California (BB 44) - Naval Cruise Book

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The G1 Bill was his salvation in being a civilian. He became a teacher and administrator, retired at the age of 55 and became a building contractor. Now retired with his wife Beverly. enjoying the fruits of their labor with their two daughters and grandchildren. The things he miss most from the Navy are the dehydrated vegetables, powered milk, green eggs, beans for breakfast on Saturday mornings and cold cuts consisting of horse meat, pickle and cheese on Sunday nights. These foods certainly make a man out of anyone. CAL HARPSTER JR., Slle, born Mishowaka. IN, April 18, 1924. Enlisted March 16, 1943, Navy, 8th Division. Sent from Great Lakes to Bremerton, WA, in 1943 to USS Califbrnia. he was on board till the end ofthe War. The good things he remembers were the good friends and buddies he had for three years. He also remember the wonderful times ashore they had together. The bad times were the wounded and the dead and the friends he lost. He also remember all the battle stations from the suicide planes and the working parties when they were rammed by the other battleship at sea, the services for their dead from being hit by the plane and the shells they took in battle. He is glad it is behind them and they did make it, it could have been so much worse and tragic. Discharged Feb. 5, 1946. Awards!Medals: WWII Victory Medal, American Area, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with seven battle stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, American Defense Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Philippine. Retired teamsters. PAUL THOMAS HARR, born Whitesburg, KY, June 1, 1921. Enlisted USN at Louisville, KY, June 25, 1940. Boot camp at Great Lakes Naval Training Station. Transferred to USS Nevada in October 1940, and was aboard her during Pearl Harbor. Didn't receive a scratch, for which he feels very lucky. Transferred to the Indianapolis and finally to the Calnfornia to help in salvage operations. sf in iihxtfr- ., .. 1- in I I 's Participated in Marianas Campaign, June 1944. Other battles: Pearl Harborg Saipang Guam, Leyte Campaign and Surigao Straits in October 1944g Lingayen Gulf in January 1945. Transferred to the USS Vulcan, AR-5, end of May. Visited Okinawa and Hiroshima aboard the Vulcan. Left ship Christmas Eve on emergency leave, transferred to USS Calahan February 1946. Sent ship to San Diego destroyer base for mothballing. Discharged July 1, 1946, rank SF llc. Married wife Kathleen, eight children, 16 grandchildren, one great-grandchild. Today he is retired. BERNARD M. HARTMAN, Chief Musician Bandmaster, born Baltimore, MD, June 23, 1914. Enlisted Nov. 22, 1931, Navy. Military service includes NOB Norfolk, VA, USS f'Il'Ilfll'l'.S'Ull, USS Northampton, USS Clmvlzrlp USS .S'clllLllk1' City, USS C'urli.s', NAS Pz'n.s'at'al11, USS I,l',YlIlglUIl, USS Alabama, RS Music School Washington, UC, N'1'CBainbridgc, USS California, Stall Convoy Marianas. t 4- W Memorable experiences include USS Lexington when Japan bombed it U.S. sank it. Awarded numerous medals. Discharged Dec. 3, 1953. Married 53 years, three months, when passed away June 8, 1987, wonderful husband, father of two ofthe most beautiful children, son and daughter, in the world, great- grandchildren too. HARLAN J. HAYNES, USN, was born near Manchester, IA, on April 7, 1919. Joined the Navy on May 18, 1938. Trained at Great Lakes Naval Training Center. Served on the USS Calnfornia 1938-1942. He was a member of the USS Calnfornia Iron Men Pulling Crew which stood in lst place in the competition of .7 the Battleships of the United States Fleet in the years 1938-39 and 1939-40. He was aboard ship on Dec. 7, 1941, when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. When ordered to abandon ship he was unable to go over the side until aided by a buddy. Then swam through the waters of fire to shore where his own injuries were forgotten as he gave aid and assisted others worse off. He never reported his own injuries. He re-enlisted May 21, 1942, and was discharged May 24, 1946, with a rank of chief gunners mate. The vessels and stations where he served are USS CalU'0rnia, USS Relief USRS Pearl Harbor, USRS San Diego, USS ARVDI, USS Kingjisher AT-135, Flag Allow Comm San Francisco, RSN Yard Washington D.C,, USS Hesperia AKS-13. He was married in 1947, had two children and three grandchildren. He died in the early hours of Dec. 7, 1981, exactly 40 years after the attack on Pearl Harbor. LAWRENCE H. HENDERSON, S llc, 2nd Division, bom Oct. 25, 1921, Bridgetown, NC. Enlisted Nov. 9, 1939, Wilmington, NC. Ordered to Naval Training Station, Norfolk, VA. Ordered to USN Receiving Station, San Diego, CA, assigned to Red Lead Row Captain McCandless to put old four stacker destroyers in commission for England. Reported to USS California March 19-10. Sailed to Pearl Harbor T.H. promoted to seaman llc 19-11. His battle station was turret 112, as firing pointer left gun. During the December 7, Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, passed ammunition to 5 l25 cal. guns, fought fires, assisted in the dead and wounded, followed these same guns to West Lock ammunition depot and made ready for firing again. Aboard the Crzliloniiki was in rowing team, swimming team and sailing team. Was reported missing in action at Pearl llarbor. Campaigns were Guadalcanal, Guam. Saipan,1l'inian, Polar Islands aboard USS l'lfIl'tlIl.Yfl, and USS .Skiivieiiv All 10 Made 1,71 iai1lj'?1C2tl'l'.L1 FC1117112't.',f:5fLi,,'1iII alter 26 yearn in 1966 loincfl Pearl Harbor 'fi Association and laon'-, Klub ol llarnpztcart J His civilian career llttlhlflfls'ffltZfdI1f:Qf 'f1l'f'f' 1, Fur and trailer all over thc 1, 3. soliciting hr, 'mn 1 f . El. had snapbcr, groupcr boat'-, shrirntf IM MUD ff' T Carolina and worked thern from .North faronns and all states in between I-lc called a 45 foot fi hornc until he married his lovely mf: Vlary Hi: lo all boats and built a new horne and cornpleteqy ret 1. her. JOSIAH HENSON, css, born amfo.. OK 1922. Entered US. Naval Academy laiy 12. 1+ graduated June 7. 1944, and went irnrnediatety to Pac Joined California just out of floating dry f Espiritu Santo. Assigned F Division for Leyte Battle of Surigao Straits. In 7th Din ision for Lingag et. i and Okinawa campaigns. Left the Prone Wakanoura Wan to enter flight training at Coma Cr, and Pensacola. Z2:'i,A ' 1 .f Z it 5 f As Naval Aviator. served in VP--10. Coco Solo. CZ. VU-10 Guantanamo Bay. VF-7-1 in Oceana. V-X. and commanded VS-31, at Quonset Point. RI. Two shore dug. tours teaching midshipmen at the US. Naval Academy. one in Naval Aviation training Command. two sezfs ii MAAG France and final tour as assistant chief of Naval Personnel for Records. Retired as Captain Sept. 1. 1969. Won bronze medal representing LSA in Freestyle Wrestling at 1952 Olympic Games in He1sin1d.Wife Gloria. also from Oklahoma. Three children and three grandchildren. DWIGHTA. HILLIARD. LSNR. bom.-Xug. 15. 1913. in Pana, IL. He enlisted March 2. 19-13. at NTS Great Lakes. IL, where he received his basic training. He was then assigned sea duty aboard the battleship USS Califtiosjtx. He boarded on June 9. 19-13. and served for 30 months. He participated in every sea battle that the California took part in during the Pacific campaign against the Japanese. ,gems He held the classes ofAS:S2C:S1C. He was awarded the Victory Medal. Asiatic-Pacific with four stars and the Philippine Liberation with two stars. He departed on Jan. 15. 19-16. and was honorably discharged on Jan. 19. 19-16. He then returned to work at Kable Brothers Printing Company in Mt. Morris. ll.. Married Rose1lat'hristi.in on March 14. 19-16. He retired from Kables after -13 sears. He also owned and farmed in Leaf Rix er, ll . .ill his life Ho N has one son. two daughters, one step-daughter. 1 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Dwight died Jan. 5. 1992, from leukemia. JOHN E. HINCKLEY, GN1 Sic. born Omaha. Nlf April 18. 1925. linlisted .-Xpril 10. 19-1.1, 1'.S Xaxx. I SS t'nlifimzi'n, Sth Division. Went to Bremerton. NX -X. to ship. then to South Pacific. Participated in all battles from 19-1,1 to lan. 6, 19-15. 1N1emorable experience' NN hen the ls.1itnka.'e plane hit the ship. he w as injured. llis shipmate ofgun mount S11 -X 9'

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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.

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Shiplcx lr . 17 li Saiidcis .uid others, g.ixc hriri trrsi gmt, tx lttrh ltclpcd s.txc his lite Vtcnl to ti hospital ship, xx here .tic doctor rcurox cd .r spark plug trorrt his ircck. xx hich carrie front the plane Went to .i hospital base iii Ncxx tltirirea. .rttcr sex eral uiotrths there. returned to the States. Axx .rrded the Purple Heart. Recerx ed a Medical Discharged .August 1945. from Camp Adair in Corvallis, OR. xxith the rank of EM 3!c. Married to Marilyn Hickley. live in Bend. OR. Retired trout PNB 1976. ELNIER HITCHCOCK. Turret Captain lst Class. LSS Colorado BB-15. USS Ctzlifornizt BB44, USS Idaho 42. LSS Rturtlolph CY-15. born in Van Lear, KY. Dropped out of school to go to xv ork in the coal mines with his brother.Hersche1. Pound out coal mining was not for him, so he enlisted the Amty in 1938. at Ft. Thomas, KY. 5th Dix. the 10th Inf.. H Co. as a machine gunner. He left the Army. was out about one month, then enlisted in the Navy. Was to take training at Great Lakes, IL. but because of the short time he was out of the Army, vv as at Great Lakes from Dec. 3rd to Dec. 30. 1941, that is the day reported aboard the USS Colorado in Bremerton, VVA. Stayed on the USS Colorado until 1944, then was put on the CSS Calnfornia until the end of the War. Received following Navy Medals and Citations: Bronze Star. Commendations with one Star. Purple Heart, Good Conduct .American Defense with one Star, American Campaign. Asiatic-Pacific Campaign with 10 stars, WWII 'Victory Medal. Navy Occupation Service Medal, Philippines Liberation Ribbon Medal with three stars, Philippines Presidential Citation. Navy Occupation Medal Asia. LYS. Presidential Unit Citation and WWII Victory Medal. Left the CSS CUlJOVlIl'U after they entered Japan. Was put on the CSS Idaho to Pearl Harbor. there was put on the CSS Carrier Randolph South to the Panama Canal, on to Norfolk. VA. and on to Great Lakes. IL. for discharge and home to San Francisco. CA, where his wife Jane, was living. For 32 years had own business, two Chevron Gas Stations in San Francisco. His wife Jane and he retired on 'he same day. They had picked the town ofBrookings. OR, J. here they have lived for the past 18 years. He was elected mayor of Brookings in 1978-80. IQSS Colorado Awards. in addition to earning the 1. Occupation Service fvledal tAsia1 for her services from Sept 2-25. 1945. earned the following battle stars on 1l1cAsta11f,-Pacific Area Service Ribbon for participating 'ne following campaigns: One star fvlarshall Islands Operation: Occupation of K ffajalein and fV1aiuroAtol1s:Jan.29.-Feb.X. 1944. One star Marianas Operation: Capture and occupation ml Saipan. Jan. l1AAug 101944. Une star Gilben Islands Operation: Nov, 19-Dec, 8. 'yfi 1 4 f IJUNALD A. HUBART, RfvI2f., IQSN V6 was born Aug 'tl 1925 in Delia, KS Joined the Navy on Dec 28. U42 He attended Recruit 'I raining and Radrornan Service SClltIU1.l1klIk'l11l .tkcs 'ltaritiiig Station trorrr Dec 111, 19-12, lo Mtg .7. 1941 IIClk'PU1'lCLlLllltlllllllllt'1'SSfltlllfHl'lIlfl11l the llrcirtcrtoii. WA. Nax y Yard on Sept. 4, 1943, and was assigned to the CR Dix ision. if Front Jan. 16, 1944. to Dec. 7, 1945, the Caljornia steamed 100,150 miles crossing the Equator in the Pacific, lndian and Atlantic Oceans, the Intemational Date Line and circumnavigated the Globe. Participated in the bombardment and occupation of Saipan, Guam, Tinian, Leyte, Luzon and Okinawa. The California was instrumental in the destruction of a Japanese battleship dtrring the Battle of Surigao Strait. He was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Navy Occupation Service Medal. WWII Victory Medal. He was discharged from active duty on Jan. 19, 1946. Hejoined the Naval Reserve on Sept. 6, 1949, and advanced to the rate of senior chief radioman. Hobart was discharged from the Naval Reserve on April 13, 1984. Hobart is married to the former Ola Mae Cutshall and have four children, James, Jannette, Irene, Helen and two step-children, Zachary and Amy. He is now retired from the Department of Transportation and living in Iuka. MS. They both enjoy travel and boating. DALE C. HOBBS, GM 3!c, born near Nickerson, KS, June 1, 1922. Enlisted July 1942, U.S. Navy, USS Calnfornia Division 4. Went to Great Lakes Naval Training Station, Navy Yard, Bremerton, WA, Gun School, Washington, D.C. Participated in battle on the USS Idaho to Aleutian Island, USS California - Saipan. Guam, Philippines. Lingayen Gulf and Leyte Gulf. 'Z WDM if all Memorable experiences include crossing the International Dateline Aug. 21,1944 Around the world to Philadelphia. Awards!Medals: Campaign bars for battles. Navy Training Course Certificate, GM3lc Sept. 25, 1944, signed by E.A. Pannos, LTCJGJ and ER. Bunker, Commander of USS Calljbrnia. Discharged Dec. 13, 1945. U.S. Naval Personnel Separation Center. Norman, OK. with the rank of GM3! c. Married Mary Alice Wilson, May 2, 1942. Three children, two boys and one girl, and six grandchildren. Retired from Consolidated Manttfacturing Company, Hutchinson, KS, after 36 years. Passed away Jan. 27, 1992. at Joplin. MO. CHARLES N. HODGE, CFC-AAT, USN. born Marceline. MO, Nov. 24, 1918. Enlisted Jan. 26. 1940, USN. Fire Control. F Division. Service included Great Lakes, IL, USS CllllpIl'lIl!1,USRS Pearl Harbor. RSNYD New York, RS Philadelphia. Memorable experiences include Pearl Harbor on BB44. at surrender in Tokyo Bay on BB44. AwardslMedals: Arrierican Area Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with tive stars. Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars, American Defense Service Medal. Good Conduct Medal. Discharged Jan. 26, 1946. Married Louise A. Hodge, and have four children, Janet Jones. Ted Hodge, Karen Pendola, Wendy Sue Reams. Retired. 37 years pest control business. HOWARD A. HOFER, RMllc, was born April 19, 1921. at Williamsburg, NY. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1939 to 1945. He was aboard the USS Helena at the time of attack at Pearl Harbor and was transferred to the USS Calnfornia until the end of the war. After the war, he studied law at Hofstra University on Long Island and graduated from St. John's University in New York City in 1952. He was subsequently employed with Transamerica Insurance in Chicago as claims manager. He retired in 1983. and died ofa heart attack on Nov. 22, 1985. He was active in the Optimist Club and the United Arts Council, serving as a board member and representative. He and his wife Geraldine had two daughters, Theresa and Helena. He composed an ode, the Man O' War. a chronology of the Calgfornia after Pearl Harbor. GERHARD N. HOLM, born in Everett. WA, Oct. 2, 1914. From boot camp, at San Diego, he was assigned to the USS Calnfornia in September 1940. and served on it until November 1944. On arriving to his ship at Pearl, he was assigned to the F Division and his first job was to scrub paint in the warrant officers quarters. if .wr 1 4 Hy When they were attacked on Dec. 7. 1941, he was on the focsle deck so he could see the first three planes drop bombs on Ford Island. They were so close to him that he could see the pilots in their planes. The captain ordered abandon ship. On jumping over the side into oil and water he went to Ford Island but soon they were called back to remove the deadand all the food they could get to. After the ship settled to the bottom they removed all the anti aircraft guns they could get to and set them up around the Island. He went with some of them to an ammo depot, stayed with them for about 40 days then was sent back to the ship to help raise and clean ll. They arrived in Bremerton about November 1942. the ship was repaired and rebuilt by December 1943. and went to the Pacific in early 1944 to do their part in the war. In November 1944, he asked for a transfer to fire control school in Washington, D.C. They gave him the transfer but on arriving in the states, an oil tanker. A080 USS Escambia, needed him so right back over seas he went. It was a good ship and no harm was done to it or Holm. They were about 500 miles from Japan when the war ended and he was able to see Tokyo and all its devastation. He helped decomrnission the oil tanker in Richmond, CA, and was discharged Aug. 8. 1946. in Minneapolis, MN. He was 25 years oldjoining the Navy. so. being older' than most, he was given the name of Pappy. Still called Pappy at their reunions. He likes that. 79