HERBERT W. COLGLAZIER, QM 1/C, born Jul. 2, 1918, Salem, IN, enlisted in the USN Dec. 17, 1941, and graduated boot camp at Great Lakes Training Center, IL.

He was then assigned to the USS Washington (BB-56) which was soon escorting North Atlantic convoys to Murmansk, Russia, while based at the British naval anchorage at Scapa Flow, Scotland.

After several months convoy duty the ship returned to the States for overhaul at the New York Navy Yard, leaving in August 1942 for the South Pacific via the Panama Canal, with a stop at Tongatabu, arriving Noumea, New Caledonia in late September or early October 1942.

In one of the battles for Guadalcanal (Third Savo) the Washington sank the Japanese battleship Kirishima and destroyer Ayanami, not taking a single hit itself.

After this and other Pacific actions, the ship was ordered to the Puget Sound Navy Yard for replacement of the bow which had been badly damaged in a collision with the USS Indiana. After going on leave and to Quartermaster School at Newport, RI, he was then assigned to the Light Cruiser, USS Duluth (CL 87) which was under construction at the Newport News Shipyards in Portsmouth, VA. In April 1945, he again sailed for the Pacific Theater and was just 60 miles off the coast of Japan when the surrender took place.

After the war he worked as a construction foreman and built schools, gymnasiums and houses in southern Indiana. In 1964 he went into the dairy business and retired from that vocation in 1998. He was married to Esther Green in 1946 and they have three sons, three grandsons, three granddaughters and two great-grandsons and a great-granddaughter. He passed away shortly after his 89th birthday on 17 July 2007.

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AUGUST C. LAPEER, S1/C, born Aug. 1, 1923 in East Jordan, MI, joined the USN, July 1942 and was assigned to the USS Washington February 1943, serving as gunner, 9th Div. and U Div. 20mm. He achieved the rank of seaman first class. He participated in first action Gilbert Islands, November 1943 while at sea, and was aboard until the ship returned to the States after the Kyusho action July 1945.

His memorable experiences include firing on planes that hit Yorktown and Franklin's 20mm gunner.

Lapeer was discharged Jan. 9, 1946 and was awarded the American Theater, Asiatic-Pacific w/9 stars, Victory Bar, Good Conduct, Philippine Liberation and two Bronze Stars.

He married Isabell Fuller in 1947 and they have three sons, one daughter, 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Lapeer is presently retired. He is a past commander of VFW Post 2051 Petoskey and likes to travel.

MERLE A. LARSON, EM2/C, born Jan. 16, 1923 in Bremen, ND, joined the USN April 14, 1943 and achieved the rank of EM2/c. While at sea he participated in the battle of Saipan, Guam, Tinian, Iwo Jima, Okinawa and Philippine Sea.

He received five Battle Stars and the American Theater Ribbon and was discharged April 15, 1946.

Larson passed away November 1988. Since leaving the USN he was in the grain elevator business. For close to 30 years he owned and operated "Merle A. Larson Inc.", a grain elevator in Washburn, ND. He is survived by his wife Ardeth of Bismarck, ND and had four sons: Doug, Dave, Dwight and Drew.

ANGELO LA VALLE, MM3/C, born April 23, 1924 in Syracuse, NY, joined the USN Oct. 5, 1943 and was assigned to the USS Washington Jan. 5, 1944, A Div. During General Quarters, he was in 16" powder room, later on the telephones for repair #1.

La Valle achieved the rank of MM3/c and was awarded the American Theater Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Medal w/5 Stars, Philippine Liberation Ribbon w/2 Stars, and the Victory Medal.

His memorable experiences including locating a man overboard in the Atlantic; midget Jap submarine in Eniwetok.

He was discharged May 26, 1946. Married and has one boy and two girls. Employed as general contractor from 1946-1996 and is now retired.

HAROLD RUMSEY LEACH, Y2/C, born May 8, 1918 at Marathon, NY, joined the USN April 28, 1942 as captain's OFC and achieved the rank of Y2/c.

While at sea he served in the South Pacific campaigns. His memorable experiences include a collision Feb. 1, 1944 with USS Indiana and their "zig-zag" courses to confuse and evade the Japanese

He was discharged September 1945. Awards awarded for South Pacific action except while hospitalized on medical leave.

Leach has been employed for 20 years with Hathaway Bakeries and 25 years as insurance agent representing State Farm Insurance Companies. He married Katherine Potter June 30, 1945. They had three children: Paula, Brian and Vern and 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

PATRICK T. LEAK, HNC, born Nov. 10, 1924 in Philadelphia, PA. He joined the USN in June 1942, one day after high school graduation. He served under many commands with both the USMC and USN, during WWII, Korea and the following years. Throughout his USN career, he earned many awards of which he was very proud. As well as the USS Washington he served aboard the hospital ship Repuse and organized their reunion in Long Beach, CA.

His father, LT Leslie N. (Joe) Leak served 30 years in the USN, also in H Div., and was one of the survivors from the USS West Virginia at Pearl Harbor, being listed in the book A Day of Infamy.

He met and married Stella in Christchurch, New Zealand on Jan. 21, 1960, while serving with Operation Deep Freeze in Antarctic. They had two children Kevin J. (May 23, 1964) and Debra A. (Oct. 13, 1966).

He retired from active duty in 1962 with the rank of HMC and worked for the US Post Office in Long Beach, CA until ill-health forced him to retire in 1981. He moved to Carson City, NV in 1985. Pat was called by the Supreme Commander Feb. 26, 1994