ELMER R. COX, YN 2/C, born March 29, 1925, Muncie. IN. On July 7, 1943. assigned to Co. 1045, Great Lakes Naval Training Station. After completing basic training he was shipped to Bainbridge, MD for 16 weeks Class "A" Storekeepers School and he reported aboard the USS Washington in February 1944.

The day he reported he was assigned to the executive officer's office and he stayed there until he was discharged in Boston May 5, 1946, as yeoman second class.

Retired in 1985 after 39 years of railroading. He is widowed after 41 years of marriage to the former Irene Patterson. He was active in politics and civic affairs all his life and a member of the reunion group since the late '50s.

ROBERT F. CRAFT, Rdm1/c, born Dec. 29, 1923, Assumption, IL, joined the USN Jan. 27. 1942, and was assigned to the USS Washington Aug. 18. 1942. Station/job on ship: CIC radar operator.

Action while at sea included Guadalcanal through Iwo Jima.

His memorable experiences: November 14-15, 1942, action; Feb. 1. 1944. collision: numerous air raids and bombardments: number of ships from the Canal to Iwo Jima operations.

Discharged Oct. 29, 1954. Received all awards earned by BB-56 as a crew member and Meritorious Mast on USS Tarawa

Retired from Railway Mail Service and independent grocery business. nine years as school board member and seven years as mayor.

Has been married to Pat for 48 years. They have six grown children and six grandchildren.

ROBERT LEON CROSS, born Sept. 29, 1925, Brimson, MO, joined the USN Dec. 17, 1943. After boot camp at Farragut, ID was assigned to the USS Washington at Bremerton, WA in March 1944. A member of the 2nd Div. as seaman first class his entire term of duty. Left the ship at Philadelphia in November 1945 for duty on the USS Hullandin at San Diego.

Most memorable was seeing the carrier Franklin heavily damaged and other carriers hit by kamikaze. The storm in the South China Sea that caused the ship to take a number of 25 degree lists nearing the 28 degree maximum. Zero, their mascot, was everyone's friend.

Honorably discharged April 23, 1946. Received the American Area Ribbon, Victory Medal, Asiatic Pacific w/4 stars and Philippine Liberation w/2 stars. GQ stations varied from powderman in #2 16-inch and 5-inch turret or loader on a 20mm.

Completed college in 1950, joined inactive USAR unit in June 1949. Unit activated in September 1950. Honorably discharged in June 1952.

Employed with Ford Motor Company Aircraft Div. for six years, the US Atomic Energy Commission and subsidiaries for 32 years. Retired at age 65 Jan. 1, 1991.

Married the former Norma F. Brown in August 1947. They have a son, Steven; a daughter, Cathy; two granddaughters; and two grandsons.

Other events:
(1) While refueling a cruiser on the starboard side it lost power. Before the 10-inch hawser could be cut free the cruiser was drawn into their side. Their ship maintained speed. The cruiser's port anchor raked off several stanchions, their sea plane and its catapult. Their only prize was the cruiser's port anchor on their fantail.
(2) A damaged kamikaze over shot a carrier and missed their fantail about 50 feet. He hit the water and exploded just beyond their starboard side. Cross can still see the pilot through the closed canopy. He was looking straight ahead. Cross could see him from elbow level up. He was in full uniform including cap.
(3) One day, while at sea, he was on a work detail to receive 50 cases of boneless beef. It soon became obvious that all cases were spoiled and not fit for use. He never forgot thinking about just how good those hamburgers would have tasted.
(4) Several of them noticed dark specks in some slices of bread. Some tried to pick out those specks that were visible, after learning that bugs had invaded the flour supply. The specks were so numerous that success was impossible. They enjoyed more chipped beef gravy on the shingle than usual for many days.
(5) During mid dusk one evening, while at GQ, the fleet learned that an enemy plane had been sighted a great distance forward on course toward them. Soon, a Jap Betty Torpedo bomber was sighted at very low level aligned toward a carrier Much fire power downed it early and its mission scratched. However, it was later reported that their cross fire had killed six crewmen on another ship.

Action while at sea included naval bombardments, many air attacks, and collision with USS Indiana.

His memorable experience: Being able to serve under Adm. Willis Lee.

Discharged Nov. 30, 1945. Cucinotta was awarded nine Battle Stars in Pacific and European and African Campaign Medals.

Presently retired research technician, senior warden of Chandler Lodge 227 (Masonic Temple). He has been married for 40 years and has five great granddaughters and one great son.

RUSSELL CUSICK, SN 1/C, born Nov. 15, 1924, St. Paul, MN, joined the USN Dec. 12, 1941, and was assigned to the USS Washington Jan. 13, 1942.

Station/job on ship: Stationed on USS Washington 3rd Div. upper power car operator, trainer turret 3 after three years changed to CR Div., GQ station fire fighter and put antenna up if knocked down.

His memorable experiences: Diving off top of aircraft crane -just ONCE! Removing Japanese bodies around ship with whale boat at Saipan.

Action while at sea included Guadalcanal Third Battle of Savo. He was awarded 15 Battle Stars and seven ribbons. Discharged Oct. 13, 1945.

Married the former Dorothy Jones June 30, 1945, the best thing he ever did. They have 10 children, five boys and five girls; 16 grandchildren; and one great grandchild. Presently working in an outboard motor shop and fishing.

When the US entered WWII Adm. Davis was assistant chief of the Bureau of Ordnance. In July 1942 he took command of the Washington and sailed her in Guadalcanal. The Washington became engaged in the bitter fight off Savo Island on the night of Nov. 14-15, 1942.

In April 1943 he was named commander of Battleship Div. Eight. He led the division against the enemy at Truk and during carrier raids on Saipan, Tinian, Guam and in other legendary battles of the Pacific war. He returned to the mainland in March 1945. His postwar assignments included tours as superintendent of the Naval Gun Factory in Washington, and commandant of the Potomac River Naval Command. His last assignment was as commandant of the Sixth Naval District in Charleston, SC. He retired from active duty in 1957.

His WWII medals included two Legions of Merit and the Navy Cross.

He first married the former Ruth Manahan who died in 1955. He later married Marguerite Evans Willis who also is deceased. He has one son, Glenn B. Jr., a stepson, Stanley Willis; three grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren

He became an executive in the shipping industry, including president of the Isthmian Steamship Co and board chairman of Isthmian Lines Inc. before retiring a second time in 1958. Davis passed away Sept. 9, 1984.

CHARLES B. DAY, LCDR (R), born April 1, 1892, Evanston, IL, graduated from Northwestern University in 1914 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He was ordered to active duty from Naval Reserve Force Oct. 1, 1917. He served as ensign and then lieutenant (jg) with the Atlantic Fleet during WWI aboard the USS Maine and USS Cummings. From 1919-34 he served as gunner and chief gunner on expeditionary duty and aboard the USS New Mexico, Saratoga, and Colorado. From 1934-36 he taught ordnance and gunnery at the USNA. His next duty assignment was aboard USS San Francisco as an ordnance officer from 1936-38. From 1938-40 at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station he taught ordnance. In December 1940 he was assigned to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard as an ordnance gunner for "connection and fitting out" of the battleship USS Washington. His duties aboard the USS Washington was as Ordnance J.W.& D.O. As member of the crew on the Washington, he served overseas in the North Atlantic (Iceland, Scapa Flow and Murmansk) on convoy duty and in the South Pacific (New Caledonia, Espirutu Santo, Noumea, Guadalcanal and Coral Sea) battling the Japanese Fleet. During his service on the Washington, Chief Gunner Day kept a diary of the ship's activities, infrastructure and combat. On June 15, 1942, Chief Gunner Day was promoted to lieutenant. In May 1943 Lt. Day was assigned, as a gunnery officer, to the US Naval Station at Astoria, OR. On Nov. 25, 1947, Lcdr. Day retired from the USN.

Awards include the Presidential Unit Citation w/ Gold Star, Croix de Guerre (France), WWI Victory Medal w/star, Haitian Campaign Medal, second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal, Yangtze Service Medal, American Defense Service Medal w/Fleet Clasp and "A" (combat prior to WWII), American Campaign Medal, FAME Campaign Medal w/star, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/3 stars and WWII Victory Medal.

DUANE C. DAY, born April 6, 1922, Keamey, NE, joined the USN in September 1942 and was assigned to the USS Washington in December 1942. Station/job on ship: Signalman third class. Action while at sea included all that happened from September 1942-December 1945. Day was discharged in December 1945.

His memorable experiences: Was aboard USS Washington for three years, was in Task Force 58 in collision with USS Indiana. He was sleeping on top side of the deck, was too hot below. His division officer, Lt. Turner, was killed. They buried him on an island over there. Then they went back to Pearl, cut the bow off, temporarily fixed it up, until they could go to Bremerton, WA.

He married Dora in 1984. Day has two sons, two daughters, and one grandson. Presently retired from Eaten Corp.

He is presently retired.

RAYMOND J. DeMANN, born March 12, 1925, Pittsburgh, PA, joined the USN April 7, 1943. After boot camp at Sampson, NY, sent to Treasure Island, San Francisco, then was shipped out to Pearl Harbor. Spent a week at Pearl and was assigned to USS Washington, 4th Div., Battlestation, 40mm located at the fantail. Duties - ram boat crane and the aviation crane. Leading seaman studying for coxswain when war ended.

Most memorable experiences were crossing the date line, their collision with the USS Indiana, Iwo Jima, air attacks, kamikaze, Panama Canal. Was in all battles after their ship returned from Guadalcanal.

Honorably discharged Feb. 27, 1946, with five Battle Stars, Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Medal, and Philippine Liberation Medal.

Married Angelina and has one daughter, Jacqueline; two grandchildren, Angela and Christopher. Retired going to Florida for the winter and enjoying all kinds of sports, dancing, line dancing. Employed as a meatcutter then got degree and was a food service instructor in a technical school.