California (BB 44) - Naval Cruise Book

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Q.. F I 431 'mo is r . fu -sg or my li 5. il. -5 I X Gail and Roger Jr.. and three grandclirldrcn: Jody Ware. Folrriria Ware .uid Brands Martin. Semihrctircd T.V. :cp.nrrit.rn. Six arnsboro. MA. ROBERT L. BOB MASON. E Division. born Muskegon County. MI. 1922. Graduated from Balboa HI C .7 r f X s X .i s 1 1 it f S g fs ' sr 5 p . Q1 f To LSN August 1940. USS Calyornia 1940. On Dec. '. 1941. in forvs ard battery locker. They cut him out 1530 hours. To LSS Chicago. until it was sunk off Rennell Island Jan. 30. 1943. L'SS ABSD?-f-1. a floating dry-dock 21 months at Manus. Married Bea Kristof in Chicago 1949. have two sons in Idaho. one daughter Washington. Lived Chicago, Balboa CZ: Lake Geneva. WI: Vancouver, WA: Yakima. WA. Hobbies include camping, black powder shooting. traveling by auto back to Midwest to visit relatives and friends and attending Navy Reunions. volunteer work. It doesn't pay much but you never have to wonder what to do with yourself. Presently president of the Local Chapter 39. of PHS in Yakima: Pearl Harbor: Victory II: American Defensez Asiatic-Pacific: Good Conduct: and American Theater Medals. FRANK NIASSEY. Chief Commissary Steward, born Feb. 6. 192 1 . Anacores. WA. Enlisted Aug. 26, 1940, Navy. Participated in battles at Pearl Harbor. Guadalcanal. Iwo Jima. Marianas. Okinawa. 1 Discharged Aug. 55. 1946. Tw o children. five grandchildren. one great- grandchild. Retired. playing golf. traveling. rifle shooting. fanting and lishrng. CHARLES F. NIATTHEWS, BYV13le, Coxswain. born is-r Diego. CA. Oct. ll. 1923. raised and enlisted in the ' ' L. in San Diego. CA. Assigned to the USS Cfallfornia. sq. -V, ,.t.rle it 1. as on the bottom ol Pearl Harbor. They lived in rw- or, I-ard Island. doing clean up work on the ship. until vs raised and put in dry-dock lor initial repairs. l'rom .t was a blur ol paint chipping. continuing after arrszai .n Bremerton Navy Yard After a long wait ' Y megan the rrioderniration which was completed in early fe. 941 '-.!lr,f,-. oi the crew. were transferred to other ships 1fgd.r1gf :nerr but him and a law others managed to avoid of tf,f,f, fjrjff.,1f3lit,V, f,1 the repairs. they built llltf UCW 1 l 3 4,j,.jp j,, .mi ',12,rll1i. arnj brigarr trairiirip ol! 1 ong lieacrb s,,a,1 Theirfirst action was Saipan.June 14. 1944, and they took a hit from a shore battery on the super structure above the bridge. It hit outside killing the smoke watch. blowing inside seriously wounding him and another man. He spent the next six months in the hospital. Upon his discharge he was assigned to a new aircraft carrier and finished the war there. He spent most of his working life, 27 years, with an oil company in Saudi Arabia. It was an interesting and satisfying life full of adventures and world travel. He never for a moment regretted making his career there. Especially now that I've retired in his home town of San Diego. with a comfortable income. He used to play a lot of golf. but back problems ended that. Now hejust putter and goof off. One thing he did, just for his own satisfaction, was to go back to his old high school and get his diploma at the age of 65. USS California BB44, Febmary 1942 to June 1944. WILLIAM C. MAY, Private, born May 20, 1924, Orange City, IA. Enlisted June 24, 1943, U.S. Marines, after sea school, assigned to USS Calnfornia August 1943, went aboard at Bremerton, May 1944. Anchored at Pearl Harbor, May 10, 1944, left with strong force of warships for battle in Saipan their baptism of fire. From Saipan they Went to Eniwetok, then on to Guam and New Hebrides. In October 1944, sailed into Leyte Gulf for first landing in the Philippines and provided heavy artillery. In Lingayen Gulf they were struck by a Japanese kamikaze continued the battle and on to Puget Sound for repairs and back to Okinawa and on to Japan, to support landing of occupation troops. Arrived in Philadelphia via Singapore, Colombo and Capetown, South Africa, arrived Dec. 7. 1945. Q. Memorable experiences include being rammed by Drznesxce and liberty in Tokyo. Discharged Dec. 16, 1945. with the rank of private first class. Married and has three children. Today he is a farmer about to retire. WILLIAM G. MCGUIRE, born Aug. 7. 1923. Centralia. WA. Enlisted Jan. 29. l941.Trained at San Diego. CA. Depaned San Diego aboard USS Thornton AVDll. Arrived Pearl Harbor April 18. 1941. and reported to assigned duty aboard the Battleship USS California BB44. - in N I 1 sr X Dec. 7. 1941. Pearl Ilarbor attack. heard the lirst plane dive. and first bomb explode on Naval Air Station. Ford Island. in close proximity to their moorage at Berth Fox 3. Observcd cntirc action from the Signal Bridge of USS C'aliforrrirl. Just after midnight tmorning of Xlhl he was tenrporarily assigned to Naval Tugboat USS Vrrco that was alongside providing fire-fighting water for California. he remained aboard Wren until the night of December 13, when ordered to receiving station for reassignrnent to heavy cruiser USS Portland CA33. This period of time aboard the Virco resulted in a report that he was missing in action. A telegram to his parents stated he was missing and if remains are found you will be notified. This sounded pretty final and subsequently his name appeared on the official casualty list. Memorial services were held in his home church and high school. After the war. he had the pleasure of removing his name from a monument to the dead of King County in Seattle. Battles: Coral Sea. Midway, Invasion Guadalcanal, Stewart Islands Battle, Raid on Tarawa, Battle of Eastem Solomons. Battle of Santa Cruz, Battle of Guadalcanal tnight action of Nov. 13, 19421, New Georgia. Bougainville, Leyte Gulf, Liberation of Manila, Battle of Okinawa. Awards: Navy Unit Commendation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 13 stars, American Area, American Defense Service Medal, WWII Victory Medal. Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Korean Service Bar tMaritime Admin.J, Vietnam Service Bar tMaritime Admin.J. Ships and stations: USS Thornton ttemporaryi. USS Caljornia, USS Vireo ltemporaryj. USS Portland, USS Guadalcanal tnine months. Lunga Signal Towerl. USS APC23 tSolomons Area. temporaryl, USS YP516 tSolomons Areal. USS Merc-v, USS Massachusetts. Honorably discharged USN, Aug. 13. 1946. Rank SM2lc. Attended Washington Technical Institute. under GI Bill and acquired second mates license, joined Army Transport Corp. and U.S. Merchant Marine as licensed deck officer. participated in Korean War and Vietnam War. Continued with seagoing career until retirement November 1987, total of46 year on the Oceans ofthe World. he would do it all again if he could. He wishes to express Honor and Glory to all their departed comrades and to the extreme necessity of keeping their memory alive. ARTHUR J. MILLER. USNR. was born Aug. 16. 1924, in Lamar. CO, andjoined the Navy. Sept. 23. 1943. Miller completed boot camp in Farragut. ID. and traveled to Bremerton. WA. to board the USS Calrfbrnra as a F-2. if My if-6' I I 9. r Alf? 1.-:.:1N.. I PM Battles participated in were Saipan. Guam. Tinian. Leyte. Luzon. and Okinawa. Medals received were WWII Victory Medal. Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars. American Area Campaign Medal. and Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four stars. Before discharge as a WT3lc Division B on May 5, 1946. he was transferred to the USS Chester and assisted in placing the boilers in the mothball fleet. Miller really enjoyed the 15.000 mile journey home. He married Jean Hughes on Nov. 12. 1947. has two daughters. three grandchildren and four great- grandchildren. He is currently engaged in farming near Walsh, CO. ROY G. MILLER, MM2lc. born in Waynesville. NC. Sept. 21. 1909. Dropped out second year high school and joined U.S. Navy. Was sworn in at Raleigh. NC. Trained at Hampton Roads Training Station. Was shipped to West Coast for duty on USS Calyfornia. Was in M Division six years as engine room machinist. Married Jean Bowman of Inglewood, CA. June 18. 1932. One child. Robert, born in 1933. Discharged April 4. 1934. Worked in all major aircraft plants on West Coast.

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SCUBA license NRA Master four pistols, police pistol team. Enlisted USNCB. Aug. 2, 1943, 141 Battalion CM I! e, Hawaii one year, Kwajalein Island until discharge. Now living in wooded 2l!3 acres in Tigard tnear Portlandl with beautiful wife ot'54 years, Dorothy Helen. One son Giglbert, whose beautiful wife Kathy has given him two gorgeous daughters, I6 and 18. His hobbies, among many, are Samurai swords, J. Woodblock prints, Netsuke. Jade, Ivory, Snuff bottles, Sui Teki. Oriental Porcelains. Pre Colombian, Daguerreotypes and other early photo items, music i.e. ukulele, mandolin, guitar, pinochle. Also items with Queen Louise of Prussia on them, etc., etc. VERNON L. LUETTINGER, 21 years old. Radioman 2nd Class. USS Calyfornia BB44. 0 fsawrqgamn. ,. Medals and Awards: American Defense Service Medal with one starg Good Conduct Medalg American Theater Campaign Medalg Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one battle star, and WWII Victory Medal. Battle Station on Dec. 7, 1941: radar operator, radar shack, located on the deck above the signal bridge. tThe USS Calhfornia had the first experimental radar unit CCXAMJ in the Pacific Fleet. The evening of December 7, he was ordered to go aboard the USS Neosho and stand watch on the airfground circuit. He heard frantic voices from the planes of the USS Enterprise screaming uWe are friendlyw over and over again. Ground to air firing was excessive as the ground forces were very jumpy because reports of Japanese landing parties were erroneously being spread. As he recalls, he believes the USS Enterprise had several of its fighter planes shot down. After December 7, he was assigned to Admiral Nimitz's staff, standing watches on the task force commander's CW circuit. Later their radar unit was salvaged from the USS Calnfornia and reinstalled in the hills alongside the Army unit that reported the initial incoming planes on December 7. Their responsibility was to report and track all surface vessels arriving and departing the area. As a side note: They should never have been caught in this surprise attack because there were many earlier indications for them to be on the alert. WILLIAM E. LUX, USNR, born Oct. 17, 1925, enlisted Dec. 17, 1943, discharged June 15, 1946. Attended Iowa State Unit, Notre Dame University for engineering training, Great Lakes, board USS Caldornia May 1945, at Pearl Harbor. Disembarked BB44 Philadelphia Navy Yard June 1945. Issued WWII Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Liberation Medal, Okinawa bombardment. af . 5' 1' Bachelor Science, Iowa State University, member General Board of Global Ministries, teatn leader Iowa! Nigeria Partnership. Married Rosemary Craven, South Bend, IN. They have three boys, one girl. Retired from farming, living in Manchester, IA. CHARLES A. MALI.E'I I'l+1,IR.,SIti,borrrt'arit.ort. OH. March 17, 1926. linlisted April 5, 1943, Navy, 2nd Division. Participated in battles at Saipan, Guam, Tirnari. Leyte, Surigao Strait, Lingayen Gull' and Okinawa. I . . , f tw .,.. fr ,.y:0'.f '. gf 2, . V. 'va , I . 1, f 6, .ff if Um 7 in I r ' 1 .1 5 Discharged February 1946. Married Virginia Griffith, will be celebrating 47th Anniversary, and had one daughter Sally. Retired, enjoy fishing, playing cards, getting together with family and friends. RAYMOND J. MANUEL, USN, May 24, 1943-Dec. 12, 1945, bom March 19, 1924, Kinder, LA. Inducted in the Navy, May 24, 1943, at Sulphur, LA, and trained at San Diego, CA, and then stationed on the USS Caljornia BB44, I Division, SFC, Engaged in battles in Saipan, June 14, 1944, Guam, July 21, 1944, Tinian, July 23, 1944, Leyte Islands, Oct. 21, 1944, Surigao Strait, Oct. 24, 1944, Lingayen Gulf, May 20, 1945, and Okinawa, Aug. 7, 1945. The USS Calgfornia left Japan for the good old USA. Our route took them via South Africa, and a trip around the world. The ship had deported from San Francisco, CA, May 5, 1943, arrived at Port Philadelphia, Dec. 7, 1945. From there by train to the U.S. Naval Center. Nashville. TN. Dec. 12, 1945, for his discharge. Issued American Theater Ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon with four stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars, and the Victory Medal. Came home on furlough March 17, 1945, and got married March 20, 1945. Now living in DeQuincy, LA. tRetired, heavy duty operatorj with his wife, Robbie Lee. Have five children, 12 grandchildren and four great- grandchildren. CHANO R. MARES, Slfc, bom Fort Sumner. NM. Enlisted June 4, 1943, U.S. Navy, Division 1. H-Qty' He was assigned to the Old Prttne barge, USS BB-I-I in late 1943, or early 194-l, in the Bremerton Navy Yard in the state ol' Washington. He was fire watch lor the welders, doing repair xvork. He scraped and painted the dottble bottoms, thc yery bottom ofthe ship's lmll tinsidei it was a noisy, rusty, nasty job breathing rust, and toxic fumes from lresh paint. It gate a drunk feeling. llc learned later that many shipniates lost their health in this kind ol xvorlt. Ile was glad to get to open sea. Ili. rrront lrighterirrtg f.:fpcrrf:rr'.f:. ff . , ,, . imitated into battle. thc ',Ulll',1fJ!i mth lla: f. au ffrir f being hit by a suicide plane the rirght battle at rr Strait, being sent on a work party ro load arrtrrrurftfmrr 3 and 4 decks below on an airrrrrunrtiorr ship 'I he, ,r as 2.225 shells were hoisted through 4,44 hafch they stood. below. on all kinds ot arrirrrurizrsorr pra 1 nothing would go wrong. The fury oi the hurrrca , China Coast. There are very marry happy rrtorriern.-.. wart got ,. .' , shiprnate friends, the liberties they shared together tri rr a ports. The pride and habits acquired as a rear Nag that will forever follow them the rest ot their Participated in battles at Saipan, Guam. Tirtrarr. .- Surigao Strait, Lingayen Gulf, Okinawa. Ser: ice incl aa USNTS, San Diego, CA: Navy Yard Bremerton Vwl.. at USS Caljorniu. Awards!Medals: Pacific Theater Ribbon 'mth to stars, American Theater Ribbon. Vicrorj. Medal. Pimp Liberation Ribbon with two stars. Discharged Feb. 26. 1946. Today. farming and rag cattle. JOSEPH F. MARIANI, BNI2C. born Philadelphra.P.1-.. Dec. 12, 1919. Enlisted Jan. 12. 1938, IQSS Califorma 6th Division. Service included Pearl Harbor tPacificr and Atlantic USS Straub. On Dec. 7, 1941. was injured when ship vs as bombed. Discharged Sept. 27. 1945. with the rank of CBM. Married Thelma, and have a daughter Tamara Jc. Retired accountant. ROBERT A. MARQUARD, SIMC. born Sepz. I. 1923, Willoughby. OH. Enlisted Dec. 2-1. 19-II. Naxy. USS Calnbrnia, 6th Division. Sflc. Service includes L55 Calnfornia. US Naval Hospital PSNY. W.-X1 LSNTS. Great Lakes. IL: USNTS. Farragut. IDL LSNAS. Seattle. WA.. Awards!Medals: American Area Nlcdal. XYXX ll Victory Medal. Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Nledal xy ith four stars and Philippine Liberation Ribbon NN ith too stars. Discharged .lan. 19. I9-16. Married. txvo children. Ly nne and Dax td. tour grandchildren. txvo girls and txvo boy s. Workctl for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company for 33 years and non retired in Arizona. ROGER F. INIARTIN. SIC. born lfnianncl. L' l'. -Xprrl 30, 1925. Fnlistcd Sxvainsboro. G-X. July 12. 1945. ISN. 6th Division. Trained at San Diego. C -X. eight xx ccks then to BI'C11lCI'IO1l,XYrX. .-Xssignetl to ISS tliifriwrhr. Battles ParticlPated in include Guam. 'l'ini.tn. S.no.in. Philippines. Leyte, lnxon, Nlari.nt.is. Snrigao Safari. I ingayen. Memorable cxpcrtcnccs include day by day . t months in serx tcc. 27 months ot' that on ISS . - ' Myartlsr lXled.ils: XX XXII Occupation Ribbons. ISS t'trliforr1i.1.ltily I9-ll to Dcccnibct 1945 Discliargcd December Ill-li hlarrietl lNlarg.n'ct tittrl, Oct IU. I9-I I. too chittlica:

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Joined USN Reserve as aviation machinist mate llc on Oct. 22, 1942. Took t'Shop Training at San Diego for six weeks. Ended up in Aviation repair and overhaul CAROU Navy 1401 Espintu Santo in the New Hebredes for two years. Returned to Terminal Island, CA, where he was discharged Sept. 20, 1945. He then retumed to North Carolina, Joined Army Air Force in October 1949. Assigned to 1266 AT SQ l500th AT Group at Travis AFB, CA. Outfit was moved to Hickam AFB, HI, November 1949. In December 1949, they were all discharged from the Army and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force which had just been formed. In 1952, had to take a hardship discharge. First wife expired in 1952. Married second wife Violet Underwood in 1962. Reinstated in Air Force February 1953, as Buck Sgt. at Hickam AFB March 1962. Received orders for duty at Cannon AFB, NM, where he was promoted to SMXSGT. Received retirement discharge in July 1964, with 24 years of service. Held every enlisted pay grade in the Navy. Pay grades in Air Force E4 through E8 CE5 and E6 two timesj. WILLIAM H. MILLIGAN, USN, born March 25, 1923, Riverside, CA. Joined Navy, Aug. 14, 1941. After Boot Camp, at Santa Ana, CA, transferred to schools command and was there when the war broke out, after school, transferred to Pearl Harbor and eventually to the USS Calgfornia on March 25, 1942. Assisted in raising the Calnfornia and returned to the states aboard her. Was again transferred to Welding School after the battle of Leyte. Received orders to assist in commissioning the USS Tarawa CV40, after completing advanced welding school, in San Diego, CA. Milligan has served on the following ships during a 20 years career. In addition to the USS Calnfornia BB44 and USS Tarawa CV40, the USS Tolvana AO64, and USS Towakoni ATF1l4, and the USS Platte AO24, from which he retired on March 14, 1961, as a chief shipfitter. S' ,X 'af I X 'fi isa , 'r-W'- mt..-.. '. M N . Ss,' y ly , - 5, .. 'Q i 'V Q gi W A YM E: W ,rr P e . 5 Milligan received his teaching credential in 1966 and taught in the secondary schools for 12 years. Finally retiring from civic service as a plannerfestimator after 10 additional years. Milligan has been married to the former Ruby Reynolds for 45 years, no children. RAYMON ORVEL MILLS, Slfc, USN, born May 7, 1926, Marseilles, IL. Joined the Navy, July 14, 1943, 4? 3rd Division. Basie training at Great Lakes. ll.. assigned from basic to Bremerton, WA, lor 445 weeks belore being assigned to USS California. Stayed with the ship till discharged. 1..el't Bremerton, .lan. 31, 1944, lor Pearl llarbor. Took part in the capture ol' Saipan, Tinian, Guam, also the Marianas Turkey Shoot, June 14 toAug. 9, 1944. Battle of Leyte Gulf in the Philippines and Surigao Strait, Oct. 24- 26, 1944. Where a Japanese battleship was sunk by them in a great night sea battle, Jan. 4-18, 1945, Battle ol' the Lingayen Gulf, in the China Sea, off the Coast ol' Luzon. On Jan. 6, 1945, Japanese kamikaze crashed into the main structure and 203 causalitics resulted. One ofthe toughest battles. February 14, 1945, back to Bremerton for repairs. Sept. 22, 1945, arrived at Wakayama, Japan, to support the landing operations. Remained there till Oct. 5, 1945. Sailed toward home via Singapore, Colombo, Capetown, South Africa, to arrive in Philadelphia, Dec. 7, 1945. The 4th Anniversary ofPear1 Harbor. Discharged on March 7, 1946, Married in 1948, and celebrated 45th Anniversary in 1993, Have three daughters, nine grandchildren, also great- grandchildren. Youngest daughter served in the Navy for six years. Retired in 1985. Live in Illinois and Arizona. Member of the USS California Reunion Association. 'fMission Accomplished, Job Well Done. GERALD W. MINION, AS to YN1, born Humboldt, IA, Aug. 23, 1921. Enlisted Jan. 25, 1939. USS Caljornia, May 1939, yeoman in gunnery office, December 7th was captain's writer in Battle Two, USS Saratoga February 1943 to June 1943, New Construction USS Sioux ATF75, in South Pacific until April 1944. Commissioned ensign and transferred to Amphib Training Base, Coronado, CA, until mid-1947, USS Skagit AKAl05, until July 1949. Participated in Barex 48 as beachmaster communicator. NavCommSta Pearl to September 1952, NavCommSta Guam to July 1954, Aide and Flag Secretary CTF-95 Sasebo, Japan to February 1955, Staff ComNavFE Yokosuka to July 1957, Staff COM-9 Great Lakes to February 1959, and retirement as LCDR. Married to same wonderful woman since June 1941, two daughters and two sons. In banking in Illinois from February 1959 to June 1988. Now fully retired in Lake Lure, North Carolina. RALPH F. MISPAGEL, GM3!c, born O'Fallon, MO. Enlisted Oct. 3, 1942, Navy, 2nd Division, USS California. Service included Great Lakes, IL, Quanica, VA, San Diego, CA, Bremerton, WA. Participated in the following battles Philippine Liberation, Leyte Gulf, Luzon, Surigao Strait Sea Battle, sank Fusa class battleship. Awards!Medals: seven battle stars, Presidential Unit Citation. Discharged Dec. 12, 1945. Married Feb. 28, 1945, to Olga Cecelia. have one 8011. four grandchildren, Veronica, Ralph 111, Gregory' and Kerri, two great-grandsons, Brendan lvlichael and James Robert Davis. Retired Chicago, ll., Police O1't'iet-tg ntyyt rt police commissioner in Waterloo, ll.. BOB 1VllTCltlItll.l., tt-um Tacotna, WA, reported .tlyoard llllgj lfs'-1 fulljorrtm in l-.ty - f lllflll 'ulttf '-nit'-. tri tlty' 'SUCV ' I R LN R tn Hrerrtertyin WA J1tt,.t was 17 and filtllhlf Sharrnan was 18. '1 hey became stgnalmen striker'-4 made Slfe, got oil and on a shit list or two, had lots ol good liberties, drank gallons ol bad collee and missed their , i high-school sweethearts. They left the California about a week after Pearl Harbor for the CSS Portland Following the Coral Sea and battie of N1:d hay. vi, .- Asif ., ty ,,, was transferred to the USS Arianza. He was in' ' ' ry on the bridge to survive her sinking during Guadalcanal. After nine months and sezerr. went aboard the CSS Halford, where he inwrrerr as a COM, Sharman was transferred from the CSS Farrar the USS Crescent City, then to Lunga Pt. signal to' Guadalcanal, subsequently to CSS Win laikenberg t the war as SM1!c in Pearl Harbor as an instr ir signaling school. Bob and Stella Mitchell liye in Pon Ieadlm., Vyfq, and Sun City, AZ. They have three children: Torn. Jirr. ang Cindy. Sharman lives here and there and has three s Mitch, Bill and Dave. CHESTER ARTHUR MITCHELL. CSX. Radioman 3C, born Dec. 2. 1902. in Pittsburg. KS. Chester grew up in Northern Missouri and later moved to Denner. CO. On Dec. 2, 1920, hejoined the Navy as an apprentice seaman. He was sent to the US. Naval Training Station San Francisco, CA. Then he went to US. Receiving Ship. Mare Island for instruction as a radio operator. He reported aboard the USS Caihfornia in September 1921. as a se-cone class Seaman and was rated radioman 3rd class by exam on Oct. 1. 1922. He was on board for a training craise that went to Panama, Balboa Canal Zone in 1923. During this trip secretary of the Navy Denby' and the President Cf Panama came on board. The Calnfomia made a stop in Port Culebra, Costa Rica. on Feb. 23. 1923. The ship then made a trip to Seattle and the ships band marched in the Juiy 4 parade. While there. Chester and many' of the rest of the communications detachment went ashore near Seattle ze install a portable radio station. Part ofthat original creyy' yvas a California Black beat and a stnall terrier dog. They' seeni to hay e been great friends and had the run of the ship. The bear yy as knoyy n to -iutnp overboard and go fora syyint. The ship yy ould hay e to stop and put a boat over the side to rescue the bear. After tnany problems. the bear yyas put in ri zoo in Los Angeles or San Diego. Chester yvas discharged on Dec, 1. 1923. in San Pedro. CA. After living in Cirlifitrrtnr for tnttny years. he returned to Missouri to marry Mabel NlcL.iugh1in in 1933. Nlabei had tyvo children Dolores and Russell. ln 1938. they ntoy ed to Calitiotnia and Chester yy orked on .1 dairy near Grass Valley. They moved to Dixon in 19-10. .ind yy lien yyyy 11 broke out in 19-11. Chester yy ent to yy ork at Nlare lslano naval sliipyard as a rigging t'orent.tn. lle helped build .ind launch tnany submarines used during the yy.ir -Xtitet the yvar. he yyent to yy ork tor Pacific Gas .ind lflcctrie tfntil retiretnent in 1967. 'X son, John. born tn 1947, yy,is also nt the Navy and yvris .t creyy tnentbero1i1'SS 1'st.rhf.'. C.tpttnetE by the North Koreans in 1968. he spent 11 tnonths .ts .t POW. Chester had tn.tny good years oticatnptng .ind iitsltlitg and yy as blessed yy ith good he.t1th until his 911th brrt1y.1.ty lle had sey en grandclnldren .uid 1 1 great gt'.ttn1e1ntt1t.'-t lle iltctl U11 Xprtl ff. 100.5