California (BB 44) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 88 text:

Circum-navigated the Globe. Accepted tnember Ancient Order ol' the Deep, Sacred Order of the Golden Dragon. Eamed six battle stars and Presidential Unit Citation. Participated in last sea battle between surface ships in which the Caliornia sank Japanese battle ship in direct exchange of fire at Surigao Strait in Philippines. California covered landings of first troops landing on Japan at WWII end. Was mile off shore Leyte Gulf day MacArthur landed. Was asleep last bunk forward main deck when Tennessee rammed Calnfornia, killing several men 5th Division directly below. Was at battle station 01 deck when hit by Japanese plane, also hit by shell fire at Saipan. Discharged Dec. 13, 1945, Norman, OK. Married Elizabeth J. Orange Feb. 19, 1945, three children and seven grandchildren. Retired Wichita, KS, Fire Department, Captain, living in Andover, KS. ALONZO W. KIRBY, USNR, born Jan. 29, 1923, joined the Navy February of 1943. Trained at Great Lakes Naval Training Station. They sent him to Poinloma, CA, for five weeks of radar operator. That was after being assigned to the Calnfornia. They saw action in Marianas, Saipan, Tinian, and Guam. They headed for Okinawa when the Tennessee rammed them one night during a storm. There was a floating dry-dock there that could handle them so they Went to the New Hebrides for a patch job. Espiritu Santo from there they went to Okinawa and the Philippines. A suicide plane hit them in super structure, after that sent them back to Bremerton, WA, for a 25 day leave. In the Great Sea Battle in Leyte Gulf the old Prune Barge Sent one Japanese battleship to the bottom solo and helped sink other ships of the Japanese Fleet. He was BM2!c when he left the Navy. He had three brothers in, Alan - Army, Paul - Navy, and Noble - Army. He has eight Bronze Stars and the Purple Heart. He is now a retired builder. He left the Navy January 1946. ROBERT C. KLAG, ENC, USN, born April 11, 1918, New York. Enlisted Jan. 28, 1941, U.S. Navy. Was a Merchant Marine prior to his Naval History. Went to sea in 1934. Worked as a fireman and oiler on various ships. Burnt coal on some of them. He enlisted in the Navy in Bellingham, WA, right after Christmas 1940. Went through training in San Diego. To the it California June 1941. Served in the forward - engines room in the W Division. He loved that L , ship, she was his home, He never had a home, she was his life. He saw the Japanese planes over Ford Island he 'just came of the 4 to 8 watch, was at his bunk on the 2nd deck starboard side. He pulled on his pants and shoes and dove for the engine room after the bugle sounded, lle remembers the bombing and torpedoes. lt was awful when .Af you are down below under attack. Went on board .'m1'rllr1,:gff as soon as she arrived from the States. .lun Winters and Jolm De Long went there too. Lett the .Srtrrzlrigrf a year later and put USS Ulf' AT76 in Frisco. Went on her to the invasion of Attu in the Aleutian Islands. Did various salvage work and on and off served as a radar beacon lor planes. After the Aleutian Campaign was finished they went to the invasion of Philippine Islands, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Got transferred to the States and arrived there V.J. Day, did various duty on the East Coast, USS to Maui in Panama then duty in Greenland. Re-enlisted in 1947, and served on USS Kyne as shipkeeper. Went to St. Albans Hospital found he had ulcer and nervous stomach. Retired as engineman lst class. Went and worked in various power plants and as a fireman and later learned stationary engineering. Married and has two daughters. Today he is retired stationary engineer, logging contractor. STANLEY P. KLEIN, USN, joined the Navy Jan. 7, 1941, and was sent to Great Lakes, IL, for eight weeks of training. After finishing Boot Camp. He was shipped to Bremerton, WA, and boarded the California on Sunday, March 30th on his 18th Birthday. Assigned to the 2nd Division. They got to Pearl about the end of April. So the whole summer of 1941, they would go out to sea, maneuvers and gun practice, on the Friday before December 7, coming into Pearl, they reported enemy submarines. He never did know what happened to their report. On Sunday, December 7, he had the 8 to 12 messenger watch on the starboard quarter deck, GQ was sounded. All hands went to their battle station and about 11:30 a.m. the word was passed to abandon ship. When they left the lower handling room of turret 2, they were ankle deep in oil. He stayed attached to the ship, after the refit, they went back out on the Pacific to fight the Japanese, until the war was over. They made a world tour to Capetown, South Africa, and back to the states, and got into Philadelphia on December 1945. Then they mothballed the ship and on July 3, 1946, he was transferred to Key West, FL, on LCI 656, as care taking crew and stand watches, on Sept. 28, he was sent to Jacksonville, FL, for discharge, he stayed at Jacksonville till November 9, for discharge. LYLE A.E. KLEMP, SIC, born July 10, 1925, Richfield, WI. Enlisted June 1943, in Milwaukee, WI, trained at Great Lakes, 28 days, sent to Bremerton, WA, assigned to USS Wichita, later transferred to USS Calnfornia. f One thing that really stands out is the Okinawa Typhoon. Five from 2nd Division went to get supplies at Okinawa. Next thing waves are getting higher, all ships leaving. Lost their barge, water all over island. Lost his shoes, got foot infection run a nail under his big toe. Five days the ship came back to pick them up. They all looked like foreign tramps. AwardsfMedals: Third Fleet China Sea and Japan, Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation. Nine Stars: Asiatic-Pacific, Saipan, Guam, Tinian, Leyte Operation, Leyte Landings, Battle of Surigao Strait, Lingayen Gulf, Okinawa. Discharged March 30, 1946. Married Estelle. three adopted children, Mary. Robert, Zona, two grandchildren, Tracy, 19, and Johnathan, 2, one more on the way. Retired from Merrill Fire Department 3.1 lfl years. EDDIE A. KLUSMICIER,lISN,G1y1,3rt1t'tass, USS f.'ulifbrr1iri. 5111 Division, born Louisville, KY, Nos. 2-1, 1920. lxnlisted March 12, 1940. l'articipated in battles at Pearl llarhor, Philippines and Asiatic 'l'lteater, hleinorahle 1 fi W . ' Wt' 71. I f . ' A experiences include tropical storms and typrtooris His experience aboard Battleship LBS Crni,rf,rr 1 Bremerton, WA. Puget Sound P-'anal Shtpy ard. He was assigned to 5th Diuision. just in time air supply chipping hammers over the side. They at two men to a scaffold with block and tackle and a ig? line tied around their waists. They had to tie tackle ltrr properly or hang in mid air. and it was a long may down to the bottom of dry-dock. 1941 Pearl Harbor He had last ammunition magazine security w atch 0400 to 0800 Sunday morning, Dec. 19-11. The w atch was secured at breakfast. He went below to w ash up. Oy er the loud speaker he heard that the Japanese were bombing them. Set conditions: Yoke, X-Ray. Zebra. He raced to Casemate 441. his gun station. Looking out to Ford Island Air Force Base. he could see smoke and fire. A plane banked its wings and he saw a big orange circle. They watched bombs hit and explode. When torpedoes hit them they shook and rocked. Explosions were taking place below. Outside their gun station Atl and Turret 22 a hole the width of a water bucket was 10-15ft from them. It had to explode below or he wouldnt be here to w rite this With the ship listing portside they heard Abandon Ship Call. Hejumped over side and swam to Ford Island. Orders came to return to ship and try to save her from capsizing. They kept doubling up lines from ship to key 5 so she would settle on bottom upright. and she did. Transfer to EWA Marine Base to install 5 inch .35 caliber anti-aircraft guns while living in woods and tents. They manned the anti-aircraft guns and trained Marines to take over. He returned to San Francisco on L'SS Henderson. He was assigned mine sweeping duty on YNIS 313 arid 314, with the 7th Fleet. Duty in New Guinea. New Britain. Celebes. Admiralty Islands. and Philippines as escort. patrol, mine sweep. and tow barges. Returned to Ads anced Gunnery School. Washington. D.C. Received hospital discharge on Aug. 9. 1945. Discharged Aug. 9. 19-15. with the rank of gunners mate, lfc. Married. two children. daughter and son. three grandchildren. Today retired. staying around home. JACK R. KNOX. USN. born Jan. 31. 1923. Fulda. MN. Joined the Navy March 26. 1943. and served .is machinist in the engine room. His daughter wrote this biography for her Dad. as he passed away Jan. lo. 1905. He was always proud of having served his country and of being on the USS Ciilirbriizu. ,,,,,as . I v0lhlNlhmmQ He had a journal telling about botnhardtng S.np.iti. Tinian, the mines at ley te Gul1',hattles l1lSLll'lg.l0 Strait. the China Sea and lingay en Gulf. The enemy attacks they surx iyed causing tninry .intl death to friends and shipmates made her ery She ts grateful to her Dad and all of youg xt tthour your lwraxerx and sacrifices life xxouldn't he .ts good .ts it ts Dad belonged to the Ancietit Order ot' the Deep .ind the Sacred Order ot' the Golden Dragon, and steamed 100. 150 ntiles.

Page 87 text:

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.

Page 89 text:

llc was honorably discliarged Dccciiibei 1945 Married his syyectltcart. Ruth and returned lti yyorls .tt Clitcago North NN est Railroad. until beconiing .1 hobby I.irntci '.-' crane operator HC-s surxty cd by his yyitc. Ruth. of 48 years. his ksIliUgl1lL'l'lQlLlll.SOl1'lll-ILIXX..lL'lTy,LlllLlOllC grandson. Josh. Slllllllllllitf lay Gail llotllifii FRIQDIQRICK I. KUHI.. MMZC. born Springfield. OH..1unc lo. 1923. Enlisted Dec. 12. 1942. Nayy. Service includes Great Lakes Nay al Training Station: Bremerton Nat .tl Xard. Bremerton. WA: USS Ciilifoiwziii, Participated in battles at Saipan. Guam. Leytc Gulf. Surigao Strait. Lingay en Gulf. East China Sea. Okinawa. Occupation Xyakay anta Wan Occupation. Tokyo. AwardslMeda1s: .Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal. Philippine Liberation Ribbon. Discharged Jan. 11. 1946. with the rank of MM2C. Married Opal Salyer. June 29. 19461 two daughters, Saunie and Kristy: three grandchildren: Rusty, Kristopher, Kelsey. Wife deceased .August 1985. Retired and enjoying every minute. HAROLD D. KOZA, AMM3, born Nov. 20, 1921, Bruno. NE. Enlisted May 1940, U.S. Navy, Aviation Machines T Mate 3. V Division. Boarded Long Beach. 1940: Boat Camp. San Diego, NAS Kodiak, enlisted Flight Training. VF89. USS Antietaing flight instructor, Pensacola: .Airborne Radar Controller VW2g VF 82: USS Kersage. LTA pilot. Arctic Flight Snow Goose. AvvardslMeda1s: Campaign Pacific and Good Conduct Medals. Discharged June 30, 1960. Married 1947, Frances Watson: daughters, Rebecca and Karen: son. Don. Retired Medical 1977, Department Army. Aviation Treatment Technical Advisor. DANIEL R. KRAMER, Ensign, DVCGJ, USNR, born Dubuque. IA. Sept. 21, 1916. Enlisted Great Lakes October 1940. Commissioned Ensign, Navy Pier, Chicago. June 12. 1941. Married June 18, 1941, to Mary Jane Kuehnle. Dubuque. IA. Joined USS California July 1941. at Pearl Harbor. On board Dec. 7, 1941, The Day of Infamyx Battle station Captains Conn Cradar plotterj. .Abandoned ship to Ford Island, then back on board to assist in removing dead and injured. l 1 Serv ed at Ft. Shafter. seventh interceptor command. as Na'-.al Liaison Officer for seven months. August 1942 if, IQSS Abaef on KAVP 231. small seaplane tender. at Lake Washington Shipyards. Seattle. Left this shipAugust 1945. as executive officer flieutenant commanderl. Three grown children Daniel. John and Susan. Six grandchildren. .Vlarried 50 years June 18. 1991. Retired 'fum EI du Pont Co in 19756. Clinton. IA. I'QI.fLIN I.. KRIEWALIJ, I-.M 3C l.'SN'R. horn March 9 2924 in Carrington.N1J .Ioinerl Navy May 24. 1943. 'i li zarnp at Iarragut 111 Company 350- lfllflll , '.. 1 ,ft -t'i..'ur- lilmrygrrltifg, f,1 ryr,r,t gdmp ht, AA. f1,s1j,Hefl to lllc f nliffirriffi at Hrernertwn WA llanks held As. S2r... I'2t.. l-lc. lfni it: llc xyas honorably discharged at IISNB, in llrcniciton on lylaicli 24. 1946. Receiving 11576.55 upon discliatgc Medals he reeeiyed were Asiatic-Pacific Area Canipaign Medal t5l. American Area Campaign Medal. Philippine Lilveration Medal. WWII Victory Medal. He was employed as an electrician in Bremerton Naval Shipyard prior to entering the Navy. He was one of the electricians to hook up shore power to the Calyornia when she arrived from Pearl Harbor, after being raised from the Japanese attack. She was put right into dry dock upon arriving at Bremerton for rebuild to re-enter the war. He entered the Navy, went to Boot Camp and was assigned to the USS California straight out of Boot Camp serving his entire enlistment on her. He made a career as a journeyman wireman, and apple orchards in the state of Washington. He and his wife have six children and seven grandchildren in whom they are very proud. They are retired and spend every winter in Apache Junction, AZ, with several of his old Navy buddies. He has a special memory of the Japanese kamikaze that hit them in the after super structure wiping out the surface look-out station just at sunset. As it was getting dark there was a degree indicator light, with the housing broken away from it and the bulb still burning bright. The captain ordered that light out immediately. Being the electrician the order was directed to, he crawled through the crash sight in the dark and put out the light by breaking the bulb with a wrench he had in his hand. The next morning when it was daylight they found a bomb that hadnlt gone off, with his hand print on it. He figured it must be his, since it was in the same path he had taken to put the light out the night before. RAY KUHLOW, Warrant Office, USN, USS CalU'ornia was born March 15, 1922, in Bridgman. MI. completed basic training at the U.S. Navy Recruit Training Center, Great Lakes. IL, in the winter of 1940. , was., ., X I 4 gg . ,M Vis Reported on board the USS California BB44 in June of 1940. On Dec. 7. 1941. was stationed in the 14 Turret 142. moored in Pearl Harbor. HI. Following the attack he was assigned to a crew that removed the anti-aircraft guns from sunken ships and installed them around Pearl Harbor for the island's anti-aircraft defense. In March of 1942. he was assigned to a salvage crew that participated in the salvage of the battleships California and West Virginia and returned them to Bremerton. WA. Navy Yard for repair. In 1943. he went to Washington. D.C. to the Gunnery School and then returned to the USS California when she was recommissioned and returned at active duty. They then traveled to the Marshall Islands. Saipan. Tinian. and Guam. Then on to the Philippines Theater of Operations. Late in 1944. he returned to the Advanced Gunnery School. Washington. D.C.. after which he was assigned to the repair ship USS Coa.s'rz'i'.v HarliorAG74. They went out to Okinawa at the time WWII ended and they went into Saseho. Japan. with the Occupation Force and remained there until August 1946. He then returned to the llnited States and was assigned to a destroyer. the USS Tlioniiis IL. I'iI'll.l'l'Il DM24. in Charleston In 1948 and 1949. he was assigned to the Great Lakes Training Center, training recruits. In September 1949, he was transferred to the first Navy Guided Missile Unit established at John Hopkins, Silver Springs. MD lGuided Missile Unit H21 1. From there the unit was sent to the Naval Weapons Center in China Lake. CA. and on to the USS Norton Sound AVM-1. In 1950. he was promoted to warrant officer and served on the USS Mi.s'.i'i.s'.s'ippi EA6-128. the USS Canberra CAG- 2, and at the Naval Weapons Station, Las Vegas. NV. He retired from the Naval Service as chief warrant officer W-3, in October 1960. He has since been employed in the aerospace industry until 1985. He married his wife Helen in February 1943. and they now reside in Reseda. CA. They have two children and four grandchildren, EMIL KUPCBIK, United States Navy, Motor Machinist Mate, Third Class, SV6, was born in Cleveland, OH. on Aug. 17, 1924. He entered into active service on Wh- t July 14, 1943. and served aboard the USS California NTS Newport, RI, and the USS Oklahoma City. During his service with the U.S. Navy he received the Asiatic-Pacific Medal with three stars. the Victory Medal and the American Area Medal. Emil received his Honorable Discharge on March 13, 1946. He married Veronicalucha on March 13. 1948. and had three daughters. Marcia Wodzisz Karen Caiazza and Donna Kupchik. Unfortunately, Emil died of lung cancer on Feb. 7. 1991. leaving his wife, daughters and two grandsons. Brian and Dennis Wodzisz. VICTOR KUZMIC, Fireman lst Class. born South Bend, IN. Dec. 1. 1925. Enlisted Oct. 6. 1944. Navy. M Division. Service included NTC Great Lakes. IL. USS California BB44. USS Cascade ADI6. USS AlcorAD34. ,If I Memorable experiences include Okinawa. 1945. AwardslMedals: Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one star. WWII Victory Medal. American Area Campaign Medal. Discharged June 11. 1946. Married and has one son. two daughters and one grandson. Retired. I GERARD DICK LAFFARGUE, FC 3lc, born Groton, CT. May 30. 1926, Enlisted June 6. 1944. USN. Stations included: Naval Training Station. Sampson.