THOMAS F. FORHAN, COX, born Dec. 23, 1923 in Worcester, MA, joined the USN, March 4, 1941, age 17 and was assigned to BB-56, May 15, 1941. He served in 2nd Div., turret 2 and attained the rank of coxswain.

Most memorable experience includes being on deck watching a kamikaze plane hit the USS Franklin. He was at his battle station when BB-56 shot down 12 enemy planes and bombarded 10 enemy islands.

Received his 15 Battle Stars, EAME w/Bronze Star, Asiatic-Pacific, 12 Bronze Stars, Philippine Liberation, two Bronze Stars, American Defense, American Service Ribbons, Good Conduct. He was honorably discharged Dec. 24, 1946.

Forhan retired from Norton Company. He is married and has a daughter, Patricia, and grandson, Roger. Enjoys golf and is a member of Green Hill Golf Club in Worcester.

HENRY VIRGIL FORRFST, SF2/C, born Dec 24, 1921 in Jeffs, VA, joined the USN, March 14, 1941 and was assigned to USS Washington, May 4, 1941 as ship repairman.

Participated in all major battles and was present during its commissioning. Action in the North Atlantic included convoy duty from Hvalfjord, Iceland to Murmansk, Russia. First action in the Pacific, November 1942, was the night battle of Savo Island, which included the sinking of Japanese battleship Kirishima.

Forrest earned 15 Battle Stars from Asia to the Pacific area and two Stars, European. December of 1945, he suffered a broken arm during a storm of the Azores, with gales sweeping wide reaches of the Atlantic, while the Washington transported 1500 soldiers from Europe to New York.

He was honorably discharged May 12, 1947 and then recalled to serve on the USS Markab (AD-21). He was again discharged September 1955.

He married Rose Grande, March 21, 1944 and has two children and one grandchild. He retired in 1974 from Philadelphia Water Department and now works part time at a golf club and enjoys boating and fishing.

FRED A. FREEMAN, S1/C, born Dec. 11, 1924 in Detroit, MI, joined the USN, Dec. 17, 1941 and was assigned to USS Washington, Jan. 13, 1942, fuse setter, 5" and 40mm machine gun. While at sea he participated in action at Guadalcanal and Savo Island.

His memorable experiences include typhoon, Luzon December 1944. He was awarded the Army Good Conduct and Vietnam Medal.

He was discharged Oct. 13, 1945 in Chicago after serving four years in the USN (WWII), two years USN (Korea War) and 18 years US Army (Engineers). Retired with 24 years total service.

Freeman is married and has one daughter, from first wife and five stepchildren with present wife, Bertha, 19 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren .

CARL G. FROEHLICH, S1/C, born Jan. 19, 1913,joined the USN April 22, 1942 in Baltimore and joined the USS Washington in Brooklyn two months later. He was a longshoreman, running winch's, rigging booms and went into the Deck Div. No. 4 and was assigned as a boat crane operator. His battle station was a 40mm A.A. Quad, high in the superstructure.

His first day ashore in Honolulu while standing in line for a beer, they had an air alert and everybody headed out of town. All clear was sounded but his four hour pass was up. During the November 14-15 midnight naval battle, his battle station was told to take cover inside. Lying among the shelves of 40mm shells they could hear the Japs shells passing between their stacks. Later he was selected to operate the aircraft recovery crane, on the stern of the ship. He stayed there until the end of the war. Separated from service Oct. 14, 1945, Bainbridge, MD as S1/c.

ARTHUR OSCAR FROEMPTER, MMC, born Feb. 28. 1924 in Boston, MA, joined the USN March 14, 1941 and was assigned boot camp, Newport, RI. After leaving boot camp he was assigned to the USS Washington May 20, 1941, M Div. #3 engine room.

Action at sea includes all major actions: capture and defense of Guadalcanal, Gilbert Island operation, Marshall Island operation, Marianas operation, capture and occupation of Pelilieu and Anguar, battle of Leyte Gulf, Okinawa Jima, Formosa and Luzon raids, Iwo Jima occupation and supporting operation, bombardment of Okinawa Jima.

He was awarded the EAME Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the American Campaign Medal.

Froempter was discharged from the USS Washington Oct. 21, 1945 and from service Aug. 1, 1962. He retired as serviceman, Boston Gas Co. after 32 years, and died Jan. 3, 1997.

Randall G. (Gerry) Oliver MMO2 - Born in Fountain Hill, Arkansas in Nov. 1921.  After Graduation from High School, joined the Navy.  Boot Camp at Norfork, Va.Training Station.  Assigned to USS Washington at Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1941. Was onboard for the Commissioning and the shake down cruises.   Our first orders were to go to Scapaflow, Scotland and operate with the British Home Fleet. 

The USA had been in the war with Japan a few months when we made a run to Murmansk, Russia.  I went up on the 2nd deck, it was still daylight time was after 12pm the weather was ok, but before I left to go to my sack, it had rained some, snowed some and the fog rolled in. So the Towing Spars had to be put out so the ship behind would not run into the front one!

A few days later the KING GEORGE BB ran into one of her Destroyers.  We returned to USA, NY For repair and overhaul, then on to the South Pacific and stand by to protect the Marine Forces on Guadalcanal.  After that battle I was in all actions of the Washington up thru 1944. 

I was transferred to Small Craft Training School on Roosevelt Island, Ca.  After School I was assigned to USS YMS #432, a Minesweeper.  It was being built at the Tacoma, Washington Shipyard.  After commissioning in April 1944 we took her to San Diego, Ca. In March 1945 after testing all machinery and making some repairs, we got our orders to Okinawa.  On our way we were to stop at Midway Island. Then back to Pearl Harbor we stayed there for about 3 months and then on to Okinawa. The war ended the day before we arrived.   We lingered there for about 3 months and headed for Japan to sweep harbors and clear mines. We swept 3 harbors and along coast and then headed home. While we were at Okinawa Buckner Bay we had 2 Typhoon’s. During the first one we had to clear the harbor. When we got to open sea the waves were 10 ft. or more.  It took us all day to go about 15 miles up the coast to a river where it was calm. We had a young sailor that got sick every time we got underway came up to the Bridge with 3 life jackets on. When I got a chance I asked him if he was ok.  He said “yes, I am too scared to get sick”!  I told him the rest of shipmates felt the same way.   We are all hoping and praying that our good G.M. diesels held up.”They did Praise God!”

  After we completed the Mine Sweeping tasks we received orders to sail to San Francisco, Cal. and prepare the ship for turning over to Russia? We were to inventory everything on board, Leave only one of everything.  By this time there were only 1 Officer and 4 crew left.  The 5 of us took the YMS 432 to Seattle, Wa. And turned the YMS over to Officials Nov.1946.  Before leaving Berkeley, Ca. I met my wife to be.

I received an honorable discharge in Jan, 1947.  I returned to Berkeley Ca. to be with my wife to be.   After 2 weeks I returned to Arkansas.   Four months later I headed back to Berkeley. We married on June 7,1947.

I retired after 30 years in Civil Service, raised 3 children, and enjoy our grandchildren.  I have had 62 years of wedded bliss.  God has been good! We now live in St. Charles, Mo.

Division Photo