ISAAC B. HARRISON, S2/C, born June 24, 1919 in Agricola, GA, joined the USN on Navy Day, Oct. 27, 1939 and attended boot camp at Norfolk, VA. Served on USS Arkansas during 1940.

He was a member of the original crew which was assigned to USS Washington in 1941 (plank owner). He served in S Div. as S2/c. Participated in major actions including escorting convoys from Scapa Flow, Scotland to Murmansk, Russia in 1942; Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, Gilbert Island. He was transferred to USS Sulamaua (CVE-96) (plank owner) in late January 1944 a few days before the collision of the Washington and the Indiana.

After five years of sea duty, was assigned in late 1944 to shore duty at Navy pre-flight school at St. Mary's College, CA and honorably discharged November 1945.

Employed at the US Post Office in Macon, GA for 31 years, retiring in January 1981. He married Betty Caldwell of Macon on April 27, 1947 and has one son, Terry, two granddaughters and two step-grandchildren. He passed away Sept. 19, 1997.

ROBERT LEE HATCHER, SENIOR CHIEF BOATSWAIN, born Aug. 14, 1921 in Maryville, TN, joined the USN on Dec. 7, 1939 and was assigned to numerous ships including the Melville. He then was detached from the Melville to the USS Washington in April 1941.

He witnessed all major action including the sinking of the Japanese battleship, Kirishima and the destroyer Ayanami. He received 15 Battle Stars and numerous ribbons.

In 1978 he retired from the USN as senior chief boatswain. He now spends his time playing golf and fishing with his grandson.

He married Peggy Weist on Sept. 16, 1947 and has three wonderful daughters, four grandsons and one granddaughter.

PAUL W. HECHT, EM1/C, born Aug. 18, 1921 in Ridgeway. NC, worked as projectionist in a local theater and joined the USN, Nov. 24, 1941.

He was assigned to the USS Washington on Dec. 24, 1941 and placed in 4th Div. A few months later was transferred to the E Div. and put in charge of the movies. Transferred to Brooklyn Naval Hospital when the ship arrived in New York because of fractured hip.

He completed his six year enlistment by serving on two destroyers in the Pacific and was involved in seven invasions.

Hecht was discharged Nov. 30, 1947 as EM1/c, receiving eight Battle Stars. American Theater, Good Conduct. Asiatic-Pacific. EAMF Campaign Medals and recently the Russian Great Patriotic War Meda or the Murmansk Run.

He is a retired television chief engineer, married to Edith Loyd, July 5. 1946. They have two daughters, Carol and Pamela and two granddaughters.

ROBERT B. "BOBBY" HENDRICKSON, R3/C, born April 6, 1924 in Ft. Worth, TX, joined the USN, Aug. 2, 1942 and was assigned to the USS Washington Jan. 21, 1943, serving as radar operator. He served 31 months and participated in 14 major engagements while at sea.

Hendrickson was discharged Nov. 29, 1945 and he died April 4. 1974.

ROYCE A. HERMAN, S1/C, born Dec 22. 1925 in Helena. MT. joined the USN, Dec. 20, 1943 and was assigned to the USS Washington April 1944, as crane operator.

While at sea he participated in action in Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Iwo Jima, Kyushi and Okinawa. His memorable experiences include troop transport from England; Jap plane so close to ship you could see the pilot.

He was discharged April 18, 1946 and achieved the rank of S1/c. He was awarded the WWII Victory Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal w/6 Stars. American Area Campaign Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal w/2 Stars.

Herman married Audrey Hoisington July 20. 1947 and they had four sons, three grandsons and one granddaughter. He was a truck driver for Teamsters Local 190 and died Dec. 25, 1987.

JAMES ALVIN VANDINE, born October 22, 1922 in Urichsville, OH. He enlisted in the Navy in 1940 and completed training just in time to be one of the first drafts of personnel ordered aboard the USS Washington as she completed fitting out prior to commissioning.  After some initial confusion in assignments, he eventually wound up in the starboard Fire Control tower controlling the 5 inch guns for naval and anti-air combat and the main batteries for shore bombardment.  He served throughout World War II aboard the USS Washington, achieving the rank of FCO2.

He remembered his initial service at Scapa Flow, where the USS Washington was initially assigned to help run convoys to Murmansk (her mission would have been to engage the Tirpitz had she sortied against the Allied convoys.  During this time, Rear Admiral Wilcox was lost overboard and he used to tell of standing watch in the bitter cold as they searched for the Admiral or his body.  He remembers crossing through the Panama Canal (shortly after he married his high school sweetheart, Ruth) enroute to Pearl Harbor in late August 1942 , where the clearance on either side of the ship in the locks was mere inches.  During the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, he manned his post and was responsible for over 50 hits by 5 inch shells on the IJNS Kirishima.  I remember him describing the Kirishima as she turned turtle; "the hull was grey in the moonlight and all the white-clad sailors were scrambling up along the sides as she rolled over."  Despite the errors of respected historians claiming she was sunk the next day by aircraft north of Guadalcanal, her sunken hull, still upside down, was subsequently found in Iron Bottom Sound by Dr. Robert Ballard (the discoverer of the RMS Titanic) just as FCO2 Vandine described it.  During the remainder of the war he continued to serve with distinction (he was once complemented by Admiral Willis Lee as "the best eyes in the fleet") until the end of the war, when he was transferred to new construction in the Atlantic, accepting his discharge in 1946.

After discharge, he worked for a time in a steel mill in Urichsville, Ohio, and eventually re-entered the service, joining the US Army and serving until his retirement in the grade of Sergeant First Class in 1966.  He went to college on the GI Bill after retiring and earned his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Secondary Education, eventually becoming the Assistant Principal for Benjamin Milam School in El Paso, Texas.  He retired from the school district in 1986 and lived the remainder of his life quietly in El Paso until he passed away on February 4th, 2008 of heart failure and general old age.  He was buried with full military honors in Fort Bliss National Cemetery with his wife of 64 years, the former Ruth Geraldine Kinsey who passed in 2006.

My father never spent much time telling us of the horrors of battle, but rather told the funny stories and the jokes (usually at his own expense).  When I was 13 I asked him; "If you had it to do over, would you?"  He did me the honor of actually thinking about his answer, and then told me; "You know Jeff, I wouldn't ever want to do it again, but I'm glad I did and I'm proud of the ship and crew I served with."  I think that was the moment when I decided that a military career was a life worth living.  I miss my father every single day.  Dad, I salute you and all your shipmates!

Jeff Vandine (Son)

My Grandfather is by far the most noble and honorable man I've ever known. When I was just a young boy I remember him telling me stories of how he had such a big responsibility on the U.S.S. washington. A painting of the ship hung on the wall in my Granfather's room for my entire life. I enjoyed looking at the picture as he told me his responsibilities on the U.S.S Washington. He was very proud. I miss and love my Grandfather and Grandmother very much. They raised me to be strong through some of my darkest days. And always inspired me to become the great and respectful man that I am today. With love, I salute you, Grandpa.

Jeff Vandine (Grandson)