JOHN A. BROWN, born Nov. 24, 1924, Catlettsburg, KY. joined the USN Dec. 17, 1941-0ct. 13, 1945. He served aboard the USS Washington BB56 from Jan. 13. 1942-Sept. 30. 1945, as shipfitter second class, shipfitter shop, damage control, plumbing gang, fresh water king. Saw all major action by ship.

Awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, two Philippine awards, Good Conduct Medal, 38 months overseas, 15 Battle Stars. Participated in sinking of Kirishima and Ayanami, Third Battle of Savo Island Nov. 14-15, 1942. 57 air attacks, 10 island bombardments, 12 planes shot down. Discharged Oct. 13, 1945.

Married the former Gladys Bowling April 25, 1946. They have two sons, Richard M. and Donald Keith; two granddaughters. Deborah and Lori Nicole; two grandsons, Jeremy and Shane; and two great granddaughters. Megan Nichole and Holly Layne.

Organized USS Washington BB-56 Reunion Group 1948, Associate Unit 1989, Out of State Kentucky Veterans, instrumental in obtaining 242 million in veterans bonus for 424,000 men, women and children. Served as president.

In service with Reunion Group Executive Director for 50 years, Shaklee, Watkins, Athletic Boosters, Police Academy, Kentucky Colonel, portal chief OSU stadium, life member VFW, Kiwanis, Buckeye Sideliners, retired plumber Local 189, served May 10, 1946-0ctober 1986. Assisted in books, Battleship at War, Memories & Memorials, Lost Ships at Guadalcanal and USS Washington history book.

Obituary

John A. "Brownie" Brown		January 21, 2009
BROWN John A. Brown "Brownie", age 84, of Columbus, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, January 21, 2009. Johnny was born on November 24, 1924 in Catlettsburg, Ky. Johnny enlisted in the Navy at age 17 ten days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He served aboard the Battleship USS Washington BB56 until his honorable discharge on October 13, 1945. He was a ship fitter 2nd class assigned to the ships damage control division. The USS Washington earned 15 Battle stars including the battle of Guadalcanal. He was known as the "Keeper of the Flame" for his dedicated service as the Executive Director of the USS Washington Reunion Group from 1948 to 2005. He is retired from local 189 Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Union where he served on the finance committee. He was awarded the honor of a "Kentucky Colonel" in 1985 by then Governor Collins. He was a lifetime member of the V.F.W. Whitehall Post 8794 and a past Commander of Post 1598. He served as a portal chief at O.S.U for 34 years. He belonged to the Buckeye Sideliners Club, the Whitehall Citizens Police Academy, Whitehall Athletic Boosters and Whitehall Seniors club. John served as the founder and President of the Out of State Kentucky Veterans Organization, instrumental in obtaining $242,000,000 in World War II bonuses for 424,000 Kentucky veterans. With special consideration from the state of Kentucky he was awarded his high school diploma from the class of 1943 in 2003. John is survived by his wife, Gladys of almost 63 years; sons, Mike (Sherry), Donald Keith (Monica); granddaughters, Debbie (Mark) Baisden, Lori (Lewis) May; grandsons, Jeremy (Kristi) Brown and Shane Brown; great-grandchildren, Megan and Holly Baisden, Brandon and Abbey May, Elizabeth Link and Madison Brown; sister, Dorothy (Bob) Winters of Ironton; brothers, Don (Dora) Brown, George (Lillian) Brown of Ashland, Ky.; and many nieces and nephews. Friends may call Sunday 2-5 p.m., EVANS FUNERAL HOME, 4171 E. Livingston Ave., where funeral service and VFW service will be held at 5 p.m. Pastor Troy Thoman officiating. Interment Bowling Family Cemetery, Cannonsburg, Ky. www.evansfuneralhome.net.

S. ANTHONY BRADEN, SN 2/C, born Sylvester Ratajczak, Dec. 13, 1925, Cleveland, OH. He joined the USN Feb. 16, 1943, and served his entire enlistment aboard the USS Washington. He was discharged Jan. 27, 1946, as seaman second class.

He received the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/9 Battle Stars, the Victory Medal, American Theater Medal, and Philippine Liberation Medal w/2 Battle Stars.

After his discharge he changed his name to S. Anthony Braden.

He has two children, David E. and Jennifer T.; and two grandchildren, Adam J. and Emily K. Braden. Passed away Jan. 31, 1997. Submitted by Rita T. Braden.

CHARLES E GALLIGAN, PHM2/C, born July 6, 1925 in Pomona, CA, enlisted in the USN, June 25, 1942. After boot camp was sent to New Caledonia and assigned to USS Washington October 1942 in Dumbea Bay, Noumea, as a seaman second class, 5th Div. He became a "corpsman striker" H Div., and eventually a Phm2/c.

Participated in the naval battle of November 1942 (Savo Island) Gilbert and Marshall Island campaigns and consolidation of the Northern Solomons.

The thing he remembers, to this day, is the smell of cordite in the ship, the morning after Savo, the massive, overwhelming assemblage of naval might that was present at Majuro Atoll when they arrived after the collision with the Indiana.

He received the Asiatic-Medal with Battle Stars and was eventually assigned to the USN Hospital Corona, CA; Seabee Bn. Dispensary, Port Hueneme, CA. He was honorably discharged from the naval service in May 1946.

He married Mary K. Fitzpatrick, Aug. 7, 1948. They have one son, Mark and one granddaughter, Danielle. He was employed by Chevron Corp. for 34 years in Southern California.

RAYMOND C. "RAY" MASON, born June 12, 1918 in Dale, WV, joined the USN in September 1939 and was attached to the USS Washington (BB-56) in March of 1941. Commissioned her May 15, 1941. He made convoy runs to Murmansk in 1942. Went to the Pacific, the Third Battle of Savo Island and some of the island bombardments. He was discharged Oct. 19, 1945.

They made a run on Guadalcanal on Nov. 14, 1942. He was sent up to sky control as smoke watch by Lcdr. R.T. Simpson, assistant chief engineering officer. Life photographer and Mason were the only ones not inside the mast. LCDR Simpson wanted a play by play report on the battle. Photographer Shepler clamped four cameras on the rail on the sky lookout, one in each direction in order to get all the action.

When they fired a broadside into the Kirishima not only did the camera disappear but the photographer and Mason were left hanging on the rail stark naked. He did have one sock left on, how that happened he really can't explain.

The funniest thing that happened occurred when they were steaming one night, expecting submarine attacks, the galley had sent down night rations for the mid watch 12 midnight to 4 a.m. Lcdr. Simpson was at main control and told the messenger to put a gallon can of baked beans on the top of the engine to heat up. Mason was in #4 engine room on throttle. Suddenly Cdr. Simpson is screaming on the phones. "Submarine attack!" The messenger had forgotten to punch a hole in the bean can and it blew up. Needless to say that was one of the most decorated engine rooms in the Navy. Retired from aircraft factory in Cleveland as a broach grinder.

JONAS M. PLATT, GEN, born Sept. 21, 1919 in Brooklyn, NY. Commissioned in the USMC June 30, 1940 and joined the Marine Detachment, USS Washington in July 1941. He left the ship at Majuro 33 months later. Subsequently, he joined the 1st Marine Div. serving in infantry battalions during the assaults of Peleliu and Okinawa. He commanded an infantry battalion in Korea and was an assistant division commander in Vietnam. He retired as major general in 1970. Until 1977 he worked in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.

His decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, three Legions of Merit w/Combat V, Bronze Star w/Combat V, Purple Heart, Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Award, Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award, Vietnamese Medal of Merit and two Vietnamese Gallantry Crosses.

FRANCIS E. TELLIER, EM3/C, born Dec. 21, 1923, joined the USN Jan. 28, 1941. After boot camp, Newport RI, assigned to USS Washington and commissioned ship May 15, 1941.

Served aboard her in ETO, South West, Pacific, Marianas, Palau and Philippine Campaigns. Left ship at Ulithi in Southern Carolines in latter part of October 1944.

Discharged Oct. 10, 1945, married Lorraine Mellan and they had a son Nov. 19, 1949. They have four children, two boys, two girls and seven grandchildren. Tellier is still healthy after almost 12 years of retirement. He is 73 years old.

WILLIAM P. WEIDERT SR., born on Dec. 2, 1921 in New Rochelle, NY was raised in Riga Center, NY where they moved to in 1928.

Enlisted in USN on March 5, 1941 and went through boot camp at Newport, RI for eight weeks of training. Assigned to USS Washington (BB-56) May 14, 1941 in the 3rd Div. as a deck hand. His battle station was on the shell flats of turret #3 (16" guns) during the war.

As a crew member of the USS Washington for five years, he earned 15 Battle Stars, the Fleet Clasp, Victory and American Defense Medals, as well as campaign ribbons: FAME, Asiatic-Pacific, Philippine Liberation, American Area Service, American Defense, and Good Conduct. He also earned the "Blue Nose" certificate for crossing the Arctic Circle and the "shellback" certificate for crossing the equator. He also is a plank owner.

The only trip he missed was when the USS Washington went from Annapolis to New York for mothballing. He was honorably discharged on Jan. 8, 1947.

On May 11, 1946 he married Janet Marie Arlidge. They raised four sons (William, Jr., George, James and John) and one daughter (Judith). They have been married for 51 years and have nine grandsons and four granddaughters. Retired from Gannett Rochester newspaper as single copy district manager.

HOWARD F. WRIGHT, JR., PFC, born in Detroit on May 16, 1919,joined the USMC, Jan. 3, 1940, attended basic training at Paris Island, SC and Quantico. Board the USS Tuscaloosa and was on board for the famous Roosevelt-Churchill fishing trip.

Boarded the USS Washington on May 15, 1941 and served in the 7th Div. His GQ stations, five-inch mount and the 1.1 inch mounts. He was onboard the Washington for the Murmansk Runs, through the Third Battle of Savo. After catching pneumonia, he was transferred to a hospital ship on May 16, 1943. He was assigned to the USS Indiana. He was on board the USS Indiana when the collision occurred with the Washington. Special military qualifications: anti-aircraft machine gun crewman, orderly, machine gun crewman, graduated Sea School in 1941

Howard married Lillian T. Graessle at Camp Lejeune, NC on Dec. 9, 1944 and then shipped out to the Panama Canal, Hawaiian Islands and Japan. Discharged Nov. 19, 1945 as PFC. His weapons qualifications: rifle marksman, Browning machine gun first class.

He raised six children including Howard III (Associate Unit President). Retired after 30 years as a city bus driver in Detroit, MI. Wright passed away March 30, 1989.

ANDREW SABOL JR., S1/C, born Nov. 1, 1925 in Lakewood, OH, joined the USN Feb. 25, 1944 and was assigned to the USS Washington October 1944. He served with 8th Div., 40mm gun mount (ammunition loader), deckhand, sea-plane retriever and achieved the rank of S/1c.

While at sea he participated in bombardments of islands of Iwo, Okinawa, Guam, with Adm. Bill Halsey's Task Force. His memorable experiences include a typhoon; kamikaze attack; seeing the young Japanese pilots in their helmets and white scarves. He was discharged May 5, 1946 and awarded the WWII Victory Ribbon, American Area Ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific Area Ribbon w/6 stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon w/2 Stars.

He married Mary Hadbavny on April 21, 1951 and they have four sons: Andy, Jackie, Tom, Chris, Tim, Richard and two daughters: Kathy Cifani, Rosemary (Steve Horvath) and nine grandchildren: Robert and David Cifani, Kristine Jennifer, Stephanie and Michelle Horvath, Jessica, Andrew IV and Robert Sabol. His sons have enjoyed coming to reunions, especially Tim.

Sabol has been retired as traffic manager for seven years. Handicapped with Parkinson's, but enjoys traveling to ship reunions, family and friends.

JAMES N. LOEWE SR., S1/C, born Dec. 14, 1926 in St. Louis, joined the USN December 1942 and was assigned to the USS Washington April 1943, marlin spike and deck seamanship.

Upon being assigned to the "Mighty W" he was told that the 5th Div. would be his home until the war was over. Later he was assigned to mount 3, 5" twin turret, and spent many hours at this battle station.

They were all taught the principle of four different types of 5" shells and when each was to be used.

The majority of his memories of WWII go back to mount 3, and the time spent at his battle station. Comradeship was established there, among ten individuals who were hand picked by their NCO, being so close, they were forced to act in an adult manner, being ready for any situation.

Deck and Marlinspike Seamanship was their other duty, keeping the ship both trim and proper, ready for any eventuality. It seemed there was always a destroyer to be refueled to starboard which they all participated in, as they always had enough fuel oil to go around.

He was always proud to serve on the USS Washington.

E. STANSBURY SCHANZE JR., RADM, born Dec. 30, 1903 in Baltimore. MD, joined the USN, June 30, 1922 as a midshipman at the Naval Academy. During 35 years of active duty, 23 years were spent at sea on 13 ships. Commanding three of them. Over four years were spent on the USS Wnshington serving as engineering officer, navigator and executive officer while participating in all of the ship's engagements.

Memorable experiences included sinking the Kirishima and weathering the typhoon of 1944.

Awards include the Legion of Merit "V" w/Gold Star. American Defense Medal w/Star, American Area, European-African, Asiatic-Pacific w/9 Stars, WWII Victory, Philippine Liberation w/2 Stars, Korean Area and United Nations.

Following his retirement in 1957. he served as the director of the New York Academy of Sciences for 14 years, died Dec. 25, 1983 and is buried at the US Naval Academy with wife, Marie Louise (nee Moran). He is survived by one son, Edwin Stansbury Schanze,Jr. and three grandchildren.