California (BB 44) - Naval Cruise Book

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EUGENE B. GREEN, Coxswain, born Stuttgart, AR, Feb. 5, 1920. Enlisted Sept. 30, 1940, Navy, 5th Division, before the War ended lst Division. Service includes: NTS San Diego, CA, USS Oklahoniag USS CalUbrnia RS Pearl Harbor, TH: USNH Philadelphia, PA. Participated in battles at Pearl Harbor, Asiatic-Pacific Philippine Liberation, American Theater. Memorable experiences include bringing up ammunition from below and bomb struck killing several bearers. While below orders given to abandon ship, he was sent over to island to guard guns, and was forgotten. Went several days without food. Awards!Medals: American Theater, WWII Victory Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal with one star, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars. He and his wife had a daughter, son, one grandson, and three granddaughters. Retired. GEORGE B. GRIFFIN, AS S2lc, 4th Division, bom Holmes County, FL, Jan. 4, 1919. Volunteered April 28, 1944, Miami, FL, USNR V6. S . WA April 29, 1944, Boot Camp Perry, VAQ July 3, 1944, USAT Sea Perch, Sept. 10, 1944 - Dec. 15, 1945, USS Calnfornia Espiritu, NH. Participated in battles at Leyte, Luzon, Surigao Strait, Lingayen Gulf, Okinawa, Tokyo Bay. Memorable experience: A frightful experience! late in the War, at sea in the South Pacific in a severe storm, three men from 4th Division were ordered out on port quarter-deck to secure motor whale boats to bulkhead. John Marscia, Robert Weeks, and George B. Griffin, the sea broke over the 02 deck, tore their life line from their hands. All three were injured, his life flashed before his eyes, he thought they were gone. His body hit the 14 gun turret and knocked him out, he woke up in sick bay, hours later, Marscia and Weeks, were rescued also, but with serious injury. Discharged Dec. 17, 1945, Jax, FL, with the rank of Sllc. Married Ruby Blaneo Griffins, April 16, 1939, and have one son, December 1940, two daughters, Jannette, 52, and Barbara, 50 years. Celebrated 55 Anniversary April 16, 1994. Retired March 1, 1980, 30 years local Chevrolet Dealership, as NC-NT, salesman. ROBERT K. GRINTON, EM3!c, born Loisi, CA. Enlisted July 1943, Navy, USS Calybrnia, E Division, served Electric Shop, Bridge Electrician. Participated in Saipan, Tinian, Guam, and Okinawa battles. Memorable experience includes seeing pans of the world. ' Discharged Dee. 24, 1945, with the rank of EM 3rd class. He is a widower with three children, two boys and one girl. Retired 1981. .JEROME TENNIS GROTTE, F3lc to CMM, born Nov. 22, 1915. Enlisted Navy lfriday Dec. I3,1935g trained USNTS San 1.Jiego,CA,Co. 35-37. MM School at NOB, Norfolk, VA, then to destroyer base at San Diego, transferred to USS California BB44 at Long Beach, Assigned Division, to the Steam Heat Gang, under J. Burns MMl!c, lce Machines under C. Granna, CMM, then Boat Shop and Ship Boats, Taravella, MMl!c, then Flag Allowance as Engineer Flag Boats, then back to the Boat Shop to operate the shop under Harry Henry Groth, CMM, who was a veteran of WW1. Temporary Duty on USS Vestal while having diesel engines installed in Ships Boats, Panama Canal and to Guantanamo for fleet maneuvers. Was isolated for Polio contact on USS Relief with 10 other boat crew from the Calgfornia, for two weeks. Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941, heard and saw dive bombers crossing the ship's stern while bombing the Ford Island Hangars. Headed for his battle station in the Center Thrust Block room while the bugle was sounding GQ. He took in four other Shft Alley watch standers who could not get their battle stations. They took two torpedoes, the second right outboard of their area. They lost lights and ventilation. Then Abandon Ship was sounded, they climbed to 3rd deck, but it was pitch dark, and the air was foul so they went back down, dogged the watertight door, and a few minutes after that the Trunk filled with water. They were trapped. But the crew retumed to the ship and they could communicate by shouting, and shipmates removed a large shaft gland panel so they escaped through the Motor room. They saw sunshine at about 1545. Three of his Boat Shop Crew were killed that morning, Saffel, Ball, and Hildebrand. He was retained on board as part of the salvage crew. He stayed with the ship until 1943, at which time he was sent to Engine School and then assigned to the CVE 71, a new ship. F3!c to CMM on Calyforniag ensign on CVE 71 g LTCJGJ on Cve 98 where he was senior assistant engineer then chief engineer. Left the Navy January 24, 1946. Married Vivian, have son Paul, daugthers, Emily and Marie. Retired from civil service. HERBERT W. GRUBER, USMCR, t34l841D, bom Sept. 29, 1921, in St. Louis, MO. Volunteered Dec. 13, 1941, enlisted Dec. 27, 1941. Went through USMC Boot Camp San Diego, CA. Left Feb. 21, 1942, arrived Pearl Harbor, assigned to Navy Yard Guard Company March 2. WV? Volunteered for Sea Duty tfleet needed replacementsjg May 6, 1942, transferred to the Marine Detachment, USS California BB44. The California vvas in dry-dock a short time, still messed up. Duties were security watches, chipping paintg cleaning oil and debris, etc. Made gunstriker on 20mms worked under GM2c Goldsmith. October 10, 1942, USS Callfkirnia left Pearl llarhor on her own, complete with one 5 inch each side: eight 20mmg about 15 .30 call.50 cal machine gtmsg and five tlegrec list! Arrived at Bremerton's Puget sound Navy Yard Oct. 20, 1942. Made corporal, May 16, 1943. When tlrnhcr returned from leave, MlSgt. Cl .. Davidson told him that he was ttttl ol' uniform! Thcn the first sargc gave him his promotion papers. .and told him to the llllltl flip 1 hack so he could 'paste them on' 'I he California remodeled, rnodetriifed I fleet. Gruberls gun station was a Zflrntn single 11247 the highest, just lieltiw 'alCy'2'Jl'Sif'Ql l'i7 nal sergeant., June 3, 1944. ll day'-. before Saipan' Was aboard USS California during 'saina a direct hit on June l4Q Guam, Tinian Rarnroed Tertnessee, Aug. 23, 1944, Leytei Battle of Surigao Sv Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, hit by lcarnikafe. lan 6 .947 The Prune Barge returned stateside Peo 1 5 .95 Furloughs for alll! Gruber got rnarried March 24 L945 Q Aliceann Nolan his girlfriend of five years Aliceanr. garb to East Port Orchard for the short time that the C.'a'ifoffn. was to stay. The California left Bremerton. April 29 for Pear Harbor via Long Beach, CA. Grubers new duties g, . captain of a 40mm quad. Arrived Pearl Harbor Oahu. TP: May 16, 1945. Gruber transferred May 19, 1945, to Casual Cornpa Force Special Troops Garrison Forces, Oahu. Arri u ed J' 1, 1945, R8cR Center, San Diego. Reassigned to Marine Barracks. Great Lakes. lL. ls., 13, 1945. Sept. 8, 1945, was dischargedi First St. Lou.. Marine discharged on points...eight in L'SA...D.T. POP Stewart was seventh...he had been wounded aboard tr. Calgbrnia ...Gruber hadn't. Gruber re-enlisted in the inactive Marine Reser: Class 1I1tbiDec. 9, 1947. received orders Sept. 28. i95-3. Reactivated for advance infantry retraining. Carxg Pendleton, CA. Transferred to lst Division. USMC. Ptlxif.. Korea. Assigned lst Engineer Battalion. HQ. Cc. S- Section. CAs replacements for those Marines lost at Chosgi Reservoirj. Made SlSUt. May 22. 1951. was acting head cf C Section couple months tReplaced N1fSgt. rotated. Participated in many reconnaissance betvveen lines. li Korea from January 5, through Oct. 19. 195l...actualacti1.e time Sept. 28, 1950. through Nov. 10. 1951. Enlistmen. involuntarily extended one yearmreceived dischzage Dec. 8, 1952. Herb Gruber has an architectural certificate tearnec at night collegej but worked mainly general construction estimating cost. Aliceann and Herb have four daughters and lu grandchildren. The Grubers live in the St. Louis area :mu keep in touch with many old shipmates tblarines Sailorsj mainly through BB4-1 USS California Reunion Association. They made 16 of the 18 reunions to date. Herb is life member and a director of the association. He was 1993 Reunion Chairman in St. Louis. NIO. WILLIAM J. HAAS. born New Bedford. MA. Dec. 18, 1923. Enlisted Dec. 11. 19-ll. served three years then sent to V-12 and commissioned in 19-15 and sent to ship as an ensign. assigned to Division 10. as MBLQ then ensign. USNR Heavy Machine Gun Control Officer. Dix ision 10. In Panama with a degaussing unit for three years then Pacific. Attended Tufts University and Columbia Midshipmen School. V-12. Participated in Okinawa battle. sw' N Awards!Medals: Atlantic Theater. Pacific xxith one star. Good Conduct Medal, NX'NN'll Victory Nletlal. After leaving ship hcjoined .1 Stibinarnic Dix ision .ts active reservist and made tivo cruises. Scp.ir.tted 1il'Ufl1 service Dec. 21. 19-15. resigned commission .ts 11110 tit 1950. He and his xvife hav e one son and one .latightct .ind three grantltlaugltters. Retired in NSS .iftcr -10 xcats teaching and selling textbooks. MARTIN I.. HAEHN, 1'SN.1YS.4XRlf1' Nl St! 11 horn in .-Xlbcrtx illc. MN. Nov 30. 1920. lfnlistcd itil SN .l.tntt.nv 19-1-1, and trained at farragnt. 1D Xsstgncd to thc 1 SS Stokes which xx as torpedocd .ind stmlv thrcc days latct ln 0 May 1 -14. nas assigned to the l'SS t'.i.fn'o+n.-.Q to fad

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slttt' Xsstgtlxkl lt' slttltk' 111113 R611 IIQ.1t'l1 kixlfllts I tmgo, working xv ttli lst llix rsion M.u'uies August 9 to I-'eb lf. 'Tif lln on Utt.tdaIe.m.t1. ttartsfeired to I sptritu Santo. tliletlotua. and then I S Naval Ilospttal fXuelsland. New ie.ti.tnd. .intl then to Wellington Nav al Ilospital. tlien San Diego Nav .il Ilospital eante back to States aboard lurlim' .otrrist passenger ship Assigned as a hospital ship. resigned .e ISS Naval llospital Brentetton. V1 A. given a medical 'iseftarge tlionorablel in 1944 Xlairietl in 194'. two sons and one daughter. Civil S rv ree I5 years. retired. Li. ROBERT GARDNER. ISN. 1.I'.tRet.1. was .lsstgttedlollleCr1lllit1'tIt'iJ0t1Nla1l'Cl129. 1938. as a seaman I e llc joined the signal div ision to learn seamansliip etc. .pfter inaking seaman lst lieioined the electrical propulsion uoisiott. Sept. 21. 1939. and in August 1941. passed flip steal for tlight training. fl 2 2 Iva.. L4 In November 1941. he made the list for flight training in Texas. but the Japanese visit at Pearl Harbor changed the rest of his life as well as thousands of others. He spent most of 1942. 1943. 1944 and part of 1945, in the Solomon Islands and vicinity as an engineering officer and his luck ran out April 18. 1945. when he was lngtured. After two plus years in Navy Hospitals and various surgeries. he was placed on retired retainer list. After 20 some operations and over four years in military hospitals, nes still in pretty good condition. EDWARD A. GIBBOM GIBBY,', born New Orleans. LA. Aug. 21. 1921. Enlisted Feb. 7, 1940. U.S. Navy. GM3lc. lst Division. Service included USS Pyro. CSS Calnfomia. Cow Piers. Boliti.APAl48. USS Crockett. Participated in battles in Southwest Pacific Forces, New Guinea LAR. Wewak. Moccamdia. Biak. Wadke. Cimtisi Paciic Forces. Kawasalein. Poi Mamur. Bomiam Island. Iwo Jima. Philippine Sea. Leyte Gulf. Saipan. Tinian. Guam. San Bernardino Strait. Truk. Special memory. before war. pulling whale boat races. Pearl Harbor. Miti. wrestling. boxing. July 4th. Molida. Mests night engagement San Bernardino Strait. Japanese I-leaxy Cruiser. AwardsfMedals: Army Commendation Medal. American Defense Service Medal with one star. Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal with five stars. Philippine .gneration Ribbon with two stars. WWII Victory Medal. nil. Good Conduct Medal. Korean Service Medal. - 'etnarn Ser. ice Medal. Discharged Feb 6. 1946. with the rank of Turret f aptazn llc , . He has lour sons. two daughters. three marriages. 1 'gtna Cfarlota. Georgania Retired. living Costa Rica. CHARLES C. GILBERT, born York. PA. lan. 13. 1.4 11n1tzt,t:dOt.t 23. 19411. lfSN ,'1.f-cf,rf1irig to separation papers service includes NRS. l'l..hflf:l17lTlh.lJA.1,785 fnlffnrnm. N'1S.Newport RIL If S. Va-.az lluspital 1'ear1l1arbor.'l ll 'IfLZC.lfl'v'1l11:' SlJ1lIfJII.l'1fIlfl 1t:,rhf,r '1 11, 1,88 Kuhn: lj 2, Naval Receiving Station '-aw: lzaxe llhtlaflelphta 1'A ' M ti 'QI 1 si ' it-I Q . .. 4 5- tgp F .W w uns Hr. M 'r' '-. U '. 5531: gif. --r if El.. 3 1 AvvardslMedals: WWII Victory Ribbon. American Theater Ribbon. American Defense Ribbon Ill. Asiatic- Pacilic Ribbon 171. Philippine Liberation Ribbon 621, Purple Heart. Good Conduct Ribbon. Discharged Dec. 12. 1946. CBM. Today he spends time fishing. shopping and going to doctors for himself and wife. WM. HOWARD GILLETTE, born Boise. ID, Nov. ll, 1918. rs i .js S s is s as f N A . C . . 'sy si f sh ag Q 2 I Joined Navy September 1940, went aboard USS Calyfornia, E Division, in Bremerton, WA. We were at Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941. USS Caljornia, was moored at Fox 3 near Ford Island Naval Air Station. Rank: E1ectrian's Mate llc. Joined Underwater Demolition Team tf23E. Discharged April 1946. Medals: Asiatic-Pacific Theater, American Defense Service Medal. American Theater, WWII Victory Medal. Good Conduct Medal, Unit Citation, Pearl Harbor Survivors. Married Naomi Wiseman, has two sons. John R. and Delbert. and has four grandchildren. After coming home he did cabinet, stone and carpenter work but emphysema soon ended his working. WILLIAM STANLEY STAN,' GOSSARD. Machinist Mate 2C, North Mankato. MN. Feb. 2. 1922. Enlisted May 22. 1940. U.S. Navy, A Division, Engineering Department. Served on the USS California August 1940 to January l942g USS Indianapolis from January 1942 to February 19431 USS Columbia frotn February 1943 to February 1944. Participated in following battlesQ Pearl Harbor and Solomon Island. unix., Memorable experiences include getting ready to leave for motor machinist school at Norfolk when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Reponed killed in action. Discharged June 25. 1945. with the rank of machinist mate 2C Married Lorna. has three sons and two grandsons and two granddaughters. Retired from Honeywell 1985. lznioying life in West Mpls. loves hunting. fishing and baseball. Active in Babe Ruth Baseball last 40 years as roach. committee member. state official. 'IIUIVI If. GRACE, USMC. lRcI.1 was born Nov. 25. 1919 in lranklin. TX. Ile enlisted in the llnited States Marine Corps on Dec. 5. 1941 at the Houston. 'TX Marine Corps Recruiting Station. On Dec. 7.1941 'Iom was shipped to San Diego. CA. lor recruit training. the same day that Pearl Harbor was bombed. Tom's thought at the time was What have I got myself into. After recruit training he was transferred to Pearl Harbor arriving on Feb. 2. 1942. What a sight! Sometime around the first of April 1942. Tom received orders for assignment to the USS California. Marine Corps Detachment. G. Division. The ship was still on the bottom at Pearl Harbor. The California was floated and moved to Dry-dock the first of May 1942. October 1942 the Culyorniu was under way to Bremerton. WA. for overhaul. While aboard Tom was assigned to the 40 MM guns as Gun Captain. He also served as Orderly for the Ship's Captain. In October 1943. Tom transferred off the ship to Marine Barracks. Bremerton. WA where he was stationed until January 1944. Other tours of duty included: Marine Barracks - Kodiak. AKQ Recruiting Duty - Dallas and Tyler. TX: Marine Corps Base - Camp Lejeune. NC: Inspector Instructor Duty - Muskegon, MI. Marine Corps Air Station - Iwakina. Japan: Marine Corps Base - Camp Pendleton. CA and Marine Corps Air Station - E Toro. CA. While on Recruiting Duty in Tyler. TX. met and married Evelyn Skidmore twife of47 yearsl. Two children. Patricia and Tom. Jr. and two granddaughters. Retired from the Marine Corps Oct. 30. 1966 after 25 years. Retired from the College of Medicine. University of Califomia. Irvine CA. Jan. 2. 1986. Interests include RV motorhome traveling fishing and gardening. Currently reside in Tustin. CA. MARVIN B. GRAHAM. bom Fredicktown. MO. Aug. 18. 1925. took boot camp in Farragut. ID. late 1943. Electrical School same place shipped out ofTreasure Island. CA. on troop ship to Marshall Islands. where he boarded USS California. .Glyn Zip . 45114 First battle Saipan - Tinian. aboard all battles till end of war. Came around word at close of war to Philadelphia ship yards for discharge. Married a wonderful lady named LaVern and raised seven fine children. Spent life in Chaffee. MO. building own business in electrical. plumbing. heating and cooling business. Now retired due to two bypass surgeries and problems due to Gulliand Barr Syndrome. Now following his hobby of restoring antique clocks and trying to serve his Lord for saving his life by seconds during the suicide plane attack on the California. HAROLD GRANT, Air M 2!c. bom Aug. 25. 1922. Enlisted Dec. 8. 1941. Navy. Stationed at Sand Point Naval Air Station. Pat. Wing 4. VR2. VR4. USS Rio CVEIO3. USS California BB44. Oakland Naval Res. Air Station. Participated in Philippines and East China Sea battles. Memorable experiences include going aboard the California on a boatman's chair from a DE in East China Sea. Discharged Oct. 13. 1945. Shoemaker. CA. with the rank o1'Air M llc. Retired educator. part-time larmer. 75 ..- H41

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Dev ision their R lhxisrori. Rcrrtairtcd with the tniirorrrr.: gate! she was decounuissroued in 19-1 ' Was drsc1i.rrged Scpiciiibca 294 '. and enlisted in thc L' S .Xrruy June 1948 itat c sceti tiiilrtaty serv rec .trountl the world xv ith two tours it Roica .uid one in Gerniany ss S bi Medals awarded are the American Area. Victory. Philippine Liberation. Asiatic-Pacific. European. Korean Serv ice thk o bronze starsl. Purple Heart. United Nations Service. Good Conduct. Expert Marksinan, Senior Parachute and Basic Missile Man. Married Barbara Bennett in 1950. tive children. John, Aan. Susan. David and Steven and seven grandchildren. Retired from the Army. 1965. moved to Colorado Springs and w orked at the USAF academy until 1988 retirement. ADOLF P. HAGEIVIANN. PHM 1lC.USN,bom Nov. 27. 191-1. Enlisted Dec. 28. 1940. in Portland. OR. X. in S. . , s, . Sw s. - . s .se. Nici' . f S ixalii. X A at J.. isis w . s Y . A X rf vt! f ea- ry.. - s '- aff Operating room technician. Pneumothorax Tech. Treatment Room etc. After boot camp and hospital training in San Diego. After the War broke out, he was transferred for replacement to Lion 1 with the Marines in the South Pacific. He got his pelvis broken and was sent to Army Hospital tBarnesl in Vancouverg released to Bremerton Navy Hospital. where he had more training in O.R. released to ESS Calyfornia, which hadjust returned from Pearl. Was on the California for 28 months. Having charge of O.R. and battle irst aid lockers. He was transferred to Marines at this time to El Centro Marine Air Baseg then the base Us as transferred back to USN and he was back in the Navy. Aboard the Calnfornia they were in the following battles: Saipan. Tinian. Roto. Guam. Erst Philippine Sea Battle, and second sea battle in Leyte. also, Samar and in the China Sea rnorthem Philippines Baguiol. Was awarded the American Defenseg American Theater. Asiatic PAC three Bronze Stars, Philippines Liberation with two Bronze Stars, Good Conduct. Victory Tvledal. and ESM Corp. he was discharged in 1947. He is married to Emma. They have four children. Retired in McCleary. WA. .JOHN A. HAMILTON, PFC. born Plainville. CT, Aug. 16. 3922. Enlisted Hartford. CT. Dec. 18. 1941. Had attempted toioin Navy 1939 father was in Navy WWI, making seven crossings of Atlantic on convoy duty. Left Ist Marine Division October 1943. Melbome. Australia. Ur Long Beach. CA. Transferred to USS California from a ra ff W W Mya 1 oug Bcaclr srrrall craft training center in 1944 Made the ci urse .iround the world on the Prurte Barge leaving ship in l'lrilattelphra. PA. Deceiiibei' 1945. diselrargetl Bainbridge. MD. Marclr 4. 1946. All in all it was a very interesting four plus years. Awarded Presidential Unit Citation. lst Division USMC He and his wife Anti have one son, Gary. Retired. ,IAINIES THOMAS HAMLIN. Water Tender llc, USN. USS California was born on July 28. 1913, in Packard. KY. He entered the Navy on March 19. 1940. He served aboard the USS Calitbrrzia. USS Chicago, and the USS LaSalletAPA-1025. He trained at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station. Hamlin was discharged on March 19. 1946. with the rank of WT1lc. 2.15: IF- jg: ta 1--.-.ata in t,.f,f-,asia5.,1:.,-,T-1 V. . P is an-xc.: I feiilig vf ri affix-vt te we Q55 barge ff He received the following awards and decorations: Asiatic-Pacific Area Ribbon with five stars, American Area Ribbon, WWII Victory Ribbon and is authorized to wear the Good Conduct Medal. Now retired from TVA Shawnee. Married Almyra Craig March 25, 1943. Has three sons and seven grandchildren. KERMIT L. HANSCHU, BMIC, USN, bom Oct. 22, 1919, enlisted Sept. 12, 1938, tseven yearsl. triwm Uaitwttiri ,ltw December 7, 1941. aboard USS California at Pearl Harbor. Joined USS Chicago when it came in for replacements. Battle participation: New Guinea. Tulagi. Coral Sea, Guadalcanal, Savo Islands. Chicago sunk Jan. 31. 1943. Taken to Noumea, New Caledonia. After one yearjoined USS Hayrer D.E. being put into commission. On Hayrer till discharge Sept. 12. 1945. Recommended for Chief by Hayrer Captain. rated to First Class by Admiral Halsey. Medals: Good Conduct, American Defense Service. American Campaign. each with one star: European- African-Middle Eastern Campaign: Asiatic-Pacific Campaign. two stars: WWII Victory Medal, 50 Year Anniversary Commemorative Medal for Pearl Harbor Survivors. Married in 1943. Retired from Ottertail Power Company after 33 years. 1982. Returned to Pearl Harbor for 50th Wedding Anniversary. One son. two daughters. Life member Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. WARREN G. HARDING, USN. was born March 6. 1921, in New Point. IN. He enlisted for six years in order to qualify for the Navy School of Music on Sept. 9. 1939. in Washington, D.C. After completing a course of study. he shipped to Pearl Harbor and the USS California as 4th trombone in Admiral Pye's Band, Band 16. Warren was sealed in a compartment four decks below the main deck. for a period ofseven hours. at a battle station referred to as Repair 4 Port. His book. Band ofSecrac'.v, a sea story from the Battle of Pearl Harbor recounts this legend. After the California sank on Dec. 7. 19411 Band 16. under the baton of Bandmaster L.B. Luckenbaeh. trzrrislerred to an Intelligence Unit in the administration building at Pearl Harbor lor' the duration of the war. Mertrbers ofthe band were responsible lor helping to break the .Japanese military code which led to the successful conclusion ofthe Battle of Midway, Coral Sea. Kula Gull. and the shooting down of Admiral Yamamoto. -Q, In 1951 , Warren married Lois A. Chapman. They have two daughters and four grandchildren. His medals are: WWII Victory Medal, American Area Campaign Medal. Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal with one star, Good Conduct Medal with three stars and the Presidential Unit Citation. After the war, he spent 35 years practicing and teaching the vertical market of Real Estate Exchanging. Now, he spends most of his time writing and making new enemies. MERRILL HARDISON, Seri? 378-17-70. served from 1943-46. Never sick a day. He enlisted October 1942. in the Naval Reserve at the age of 17 with his mother's signature. Other enlistees and he left Fresno for Farragut. ID. for 16 weeks oftraining. When they arrived. snow was three to four feet deep. Their barracks were heated by steam radiators. Naval regulations were to lower every other window six to eight inches from the top even though it was freezing outside. Many nights he slept under his mattress with his clothes on to keep warm. Remember there is the right way and the Navy's way. Guess who won? After their 16 weeks of training. Farragut opened its first Electrical School. They assigned him to be a member of the class. The instructors were excellent. Many of them were electrical engineers in civilian life. tMaybe they had one or two regular Navy personnelj Upon graduation, he was given seven days of delayed orders to report for duty to the USS California in Bremerton, WA. His first assignment was in the bilges to chip the sludge off the bulkheads. When a chip hit his light bulb. the fumes given off would burn the skin on his face. This experience taught him to never stay too long at the bottom if you want to get to the top. He can always say he started at the bottom without exaggerating. When the ship left Bremerton. Jessnowshi tTonyJ and he were assigned to Lieutenant Brown's battle station on the quarter deck. They were to keep the 40mm motors running when they were firing. As they entered Lingayen Gulf they were the lead flag ship with Admiral Oldendorf in charge. They were going single file. This was a mistake as they couldn't shoot aft without hitting the ships behind them. The kamikazes flew 10 feet above the water on their starboard side preventing them from firing. Jess and he saw what was happening, so they moved under the cargo netting to prevent being burned and hit with shrapnel. A kamikaze hit the lookout station on the quarter deck causing many casualties. They becatne the fastest stretcher team you could want. The chief petty offieer's mess was where they brought the wounded. He salutes the corpsmen for their calmness in attending the wounded when the regular Navy doctors were too nervous to inject morphine. Maybe he shouldnt be too hard on them for this experience would take a very mature person to perform.