PATRICK T.VINCENT, LCDR, born March 17, 1917 in Chicago, was a 1939 graduate of Dennison University and a past chapter president of Beta Theta.

He served as a naval officer in both the Pacific and European theaters during WWII and also served during the Korean War. He served on the USS Washington and USS Missouri and retired as a lieutenant commander after 12 years of service.

For 24 years, he and his late wife. Marion, owned and managed the Mountain Home Inn, a German restaurant on Mount Tamalpais in Mill Valley.

He was a member of Friends of La Mirada, the Jesters, the Monterey Peninsula Museum of Art and the Monterey History and Art Association. He also served as a volunteer and "stood watch" at the Monterey Maritime Museum. He was well-known as a storyteller and spent time writing of his war experiences and days as an innkeeper.

He died Feb. 23, 1994 and is survived by a son, Tiff of Fairbanks, AK; two stepsons, Kendall Coburn of Santa Rosa and Curtis Cohurn of Petaluma and several grandchildren. He also leaves his companion, Corinne Davis of Carmel.

PETER T.VINETTE JR., MM2/C, born Feb. 24, 1922 in Syracuse, NY, left school after 8th grade and went into the CCC camp at age 15. Joined the National Guard the same year.

He joined the USN Jan. 31, 1941 and was attached to the USS Washington immediately after boot camp. Lived in barracks at the Philadelphia Navy Yard until boarding the Washington. He was on the Washington from time she was commissioned until July 20, 1942.

His most memorable experience was when they lost Adm. Wilcox. His whale boat was called away for rescue. On board they had the coxswain, bow hook, engineer, a pharmacist mate and he believes a lieutenant commander. Not sure of the officer's rating but his knees were knocking louder than Vinette's. They almost had them in the water (waves 40 feet high). Capt. Benson came out on the bridge and ordered the boat back on board to its cradle. He was also one of the men on watch (smoke watch) that spotted Adm. Wilcox swimming in the water.

Another exciting day occurred while they were taking a load of young officers from the Washington, anchored at Scapa Flow to a town called Kirkwall. It was a rough sea and they were taking on a lot of water. Vinette kept using the hard pump but he couldn't keep up. The officer in charge asked if there was anything he could do. He told him to have each one of the young officers to use his hat for a bucket. They did and in no time builges were dry and saved the day.

He was discharged Jan. 31, 1947. He received nine Battle Stars and medals as follows: Good Conduct, American Defense, WWII Victory Medal, EAME Campaign, Navy Occupation Service Medal, American Campaign, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign, China Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon.

He retired from the US Coast Guard Feb. 24, 1982 and received the US Coast Guard Achievement Medal. Consequently he received the Cross of New York from the state of New York.

ARTHUR H. WAGES, QM2/C, born March 7, 1925 in Queens, NY, enlisted in the USN Feb. 16, 1943. After boot camp at Camp Ferry, Great Lakes, NTS, attended Quartermaster School, Newport, RI. Joined the crew of BB-56 in New Hebrides December 1943. Served in N Div. attaining rank of QM2/c.

His most memorable experiences were witnessing kamikaze attacks from the navigation bridge and looking up at 60 foot plus wave crests in the typhoon.

He was honorably discharged Feb. 5, 1946 but remained in USNR through 1951.

Wages was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon w/8 Battle Stars, Philippine Liberation w/2 Stars, American Theater and Victory Medals.

After WWII he attended St. John's University and NYU. Enjoyed an exciting banking career with a NYC bank and retired as senior vice president in 1993. Residing now in New Braunfels, TX with wife Michelina, keeps busy volunteering, playing bridge and working out in a gym.

CLARENCE L. WAGNER, S1/C, born July 12. 1908 in Kempton, IL, son of Henry and Dora Wagner, volunteered for service in 1944, receiving basic training at Great Lakes, IL and was assigned berth on USS Washington May 12, 1944. Attained the rank of seaman first class and discharged Nov. 5, 1945.

Wagner's awards include the American Campaign, Asiatic Pacific w/6 Stars, with Philippine Liberation w/2 Stars.

He kept a handwritten personal diary each day of his military service. Following discharge he farmed land 1 1/2 miles west of Kempton until he retired. He also was a school bus driver for the Kempton-Cabery district for 15 years. He married Grace Cooper of Piper City on Aug. 10, 1929. He died Jan. 2, 1989 and Grace died Nov. 25, 1991.They are survived by daughters, Judith Patchett or Marengo, IL and Joyce Tweedt of Kempton, IL, seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. A daughter Doris died at age three.

RALPH WALTON, CPO, born April 4, 1918, Grapeland, TX. Served on the USS Washington 1939-45, as chief petty officer in charge of one of the four engine rooms. While on the Washington he served in all major campaigns including Atlantic convoys to Iwo Jima.

Most memorable was thanking God he was on a ship during Iwo Jima, almost being washed overboard during a storm when he went on deck during the night to sleep and the kamikaze that was captured.

Ralph married his childhood sweetheart Maurice Long on Feb. 14, 1942. He was the Grapeland post master until retirement in 1985. Active in First Baptist Church Choir and served on the Grapeland School Board. Walton spoke regularly to school groups about his experiences in WWII.

He was an adored father and grandfather to four children, 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He died March 2, 1995 and is buried in Grapeland, TX.

HERBERT L. WARNER, CM2, born Dec. 14, 1914 in Brighton, MI. Inducted into the USN Dec. 23, 1943. During boot camp at Great Lakes he made third class carpenters mate and was assigned to R Div. USS Washington April 5, 1944 in Bremerton, WA. Participated in all the Pacific Operations from the bombardment of Saipan to the bombardment of Okinawa.

He received the American Area Service Ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific Service Ribbon w/6 Bronze Stars and Philippine Liberation Ribbon w/2 Bronze Stars.

Warner was honorably discharged Nov. 5, 1945 as carpenters mate second class. He worked at Burroughs Corp. for 38 years; 1.5 years as a carpenter and 23 years as a plant engineer. He married Arlene Richards Aug. 17, 1940. They have one son, two grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Since retiring from Burroughs in 1977, he has been operating an apple orchard.