DONALD WINTERS GUIDICI, MMR3/C, born Jan. 8, 1928, enlisted in the USN at age 18, Jan. 10, 1946. Went to boot camp at San Diego, CA, then engineering school at Great Lakes, and refrigeration school at Norfolk, VA.

He was assigned to the USS Washington, A Div., ice machines and boarded her at Annapolis, MD, July 4, 1946. With the USS North Carolina, USS Randolph, (carrier) and several destroyers they made two midshipman cruises up the Atlantic Coast and to Cuba and Panama.

He was not an old veteran of the times when Washington was in its glory. He served as a fireman first class during its last days. He has many good memories of his service aboard her. Once three of them in the air conditioning gang were hiding in the compressor compartment on the bridge and were caught "goofing off" by Adm. Cooley and Capt McClnerney. They didn't put them on report!

In October 1946, most of the crew left their ship and Guidici was one of a skeleton crew that remained on board in Bayonne, NJ. Just before Navy Day he was transferred to Brooklyn Navy Yard.

The remainder of his two years enlistment was on the USS Amphion (AR-13). He was discharged as a MMR3/c in November 1947.

He is now a third generation cattle rancher in northern California. He has a wife, Doris and four grown children: David, Doug, Donna and Diane and one grandson, Nicholas Guidici.

JOHN S. HADSELL, LT., born Oct 29, 1921, Berkeley, CA, attended Berkeley and Oakland schools. Enlisted Navy V-7, graduated University of California, Berkeley, 1943 and Midshipman's School Columbia University, NY, fall 1943.

Enroute to USS Washington married his childhood sweetheart Virginia Thompson. Served as ensign, lieutenant (jg) and lieutenant in 9th Div., January 1944 to November 1945, in all actions of the Washington, with usual medals.

His memorable moments include joining the Washington in Efate, January 1944; on watch in Sky Control at 0428, Jan. 31, 1944, when Washington collided with battleship Indiana; two overhauls Bremerton, WA; first following collision, second, on leave in Berkeley when A-bombs dropped through Panama Canal in October 1945; arrival in Philadelphia Navy Yard; leaving the Washington, November, 1945.

Career as Presbyterian minister; 17 years professor at San Francisco Theological Seminary, San Anselmo, CA; retired 1987. He has been married to Virginia for 53 years and has two daughters and four grandchildren. He and Virginia are living in Berkeley.

TROY F. "HALZIE" HALL, SC2, born Oct. 5, 1921 in Albertville, AL, enlisted Dec. 9, 1941 and joined the USN in January 1942.

He was assigned to USS Washington as machine gun turret/cook SC2, His memorable experiences include the Panama Canal passing and the sinking of Kirishima and Avanami.

While at sea he participated in all battles. His units shot down enemy planes. The night of the collision with the Indiana, he had duty cooking in the galley, making some of that good old Navy meatloaf. Everything was stacked up on each side of the ovens and then, they weren't stacked up any more. There was raw meatloaf all over the galley floor. What a time he had cleaning up. That was a highlight of the whole darn war.

Hall was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific, EAME, American and WWII Victory.

He was honorably discharged Oct. 21, 1945 as SC3. He married Dec. 25, 1946 and was widowed in 1978. Hall married Wanda Watts, May 3, 1980. He began driving for Armour Meats Co., Dec. 20, 1951 and retired Jan. 1, 1981, Portland, OR.

JOSEPH VANCE HALYBURTON, SF3/C., born Oct. 7, 1925, Canton, NC, moved to Miami, FL in 1938. He had two brothers and one sister. He and his brothers all served in the USN. He received the Medal of Honor posthumously.

After school in Great Lakes in 1944, he was assigned to the USS Washington, in the shipfitter shop and served there until his discharge, March 1946.

He went to aircraft school and was employed at Pan American Airways. Recalled to the USN, 1950 and stationed in San Diego. Discharged in 1952.

He married Marian Gilmer in 1949 and they had two children, Dan and Donna. Continued employment with Pan Am in 1952 with a total of 40 years before retiring in 1987.

The USS Halburton, guided missile frigate was built in 1982 in honor of his brother Billy. The ship is based in Norfolk, VA. Joe and Marian moved to Flat Rock, NC in 1992. He died Aug. 20, 1994

JAMES ALLEN HAMILTON, RDM3/C, born April 1, 1920 in St. Louis, MO, entered the service Dec. 31, 1943 in San Diego, CA, and was assigned to USS Washington as radarman and lookout.

He achieved the rank of radioman third class and served in the Pacific and returned troops for England while at sea.

His memorable experiences include seeing a Japanese attack plane on their port side, the pilot was in it.

Hamilton was discharged March 10, 1946. He is now retired. Traveled in the LP gas business. He has been married for 45 years to Elinor and they have two children, Jim and Christine and five grandchildren: Candiff, Sterling. Jamie, Blake and Missy.