HARRY R. WHITNEY, Y1/C, born Aug. 24, 1921 in Buffalo, NY, joined the USN Jan. 16, 1942 and assigned to USS Washington in February as Y3c to chaplain and then as yeoman to ship's navigator, N Div.

He was aboard for Murmansk runs in North Atlantic with British fleet and prepared ship's log for signature of King George V in Scapa Flow. Aboard for third battle of Savo Island and other bombardments and air attacks in South Pacific. Left USS Washington for Navy V-12 program at Cornell University in January 1944. Returned to fleet in June of 1945 after marriage on June 26 to Ann Tilden, Worcester, MA. Discharged from service as Y1c on Sept. 24, 1945.

Retired from General Motors Corp. in September 1981 and resides in Sarasota, FL with wife, Ann and they have two sons, two daughters, three grandsons and four granddaughters.

HOMER W. WICKHAM, born Sept. 3, 1923 in Greeley, CO, joined the USN with his two brothers March 13, 1942. He was first sent to Navy School of Music in Washington, DC and was part of the replacement band that went aboard the USS Washington at Efate Atoll shortly after the battle with the Kirishima.

Trained in damage control and assigned to the R Div. battle station was to secure and repair the ship from turret two forward. Liked this because it was quiet and cool up there. All that changed when they ran into the Indiana.

Worst duty was standing watch on that smashed and twisted forward bulkhead trying to get the ship back to Kwajalein for emergency repairs.

Left ship shortly after that and was assigned to V-12 program at IIT, graduating as a mechanical engineer. He has worked as an engineer, farmer, and farm implement dealer. Currently retired, playing with several music groups, and taking college classes.

He married Ruth Molberg Aug. 11, 1946 and they have three daughters, two sons, and nine grandchildren.

FRED WIEGEL, EM1/C, born in Timmer, ND, joined the USN Jan. 3, 1942 and assigned to the USS Washington March 25, 1942, forward turbo, engine room, forward control board-powder.

While at sea he participated in all action from North Atlantic and South Pacific including October 1944, 0kinawa.

His memorable experiences include the day before crossing the equator, Sept. 2, 1942. This feather merchant and ring leader of the Pollywogs caught Dixon and cut his hair, next was Basetti, cut his hair also, then two more shellbacks, you bet!

The next day, September 3, was their day. The Royal High Court of the Raging Main escorted Wiegel from his duty station to topside and the stocks, torture chamber, water tank, head shave and running of the gauntlet (twice).

He was discharged October 1945 and awarded eight Battle Stars.

He was married for 50 years and has two children. He became a widower on Dec. 21, 1995. Wiegel is living the life of comfortable ease with golf and fishing his top priorities. Carrying a 22 handicap.

PACE WILL WILLIAMS, JR., RM2/C, born Feb. 18, 1923 in Fairfield, AL, joined the USN Dec. 12, 1941 and assigned to the USS Washington Jan. 12, 1942, C&R Radio Communications. His GQ station was up at the bow in officers quarters and mess hall.

After collision with the Indiana, Sandy and Williams were up in the bow and there was twisted metal and etc. They heard an officer asking for help. They found him and got him out and he was out of his head. They had a time with him.

While at sea he was aboard for all major actions, Murmansk runs, Indiana collision and battle of Savo Island.

His memorable experiences: first going through Panama Canal; USS Washington not getting hit or damaged.

He was discharged Oct. 13, 1945 and awarded 15 Battle Stars, American Theater, Good Conduct, Asiatic-Pacific and EAMF, Medal.

Williams is now semi-retired as paint contractor, working five men. Married to Helen and they enjoy Alabama football.

JAMES T. WILLIAMSON, born Jan. 21, 1924 in Tuscaloosa, AL, after enlisting in February 1941 and attending boot camp in Norfolk, VA, went aboard USS Washington in May 1941. He served in the 3rd Div., battle station no. 3, as rammer man on the right gun.

He has many memories of his time aboard the USS Washington, most of them good and some very exciting. One particular morning stands out in his mind: after weeks aboard ship, patrolling and standing watch, (the usual four on and eight off), the monotony was broken. Usually waking reluctantly to the sound of reveille, an officer on board ship ordered the bugler to play it was a "boogie woogie" swing. At the sound, the sailors awoke laughing and excited. Although the officer was later "chewed out", morale on ship had been restored.

After serving a full six years, Williamson was honorably discharged after the war in 1947. He went home to Tuscaloosa, married Betty O'Quinn and had two daughters, Emily and Iris. He worked as a self-employed building contractor for 35 years. He has one grandson, Bo McBriff.

RUSSELL S. WOEPPEL, F1/C, born in Easton, PA. He was the youngest of nine children and has six brothers and two sisters.

He joined the USN on Jan. 28, 1944 and was inducted from Allentown, PA on Feb. 9, 1944. He was trained at Great Lakes Training Center. He went from Great Lakes to San Diego and then on to Pearl Harbor where he boarded the USS Washington on May 12, 1944.

He was at Pearl Harbor and the Philippine Islands and was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon w/6 Bronze Stars, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon w/2 Bronze Stars, the American Area Service Ribbon and WWII Victory Medal.

Woeppel was discharged November 1945. He always looked forward to his ship reunions and seeing his former ship mates, and never lost his faith in his nag and country. He was always proud of his sons serving in the USN, USMC and the USAF.

He married Mary Miller of Phillipsburg, NJ and together they had three sons, Russell W.G., David W. and Donald A. He had a total of nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren .

He worked for Kuebler Brewing Company of Easton, PA and the Old Dutch Brewery of Catasaqua, PA. On the closing of these companies he went to work for the City of Easton until his retirement in 1971 at the age of 70. (25 years).

In his retirement he enjoyed biking. At the age of 80 he biked and finished the Lutheran world action bike-a-thon, at which time he felt biking was getting him down, so he took up square dancing (six days a week). He also liked travel, seeing as much of the US and Canada as he could. He was a giving man, always loaning money and a helping hand to whoever needed it. He died Oct. 9, 1996.

DONALD F. WILLIAMS was born on May 18, 1914 in Teddy, Alabama. To most people he was called Bill.

He joined the Navy on the 14th of June, 1934 in Birmingham, Alabama. His first ship was the USS Nevada and he stayed on her until June of 1940. In June of 1941 he joined the crew that was forming for the USS Washington. He reported to her as a 2nd class electrician and left her in June of 1944 as a chief. He spent the rest of the war on the USS Tombigbee AOG-11. In 1946 he was on the USS Appalachia during the A-bomb at Bikini. After that he served on the USS El Dorado and in 1948 he was transfered to the Service School Command at the Naval Training Center in San Diego were he became an Electricians Mate School instructor. During the Korean coflict, he did two cruises on the USS Chandler DD-717. In July of 1951, he was ordered to teach EM school at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. He stayed there until December of 1953 when he retired.

After retiring he moved back to Spring Valley, California and by 1955 was working as an electrician for the Public Works Department at the North Island Naval Air Station. He worked there until the 6th of August 1969 when he retired. Unfortunately, he did not get to injoy his retirement because he died suddenly that same night.

He was married for 30 years to Alverda May Bouse of Burbank, California. She survive him by 25 years passing away in March of 1994. He had three children. Diana, born in 1940, Don, born in 1942, and Dennis, born in 1951. He is the Grandfather to 7, Great Grandfather to 11 and the Great Great Grandfather to 1. Unfortunately, only his three oldest Grand Daughters got to know him. He would have loved all of them and they him. He would also have been proud that one of his Grandsons graduated from the United States Naval Academy and is now serving as an officer in the Civil Engineer Corps.

He had many wonderful Sea Stories to tell and it seemed that more often then not they were about the Washington. It was always fun to sit and listen when he would get together with other veterens and listen to the stories they would tell. It is a sadder world knowing that there will be no more such stories coming forth from him.