California (BB 44) - Naval Cruise Book

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during stnreitdet eerenionies. prepared to tow ISS llixxttiui .i YICCCSMIIN Retired 1960 in San ltieptxh tffx XII -XX H. PI'fI'I'IRSUN. Seanian lfitst Class. Dixiszons 1- .intl 1 .tlxoartl ISS t'.:t'1ltu'rii.1 trout :Xing 28. 94-1 to Nlax 2. 1946 nv- He and his txx in sister xx ere borrt in a farm hottie in CJSICITI North Dakota on Oct. 9. 1925. He xvas drafted into the Naxx on Jart. 17. 194-1. at Fort Snelling. MN. He was sent to Farragut. ID. for seven xx eeks of boot camp. went home for I5 dax leave. then to Fire Control School, at San Diego for six weeks. frotn there to Treasure Islartd, CA, for txx o weeks temporary duty. On July 1. 1944, boarded a troop ship to New Hebrides. At New Hebrides from July 17. to .-Xug. 28. 1944. On Aug. 28. 1944. was assigned to the F Division on the LSS Ctzlirbriiia until attending a three day Radar- Counter Measure School at Hawaii then assigned to the I Dix ision. served aboard the Calnfbnzia for about 20 months. His most memorable experience probably was being a talker for the gunnery officer. Commander Mandelkom during the sea battle at Lingayen Gulf. On May 2, 1946, left the Ctriitimiirz at Philadelphia for Minneapolis to be discharged. Lpon discharge. he attended Concordia College at Moorehead. MN. graduated in 1950, taught rural schools in eastern Montana for 10 years and then taught small town schools in North Dakota. for 26 years. He retired in 1987. He was married to Beverly Gullingsrud in 1963. They are now living at Mandan. ND. ALFRED C.,I. PETRALIA, ENS. bom Sept. 2. 1923, Law renee. MA. Enlisted Dec. 8. 1942. USNR, line officer, I 1 th Division. Service included Asbury Park Pre- Midshipman School. Northwestern Mil'n School, Miami Sub-chaser. USS Calgfomia. MK37 Dir. School Anacoastia. Battles: Okinawa. South China Sea. Memorable experience: V-J Day, covering 6th Army landing Tokyo Bay. Avxards!Meda1s: America Theater, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one star. Good Conduct Medal. Discharged July 2. 1946, with the rank of LTtJGl. Widowed. one daughter. Alyson. Retired. RICHARD L. PHELAN. USMC. born to Mary and Richard Phelan. 1920. Winter. WI, Sawyer County. Last of nine children. five sisters, four brothers, including a set of twins. Father was a combination logger and farmer. Mother was a schoolteacher and managed a small hotel that catered to railroad employees and lumbermen. Father and older boys managed the livery stable in connection with the hotel. LMWZW, Nflox ed to Watersmeet. MI. and parents took over the Kelly Hotel. Father passed away in 1925. Mother, brothers and sisters operated hotel until depression. 1932. Graduated from St. Norberts High School. DcPere. VMI During the summer and vacation employed by Kings 2'ratev.a'. Hotel and Inn as bus boy. waiter. bartender. desk plerlr and anything else that needed attention. Attended Tm fefait .1 ol Wisconsin and worked as a salesman in f igaggf, klvriigy, war was derlarerl in 1941. he enlisted in l1nitetlSt.iles lxlarnie Corps on the 18t1iol llecentlier. 1941. llte next lout xeais were spent in the Pacific lheater and p.trticipatetl in various battles and mopping-up exercises. Receix etl battles star s for Saipan. Tinian. Guam. Leyte Gull and I ingaxen Gull' in tlte Philippine Islands. Also Okinawa and Occupation of Southern Island of llonshu. Hoitorably discliarged at Camp Stnall. Great Lakes. IL. Decetnber 20. as sergeant. with 40mm machine gun experieitce. Resutned sales in Chicago: was married to Dorothy lxlacdonald in 19-16. Returned to Rhinelander. WI. 1946. Ifather of six cltildreng three boys. three girls: Charles. Madison. WI3 Richard. Geneva, ILL Timothy. Rhinelander, WI: Patty Reitner. Appleton. WI: Mary Baron. Naperville. IL: Maureen Fisher. Appleton. WI. Was employed as sales representative for Celotex Corp.. Johns Manville Corp.. for 16 years. Continued as self-employed manufacturers representative for Grand Rapids Gypsum, Evans Homes. Capp Homes. and other manufacturers until semi-retirement in 1980. Served on Oneida County Board of Supervisors from 1972, until death in April 1993. DONALD FREDERICK PHILLIPS, C SK, Everett, MA. April 6. 1916. Enlisted Dec. 8. 1941, USNR, CSK, S Division. Training in San Diego, CA, and on San Clemente. Island. Boarded the USS Calyfornia in San Francisco during her shake down cruise preparing for her retum to war. He stayed aboard everyday thereafter except for 10-14 days while in dry-dock in Branerton Naval Yard. He was the first person to leave ship after the war in Tokyo Bay. His most vital recollectionslexperiences were: Their first bombardment at the Marianas of Saipan, Tinian and Guam. Their first shore leave on a tiny island with two cans of beer and most buried up to their chins in the sand. The day they shot down their Hrst kamikaze. The day a kamikaze followed another Japanese plane that was shot down but the second plane crashed into theirs after fire control tower. He was ordered top side from his station below deck and the first turret he saw had a gunner leaning against the side and said he needed help. He started up the steel steps and blistered the inside of his hands. One of his legs was blown away and the other was bleeding profusely. They got him down to sick bay and was soon transferred to the hospital ship with every chance of living. They were in convoy one night when their sister ships. the USS Teitizcfssee decided to cross their bow from the pon side. He was asleep itnmediately behind the sail locker and just ahead of an area occupied by 18-20 sailors who shared the stairs up to the next desk. The T6'l1l16A'.l'6'6' had rolled the steel skin back approxintately 30 feet and sealed offtheir stairs. The collision sent him to the deck and water rushed in and out as the ship plowed through the sea. He was able to crawl over the side of the ship and make his way to CPO mess. After reporting the condition of the sailors sealed in he poured a cup of coffee when his legs suddenly went out from under him. They were not able to release the men in the sealed offcharnber and all drowned. He was discharged at Okinawa shortly after the Japanese surrendered and caught the USS Admiral Ma-v0 back to the States with 599 Seabees, five of whom ended up with all the money from the other 594. Participated in all battles from the USS California shake down cruise until the end of the war at Okinawa. Received all tnedals given for action between the time the California reentered the war after Pearl Harbor to the end of the war. Married 1945. three children. one boy and two girls. llis wife died Jan. 27, 1987. remarried 1988. Has two grandchildren, one boy, 5 in October. and one girl, 3 in November. KENNETH P. PHILLIPS, Slfc. born Hillsboro, IL. 1'eb. 25. 1924. Enlisted June 1. 1943. Navy. 7th Division. Serx ice included Great Lakes. ll... NTS, Balboa Park. CA. Iirenierton. WA. Battles: Saipan. Tinian. Guam. 1,eytc. Surigao Strait. Lingayen Gulf, Okinawa. 1 I-L IHIV all sf? -f s gs 1' . . ,I Memorable experiences include coming back after war, stopping in Japan, Singapore. Colombo Ceylon, South Africa, the battle all experiences. most memorable sea battle. AwardsfMedals: Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars, American Area Campaign, WWII Victory Medal. Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four stars. Discharged Feb. 22, 1946. Married to Helen for 43 years. son Terry, stepson Mike Wright, granddaughter Wendy Baker. Grandson Jason Wright CUSMCJ. Retired from federal govemment after 32 years. also worked for Western Electric three and a half years as installer of telephone equipment. was in electronics and was electrician at Marine Corp Logistics Base. Two year ago had three bypass operations of heart. ROBERT BOB PITCOLE,joined Navy MACCN. 1943, spent eight weeks Great Lakes Training Station. spent 8-10 weeks at Balboa Park. San Diego. before transfer to Bremerton, WA. Assigned to USS Califbrnia September 1943. Before joining the Navy. he had never been further west than Chicago. he didn't know at the time he would end up seeing foreign lands and going half way around the world before tying up in Philadelphia Navy Yard. His life aboard the California was great. he met a great bunch of guys. made his rate aboard ship. seen many wonderful places and played on one of the fleets best baseball teams with a great group ofguys. Received all axvards from 1943- l945. Married his wife Barbara in 1974. between them they have 21 grandchildren. Retired. still enjoying fishing. golfing, biking and traveling. It was a honor to serve aboard the USS California and its crew. ALBERT L. PLANTAN, USNR, bom May 2, 1925, LaSalle. IL. Joined service Sept. 20, 1943. Discharged March 20, 1946. Boot camp at Farragut, ID. Assigned to USS Caljornia Bremerton, WA. SIC 2nd Division Turret II. 1 - v . I .4 .- 2.-- . Medals: American Area Victory Medal. Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal four stars. Battles participated in: Saipan. Guam, Tinian, Leyte. Surigao. Lingayen Gulf. Okinawa. 95

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Volume 03 Quote: Following front Eagle Against Sun: The code breaking unit was so shorthanded it was re-enforced by musicians from the band off the crippled battleship USS Cnlyornia. They proved to be such able and natural cryptanalysts that Naval Intelligence began to pay special attention to recruiting more musicians. I understand the crew of the band from USS Calyornia broke the Japanese Code at Pearl Harbor. Can any of 1941 band members verify this? Would like to hear front you. Volume 04 Quote: Letter from a member in regards to write-up in last edition newsletter. LCDR L.B. Luckenbach former bandmaster of USS Calyornia Band in 1941. Am writing in regards to an article in Calmirnia Cub tlast editionl. This is in regards to battleship Calnfornia band. Article stated it was from Eagle Against the Sun. Am not acquainted with that paper. I know more about the Calnfornia band than anyone. I was bandmaster of band until they were sunk at Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941. Even after that, they remained with me for several years. December 7, 1941, they were all transferred to 14th Nav Dist. Combat Intelligence? As to the article, Every Word is true. But he has not confirmed this information until now. After 50 years have passed, he believes it is permissible to discuss this. They were given a special citation with an award medal from the commander-in-chief of Pacific Fleet Adm. Chester Nimitz. The medal was supposedly put in their records along with the Citation, but have seen neither since it was announced on their bulletin board shortly after the Battle of Midway. For security reasons they were not allowed to discuss it, a senior oversight in the Csicj the code breaking was a group effort in an extremely difficult Code 8a Cypher. Each was a volume of 100,000 5-di git groups, that changed and all had to be recovered again. Thank God enough were recovered to prepare for the Battle of Midway. Our Senior officer achieved the rank of captain. Our boss was Joe Rochefort, the chief cryptanalyst was Tommy Dyer and Jack Holtwick, Ham Wright and their Senior tsicj Cprovided: officer Willis Thomasj. All are dead now, but they were fine and capable men. LCDR L.K. Luckenbach, former bandmaster USS Calyfornia 1941, Hemet, CA, End of Quotes. Stations: Pearl Harbor, Washington, D.C., Japan, Arlington, VA, Germany, USS Northampton, England, Ft. Meade, MD. Awards: American Defense Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Presidential Testimonial, WWII Victory Medal, Korean Service Medal. Discharged July 15, 1960, rank achieved: CWO-2. Married to Mary Louise Polly Elder, have son Kirk and daughter Ann. Retired from all employment and enjoy personal computer operations, music appreciation, and on occasion playing the trumpet. J.D. PALMER, born Feb. 12, 1922. Enlisted in service June 17, 1942. Trained in Navy Training Station San Diego, CA. He went aboard the USS Calnfornia in December 1942, at Bremerton, WA. After reconditioning, off to the Pacific in support of landing troops at Saipan, Guam and Tinian. f L Collision of USS Tennessee and USS Calnfornia on Aug. 22, 1944, Stamo Stamos and he were in starboard forward washroom. Suddenly there was an awful crash and all went pitch dark. They could hear the sound of water coming in. Stamo said, Palmer, we've got to get out of here. They were fortunate to reach safety through what was left of passage way to main deck. The port washroom was completely destroyed along with about 75ft. of four deck. On to New Hebrides, repairs, then Philippines, Leyte Gulf, battle ofSurigao Strait, then Luzon tlsingayen Gulfj. kamikaze plane crashed into Sky Alt, while he was on quad 9, steel fragments and gasoline fire resulted many killed, burned and wounded. After repairs, on to Okinawa, Tokyo, then USA by round-'world-trip to Philadelphia. Arrived Dec. 7, 1945. He now lives in Johnson City. TN. He has two daughters and two grandsons. EARL DANNENBERG PATTON, USNR, boatswainls mate 2nd class, born April 3, 1916, in Stilwell, OK,joined Navy May 28, 1943. Boot camp at San Diego, 'K CA, then Bremerton, WA, assigned to USS Calnfornia, 8th Division. Participated in Saipan, Guam, Tinian, Leyte, Surigao Strait, Lingayen Gulf and Okinawa. Awarded the WWII Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, American Area Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. tBeing part ofthe crew that sailed BB44 back to her original berth, Fox 3, Pearl Harborl. Discharged Dec. 13, 1945. Married Jessie Flucard, four children tCaroIyn, David, Joseph, Johnj, five grandchildren. Retired linotype operator. JEROME J. PAVLICEK, Sllc, USNR, born April 7, 1925, Chicago, IL. Graduated high school June 1943. Joined Navy July 14, 1943. Had training at Great Lakes, IL. Completed training Aug. 24, 1943. Then shipped to Bremerton, WA, Naval Yard. There assigned to the USS California 7th Division. The California was in for modernization and refitting after Pearl Harbor mishap. Had shake down cruise along West Coast then on to the Pacific. First battles were in Saipan, Tinian, Guam. Then on to Surigao Strait sea battle and the battle of the Philippines. The last battle was Okinawa. Then on to Japan. After the war left Japan for the East Coast of the United States by way of South Africa. The Calnfornia, Tennessee, six destroyers and a fleet tanker were in their task group. Made stops in Singapore, Colombo Ceylon and Capetown, South Africa. Then good old USA. Was discharged March 7, 1946. Awarded WWII Victory Medal, American Medal, Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal with four bronze stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two bronze stars. ' ,, .fi J ,gif . f . , i I S .. fn li S357 ,f ff 4 is 1' f ff, TIT, ' X J ff My f Married Joan Vykruta Aug. 16, 1947. Children. Pamala Todd and Paul Pavlicek. Four grandchildren. Moved to Arizona 1960, and retired from Motorla in 1985. Attend local Arizona USS California reunion also USS Calwirnia Association Reunions. ORVILLE JACKSON PELFREE, L Division, born Bloomington, IN, Feb. 26, 1926. Enlisted May 20. 19-13, I . . , , Navy. Sllc V-6 LSNP serfice included Urea! lata . Diego. Bremerton Navy Yard f,,rfi1.,f.:d the lgduator .fi Pacilic, Indian, and Atlantic Ocean'-. the liiflllt Nl-:ral and has cireurnnavigated the globe Awarflslhfletlal'-,Z WWII Asiatic Pacific farrlpa Medal with lout bronze stars. American 'I heater Pr.iitpgl.rri Liberation Ribbon with two stars. Discharged Dec. 12, 1945. Great Lakes Il. -nit ranks of AS, S2C, SIC Married Lucille, N1arch29. 1947, has three sons l.lf,,f' Lee, Lester Lyle, Larry Lind I-'elfree one daughter Lit Pelfree Milakis, Also seven grandchildren, four girls a three boys. Retired from auto mechanic. drzue pan-2.7.9 for Ace Rent a Car. JACK W. PENHOLLUVV, born Wyornrng Sept 1921. Enlisted Sept. 20. 1939, and sent to boot earrp Chicago, IL. Served aboard LISS Calzhrnia until Septem- r 1941, with his brother. He requested China duty. He had make 3lc signalman before his chief would GK. ir. transfer. While in transit aboard the USS Chalrnon: Japanese declared war and bombed Pearl Harbor. at sef he transferred to the cruiser Pensacola and then tc t Marblehead in the Dutch East Indies. After being bad. damaged in the battle ofthe beach of BalaBala they returned to the Indies. While in dry-dock he was transferred tc ine flagship H.M.S. DeReuter Admiral Doorrnen rieedeg signalmen for communicating with all allied ships. All QT the ships were sunk Feb. 27. 1942. in the battle ofthe Jax a Sea. It involved the cruisers Houston, DeReiiier Jae Perth, Exeter Batavia and 12 destroyers. He was reported missing in action. He was able to get into a lifeboat along with 55 others. The following day the L'.S. Submarine S- 37 rescued him and another American sailor. They needed a signalman. After RSLR time, he was transferred to the S- 37 for duty. He had always wanted submarine duty. He made three more war patrols before leaving Brisbane. Australia. In 1943, the S-37 was to be a training submanne stationed in San Diego, CA. is He married his wonderful wife. Sally. Nov. 27. 19-13. They have three great sons. John. James and Patriclq 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He is a retired salesman and lives in Indio. CA. They celebrated their 50th year together with all of their family last month. MURRAY D. PENHOLLOYY. CWO-3. KSN Ret.. born Jan. 14. 1919. in Wayne. NE. Joined the Naxy in April 1938. Went aboard the USS California after training at Great Lakes. remaining on board trntil Dec. 7. 19-ll. ss . NX' -givin . ao At Pearl Harbor he was a Sbllic and superxrsor ot the signal watch. With Prep in the .iir they heard bombs exploding and obserx ed torpedo planes approaching battleship row. filflflfilflllltl receix ed tw o of rhtssi- roms,-,ings She was later hit with one lix e bomb and triachme gun fire When Abandon Ship was ortlered sw am to lord Island. Reported killed in action. Rtxissignetl to the ISS Sm' E no City for some of the first otliensixe action of the war 'l'rans1'err'et1 to the lflcct Marine l-'orce in S.mro.i for about six months very interesting duty Was in Tokyo Bay aboard ISS lfthirlttl X11 lrlo

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Married Mary Zickar 1951. Two children: Mark Albert and Mary Kay, one grandchild Mark Jacob and one due in December. Owned and operated a grocery store for 40 years. Now retired and living in LaSalle, IL. Proud to have served aboard USS Calyornia. EUGENE E. POPA, USNR, F2lc, was born June 29, 1924, Detroit. MI. Join the service April 7, 1943, went to Great Lakes, IL, Naval Training Station Camp Porter Co. 489, was assigned to the USS Calyornia, July 1943, in Bremerton, WA. Spent time in X Division before transferred to M Division. He took part in the battle of Marianas Islands. Participated in battles at Saipan, Guam and Tinian. After was transferred to Treasure Island, CA, was assigned to a destroyer pool. He went back to Bremerton, WA, and was assigned to the USS Wiley DD597, was in the Yellow Sea. When the war ended was discharged April 10, 1946. Married Ann Caplea,iSept. 29, 1946, had three children, two boys and a girl: also four grandchildren. AwardslMedals: Good Conduct Medal and two battle stars. Discharged April 10, 1946, with the rank of MM2lc. Retired. JAMES D. POPPE, Electrician's Mate Third Class, bom San Francisco, CA, Dec. 21, 1924. Enlisted Dec. 19, 1942, U.S. Navy, EM3lc, M Division. Service included Farragut, San Diego, USS Calhfornia, Cub 19, Navy 3913 USS Blackhawk, USS APL29, all located Tringtoa, China. Participated in the following battles: Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Conly done two times in historyj Sea Battle of Surigao Strait fCross the Tv six battlewagonsj Philippine Liberation, Battle of Surigao. Memorable experiences: It was early moming, he think it was about 0400. The USS Tennessee rammed the USS Calyfornia broadside, porbow causing a 80' hole. They were steaming toward Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides Island. They were suppose to be bait for the Japanese Fleet. The reason the USS Tennessee hit them, was it lost its hydraulic steering. They were using 20 Marines to hand steer the ship. AwardslMedals: Good Conduct, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars, American Area, WWII Victory Medal. Discharged Feb. 18, 1946, with the rank of EM3lc. Married with three sons. His wife is a school teacher, oldest son IBEW Elec. and other two general contractors. Retired I.B.E.W. electrician. ROBERT M. PUGH, USNR, SK3C, born Akron, OH, Jan. 3, 1927. Enlisted March 15, 1944, Navy, F 84 S Division. Service included Great Lakes for Boot Camp, OG Unit Shoemaker, CA, USS California, Philadelphia, PA, Navy Yard, USS Monterey. Battles participated in: Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Sea Battle Leyte Gull, Lingayen Gulf, Philippines, Okinawa. Memorable experiences include beer parties on the islands, walking under USS California in dry-dock, ship taking hits in Philippines. Awards!Meda1s: WWII Victory Medal. American Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with lour stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars, Philippine Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal. ,Ag . Discharged June 6, 1946, returned June 7, 1946 USNR. Retired Feb. 28, 1969, with rank of DK1. Married and has five children and six grandchildren. Retired from Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, 41 years. He and his wife are Civil War Reenactors. Also repair trains and run 100 acre farm, have helped make four movies: North di South, Glory, Dances With Wolves, Gettysburg. WINSTON E. PULLEN, LTCJGJ, bom Monson, ME, March 12, 1916. Enlisted Aug. 17, 1942, USNR, X Division. Military locations, stations: Midshipmanls School, Columbia University, February 1943 - June 16, 1943. USS Calhfornia Bremerton Navy Yard, Seattle, WA, X Division Officer. War Adjustment School, Harvard University, J une - September 1945. Material Redistribution Office, Hartford, CT, September 1945. Discharged Jan. 2, 1946. Battles participated in: Marinas CSaipan, Tinian, Guamj 1944. Leyte Gulf, crossed enemy's T at Surigao Strait. Rammed by USS Tennessee, repaired at floating dry- dock, Espiritu Santo. Battle of Lingayen Gulf, hit by suicide planes retumed to Bremerton Navy Yard. Awards: American Theater Ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars, Victory Ribbon. He is married and has five children and six grandchildren. Retired Professor and Associate Dean of Life Sciences and Agr., University of Maineg volunteer activities through Kiwanis, Developing an agricultural museum on University of Maine Campus. ROLAND L. RABER, USN, bom Corvallis, OR, May 3, 1920. Enlisted, NTC San Diego, CA, Jan. 13, 1942. Vessels and Stations: NTC, San Diego, CAL DD Base. San Diego, CAL USS Helena, USS California, USS Chandeleurg RS NB Philadelphia, PA. Rate: Firecontrolman First Class. Awards: American Area Campaign Medal, Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal with 13 stars, American Defense Service Medal, Purple Heart, Navy Unit Citation, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars, WWII Victory Medal. Assigned USS Calihirnia in 1943. as a survivor of USS Helena, served on USS California until she was decommissioned, then to USS Clmnrlelenr for further mothballing of various fleet ships. Married Barbara in 1946, one daughter. Separated frotn service Nov. 14, 1947. Now retired after 40 more years of hard work! GERALD L. REESE, COXtBM3l USN, born April 12, 1921. Enlisted Oct. 6, 1939, San Diego, CA. Reported USS California Dec. 15, 1939. On Dec. 7, 1941, he was on the boat deck near his battle station. He saw the lirst Japanese aircraft bomb Ilford Island. He also saw those that torpcdocd his ship, t'ulitoriiitr. As a rnetnbcr of CtlllflJI't1lill lv 6th Division anti -aircral't gun crews. lie engaged the enemy lor thc duration ol' thc attack. The ship was scriously damaged, atire and sinking. 2 . ' ' . WW ., . . , 'iii WW I f f When engaged personnel were ordered to leave the ship, he swam to Ford Island towing a shiprnate who cot- not swim. Under strafing attack, he and shiprnate voluritarll. retumed to the ship. There, they cleared still loaded 4.1. guns and relocated ammunition threatened by ire. He remained aboard ship through the night. rnanr.ir.g still operable AA guns. His parents received offigza, telegram notice that he had been killed in action. Later assigned to Naval AA batteries at Puuloa Point. Fifi Kamehameha and Hickam Field. While at Hickam he tiew a mission as a gunner in a B-18 Bolo bomber. In July 1942, he was assigned to IQSS Alabama. Advanced to BM2C. Served as Mount Capt. -LONINI .-XA. quad mounts. Alabamajoined US and British Naval Units moving in Atlantic, North Atlantic and .Arctic Oceans protecting Murmansk bound convoys and performing other strategies: among them, the Norway Invasion Feint and search for the Von Tirpitz. Mid 1943, Alabama entered South Pacific Operations. In late 1943, he was transferred to Y-12 Nav al Officer Training. Graduated and commissioned July 19-15. After warls end he was released to an organized reser- e unit. Left service April 1953. Graduated UCLA 1950. Graduated Southwestern University Law School January 1959. career covered private and public sectors ending in Washington. D.C. Retired from U.S. Govemment Service. 1985. and from own firm, 1987. Relocated from Northern Virginia to California Central Coast. Now married to Sally Marie. have three children, four grandchildren. Medals: American Defense Service Medal with Fleer Clasp, American Campaign with Foreign Service. Asiatic- Pacific Campaign Medal with Bronze Star. European- African-Middle East with Bronze Star. WWII Victory Medal, and Special Congressional Medal - Pearl Harbor. THOMAS JAMES REEVES, the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Reeves of Thomaston. CT. He attended local schools and before entering service was the chief operator for Western Union at Waterbury. CT. Thomas enlisted in the U.S. Navy on July 10. 1917. He saw service in WWI in the Transportation Service. In the following years he had service in the USS American. Whipple. Seattle. Tevas. C hicago. .91tllfYltll1t1'. New Mexico and California. He also served in Staff Headquarters of the 3rd Naval District and with the Naval Mission to Brazil. He also taught radio in Rio de Janiero. Thomas intended to retire in 1939. with more than IZ years of service completed. He had accepted an appointment as ground engineer with the Civil Service. The day before his retirement was to take effect President Rooscv elt declared a Limited Emergency and all persons xv ere prohibited from leaving the Navy. Thomas then re-enlisted at San Pedro for another four years. At thc time ot' Pcarl Harbor he was on the Admirals staff on board USS Ctilitoririri. The President of the l'nited States takes plcasttrc in presenting the Congressional Medal of Honor to Thomas James Rccvcs CRM tP.-Xi USN, Deceased. For Service during an attack on thc l'uucd States lflcct in Pearl Harbor. TH. .rs set forth in the follow mg lfor Distinguished Serv ice in thc line ot' his protcsstou. with extraordinary courage .uid disregard of his ow n safctv during thc attack ou thcl'.S 1-'lcct ru Pearl llarbor. lcouorv of llawan by .lapancsc forces on Dec . 19-ll Xttct the ntccliamzctl anuntuutiou hoists xt crc put out olcoinnussiot'