California (BB 44) - Naval Cruise Book

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Retired. While traveling on the high way of life, 27 knots. wife mn aground, tore off right leg tpoor circulationl. He is De Boss. De Fastest Man with De Bed Pan in all Pensacola. Stay well he happy. ROBERT P. JOHNSON, LT, USNR, born June 1920. Enrolled in Navy V7 Program March 1941. Graduated Occidental College. 1943. Commissioned August 1943. Reported aboard USS California September 1943, 3rd Division. Bombardments involved Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Leyte, Lingayen Gulf and Okinawa. Involved in the battle ofSurigao Strait. Returned to Philadelphia, USA, stopping at Singapore, Colombo Ceylon and Capetown, South Africa. Reported to UCLA as an NROTC instructor, December 1945. Discharged May 1946. Married with three children and five grandchildren. Retired from Pacific Telephone Company, June 1982, 37 years, living in Anaheim, CA. Playing golf, tennis, racquetball plus traveling keeps him out of the house, active and healthy. BILL O. JOLLY, USMC, bom May 13, 1923, Clied year about agej. Joined Marine Corp. May 14, 1940, and assigned to USS Calgfornia in Bremerton, WA, in August W 1940. First trip to sea he was assigned on life buoy sentry on after part of quarter deck. Navy decided to announce man overboard and as he didn't know what floated by, he pulled the handle that let a large tube type raft slide off its ramp. Sgt. ofthe guard relieved him from post and put him in the brig for a couple hours. He is probably the only private to cause a battleship to stop maneuvers to retrieve a life-raft. Fired 5 5l caliber broadside gun in August 1941, during short range practice and made lst class pointer. Was on gun station in casemate 8 during attack on Dec. 7, 1941. Promoted to corporal, worked on salvage crew chipping paint and returned with ship to Bremerton, was transferred from ship and wound up in the lst, 2nd, 3rd Marine Amphibious Corps, involved in three beach head landings, the last being Guam, where he was wounded Aug. 9, 1944, spending the next ll months in the hospital. Then spent last nine months on limited duty in Port Chicago, CA and was discharged on May 17, 1946. ELWOOD H. JONES, USNR, LT., born Oct. 13, 1915. Enlisted in the service 1942, served in Convoy work to 1944, when transferred to the Prune Barge, USS Calyfornia. Served as lst Division officer and officer of the deck underway. Landed MacArthur at Leyte. Met the Japanese fleet at Surigao Strait and won a ship-to-ship gun duel. Then on to Lingayen, Okinawa and Japan. From excessive firing, shot the liners out of their big guns and had to go to Bremerton, WA, to reline. The USS California with side blisters was too fat to go through the canal and had to go around the Hom to get to Philadelphia Navy Yard. Discharged, returned to Pennsylvania, where he practiced law, ran a newspaper, insurance business, savings and loan, and was president of a bank for 35 years. Married a school teacher, have seven children. Put all through college. Have 19 grandehildrenand four great- grandchildren. Retired, winter in Sun City, AZ, and summer in Mountaintop, PA. EDWARD W. .JONES SR, enlisted U.S. Navy. Sept. 30, 1940, New Orleans, LA. Recruit training, San Diego, CA, Co. 40-71 . Assigned to USS California in 5th Division Had the O.D. messenger watch Dec. 7, 194111800-1200. When he saw the lirst wave of Japanese planes bomb Ford lsland, he went to his battle station 5 inch 51 cal casemate gun. Then up to the 5 inch 25 cal AA guns to relieve a gun crew until abandon ship, then swam to Ford Island. Went to Hickam Field with the 5 inch AA guns of the USS California to defend Hickam. He went back to help relloat the USS Calyornia then to Bremerton, WA, to get rebuilt. Then back to the Pacific for the rest of the war on the USS Calwunia. When ship rejoined the fleet, he was in the 12th Division, 20MM AA guns on the port quarter deck. Served as gunner's mate until discharge on July 6, 1945, at New Orleans, LA. Member of the USS Calyornia Reunion Association and life member of PHSA. Wife Edna, eight children. Presently living in Metairie, LA. 'Qu' KENNETH W. JONES, Sllc, born Lawrence, KS, April 7, 1926. Enlisted April 12, 1943, U.S. Navy, 2nd Division, Deck and Gunnery. Service includes Farragut, ID, Whid Bay ls., WA, Pacific Beach.g USS Cctlnfbrniag Bremerton, WA. Participated in battles at Saipan, Guam Tinian, Leyte, Battle of Surigao Strait, Lingayen Gulf, Philippines, Okinawa. Memorable experiences: Asleep at his battle station in Turret 2, after being there all day during invasion of Leyte. Early morning of Oct. 25, 1944, he was awaken by the sound of GQ and was told the Japanese Task Force was spotted and was coming their way. The sea battle of Surigao Strait was under way. In 1945, while on shore on Okinawa, on a working party a typhoon approached and the Calnbrnia pulled anchor and went to sea. They were a lost working party on the island for several days until their ship returned. AwardslMedals: Presidential Unit Citation, seven Battle Stars, American Theater, Asia Pacific Bar, WWII Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Occupation of Japan. Discharged Dec. 12, 1945, with the rank of S llc. Married, one son, one daughter, four grandchildren, and one great-grandson. Retired from L.A. County, CA, Sheriff 's Department, after 32 years. s RONALD ODELL JONES, BM 3lc, bom Oklahoma. Served USN, Divisions 3 and F, 1943-46: Saipan, Guam, Tinian, Leyte, Surigao Strait Luzon, Okinawa, China Sea and Tokyo. Recipient of seven battle stars, include six island invasions and one sea battle. He retired from the U.S. Navy and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the USS Calnfornia Association and the AARP. He was a Lutheran. He was chairman of Biloxi Reunion 1983. Married Vilia Jones, Biloxi, MS. Died Oct. 18. 1988, in Biloxi, where lived for 17 years. Survived by his daughter, Mrs. Helen Davis. Railto, CA, and three step-daughters: Mrs. Shannon lllich of Long Beach, Mrs. Sylvia Diaz of D'Iberville. and Mrs. Diane King of Gulfport, and a step-son, Ray Fountain of Long Beach. Also 19 grandchildren and eight great- grandchildren. JOHNNIE T. JUDIE SR., CK2lc, born Hearne, TX, July 31, 1921. Enlisted April 22, 1942, U.S. Navy. Service included TAD CEN, Shoemaker, CA, Catnp PetTy.VA1 PSC Lido Beach, Ll, NYQ Houston, TX: NTS Norfolk. VA: USS Califizrniu PSNY Bremerton, WA. Participated in battles at Tinian, Saipan, Guam, Battle of Leyte Gulf, Battle Lingayen Gttlf, other actions in Philippines. Mernorahle experiences include being eye witness ofthe kamikaze Japanese plane before crashing into BB4-l, also Gen. MacArthur's return to Philippines. AwardslMedals: American Catnpaign, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four Bronze Stars, WWll Victory Medal. Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one llronfc Star. Philippine Presidential l1nitCitation. Discharged Oct. 16, 19-15. with the rank ol' Clillc. ' 4 .ff r -ur , 1' O Q f if Married Johnedna Wilson Judie on 'sew Year'-. Da, 1944, Bremerton, WA. Has four sons. one a pre-t .I Archdiocese of Louisville. KY. Retired postal work f Orleans, LA, main post office. HENRY JURACIC, Seaman First Class, born Chicago, Dec. 18. 1924. Enlisted August 1943, 6th Division, Gunnery. Participated in invading the Philippines, sea battle. Discharged in 1946. He and his wife Eugenia have no children. Today works in food business, meats. REV. JOSEPH ALAN JIQSTAD. Plot te. born Minneapolis, MN. July 20. 1922. Enlisted May 20. 19-12. USN Hospital Corps. Stations: Great Lakes: San Diego. Bremertong Spokane, USS Calnfornia. Battles participated in: Saipan, Tinian, Guam. Philippines. Surigao Strait. Lingayen Gulf. MedalslAwards: Purple Heart. Discharged December 19-15. He is a widower with four sons and four grandchildren. He is retired. but conducts 125 weddings a year. HARRY O. KASA. was born July 2-1. 1909. Dennison. MN. was drafted into the Naxy in December 1943. and left in January 19-1-1. for boot camp at Farragut. ID. After the training left for San Francisco and boarded the battleship, Cnllforriin which had been bombed in Pearl Harbor and repaired. He went to Saipan. which they int aded the beach for the Army. A watchman was killed here from a Saigon shell. They next invaded Guam and Tinian. w hen Ray Tweed came out of the jungles where he had been hiding. Suicide planes were around them and a number of inert aboard ship were killed. Other places w ere Okinaw .t. Iwo Jimo and sea battle in the Philippines. The treaty yy .ts signed on the Misrottri at Tokyo Bay. Our ship xx as there .1 few days later. On way home took trip to Earl Coast so stopped at Ceylon Colombo. lndia for tw o days: onto Capetown. Africa, and then on Atlantic and headed for Philadelphia. Was discharged in December 19-15 ,tt Great Lakes. lL. Q Q -I

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IUNH-.1N'lsSl1N.t-wit XVIII ltt.l9'-I.Of.tt'k.lN1O nits then assigned to the IISS tfttliforriia at Htcntcrton. A 'ixlm WE? il- IQ-I 1. N-tw. .iid lhxtston l'.ti'ticip.ttctI VSA f fpiieix tttg lxttttcs Xstgttit' Ixitcitic l'Iic.ttet. Satpitn. .lttnc J tl 2913. tltiatii Xitg I 9. I9-I-I1 lintittt. .ltilx .II - Mtg. I9-ll. I cxtc tlpciytttotis. Suttgao Sttittt. October - Nvwtttltet I9-I-1.1 tttg.txeitUttI1. .lan J - IS. I9-15:OIttn.tvttt Nssatttt .Inns I' 30. I9-45. l'hn'd Iflect Cltina Sea and I.EQ'.l12..ll1If 10 -Xttgttst '. 19-15, - N E X s skvunrlwxf s I 9 I 3 t Discharged Feb. 20. 19-18. vtith the rank of SSMT3. Nlanied Shirley Brovvn.N1ay 14. 1948. have one son. Nlr. Jackson died Oct. lo. 1991. VERNON O. SWYEDE JENSEN, Division F. born Pemberton. RIN. Dec. 20. 1920. Joined the Navy, March ll. 1938. Mason City. IA. Boot Training: NTS, Great L.1Itcs.II.. . Q. 'X aj . 1 as . L i 'Q , , XX '. 9 Q , Q. 1 aww, gif if ly! in ,U Transferred to USS California August 1938, at Bremerton. Was aboard ship at Pearl on December 7. At Pearl until August 1942. when CalU'0rnia retumed to the states. He was assigned to the USS Sirius AK-15: from :here to French frigate schools as GM 2lc in 1943. Other stations: Pearl Harbor Repair Base: San Diego Repair Base: LaMesa Retraining Command: Terminal island: Port Director Inspection Crew: shipped to Guam, Nov ember 1946 to February 1948, discharged as Chief GM. Feb. 27. 1948. Married March 18, 1945. to Alverag one sort and tvvin grandsorts. He is retired. ,JAMES E. JERNIGAN, WT1lc. USN, USS Calitimzia. was born May 14. 1920. in Petersburg, VA. Jained the Navy Jan. 23. 1939. Trained at NOB Norfolk, I-A. Assigned to CSS California from May 1939 to Dec. '. 1941. when it sank at Pearl Harborl USS Astoria from Dec. 13. 1941 to Aug. 9. 1942. when itsank atSavoIslandg USS .Santa Fe from November 1942, through June 1945. He three years. six months. and seven days of combat Participated in battles at Coral Sea May 7. 1942: my lcrif: 3-6. fiuadalcartal August 7-9. Discharged i I IL' 26.174, Vlarrierf Vlariort A Jernigan ,IA LK VS. JESSIP, ISNR. GFVl3lc.. born June 17, 1924. zf blbffft near?-f1erril.1!1. 'lried to loin the Navy in 1941. i.,fy,iLg Iff,wl'5 Vviii draltetl April 10 1943. and kb ., 'look liofit 'lratnsng at larragtit IIJ and He was assigned to the 6th Division standing fire watch most of the time in dry-dock. Battles participated in were Saipan, Tinian. Guam, Leyte, Surigao, Lingayen Gulf and Okinawa. Medals are WWII Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two Stars, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four stars. Was discharged Feb. 5, 1946, at Minneapolis, MN. Married 1947, have two children, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Retired in 1976, after working for city of Sivier City for 30 years. ELLIS K. JETT, USNR, RDM, 2lc, Division I, born April 10, 1925, in Mt. Sterling, IL, moved to Colorado Springs, CO, at age six months, liked it, so stayed. Enlisted in the Navy April 9, 1943, and woke up to cold salt-free oatmeal at 0400 in Farragut, ID. From there to duty on USS Calnfornia, radar school at Point Loma, CA, then back to the Prune Barge in time for shakedown cruise and sea duty. Received gunnery and damage control training and trained as small group portable radar operator for special landing forces. YU' Participated in all actions of the ship from Saipan in the Marianas to Okinawa and the China Sea. Aboard during the machine-gunning from a Sampan, shelling from a Japanese tank, kamikaze hit followed by a five inch round from a friendly destroyer, and ramming by an unfriendly sister-ship, the Temzessee. Awarded the European Theater Ribbon. Pacific Theater with four stars, American Theater, Victory Medal and Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars. Also earned tsuitable for framingj an official Certificate Awarding Membership in Ancient Order of the Deep signed by Davy Jones himself. Married Agnes Mott in 1950. produced two line knee- bouncers and one they sent to sea. He has a great daughter- in-law and two unmatched sons-in-law. plus nine top-of- the-line grandchildren. Retired in 1982 after 35 years as director of maintenance and operations with local school district. HAROLD J. JOHNSON, F llc, born Tulare, CA, May 19. 1920. Enlisted in U.S. Navy, Nov. 9, 1939. Trained at San Diego. Company 39-37. Assigned to USS California, Long Beach. February 1940. Served in B Division 40 and 41. Firerooms I and 3. during the December 7, attack at Pearl Harbor. Reported Missing in Action. Assigned to USS Aimria. Dee. 13. 1941. After Coral Sea and Midway. he was assigned to new construction on the USS Titania in Robins Dry Dock. NY. Sailed to Norfolk, VA. to train troops for invasion. Chesapeake Bay. VA, they were a cargo attack ship carrying 23 landing crafts and 300 assault troops. Made invasion SAFI AFRICA November 1942, back to Norfolk, VA. sailed for Salanions Islands, December 1942. operated otit of Iispirittt Santo, New Hebrides and Nottntia. New Caledonia. Carried 500 pounds of bombs, torpctlocs, aviation gas for lighting force outside Cittadalcanal. Made ltlture invasions ol Georgia Islands. Alltel invasion ol Mttnda, he was intttretl and sent the hospital in Auckland. New Zealand. MOB - 4. Then traits1'et'ted to Oak Knoll to be operated on, and then to Corona lor Rehab. Then onto San Diego. limited duty, Med Surveyed ottt MM-2C. Nov. 9. 1944. five years tothe day. wr .R . 0.44. '-iff Married. four children, nine grandchildren, 10 great- grandchildren. Retired in 1977. hobbies, motor-homing. fishing and golf. Motor-homed in U.S., Canada. Baha, Mexico. Loved every moment of it. Proud to have been a part of the Old B-44. HARRY NOLAND .JOHNSON JR., Sllc. born Great Bend, KS. Oct. 12, 1925. Enlisted December 1942. Los Angeles. CA. U.S. Navy. N Division C3. Boot Camp. Farragut, ID: Bremerton, WA, USS Calnfornia, 1943 - January 1945, died on hospital ship, USS Bolivar Jan. 12, 1945. Participated in battles at Leyte Gulf. Surigao Strait, Lingayen 5 Gulf, kamikaze Hit: all II? I battles from X '-Lf Recommissioning until , January 1945. Q M M e m o r a ble I' experiences include good friends: Don Zieglar, Bill Silvers, Jim Hissom, Ken Fields. Bunking with the Band. AwardslMedals: Commendation Sky Lookout. Invasion of Leyte. Died as result of burns received when Japanese plane struck his duty station. Sllc. Lingayen Gulf. Jan. 6. 1945. His father. H.N. Johnson Sr.. CEM. USNCB: mother. Vera A. Williams. Los Angeles. CA: sister. Joanne: Johnson Haaker, now of Roach. MO. Buried at sea. Jan. 12. 1945. Mindoro Deep. He has a map his brother made showing the route the Calmmiia took from the time it left the States. showing battles. etc. until he was injured. PAUL JOHNNY JOHNSON, CWO USN. tRet.1. born Beverly. MA. Feb. 2. 1910. Enlisted Dec. 7. 1928. Transferred to BB44 on Aug. 6. 1935: Fllc. M Division: transferred B Division. as WT2lc other ships: CA-2 Rac'lie.s'tt'r. CL-I3 Menipliis. ML-1. Ogalala. BB44. California ATO. 26 Iwllllfflllk. DD 389. Mugjbrd. CL-43 Na.vln'ille, DD-422 Mayo. ADMS. Staff as CWT, ATR-76 as CH, Eng. ,I -Y Ll. AO58 as M Division officer: CA-124 as CWT. Retired on Sept. 8, 1948: recalled Oct. 20. 1950. Trained recruits Newport, RI. Bainbridge, MD. Re-retired Oct. 19. 1952. They were known as Metal Men. silver in their hair. gold in their teeth. and lead in their butts. Retired as chief warrant machinist. March 1. 1958. Holloways Staff on AD-20. 1943. Married Jan. 24. 1932. while on CL-13. USS Mrfnipliis, French Canadian Irene S. Boudreau. two daughters. Joan 1933 and Paula 1938.

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Rank. lfneinan lust Class. X liixiooix ll.trix xxas in.nried Sept ftx, 1030, ,mtl has txxo xlauglttcts as xx ell as sexen hxtng grtmtlcltildren .ind ll great gratittclnldreit llis datigliters xx ere I .mtl S xt-.tis txltl xx hen he xx ent in the seix ice llc retired in .lnlx 1974. and has been legally blind tor sex cial xcars GFORGIQ J. Klfl.l.EY. BIT. ISN. tRet,l, born x1in.x1ta.NF..lttne 10. 1912. Fnlistedfxug. 27. 19-10.Scatt1e. NN X. ISN. Coinpany 40-65. San Diego. Serx ed aboard the 1 SS fltIfl'ill'.'litE HH-14. l'SS t'li1t't1,eot'.4f9. Cub 13. Boat Pool tfll. Sl Cl' ttlo. ISS .-XROt41o. l'SS ABSD 145, t'Bltl5.t'BD151'.N1CB ith. Amphib Base l..C.. YA. CHU 101. Antarctica Palmer Station. Participated in battles at Rcnnel ls. Green ls. Philippines tSaipanl. Marshall-Gilbert ls . Xexx Guinea. Guadalcanal. Bollganxille. Memorable experiences: back to active duty, assigned to CBL20. Antarctic Support. when main unit deployed to Xlclxlurdo. in November he was designated CPO in charge of construction platoon Alfa. they deployed at the end of December. flew to Punta Areas. Chili. There loaded Coast Guard Ice Breaker llfksr Wind 66-67. South Wind 67-68 to .-Xnx ers Island. He had been on plenty islands but none can compare. ice. snow. rock. even the penguins and seals left before them. Their heavy equipment and materials came later. they had their camp set up and a good pan of blasting done. they used up about two tons of explosive, a good underwater for the pier. The facility supported about 20 people wintering over. He was awarded the flag. by du C.O. of 201 . that flew over Palmer Station. Their two times there their motto was Construction for Peace. Back to Fleet Reserve April 1968. AwardsfMedals: American Defense Service Medal xx ith star. Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with seven stars, American Area Campaign Medal. WWII Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars, Good Conduct Medal with six star. Antarctic Medal, two Commendation Letters. Transferred to Fleet Reserve June 1, 1960, rank, BUC. He married Thelma in February 1945, has son George J., daughters. Linda. Cheryl, Kathleen and Theresa. Also 12 grandkids and two great-grandchildren. .JOHN DAVID KELLY, SllC, Greer County, OK, Aug. 1. 1921. Enlisted Dec. 9, 1941, U.S. Navy 6th Division South Pacihc. USS Calnforniu. Wlwffq- Basic training at San Diego, CA. Dec. I6. 1941 to Dec 28. 1941 . On Dec, 28. 1941 . he had an appendectomy at the US. Naval Hospital in San Diego. CA. On Jan. 20. .942 he was transported to Pearl Harbor and assigned to 'I ,ty aboard the IQSS California for the salvage operation. Vx her, the IISS Californm was made sea worthy he sailed fx Iirernertori, Navy Yard. in Washington State where it f. as modernized and updated Participated in battles at' Saipan. Tinian. Guam. Levitt: l,off,y, Okinawa The fulijornm was htl by a suicide ciartc alter laridiriff troops on Lufon. ffhusing. loss ol lite ri damage to the ship Sea battle in SurigaoStrai1 rtistllltlfl ft r, 15 Japanese ship- being sunk The I ulifornm continued with 'he Pllllifafzlltfi Liberation and preparing lor the tnx.tsiono1 lokx o When thc .Japanese surrentleretl he then xx cnt to tlkiitnxxzt. Vxztkax anna Wan. and then to Tokyo Huy amd dnl some sight seeing in 'liokyo The C'olilornio remained in .Japanese xxaters for another 90 days. then set sinl tot the USA. via Singapore, Colombo. Ceylon. Ciipetoxx n. SoutliA1rica. and then to Philadelphia. PA. Awards! Medals: American Medal. Asiatic-Pacific xxith three Bronze Stars. the Philippines Liberation 131 Bronze Stars. and World War ll Victory Medal. He was discharged Dec. 13. 1945. in Norman, OK. at the rank of SIXC. He was married March 19. 1945, to lone G. Boneek. he has three daughters. one son and seven living grandchildren. John Kelly and wife lone reside at Midxx est City. OK. He worked in law enforcement retiring after 35 years. and then with the department of safety for 1-1 years retiring the second time on Nov. 30, 1988, with the rank of Sgt. He also worked the Oklahoma State Fair every year since the early 1950s. His hobbies include: woodworking, gardening and yard work. LOUIS ERWIN KELLEY, USS Caliornia BB44, born in Bellows Falls, VT, March 10, l9l7.After graduating from Williams College in 1938, worked, at various jobs, thenjoined the Navy August 1940. Commissioned ensign 1 June 1941. Ordered to the ' I f California in October, he was aboard on December 1 I 7th. His duty station was I ' boilers division, but his ff battle station was plotting fl f f, room for main battery. Up y early to record fuel and t' water and on way to cf breakfast when the attack started. Went to plotting 2 room where they felt bombs and torpedoes hitting ship. They went up an escape tower. helped with the wounded until second abandon ship was ordered. December 9, he was assigned with five others to help find the 12,000 missing men. Many went to undamaged ships, and wounded were found in private homes and hospitals. After a month with nearly all of them accounted for, he was ordered to the Ralph Talbot DD390 as engineering officer. Saw action in the Gilbert, Marshall. Wake and Marcus Islands, Midway and Guadalcanal . Ship badly damaged at Savo lsland August 9, 1942. After repairs at Pearl Harbor and San Francisco, they returned to the South Pacific. June 1944, reported to the Zellars DD777 as engineering officer. Hospitalized January 1945 until April 1946 and retired. He has the Fleet Commendation. American Defense with one star and Asiatic-Pacific with seven stars. Married Elizabeth McMicken May 1942. have one daughter, two sons and two grandchildren. He worked as a research chemist for Rohm and Haas in Philadelphia, retired 1976. . , ,M 'Wm . sr .1 .ff J. VERNON W. KENNEDY, bom Feb. 19, 1915. Banner, VA. Joined Navy, July 7, 1937, trained at NOB, Norfolk. VA. Assigned to USS California December 1937. After four years, three months, 14 days. he was discharged at Long Beach, CA. on Oct. 18, 1941. He saw no wartime action on the California all his wartime action was on a DD559 front June 2, 1943. to May 18. 1945, after his re- enlistment in the Navy. His most memorable experience was while securing the Honey Box on the pOI'l side, galley deck the port crane two-blocked, snapped the cable, came down. knocked him over the side, between a garbage scoxv. breaking some ribs and a couple toes. Was seaman llc 5th Division, while aboard the Calmirnia. x V' Married with three children and eight grandchildren. Retired from his job as a railroad conductor in 1975. Today he engages in hunting. fishing, gardening, traveling and loaling. ROBERT S. KERTCHER, Radar Technician 2lc, born Detroit, Ml. Jan. 7. 1925. Enlisted Jan. 6. 1943, USNR, NTS. Great Lakes. USS California BB44. Participated in battles at Saipan. Guam, Tinian. Leyte Gulf, Surigao Strait, Lingayen Gulf. Okinawa. xt... , . fp 1 f 3 ky. f 1, . xx . I x 5 Nt s., AwardslMeda1s: Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal. American Campaign Medal, Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal with four stars, WWII Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars. Discharged Jan. 19, 1946. with radar technician 2lc. Married Norma Jean Van Arsdale 1948: daughters. Sally Ann and Jean Leslie. Retired in Las Vegas. travel. Memorable Experiences: He was assigned as radar technician in charge of the number four Mark IV Fire Control Radar. The Antenna Assembly was mounted on top ofthe 5 inch 38 gun director located near Sky Aft. When the kamikaze attacked the California at Lingayen Gulf, Jan. 6, 1945. it was the Antenna Assembly of the Mark IV Radar that became the first point of contact by the Japanese Zero. After sweeping the antenna off the top of the director. the Zero exploded against the ship about one deck above Sky Aft and the adjacent Aft Radar Control shack. But,just minutes before this occurred he had received a phone call at the radar shack and he was summoned below to assist in maintenance on one of the forward radars. He assumed it was an urgent call because they were at battle stations. He quickly gathered up the tools and the special meter needed for tests and proceeded to excuse himself as he headed for the ladder and stepped over some of the Sky Aft personnel who were resting on the deck. No sooner had he descended four decks to the starboard side of the main deck he caught sight of a low flying aircraft off the starboard aft quaner. He pointed it out to Radar Tech Johnny Johnson who planned to meet him there. They then observed the aircraft make a shallow tum and head straight toward them. The Japanese were very close and they heard the quad 40s and 20s commence firing. They were exposed on the quarter deck so they dashed through the cross- passage and dove into the light-lock hatch on the pon side just moments before the Zero exploded about 50 feet above them. The explosion and shrapnel was devastating as evidenced by their casualties. damage. and by photos taken by other ships. lt was a very close call for him and it is still very vivid in his memory. He believes that within those few short minutes he was the last person to leave Sky Aft alive and unharmed. He has one person to thank for that seemingly urgent phone call which resulted in his leaving Sky Aft immediately with precious few minutes to spare. That person was Johnny Frank Johnson. Radar Technician Zlc. his closest friend. Later when he asked Johnny about the tests he needed to make he said it was not urgent. only routine. and he hadn't really planned to use the special meter that day. He was dismayed! But, why with seeming urgency did he call him away from Sky Aft? He never found an explanation for his misunderstanding the message. But. nonetheless. to this day he continues to thank Almighty God that he reacted as if Johnny's message was indeed urgent, lt was to him!! ALBERT E. KING. born Aug. 16. 1923. Augusta. KS. Moved to Wichita 1928. Worked Western Union at 17. Was in CCC Camp. Rosell. KS. on Dec. 7, 1941. lnducted into USNR April 5. 1943. Boot Camp Farragut, ID, Company 261. Assigned USS California. Bremerton dry-dock R Division SF3lc. After overhaul. steamed over 100,000 miles. Crossed equator in Pacific. Indian. Atlantic Oceans.