WILLIAM R. "BILL" LOZANO, born Oct. 28, 1925 in San Antonio, TX and joined the USN Jan. 4, 1944 and was assigned to the USS Washington March / April 1944, serving with I Div., as lookout/radar operator.

Lozano was discharged April 27, 1946. He is married to Lola and they have children: Tony, Laurie and Tracy.

E. "NICK" LUONGO, GMM1/C, born May 1, 1922 in Winchester, MA, joined the USN in September 1942. After boot camp at Newport, RI he was assigned to USS LCT, USS LCG and USS Miller (DD535) serving in the FAME campaigns. He went aboard the USS Washington in Bremerton after they replaced the bow from the collision with the Indiana and was the ranking petty officer first class bringing approximately 200 replacements from the navy barracks.

He served as first class petty officer in charge of maintenance starboard side 5" and 40mm anti-aircraft guns. His most memorable experiences include serving as gun captain during Operation Forager; the bombardment of Saipan and Battle of the Philippine Sea; the last cruise with midshipmen from Annapolis on gunnery practice.

He was honorably discharged Oct. 21, 1946 and served in the Navy Reserves for another five years.

He was awarded 11 Battle Stars, EAME Campaigns, Asiatic-Pacific, Armed Forces Expeditionary, Good Conduct and National Defense.

After the war he married Shirley Duffy and they had four children: John, Nancy, Shirley and Janet. Shirley died in 1969. He married Joyce Perkins August 1972. They live in Wolfeboro, NH and have eight grandchildren.

ROY L. McLANE, born 7-15-1919 in E.Moline, Ill. Joined USN 4-4-39; boot camp at Great Lakes. His first ship was the Milwaukee, until he joined the USS Washington as Seaman 1/c, in the 5th Dvn, in time to help commission her and sail on her shakedown cruise July 25, the day after he married his hometown sweetheart, Bette Hegwood. He served as mount captain on 5" gun mount #3.

He left the ship briefly in 1941 to attend gunnery school and chased subs in the Atlantic on board the USS Wyoming until he rejoined the Washington in early 1942.

Most vivid memory: Once, when there was still a hatch and periscope on the 5" mounts, I decided to stand up and watch the action during the firing of the 16" guns. Well, that wasn't too bad, but the concussion split open my blue jumper right down the middle and blew it off me along with my helmet and earphones. I was more scared than hurt, but then Captain Davis came and asked me how I was and wanted to know if it was possible to do it again and could I fire from that position? I said, "yes, it could be done." But I was never requested to do so and never did it again voluntarily.

He left the ship in the summer of '44 for electronics/hydraulics school in DC and was reassigned to the USS Avery Island a new ship about to be commissioned in San Diego, where he would have served as Chief Gunner's Mate, but the war ended before he went on board. He was released from service on points, 9-15-45, as gunner's mate 1/c, with 14 combat service medals.

He remained in San Diego working for Hages and Foremost Dairies as a route driver, and raised a family of four children, nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He and Bette retired in 1987 to Oakdale, CA where he indulged his lifelong passion for bass fishing, teaching his grandkids to follow in his wake, until a series of strokes limited his physical activities. He resides in a care facility where Bette visits daily.

RECHO WARREN MACK, SC/1, born Nov. 5, 1922, in Opp, AL, joined the USN Nov. 19, 1940. After boot camp in Norfolk, VA, he went on the USS Washington at commissioning, and served in all major actions through Iwo Jima. Served in the 3rd Div. S/c rating, as helmsman running liberty boat and cradleman on gun station in turret 3.

Most memorable experience was the collision with the Indiana. Left ship soon after Iwo Jima, and assigned to Falbrook, CA until discharge on Dec. 15, 1946.

Received Asiatic-Pacific, American Area, African-European, Philippine Liberation, American DeFense, and WWII Victory Medal.

He married Mary A. Savage in 1945 and has three children: Carole, Susan, and John. After Mary's death in 1978, he married Hazel Burkett in 1986. He worked at Naval Coastal Systems Center in Panama City, FL,. as an electrician for 30 years. Retired in 1977 with 37 years federal service. He is presently enjoying retirement fishing and gardening.

SAMUEL EDWARD MAIONE, PHOM2/C, born Sept. 18, 1923 in Madison, NJ, joined the USN at Newark, NJ, Jan. 28, 1941. After boot camp at Newport, RI was assigned to the 6th Div. of the USS Washington for ship commissioning. GQ and watch station was in sky control as talker on phones to all the quad mounts. He remained aboard until after the collision with the Indiana and was transferred at Pearl Harbor to the Fleet Camera Party in March 1944. After duty at San Diego, CA, Tomkinsville, NY and Philadelphia, PA was discharged as Phom 2/c on Nov. 22, 1946.

He earned the American Defense w/Star, Asiatic-Pacific Theater w/Star, American Campaign, EAME Ribbon. Used the GI Bill to earn a BS in chemical engineering, worked in various companies in cryogenics, pharmaceuticals, plastics, and electric�s. Retired from AT&T in 1988.

A personal experience while on the USS Washington on liberty the weekend of the Pearl Harbor attack and got back to Norfolk too late to catch the last liberty boat. When he arrived on the pier another shipmate was also there waiting for the mail boat to make the ship. They were cold so, they went to the cafe at the end of the pier for coffee. Later, as they headed back to the landing, they passed a man and woman parked in a car. The passenger door was open obscuring the woman who was sitting sidewise facing out. When they passed behind the car he looked back and saw that the woman had a camera in lap. She was obviously taking pictures of the ships in the harbor and tied up along the wharf�s. Since they had just entered a state of war, he knew this was wrong and said to the other sailor that they should confiscate the film. In spite of his repeated objections that "We had no authority" Maione went up to the car and told them that they would have to take the film. As he reached for the camera she broke open the back and he had to pull the film out in two rolls to try to save some of the pictures. Then, to keep it out of the light he held it in his peacoat pocket. They immediately whipped the car around and high tailed it out of there but they managed to get a part of the license number.

Aboard ship he gave the film to the OD and had to make out a written report on the incident. The next day the exec's yeoman looked him up and told him that Cdr. Ayrault was very pleased and might grant the request he had for school, since he first came aboard and found out that he could not strike for the rate he wanted. He never heard another word about it for which he felt very slighted, not to at least been informed of the results. One good thing did come of it though, he was not placed on report for being over leave. Submitted by Samuel E. Maione

JAMES H. MALLOY, EMC3/C, born July 5, 1926, Pittsburgh, PA, joined the USN, Aug. 16, 1943. Went to Great Lakes and attended boot camp and 16 weeks electrical school. Assigned to USS Washington, March 1944 (E-Div.) First operation, Saipan to Okinawa, back to Bremerton, WA. Down through Panama Canal, two trips to England for troop transfer, to Boston where he was transferred to await discharge.

He was honorably discharged May 3, 1946 and married Theresa Collins in 1950. They have five children and 10 grandchildren. Employed as electrician for Allis-Chalmers, Pittsburgh Div. for 33 years and city of Pittsburgh, seven years. Retired Jan. 1, 1991.