15.
Oct. 25, 2009

I have seen photos of Ens. Herbert C. Jones, who received the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions at Pearl Harbor aboard the USS California, on the web site http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-j/hc-jones.htm .  The problem is, the two faces pictured as belonging to Jones do not look alike.  One of them can't be Jones.  If there's a veteran who can tell me which one is Jones, I'd very much appreciate it. 

Thanks,
Thomas Wolke
Chantilly, Virginia

14.
Oct. 14, 2009

My Father served on the U.S.S. California during WW-II. I am looking for any Plank Holders who might have a piece of plank (deck) made of Teak 1-1/2" X 1-1/2" X 5" in size. I am hoping to make a knife handle from the plank to honor my father. This has been done in the past by a knife maker I know. Any help in the request honoring my father would be appreciated.

Thank you,
August Thomas Vaught, II

13.
Sept. 2, 2009

Regarding Kenny McMillan...a further story.... As I mentioned, my father Charles "Chizzy" Schifftner (see Message #9) had a good friend, Tom Smith, on the prune barge. Tom is in the group photo in the center, back row, in the sun just under the gun barrel (see photo on Message #5). We used to visit Tom and his family after the War at Tom's home near Latrobe, PA. I was brought up to call Tom Smith, "Uncle Tom"...he was family.

Tom told me that the day of the attack, a lookout and very popular sailor was killed instantly by the plane (or parts of it). The fellow apparently liked to read the Bible and apparently had one near where he was stationed during the attack. Tom said he caught the Bible which was burning, put out the fire, and later (if I recall correctly) brought it to the person gathering up the personal effects of the lookout. Others have recalled Kenny McMillan as a lookout. I wonder if it was his Bible? 

I wonder if the family ever remembers receiving a singed, but saved, Bible? If they have it, it may be thanks to my Uncle Tom. My Uncle Tom passed away after serving honorably in the Nike missile program. He was involved in the infancy of radar based Nike defense system and was stationed for a while at Fort Monmouth in NJ. His widow, Eleanor, I believe is still living near Latrobe, PA. 

Ken Schifftner
Mahwah, New Jersey

12.
Aug. 29, 2009

I to served on the USS California and was aboard when the ship was hit and Kenny McMillan was killed. Kenny was a master entertainer. He sang at all our smokers and sang also with the ship's band. His duty station was, I am pretty sure was a lookout. We had both surface and sky lookouts. The area he was in lost most of our men. If you have questions I would be glad to visit with you. We still have our reunions but this will probably be the last one. We have been having them for fifty years. I was a signalman aboard the ship.

Don Douglas
Hindsboro, Illinois

11.
Aug. 26, 2009

Walter (Kenny) Kenneth McMillan was my Mother's uncle. He was a childhood actor and singer from Los Angeles California. He starred in many Little Rascals and Buster Brown movies and later played bellhops and doormen as a young man along side Jackie Coogan and Mae Murray to name a few. He later was known for his singing as seen in one of the pictures.

I was told he was a Chaplin's assistant while serving on board the USS California. I have his Purple Heart award certificate and medal that were awarded posthumously to his mother. Kenny and his brother were one of many of our family who served the United States. Every generation of our family have had one or all serve for the last
97 years (including her Majesty, before immigrating to the U.S.). If there are any friends of Kenny around still that would like to see some of the Hollywood pictures I would be glad to post them. I am hoping there are some men still around who might have known him so that I can fill in the gaps of our family history.

Finally, I'd like to thank all you veterans that are still around, as a disabled vet myself, I can appreciate all you went through to secure our freedom!

Todd Raine

10.
Aug. 18, 2009

My grandpa was on the California on the 12th day of May 1936 when they crossed the equator. His name is Ray Richard Bowman at that time he was a seaman first class.

Steve Moore

9.
Aug. 13, 2009

I am the grand nephew of Walter Kenneth McMillan who was killed January 6th 1945 on the USS California. I am trying to contact anyone who knew him and get information. I also have pictures and information for any of his friends that may want them.

Thanks,
Todd Raine

8.
July 7, 2009

My father, Charles Schifftner, was a Gunner's Mate on one of the 5" guns that was hit late in the war. He told me of a brave fellow sailor pulled him and others from the mount and placed them on the deck for fear that the mount would explode. They thought my father was dead. Medics moved my Dad to the officer's mess, i'm told, which was being used as a morgue.

A good friend of my father, Tom Smith, couldn't believe my Dad had been killed and after the battle went into the "morgue" only to find my father still alive. Tom called for medical aide. My Dad was later moved to a hospital ship and then Stateside. My father and Tom Smith remained lifelong friends. My Dad died in 1989... with shrapnel from the attack still in his arm and shoulder and with only partial hearing in one ear. 

He put my sister and I, with the help of my mother, through college. He cried every time he heard "Taps" played. My Dad had told me that, though brave men died that day, it could have been much worse. The command had just been given to bring up the charge for the next round. There was a delay from the fire control officer and there was a momentary mechanical problem with the lift. They had shifted to manual settings, he told me, and only had the headphone over one ear. He was just relating the settings when the mount was hit. The man next to him was killed instantly. The eardrum was shattered in the exposed ear.

My Dad won the Purple Heart the old fashioned way, but he never talked about that "award".  He spoke highly of his shipmates and captain. Yes, God Bless the crew of the USS California!

Kenneth Schifftner

7.
May 24, 2009

I would like to post a message for information on my Uncle Peter Anthony Scurto. He was killed on the USS California in the 1945 Kamikaze attack.

Thank you,
Jane Scurto Manarik

6.
Mar. 11, 2009

My brother, Jack R. Wyatt, was a gunner's mate in the turret that was hit on January 6, 1945, he was killed.
Our family had a Cruise Book covering the USS California (BB44) from Pearl Harbor until 1945, but it has been lost. I do have a copy of the Book which I purchased on a CD.

I do have a question: is the photograph on your website of the crew of the turret in question? There are photos in the book, but I do not know which group my brother is in. It would be valuable if I know which turret he was in. I would appreciate hearing from anyone with information about my brother.

Thank you,
Don Wyatt
Murrieta, California

5.
Jan. 19, 2009

My father, Kirk H. Lucas, served aboard the California from her return to service after Pearl Harbor to the end of the war. He was a Gunner's Mate 3rd Class in the gun that took the Kamikaze hit. He survived and was awarded the Purple Heart. His bunk space was also demolished when the California and her sister ship the Tennessee collided in the Pacific. He survived that too. Lucky for me !

He had a Marine friend that he used to talk to about the "Island Hopping" to Japan. The Marine was trying to take the hills while my dad helped lob those big shells over his head. Very interesting, even to a kid - me!
Kirk passed away November 1968 at age 44. Wish I could have been able to ask for more of those stories as
an adult.

To all the men who served and died aboard the USS California we are eternally grateful and proud to be related to such brave Americans. GOD Bless You All !

Charles Kirk Lucas
(Aviation Electricians Mate 3rd Class 1969 to 1975
VP-16 Anti Submarine Squadron, Jacksonville, Florida)
Kerrville, Texas

Crew of USS California

4.
Jan. 6, 2009

My dad also served aboard the California after Pearl Harbor. He was George Deininger and I believe he was a signalman (he never talked much about his war experience). If anyone who served on the California remembers my dad, I sure would like to hear from him or her. Dad passed in 1993.

Thank you kindly,
Katie Rogow

3.
Oct. 5, 2008

I have a cousin named Albert Porter who served aboard the USS California when attacked at Pearl Harbor. I never had the opportunity to meet this cousin, or his family, and find out anything about him. However, my grandfather visited him during the 1950's in California and he gave my grandfather a brass cone shaped piece about 1.5 – 2 inches tall that he removed from the USS California. I have been trying to find out what it is and if anyone has any information about him. I would appreciate any feedback.

Jason Urwin

2.
Apr. 11, 2008

My father served aboard the California BB-44 from around 1943 to late 1945. He was onboard when the Kamikaze plane hit the ship on January 6,1945. I have been trying to find out the name of the Japanese pilot of that aircraft. If you have any information, I would appreciate any information available. My father's name was Donaciano (Don) Gonzales from Questa, New Mexico. He passed away in 1985. I served on The USS Hancock CVA 19 from 1965 to 1968.

Thanks,
Phil Torres (IC2)

1.
November 25, 2006

MY DADDY SERVED ON THE USS CALIFORNIA BB-44 AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANY PHOTOS OF HIS SHIP AND ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA. I SINCERELY WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING ME THIS GREAT AND TEARFUL REUNION WITH MY DADDY'S MEMORIES AND THE GLORIOUS PHOTOS OF THE CALIFORNIA. I AM WONDERING IF THERE ARE ANY PEOPLE LEFT ALIVE WHO SERVED WITH MY DADDY ON BOARD THE CALIFORNIA. I SURELY WOULD LIKE TO TALK WITH THEM. MY DADDY'S NAME WAS CHESTER BENJAMIN WALL- SEAMAN 1ST CLASS. MY DADDY WAS BORN IN 1912 AND I DON'T KNOW WHEN HE SERVED IN THE WAR. I THINK HE SAID HE WAS A TORPEDOMAN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND GOD BLESS.

SINCERELY,
TONYA WALL BOONE