MARTIN L. OLSON, CDR, was born in Minneapolis, MN, May 1, 1918, joined the USN, Aug. 24, 1940, commissioned ensign in March 1941 and was assigned to USS Washington April 9, 1941 to participate in the commissioning on May 1941.

He served on the Washington in the North Atlantic on the Murmansk Run in 1941. He was also aboard the Washington during the battle for Guadalcanal and other Pacific actions.

While on the Washington his duties included five inch guns, machine guns, serving as catapult officer. He was assigned to amphibious forces in 1943 in Virginia for LST training. His ship LST 535 was in the Normandy invasion and later action in the Pacific. He was released from active duty in 1947 and remained in the Reserves until retirement at age 60.

He received the following awards: Expert Pistol, American Defense w/Star, Asiatic-Pacific w/3 Stars, Bronze Star w/V, American Area, LAME w/2 Stars, Victory and Philippine Liberation. Olson died April 22, 1991.

EMIL ONKST, MMCS, born April 25, 1923 in Clay County, KY, joined the USN, Feb. 14, 1941. After boot camp at Norfolk, VA, was assigned to the Washington April 28, 1941, No. 1 main engine. He saw all major actions while at sea and received 15 Battle Stars.

His most memorable experience was to see his old hometown buddies on the destroyer that came alongside for refueling. He was honorably discharged Oct. 13, 1945.

Married Jeanette Balling in 1948 and they had one daughter (deceased in 1974). He graduated from Gupton College of Mortuary Science in 1949. Worked in the funeral industry for 10 years and for Oak Ridge National Laboratory for 15 years. He joined the USNR in 1959 and moved to Central Florida in 1969. He then worked for the University of Florida for five years. Retired from the USNR in March 1974 as MMCS.

HERBERT L. OSBORN, born June 25, 1926, Atlantic City, NJ, enlisted in the USN Aug. 21, 1943. Attended boot camp, Newport, RI. Attended Carpenter's Mate Service School, Great Lakes, IL. Assigned USS Washington February 1944, Bremerton, WA (BB-56) and got underway for the Pacific Theater, his task at carpenter shop, boat repair, watch, etc. He acquired the job of maintaining all CO2 fire extinguishers charged and ready. GQ station was machine shop, three decks down, that he made secure and watertight. One of the first bombardments was Saipan and the last he remembers was Iwo Jima, the numerous events between are history.

He left the Washington in Bremerton September 1945 and was discharged March 31, 1946. Helen became his wife in 1949. The GI Bill provided business administration ICS. Employed as tinsmith for 37 years. Osborn is also a boat builder, fisherman, scuba diver and amateur astronomer. He became a master mason in 1966. Retired in 1983. He's still in good health but has no idea why.

ROY CARL OSBORNE, CMM, born Oct. 12, 1918, Kaufman County, TX and joined the service in 1938.He married Martha and they had a son, Roy C. Osborne Jr. Osborne died Jan. 28, 1989.

WALTER A. PALAC, CEM, born July 31, 1920 in Staten Island, NY, enlisted in the USN Nov. 15, 1939. Attended boot camp at Newport, RI. Served duty on the following: USS Constellation, USS Arkansas, USS Washington, USS Wisconsin. Assigned to E Div. in I.C. Attended I.C. School. Received final rank CEM. He was aboard commissioned USS Washington and participated in escort convoys to Murmansk and Archangel, Russia. He participated in all major Pacific battles, bombardments and air strikes, including the third battle of Savo Island.

His most memorable was the sinking of the battleship Kirishima and Ayanami.

He was discharged Nov. 15, 1945 as CEM. He received 15 Battle Stars, American Theater, Asiatic-Pacific, FAME Campaign, including Good Conduct Medals.

Attended Temple University and employed by Hughes Foulkrod as Field engineer; Henkels and McCoy as chief estimator and sales engineer; Williard, Inc. as chief estimator and sales engineer until his retirement.

He married Violet A. Revill Dec. 21, 1943. He has a daughter, Carol A. married to Jerome Shattner; son, Walter A. married to Madeline Braca and son, Robert A. married to Jacqueline Gorski. They have five granddaughters and four grandsons.

RUDOLPH A. PARENT, BMUC, born June 11, 1921 in Argyle. MN, joined the USN, Feb. 11, 1940 and was assigned to the USS Washington in 1941 for commissioning with deck force. 3rd Div.

He was awarded a Good Conduct Medal and discharged in 1946.

Parent retired from the US Civil Service and has one son.

NORMAN SMITH PATTERSON, ADC, born Nov. 9, 1939, joined the USN, Nov. 9, 1939. Trained at USNTS, San Diego, CA and was assigned to the USS Lexington (CV-2) for temporary duty, then to the USS Saratoga (CV-2) in April 1941 and was transferred to the USS Washington (BB-56),serving aboard her until Aug. 5, 1943. He made aviation machinist mate second class aboard the Washington and was plane captain on an OS2U, a sea plane carried aboard.

They flew anti-submarine patrols, then put the USS Monterey (CVL-26) in commission. He made chief aviation machinist mate in 1943 aboard the Monterey, remained in the USN until retirement on Aug. 18, 1959 as ADC (aviation devices chief), USN, then was transferred to the Fleet Reserve. Patterson is married to Lorene A. and is now retired.