JOHN WILLIAM LEWIS, S1/C, born Feb. 26, 1920, Laurens County, SC, joined the USN Dec. 11, 1941, and was assigned to USS Washington in January of 1942, 8th Div., S1c. He was first loader on a 40mm quad, number 14.

His most memorable experience was the Battle of Savo Island, Nov. 14 and 15, 1942 and the daily attacks by suicide planes at Okinawa. He received an honorable discharge Sept. 19, 1945 and received 13 Battle Stars.

Married to Angie E. Mercer and has one son, four daughters, 15 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Lewis and wife, Angle has been traveling over the country for 33 years in evangelistic ministry.

LEN L. LEWIS, CSF, MEC, born April 14, 1918 in Logan, UT, died Sept. 18, 1991 in Snyder, CO. Served in the USN from Dec. 11, 1936 through Feb. 27, 1957.

He became a diver second class March 25, 1940 while on the USS Enterprise (CV-6) and remained a diver until retirement. Assigned to the USS Washington June 30, 1941 as a SF2/c. Transferred in 1945 as SF1c.

As a civilian he worked in civil engineering at the USAF Academy, retiring to Snyder, CO in 1973. Married Veronica McCartney, Aug. 3, 1946 in Arlington, VA. He is survived by his wife Veronica, Snyder, CO; one daughter, Mary Ellen Johnson and two sons, John and Victory Lewis, all of Colorado Springs, CO; three brothers, Paul and Nick Lewis of Glen Ellen, CA and Victor Lewis of Canon City, CO and eight grandchildren.

BASIL LINVILLE, GM2/C, born March 5, 1924 in Logan County, WV, joined the USN Feb 14, 1941 and was assigned to the USS Washington May 15, 1941. He departed Oct. 21, 1944, serving with 2nd Div., #2 turret.

While at sea he participated in action from Nov. 15, 1942 through Oct. 21, 1944. His memorable experiences include his first battle, Nov. 15, 1942.

He was discharged from the USN January 1946 and entered the US Army in 1947. Retired 1964, command sergeant major.

Linville married Irene F Wojnar April 21, 1945 and they have five children, (three boys and two girls). All three boys saw service, BJ and Bruce in the Army and Mike in the USN. Presently involved with 40 A Farm in Ashland, OH.

JAMES PATRICK LITTLE, MM1/C, born June 8, 1922 in Hancock, MD, and enlisted in the service November 1940. He came aboard the USS Washington prior to the ship's commissioning and served through all ship's campaigns from Murmansk until his discharge October 1946.

He was assigned to main engine room (M Div.) on operational watch where he achieved machinist mate first class rank. He saw action in all Washington's battles for which he received six medals and 15 Bronze Stars. (He served on destroyer off Korea October 1950 to December 1951.

June 1949 he graduated Milwaukee School of Engineering with technician's certificate. He married Ruth Stockhausen September 1950. They were blessed with five daughters: (Anne, Joan, Marge, Mary, Joyce) and has one son (Paul) and 10 grand-children.

He retired after 25 years as operations engineer at Northwestern National Insurance Company. He died Nov. 8, 1987, shortly after joyfully sharing memorable times with shipmates at Mobile reunion.

JACOB ALONZA LONG, SF1/C, born June 22, 1923 in Nixville Section of Estill, SC (Hampton County), joined the USN June 18, 1948 and served boot camp at Norfolk, VA. He was assigned to BB-56 in July 1942. Served with 9th Div. as a gunner on 20mm mounts. Attained rank of SF1. All experiences were memorable, some which he has cherished through the years.

Employed with American Oil Co. for 38 years. Retired in 1983. He married Aug. 18, 1945 to Lily Mae Hix and they had four children: two sons, Jacob Alonza, Jr. and Harold David and two daughters Glenda Fay and Wanda Jay. He has six grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Lillie Mae died May 28, 1983. Remarried Louise Tison Ferguson Nov. 10, 1988 and has three stepchildren, son Jesse G., Bill and Frampton Ferguson.

PHILIP GREENSTEIN, ETM 3c, served aboard from about December 1945 through July 1946 as an Electronics Technician.

Main duties were to keep the Mark 22 Fire Control  radar and search radar systems in operating condition. The Mark 22 radar equipment was  located inside the stern port side steel enclosure about 50 feet forward and 40 feet above the stern 16" battery. Although the war action was over, he went to sea a number of times to test all of the ship's systems after the ship had  finished a refitting in Boston. Every gun, including the forward and stern 16 inch batteries and all the five inch guns on the ship were fired during our a number of daily trips from Narragansett Bay (our home port after Boston). . He even exercised the 40mm anti-aircraft batteries chasing a sleeve towed by an airplane.