ROBERT E. KENNEDY, S1/C, born Sept. 5, 1917 in Detroit, MI, joined the USN Oct. 30, 1939 and was assigned to the USS Washington April 2, 1941, as 40mm gun stricker, 4th Div. crane operator. Action while at sea: Russian convoy, Guadalcanal, Savo Island, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Japan, Nov. 15, 1942, sinking Kirishima and Avanami. He was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific w/10 Bronre Stars, American Defense w/Star, EAME w/Star, WWII Victory Medal and Good Conduct.

Kennedy was discharged Dec. 15, 1947. He married Betty Carlson Jan. 26, 1962 and has two daughters, a son and three grandchildren. He is a retired engineer, Conrail Railroad.

JOHN WILLIAM KING, Y2C, born Feb. 9, 1917 in Detroit, MI, enlisted in the USN July 21, 1943 as part of Co. 1047. His basic training was at Great Lakes and from there he was assigned to Class A Storekeepers School in Bainbridge, MD. He boarded the USS Washington in Bremerton, WA in February 1944. He participated in the final 13 Pacific actions in which the Washington was engaged preceding the end of the war.

King transferred off the Washington in September 1945 in Long Beach, CA and was finally honorably discharged from Great Lakes Jan. 12, 1946.

He returned to Detroit and married Juanita Leavitt Aug. 10, 1946. They had one child, Karen and twin grandchildren, Colleen and Jay. He was employed as a credit manager for Sears Roebuck & Co. until retirement in 1982. He went to be with God Jan. 3, 1991.

C.R. KNOWLTON, CDH, born in Stonington, ME, Sept. 2, 1908, was commissioned an ensign February 1940, Boston, MA. Attended Bates College and received a BS, physics major, 1930. Employed as amateur radio operator with station WIATE since 1930; radio engineer, Delco Radio, 1938-39; Delco sales engineer, GM, 1940, US Naval Academy, Post Graduate School February to September 1941; USS Washington Sept. 1, 1941; Radiation Lab, Anacostia, MA, 1st radar class, December 1941.

He served as first radar officer, USS Washington CXAM-1, 1941, in battle station C-I-C. Besides being ships radar officer he was by his direction, Adm. W. Lee's, radar advisor. Knowlton was operating the SG radio and detected two ships following them, 18,000 yards, Nov. 14, 1942. Admiral Lee ordered target designation and all ships to fire. This action started the battle.

After the war he returned as Eastern sales manager for the Delco Div. of GM. His wife passed away Feb. 25, 1988. They had four children.

He is confined as physically handicapped to a wheelchair. He has been very active in amateur radio, and has won five international radio contests.

ROMAN J. KORZELIK, born June 20, 1925 in Chicago, IL, joined the USN, Sept. 29, 1943. After boot camp in Farragut, ID and service school at Great Lakes, IL, was assigned to the USS Washington in March of 1944, No. 4 fireroom.

One of his memorable experiences was observing his 19th birthday at General Quarters during the Marianas "Turkey shoot."

He was honorably discharged March 27, 1946. He received nine Battle Stars, American Theater, Asiatic-Pacific, Philippine Liberation, and WWII Victory Medals.

After discharge he went to school and studied accounting. Today he is a retired accountant. He married Marilyn Mueller in 1950 and they had two sons Joseph and Gary. Marilyn died in 1969. He remarried Alice Urba in 1973 and has two stepdaughters, Joyce and Susan and seven children call him Grandpa.

WALTER R. KRAUSE, GM3/C, born in Maspeth, NY, Aug. 21, 1923, joined the service Feb. 11, 1941. He was on board when the ship was commissioned in May of 1941. Served at Scapa Flow when King George came aboard and participated in the Murmansk Run and became a "Blue Nose" at the Arctic Circle. He passed through the Panama Canal, saw action in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands, the bombardment of Nauru, but the most vivid recollections are of the Battle of Guadalcanal: "When those guns let loose, it really shook the hell out of them."

In 1944 Walter was transferred to the Sitkoh Bay, a "Kaiser Coffin," serving as a gunners mate third class. He was honorably discharged Oct. 4, 1945.

He was awarded the American Defense, American Theater Campaign, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Campaign, Campaign and WWII Victory and the Good Conduct.

Krause has been married for 50 years to Georgia Hicks. They have two children, Richard and Susan and two grandchildren, Jacqueline and Christopher and they enjoy retirement.

JOSEPH SAM PISONI,  SM1c, was  born in the tiny coal mine town of Rivesville West Virginia on July 4th, 1923.  He was the son of two Italian immigrant parents, Anthony Pisoni and Tomasina Cavaliere.

 In November of 1940, while in the 10th grade at Rivesville High School, he enlisted in the US Navy.  He was just 17 years of age.  Joe  was sent to Norfolk in January of 1941 for training purposes.    While in the Navy he earned the rank of Seaman First Class.

On  the third day of September 1942, he was initiated into the Solom Mysteris of the Ancient Order of the Deep, when he passed 00000 Latitude and Longitude 100 degrees West, for the purpose of “hunting japs”.  Because of his first crossing over the equator he and his fellow first time shipmates had their heads shaved. A fine navy tradition! 

When his service was concluded on the USS Washington, he was assigned to the USS Briareus and then eventually to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.  He received medals  for the following :  Occupation Service, China Service, Atlantic Pacific Campaign, American Campaign, American Defense, World War II, and the United States Navy Med al.  Joseph served in the Navy from 1941 to 1953, when he was honorably discharged. 

Joseph settled  in Philadelphia, married his wife Mary Botto and became a highly successful business man.  My father Joseph S. Pisoni lived till the age of 84 and we, his family, are proud of him and all who served with him.   He is survived by his son, daughter-in-law, 3 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

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