USS California (BB-44)vet
 

I was out at the casino buffet for lunch today and saw a old guy wearing a USS California (BB-44) ball cap. I asked if he had served aboard her. He went on to tell me that he was a Chief Gunner's Mate and had served aboard her throughout World War 2. I told him I lived in Vallejo, Ca., where she was built, for 15 years and had seen the old pictures of her launching in 1919.

A New Mexico native, he told me that he went to early mass on Dec 7, 1941, thereby saving his life as he was in church when the attack began. He served aboard her throughout the war, including the invasions of Saipan, Tinian, Leyte, Lingayen Gulf and Okinawa. As mount captain of mount 51, the forward 14-inch gun turret, he was awarded the Bronze Star twice. Once at the Battle of Surigao Strait when they destroyed the Japanese Southern Force, and again at Lingayen Gulf on Luzon when she was hit by a kamikaze forward.

I shook his hand & thanked him for his service. He then told me how much he appreciated the Destroyer men he served with who kept the big ships safe from sub attack(He'd seen my ship's ball cap from the USS Schofield). He then invited me to the California reunion in Sept in Albuquerque. I'm thinking very seriously of going to get oral histories.

Please do, this is what we need more of here in general topics...not more football wars. :-j :yep:

Re: USS California (BB-44)vet
 

Oral histories are priceless; if you have a way of recording or documenting them I think it's worth the hassle. I've been to a couple of unit reunions and they were both a lot of fun - especially since I was so much younger than the vets, because they all wanted to tell the "kid" something. Not that they were fishing for appreciation, but were just glad to see someone from a younger generation interested in their experiences.

So, in short, go to the reunion! :)