 05-49. born Nov. 18. 19191 in Hondo. TX. He joined the Navy on Sept. 5. 1941. in Houston, TX. He trained at the Navy Training Station at San Diego, CA. After his electrical training. he was sent to Pearl Harbor, where he was assigned to the USS California repair crew. to help raise the ship after it was sunk. Sometime between landing at Leyte and the Battle ol'Surigao Strait and Luzon Landing. the middle gun in Turret IV was not in worl1ing order. The motor

Page 75 text:

NRS St 1 otiis MO. N1'S leairagiit. 111. 1' Xl1t'lfN S11ot'111.1kc1. LJX. l SS l'.if:tit. 21f1i RS 1.18. l'SNl1 lX!'x'll1C1'lUl1. Vx -X l,.ll'lIClP.llCtl 111 follow ing battles 1 cxtc. 1 ex te killll. lIll1ll1W1Wll1U 1 ibcrattoit. Okinaxx .1. Nlx'1110llllWlC CXPCIICIICCS include ship llll by suicide i'l.l11C 111 lIl11l1P111llC l llX'1'Llll0ll. .laiiiiary 1945. Xxxaids Nlcdals -Xl11Cl'1UAl1l Lfaiiipaigii Medals. Xsiatic llacitiic Medal xx 1111 four battle sta1'sgXX'XX'll Victory N1cd.11. Xaxy Occupatioii Serx rec Medal xx1t11As1aClasp: Pltiiippiiicl 1lWCl'Llll0l1 Ribbon. Philippine Presidential llnit t 1t.1t1o11. l71SCl1Lil'gCtl ixlay 20. 19-16. xx llll the rank of S IC. Xlamed Mildred Bonoxic11.Ap1il 2-1. 19-18. haxc three children and sex en graiidcliildreii. Vwent to I-laxxaii JllllC 983. x isitcd Pearl Harbor Fox 3 Pier. Retired. PETE G. DENNOS. Efxlllc. E Dixision. born Darliiigtoii. SC. March 27. 1921. Enlisted July 1941, Navy. Axx ardsfMeda1s: Philippine Government Liberation, Lnited Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, U.S. Navy Good Conduct Medal. American Defense Service Medal. LYS. Navy American Theater Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal. U.S. Navy Asiatic-Pacihc Campaign Medal. Discharged July 1947. with rank of EM1. Married Jan. -1. 1953. and had one boy and one girl. Retired. Mr. Dennos suffered a stroke and cannot speak. VVILLLXINI DEVRIES, S1lC,bom Spokane, WA, Sept. 16. 1927. Enlisted Caboutj July 1, 1944, Navy, USS Ct1l1jQmiia Store Keeping Dispersing. Service includes Parragut Navel Training Station and USS Calgfornia, South Pacitic Okinawa and into Japan for signing of surrender. Memorable experiences: Crossing the Equator, also to be able to go ashore in Tokyo, Ceylon and Capetown on their way back to the USA new home port of Philadelphia. Discharged approximately July l, 1946, with the rank of Sllc. Married to Patricia June 24. 1950, they have two sons and five daughters. live at the same home they bought when irst married almost 44 years ago. Their two son. Devries and his wife. own Atlas Van Lines agency in Spokane and Seattle. WA. NL-XRSHALL J. DIAMOND, Seaman llc. bom Galax. YA. July 20. 1920. Enlisted Oct. 3, 1942. U.S. Navy. SIC. 3rd Division. Military service included Great Lakes. IL: Bremerton. WA. aboard ship Dec. 5, 1942. Participated in battles at Saipan. June 14. 1944. Tinian, Guam. Leyte Gulf, October 19441 Sea Battle, Oct. 25. 1944: Surigao Strait. Luzon Islands. Okinawa. April 1945. IW , 'vlernorable experiences include hit with suicide plane r 5 1945 ,Av.arfIslfV1eda1s. Ainerican Area.. Atlantic Pacific .3 ri-3 with four 'tar'-Q Philippine Liberation Ribbon with liars flood Vonduct .'VIt:dal. WWII Victory Medal. ljf'-fghijfijfjfli ljfjfl 12 1946 with the rank ol scsirnari 'vlarrifzfl f-flat. 51. 1943 wilt: liifa '-,firis Htzriizird and llaiold. tltllltlllltxl Xfoiicilc. Retired .lo years w1t11 textile. l'cle11rated 511111 fkI1l1lYCI'X2ll'X xx ith three cliildrcn and seven yiatidclitldicti D.-XRVYIN VY. DINGFICIIDER. Sllc. born Fountain Ll1ly.WlS..lllly l 1. 192-1. Enlisted April 1943. U.S. Navy. Stationed at l3l'Cl11Cl'lOll. WA. and South Pacific. Participated 111 battles at Saipan, Tinian. Guain. Luzon. Philippines, Surigao Strait. Memorable experience was going to Tokyo at the end of the War. AwardslMedals: seven RAR six stars. Discharged January 1946, with the rank of S lfc. Married to Leida for 48 years, with two children, Diane and Scott. Also have two grandchildren, Jenna. 7, and Gareth, 7. Retired from driving school bus. JOHN H. DITTMER SR., ENCCSSJ, USN, July 21, 1922. Joined Navy Sept. 16, 1940. Aboard USS Caldornia at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Received head wound when bombs hit the galley. Shipmate saved him by swimming him to shore. 7,1 L Z 4 i',- 2 . After recovering, served aboard USS Portland during Pacific campaigns 1942-1944. Transferred to the Silent Service, serving on the subs USS Brill, USS Bugam. USS Sabalo, and USS Jallao. Retired in 1960. as chief engineman. Received the following awards: the Purple Heart, WWII Victory Medal. Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal. National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal. American Defense Service Medal. American Campaign Medal and the Navy Unit Commendation. Served as DOD Policeman at SUBBASE Groton. CT. retiring police chief in 1978. Afterwards. worked as a real estate broker until he died on Oct. 22. 1989. Survived by his wife. Gertrude. son Lt. John H. Dittmer Jr.. USN. and step-son Andrew J. Pappas Jr. CLEVELAND DODGE, SlVl2lc. born Sayre. PA. May 25. 1920. Enlisted Dec. 1 1. 1939. USN. Communications. Served at Marianas. Okinawa, Hawaii, Marshall. Philippines. Tokyo Harbor. Participated in battles aboard USS Californm. transferred to USS Owen DD536. f ,- 1 .1 .1 Air' 1 f.-lg. -. iz. -xx ex 1 1 Y. he 2 1, XX .111 1 lax. Memorable experiences include being reported missing in action at Pearl Harbor Dec. 7. 1941. found on battery detail in Pearl llarbor. AwardslMedaIs: WWII Victory Medal, American fatnpaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Canipaign Medal with nine battle stars. Philippine Liberation Ribbon with five Bronze and o11c Silver stars. Good Conduct Medal. Discharged Dec. 21, 1945, with rank of signalman 27 c. lvlarried Grace Wulfken, June 1 1. 1946. four children. Margaret, Cleveland Jr., William L.. Joseph P., and one grandchild, Patricia. Retired from U.S. Post Office. RICHARD A. DONAHUE, Signalman llc, USN, bom Iowa City, lA. 1922. Enlisted Aug. 21, 1941. Graduated Boot Camp, Company 41-107, San Diego. Assigned to California at San Pedro Oct. 19, l94lg Deck Force, 6th Starboard Division. Battle station was third loader, No. 2-5 D.P. Gun, Starboard Boat Deck. Wounded by 9 flash burns from bomb hit I entering starboard boat deck sv that ignited 5 ammunition being passed topside by hand from mid-ships hatch. Abandoned ship from starboard boat boom to Ford Islandg confined two weeks in Naval Hospital Pearl. His tour aboard ship was very brief. no thanks to the attackg and as an apprentice seaman, he was learning all the rules, and where he stood in the pecking order. Married 40 years to Jean Ludy. four children. four grandchildren. Member of California Reunion Association, Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. Mine Warfare Association. We reside in Whittier, CA. ROBERT R. DORRIS, MM 3lC. bom Tacoma. WA. He enlisted in the USN on Aug. 1 1. 1940, he served for six years, with 14 years active in the reserves. He Hnally retired Nov. 1. 1960. with the rank of AD!l. In addition to the CalU'brnia, his duty stations included NAS JAX. NAS Trinidad. and NAS Miami. He is widowed with five children. ages 37 to 49. He is fully retired with 3051 disability. DONALD R. DOUGLAS. Signalman. llc. bom Hume. IL. 1924. Enlisted Feb. 23. 1943. U.S. Navy. C-S or Signalman Division. Service included USS California and Bremerton Navy Yardg battles at Saipan. Tinian. Guam. Leyte. Luzon. Surigao Strait. Okinawa. Memorable experience: Jerry O'Conne1l and he were just finishi11g the end of a very boring mid-watch and had exhausted about all of their ability to hold a conversation. They were standing on the outside catwalk just aft of the captain bridge. At about the same moment they saw the Teziize.r.ree out of position. the officer of the deck spotted the problem. Douglass first thought was that she was a destroyer changing position and was crossing their bow to take position on the starboard side of the formation. He then realized they were on a collision course. On the impact there appeared to be nojarring or shaking. As the Tennessee was traveling a slower rate of speed she started ripping down the side of the ship. It appeared to him a wall of xvater went up between the ships about a 100 feet high. The llfiiizessee moved slowly back tearing the side with its anchor. Shortly General Quarters sounded and he left the bridge. Discharged Jan. 19. 1946. Married June and has three children. Retired. SCOTT E. DOVER. USNR. born March 17. 1922. Charlotte. NC. Enlisted in the Navy Sept. 29. 1942. to Dec. 17. 1945. Took six weeks training in Great Lakes. IL. He was assigned to the USS Califbrnia in Bremerton. WA. ,ma