JULIUS STEPHENS, CPO, was born July 3rd, 1923 in Woodburry Georgia. He joined the U.S. Navy in December of 1940, and was already living on board the USS Washington the day she was commissioned on May 15th, 1941. Julius served as a Boatswain's Mate 2nd class, and he soon earned a position in the Post Office of the USS Washington. He faithfully served on board until she sailed back to Seattle Washington for repairs just prior to the end of the war. Mr. Stephens was then promoted to Chief Petty Officer prior to his discharge on July 6th, 1947.

Julius currently resides in Thomaston Georgia, and is looking forward to the next reunion.

CHARLES E. SUMMERS, GM1/C, born Sept. 30, 1923 in Lafollette, TN, joined the USN Feb. 11, 1941 and was assigned to USS Washington April 1941, stationed as 40mm gun battery and achieved the rank of GM1.

While at sea he was aboard for all of USS Washington actions during WWII, including convoy duty to Murmansk in early 1942, third Battle of Savo Island, all of the air strikes and bombardment of islands they captured.

His memorable experiences include the loss of Adm. Wilcox at sea in the North Atlantic riding out typhoon in December 1944; the sinking of HMS Punjahi.

He was discharged Jan. 16, 1947 as GM1/c and received 15 Battle Stars. He was recalled to active duty from June 1, 1951 to Sept. 15, 1952.

He was awarded the American Defense, FAME, Asiatic-Pacific, Philippine Liberation, Good Conduct and Victory Medal.

Summers is now retired from the trucking industry and Teamster Local 299, Detroit, MI. Retired to Tennessee in 1984 and attends two different Navy reunions and travels.

He married Naomi Hatmaker Phillips on Feb. 11, 1949. They have no children.

ROBERT MERLE "BOB" SUTHERLAND, GM1/C, born March 18, 1920, enlisted in the USN, January of 1940.

After boot camp training in Newport, RI, he was assigned to the USS Denabola. On May 15, 1941 he was assigned to the Washington. He participated in all major battle engagements from 1941 until 1944. He was a gunners mate second class in number one turret. In 1944 he attended hydraulic school in Washington. DC, and assigned to the USS Lewis DE-535 until the end of the war as gunners mate first class.

Sutherland and his wife "Kitty" have been married 49 years. They have two daughters, one granddaughter, three grandsons and one great-granddaughter.

He was employed by the Lansing Board of Water and Light for 27 years. He retired from the active USNR as a CPO after 20 years of service.

FRED SWEARINGEN, CRM, born Oct. 2, 1919, Keyser, WV, joined the USN Sept. 20, 1940 and assigned to the USS Washington May 15, 1941,as radio transmitter, achieved the rank of CRM.

While at sea he participated in all wartime actions. Transferred to a new ship in December 1945 by request.

His memorable experiences include being the radioman who set up the emergency transmitter used by Adm. "Ching Chong Cholly" Lee to contact Gen. Vandergriff on Guadalcanal to call off the threatening PT boats who were uninformed of their presence. They had daily drill designed to set up any transmitter on any frequency in one minute or less. They did it too!

During rough seas destroyer refueling operations during January 1945, destroyer USS Hailey (DD-556) collided with Washington starboard bow. As a result. Hailey left her port anchor on their forecastle before disengaging and departing. In June 1950, at the out break of the Korean War, he was detailed to USS Hailey recommissioning crew at Naval Station San Diego. He spent the next four years on DD-556. To Swearingen, Hailey was a good ship. She now serves the Brazilian navy some 53 years after her birth.

He is now enjoying retirement, has one surviving son with twin seven year old grandsons. He wife died January 1995.

TRUXTON SMELTZER TAYLOR, CPO, born July 7, 1913 in Red Lion, PA to Archiebald and Sarah Taylor, joined the USN Oct. 3, 1934. Found the Navy his way of life for 19 years. Reported for duty April 26, 1941 in connection with outfitting and commissioning the USS Washington. While aboard, he attained the rank of chief petty officer.

In 1943, assigned to the Staff Island Commander supplying troops in the forward areas during the Marianas campaign.

During his career, helped commission the USS Reno. USS Cimarron. USS Roosevelt, and the USS Wasp.

He received the American Theater, Asiatic-Pacific, EAME, American Defense (Fleet Clasps), WWII Victory, Philippine Defense, European Occupation and Good Conduct Medal, Korean War.

He married Louise Smith on Aug. 20, 1939 and they had a son, Truxton, daughter, Lynda, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Taylor worked as an accountant until the age of 72. He died on Oct. 11, 1995.

WILMER ROBERT TAYLOR, EM3/C, born March 14, 1923, Coatesville, PA, joined the USN, July 8, 1943. After boot camp at Sampson, NY, he attended Iowa State College, 16 weeks, electrician school and Gyro Compass School, Treasure Island, San Francisco, assigned to USS Washington, Aug. 11, 1943, and served in E Div., EM3/c rating, participating in: Anguar, Pelilieu, Leyte, Luzon, Iwo Jima and Okinawa Operations. Servicing ship's telephones, fire alarm boards and wiring, he stood watch and GQ stations in the secondary battery plotting room.

Most memorable was seeing Iwo Jima; going to Manus Island for dry docking in ABSD-2 and passing through the Panama Canal enroute to Philadelphia for Navy Day, Oct. 27, 1945.

He was honorably discharged Dec. 20, 1945 and received five Battle Stars and Asiatic-Pacific, American Defense and Philippine Liberation Medals.

Employed as an electrician for Lukens Steel Co. for 44 years. Married to Charlotte Simmers, July 23, 1945 and they have a son W. Robert, a daughter, Elizabeth Ann, two granddaughters and one grandson.

STEPHEN TERSTENYAK, SCB1/C, born in Wendall, PA, Nov. 17, 1918, served in the Civilian Conservation Corps July 10, 1939 through March 28, 1940 at Camp F-33A Mayer, AZ.

He enlisted in the USN March 11, 1941 and was stationed aboard USS Washington in late 1941. Upon discharge from active Navy duty he was placed in the Navy Reserve from April 22, 1947 until May 27, 1951 . He transferred back to regular Navy duty May 28, 1951 to April 25, 1952. While aboard USS Washington he participated in the Murmansk Run and was at his battle station being the center 5" mount starboard side when USS Washington sank the Kirishima and Ayanami.

In mid 1942 he transferred to a baby flattop the USS Sitkoh Bay where he reached his highest rate of SCB 1/c.His decorations include the Asiatic-Pacific w/ 13 Stars, EAME w/Star, American Theater, American Defense, Good Conduct w/Star, Philippine Liberation, WWII Victory and Korean Conflict Medals.

He was the superintendent of a New York State Armory at Jamacia Queens, NY. He served in the Army Reserve until May 1968.

Terstenyak passed away on Nov. 29, 1996. He is survived by two sons, Stephen and Joseph, a daughter Steftina, several grandchildren and one great-grandchild.