I RUBBED MY EYES WITH AMAZEMENT THAT FEBRUARY DAY IN 1944 AS I HAD MY FIRST LOOK AT ANYTHING SO BIG AND MAN MADE. I WAS SEEING THE BATTLESHIP U S S WASHINGTON IN DRYDOCK WITHOUT A BOW. FRESH OUT OF BOOTS, MY NAME WAS ALREADY LISTED TO BE A REPLACEMENT TO THE SHIP'S CREW.. I WAS ASSIGNED TO THE F DIV AS A MAGAZINE GUNNERS MATE STRIKER..THIS JOB LASTED UNTIL THE SHIP WAS DECOMISSIONED IN THE SUMMWER OF 1947. I ALWAYS RANKED MY CAPTAINS { 3 } JUST ONE STRIPE BELOW GOD.

WAYNE HUSE GM 3/C