ROBERT S. LEBAIR, LT, born May 23, 1923, Jeukintown, PA. July of 1942 entered Princeton University, Navy V-12 program July 1943. Commissioned ensign, Naval Midshipmen School, Columbia, October 1944. Three months Naval Communication School, Cambridge, MA assigned to USS Washington (BB-56). bringing troops back from Europe, Magic Carpet duty. Released active duty July 1946 and completed undergraduate education at Princeton University June 1947. Duty during Korean War as an intelligence officer with communication duties on 7th Fleet Staff, Far East (served on USS Wisconsin, USS Iowa, and USS Missouri). Advanced to rank of lieutenant.

He was released from active duty February 1953 and was awarded the American Theater Ribbon, WWII Victory Ribbon, Korean Ribbon w/2 Stars, China Service Ribbon and the United Nations.

He has been married 47 years to Marie Frances Lebair. They have five children, (one daughter and four sons), and 11 grandchildren. Owner of air-conditioning and heating contracting firm. Currently retired doing volunteer work for Navy Marine Corps Relief Society and the Independent Seaport Museum in Philadelphia.

EARL MASON LEE, QMC1/C, born Feb. 28, 1923 in Ashland. KY, joined the USN March 16, 1942 and was assigned to USS Washington July 27, 1942 and aboard for most major action.

He left the USN after WWII but reenlisted several months later as a seaman with the goal of reaching E-9, which he attained in 1964 but remained in the USN to retire as SMCM with 30 years service.

Among his 11 medals and 16 Battle Stars are Philippine Presidential, Korean Presidential, Asiatic Pacific and China Service.

His career included tours of duty on the Mullinax, Stormes, Henrico, Joy, PHIBERUP 2, DESRON 32, two years two shore duty in Washington. DC with the Armed Forces Police and several other ships.

He was married to Iris Hennen and the father of Anthony Lee and had two grandchildren and one stepson. He passed away Aug. 1, 1991 and buried with military honors in Norfolk, VA.

WILLIS A. LEE, VADM, born in Natlee, KY, May 11, 1888, the son of Willis Augustus Lee Sr. and Susan Arnold Lee. His father, known as "Pink Lee", was a lawyer and later a judge in Owen County, KY, and was the brother of Jefferson Davis Lee, the father of Isabel Lee Wilson.

Willis Augustus Lee was appointed to the US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, from his native state, Kentucky, in 1904. While a midshipman, he won his letter on the Rifle Team, qualifying as an expert rifleman, and was awarded the Gold Medal for small arms efficiency as a second classman. He was a member of the Naval Academy Rifle Team which participated in the National Rifle Match at Camp Ferry, OH in 1907, winning the national individual match and the national pistol match. As 8 First Classman he had his name engraved on the cup presented by the Sons of the Revolution (General Society) for proficiency in great gun target practice or practical ordnance and gunnery. After two years at sea, which were then required by law after completing the four year course at the Naval Academy, he graduated on June 6, 1910 and was commissioned an ENS in the USN. He subsequently advanced in rank until he was appointed Vice Admiral on March 21, 1944.

Having completed the course at the Naval Academy in June 1908, he remained at the Academy as a member of the Navy Rifle Team during the summer. He then served on board the USS Idaho from October 1908 until May 1909. During the summer of 1909 he again served with the Navy Rifle Team at the Academy. In October of 1909 he assisted in assembling the crew of the USS New Orleans and served on board that cruiser from her commissioning, Nov. 15, 1909, until May 1910.

The USS Helena on the Asiatic Station was his next assignment where he served until his detachment from that cruiser in January 1913 to return to the US to take part in the National Rifle Match. In July he rejoined the battleship Idaho, and in December of 1914 was transferred to the USS New Hampshire.

While on that battleship he participated in the landing of forces engaged in the occupation of Vera Cruz, Mexico in 1914.

December 1915 he reported to the Union Tool Co., Chicago, IL, where he served for three years as Inspector of Ordnance. In November 1918, a few days after the signing of the Armistice of WWI, he joined the destroyer force based in Queenstown, Ireland, assigned to the USS O'Brien. December 21, 1918 he reported to headquarters of US Naval Forces at Brest, France and was assigned to the USS Lea in which he served until June 1919.

Upon his return to the US he again participated with the Naval Rifle Team at the National Matches. During this time he served as executive officer of the USS Bushnell flagship and tender of Submarine Div., Atlantic Fleet, from September 1919 until June 1920. The summer of 1920 he was a member of the American Rifle Team at the Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium, winning with CDR Carl T. Osburn, USN, nine gold, two silver and two bronze medals. He personally won five gold, one silver and one bronze medal.

From September 1920 until June 1924 he had successive command of the USS Fairfax and USS William B. Preston, sailing the latter to China Station via the Suez Canal from Newport, RI in 1921. Upon his return to the US he was assigned duty at New York Navy Yard until November 1926. While there he again participated in the National Rifle Matches and in 1925, as captain of the Navy Rifle Team. His next assignment was as executive officer of the USS Antares and From October 1927 until June 1928 he was CO of the USS Lardner.

After completing the senior course at the Naval War College in Newport, RI, in May of 1929, he served for a year as inspector of ordnance in charge, at the Naval Ordnance Plant, Baldwin, Long Island, NY. During the summer of 1930 he again served as captain of the Navy Rifle Team which participated in the matches al Wakefield, Massachusetts and Camp Perry, OH.

Division of Fleet Training, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department, Washington, DC, was his next assignment and in May 1931 he joined the USS Pennsylvania, flagship of the US fleet, for duty first as navigator and later as XO. In June 1933 he returned to the Division of Fleet Training and served as Head of the Gunnery Section for two years as Head of the Tactical Section during 1935-1936. In October 1936 he assumed command of the USS Concord Upon his detachment from that cruiser in July 1938, he reported for duty as operations officer on the staff of RADM Harold R. Stark, USN, who was then commanding cruisers, Battle Force (the Concord, flagship). In December 1938 he served as chief of staff for five months while ADM Stark's flag was in the USS Honolulu.

In June 1939 he returned to the Navy Department for duty as assistant director of the Division of Fleet Training, and in January 1941 he became director of that division. After the outbreak of World War II in December 1941, he reported as chief of staff to the Commander in Chief, US Fleet on February 1942. After six months in that assignment he was sent to the Pacific Theater where he served consecutively as Commander Battleship Division 6, Commander Battleships, Pacific Fleet (with additional duty in command of Division 6) and as Commander Battleship Squadron 2.

During his service in the Pacific Theater, he commanded a task force which intercepted Japanese forces attempting to recapture positions in the Guadalcanal Tulagi area. In action on the night of November 14-15, 1942, he won for all forces engaged, the "Well Done", from ADM Emest J. King, USN, Commander in Chief, US Fleet. He was personally awarded the Navy Cross, with citation.

Following the capture of the Gilbert Islands in November 1943, he commanded a task force which attacked Nauru, and in February 1944, he was in command of the battleships which operated with the Truk Striking Force which took part in the carrier raids against the Saipan-Tinian area and various other engagements. On May 1, 1944, he directed the bombardment of shore installations at Ponape which resulted in great damage to the enemy. Later at Saipan, in the first state of the Battle of the Philippine Sea, he assisted in opening the way for the landing forces. On June 19, 1944, in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, he directed his ships for maximum effectiveness when our Task Force was subjected to full-scale attack by Japanese carrier based planes, and by the expert gunnery of his officers and men succeeded in destroying several hostile bombers. He was awarded the Legion of Merit and the Distinguished Service Medal.

Still in command of Battleship Squadron 2, Vice Admiral Lee died of coronary thrombosis on Aug. 25, 1945, on board a launch bearing him to the USS Wvoming, his flagship, in Casco Bay, off Portland. ME.

Interment was at Arlington National Cemetery.

He was survived by his wife, Mrs. Willis A. (nee Mabelle Allen) Lee, Illinois, now deceased.

He was posthumously awarded a Gold Star in lieu of the Second Distinguished Service Medal for exceptionally meritorious service.

The USS Willis A. Lee (DL-4) has been named to honor Vice Admiral Lee. Mrs. Fitzhugh Lee Palmer (wife of Captain FL. Palmer, USN and daughter of Admiral Lee's sister, Mrs. Lucy Lee Vallandingham), who then resided at the Naval Air Station, Brunswick, ME, sponsored the vessel at the launching at Bethlehem Steel Company's plant at Quincy, MA on Jan. 26, 1952.

FLOYD GEORGE LEISHING, MM1/C, born Aug. 8, 1923 in Labanon, MO, joined the USN Aug. 8, 1943, and attended boot training at Farragut, ID. Assigned to the Washington December 1943.

While at sea he served in battles at Leyte. Mindanao, Okinawa, Iwo Jima, Caledonia. Marshall Islands, Midway and Philippines. He was on board when the Indiana rammed the Washington. They then went to Pearl Harbor for repairs. He was discharged Dec.7,1945.

He married Donna Lee England Nov. 15, 1941. They were married almost 50 years and he passed away Aug. 10, 1991.They had three sons and one daughter: George Lee, Michael Eugene, Sharon Kathleen and Randolph Kurt.

NICK LEONE JR., S1C, born Sept. 19, 1925 in St. Louis, MO, joined the USN Dec. 15, 1943 and was assigned to the USS Washington January 1944 as gunners mate, hot caseman in five inch gun mount.

While at sea he served in all major actions including: operations Flintock and Forager, Leyte, Luzon, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Kyushu, Saipan and Philippine Sea. His memorable experiences include having his appendix removed during the typhoon of December 1944 and the invasion of Iwo Jima.

He was awarded the Victory Medal, American Area, Philippine Liberation w/2 stars, Asiatic-Pacific w/4 stars.

Leone was discharged April 20, 1946. He married Billie Jean Wessler on Jan. 11, 1947 and they had five children: Nick III, William, Claire, Mary and Angle, 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

He was the director of the St. Vincent de Paul Society Store and soup kitchen until his death on Sept. 29, 1986.