NED CORNELIUS, GM2C, was born August 8, 1916 in Guntersville, Alabama. He joined the Navy on April 24, 1941 and reported to the USS Washington on July 16, 1941 as an apprentice seaman. He worked his way up to Gunners Mate 2nd Class on the 5" mounts on July 25, 1943.

He served on the Washington from July 1941 until the end of the war in June 1945. While aboard the Washington he fought in the Russian Convoy Operations, Guadalcanal, Third Savo, Gilbert Islands and Marshall Islands Operations, Battle of Leyte Gulf, and Formosa and Luzon Raids to name a few. He also sprained his ankle in mount 9 and even had his appendix removed while on board.

He was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal, World War II Victory medal, American Area Medal, American Defense Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Area Medal with 13 stars, and the Philippine Liberation Area Medal with 2 stars.

He continued to serve the country until being honorably discharged on April 29, 1947. After retiring from the Navy, he worked at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama for over 20 years and retired there in 1976.

He married Ennis Burgett on November 11, 1946 and they had one child, Bill, two grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Ned Cornelius passed away on August 3, 1993

PAUL O. MIGNERONE, S3/C, born Sept. 10, 1926 in St. Louis, MO, joined the USN Dec. 15, 1943 and was assigned to the USS Washington January 1944 as cook. He was discharged May 15, 1946 as S3/c.

Mignerone is now retired. He married Myrtle May 3, 1947 and they have three sons and seven grandchildren.

VERL ELMER MILLER, CBM, born Aug. 18, 1919 in Gloversville, NY, joined the USN, March 11, 1941. After boot camp at Newport, RI, he joined the USS Washington upon completion in Philadelphia. He served as seaman through chief boatswain mate on USS Washington.

While at sea he participated in action during the Philippine Liberation, Asiatic-Pacific and FAME.

He was awarded Victory Medal, American Area Medal, American Defense Medal W/A, Good Conduct, Philippine Liberation, Asiatic-Pacific, EAME, Secretary of Navy Commendation.

Miller was honorably discharged Feb. 22, 1947. He married Gwen Laverty Dec. 28, 1946 and they had a son, Stephen, daughters, Rebecca and Pamela and nine grandchildren. He died July 16, 1972.

DAVID A. MING, FC1/C, born in West Orange, NJ, April 11, 1921 and joined the USN, Feb. 20, 1940. He was assigned to the USS Washington April 1, 1941, #2 anti-aircraft 5" director.

His memorable experiences include all engagements until July 30, 1949. He was discharged Feb. 20, 1946. His wife of 51 years and his son David Jr. are both deceased.

He is now spending his time playing with his computer and loafing.

HAROLD ANDREW MITCHELL, born Feb. 20, 1921, Coal Valley, PA, enlisted in the USMC Aug. 5, 1941. After boot camp at Camp Lejeune, NC he attended the sea school at Norfolk, VA. He went aboard the USS Washington Dec. 14, 1941 with the 7th Marine Detachment.

His military specialties aboard ship were 601 Heavy AA gun crewman, 606 AA machine gun crewman, and 695 Orderly under Adm. Lee's command.

Memorable experiences besides the participation in the war battles and the camaraderie with his fellow shipmates were: the loss of Adm. Wilcox at sea; being aboard ship when King George VI of England greeted the fleet officers and enlisted men in Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands, in North Scotland; crossing the Equator and becoming a shellback on Sept. 3, 1942.

Mitchell saw action in eight major naval engagements in the Pacific, receiving one Silver Star and three Bronze Stars. Medals awarded were the EAME, Asiatic-Pacific, and the American Defense. He also received the Good Conduct Medal and the WWII Victory Medal.

On Nov. 10, 1945 he was honorably discharged at Bainbridge, MD. He married his high school sweetheart, Cleola Gillingham in Clairton, PA on June 24, 1944. They have a son Harold George, and a daughter Allison Jean and are blessed with one grandchild, Tyler James Mitchell.

He was employed as a machinist for US Steel Corp. in Pennsylvania and Bethlehem Steel Corp. in California until plant closure forced retirement in 1981. On Oct. 2, 1991 Harold passed away and internment is at Forest Lawn, Cypress, CA.

RANDALL C. MOFFITT, born June 10, 1921 in Nashville, TN, joined the USN in February 1941 and was on the Washington when it was commissioned in May 1941, in Philadelphia, PA.

He met his wife, Evelyn, June of 1941 and they were married in November of 1941 after the ship returned from the shakedown cruise.

He has many memories of his time on board serving in the 6th Div., memories that are fresh and vivid even 50+ years after they occurred. He remembers the Fragrant smell of honeysuckle the night they came up Honeysuckle Lane at Guadalcanal.

To this day, every time he smells honeysuckle he thinks of that night. He remembers the sweet taste of Swanson white meat of chicken on the midnight watch with members of the 6th Div. He obtained the Captain's chicken while they were taking on supplies in the South Pacific. It found it's way into their cleaning locker under a box of salt water soap. He also remembers making cherry wine from the cherry juice taken from the bakery while they were making cherry pies.

Most of all, he remembers their crew members: Jesse James, Sam Maione, Whitaker, the two Jone�s, and C.B. "Spaghetti" Russ, C.M. Daniel and many more, all good buddies. He has met some again at their reunions and has enjoyed sharing many memories. He remembers Lt jg. Turner, who lost his life in the collision between the Washington and the Indiana. And he remembers Earl Reed falling overboard while refueling the ship. Earl claimed he floated over the Equator.

Following the war, he settled in southern New Jersey and has been there for over 50 years. He has been married to his wife Evelyn for 55 years. Currently they live in Mt. Laurel, NJ. They have been blessed with a daughter, two sons, seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

ROBERT E. MOSIER, GMGC, born March 14, 1928 in Los Angeles, CA, joined the USN Feb. 21, 1946 and was assigned to the USS Washington in 1947. He was discharged Feb. 1, 1968 as GMGC and married Phyllis Feb. 20, 1954. They had a daughter Emily, Dec. 22, 1958. Mosier died March 24, 1997.