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Upon graduation, Mel reported for duty in USS NORTHAMPTON, a heavy cruiser in the Hawaiian Detachment. NORTHAMPTON narrowly missed being in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, but subsequently participated in early Pacific actions including Midway and the Doolittle raid on Tokyo. NORTHAMPTON was torpedoed and sunk at the Battle of Tassafaronga (Fourth Savo).
Granted survivors leave, Mel married his OAO from Academy days and went into the submarine service. Duty in R-boats followed Sub School and soon he was in command of USS R-ll in Key West. He served as Executive of USS PARGO and CO of USS BAYA. His last seagoing duty was as Navigator of USS PROTEUS, a sub-tender.
In 1947, he was assigned to the Office of Naval Intelligence in Washington. He resigned later that year and subsequently became a civilian intelligence analyst, a member of a Naval Reserve Intelligence Unit, and entered Georgetown Law School. Intelligence activities took him from ONI to Air Force Intelligence to the Atomic Energy Commission. During this period, he became a member of the District of Columbia Bar. In 1959, he was designated Director of the Office of East-West Exchanges, AEC. For almost 15 years, he directed AEC efforts on scientific exchanges in the peaceful uses of atomic energy with the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe and Communist China. The last US-USSR agreement on exchanges in which he was involved was signed in a White House ceremony by Nixon and Brezhnev.
In 1974, Mel retired from the AEC and for the next two years served as a consultant to the AEC and a private software computer firm. He hen retired once again and moved to Florida to take up golf seriously.
The Abrahams family consists of two daughters, two sons, one daughter-in-law, one son-in-law and four lovely granddaughters.
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From graduation until December, 1942, Carl served in RICHMOND at Pearl Harbor, Panama, and in the South Pacific. In 1943 after completing submarine school he saw duty in BOWFIN in the Indian Ocean and South China Sea. The end of World War II found Carl as gunnery officer in OMAHA in the Atlantic. Upon decommissioning of OMAHA,he became a plankowner in FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT. Following a tour in ROOSEVELT he served on the staff of Commander, Naval Forces, Mediterranean. Shore duty in Washington and marriage came in January 1948. In July, 1951, Carl received the Master of Science Degree in Aerological Engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School. After a tour at the Navy Hurricane Weather Central, Miami, Carl served on the staff of Commander, United Nations Blockading and Escort Force, in Japan and Korea during the final months of the Korean War. Tours at Naval Air Station, Los Alamitos; Fleet Weather Facility, Sangley Point; and Fleet Weather Facility, Seattle, were followed by retirement on July 1, 1960, at the 13th Naval District, Seattle
Immediately Carl traveled to Honolulu and accepted appointment as Assistant Professor of Meteorology at the University of Hawaii, and embarked on both instructional and research tasks. During the early years there he again became a bachelor. From 1965 to 1967 under a National Science Foundation fellowship, Carl spent three months at the University of Washington, Seattle, and one year at the University of Tokyo, Japan, where he completed a research study of wind systems of the Central Pacific. After returning to Hawaii and resuming duties at the university, Carl and Hitoye Kakugawa, a research associate at the university, were married in July, 1967. In 1970 Carl advanced to the rank of Associate Professor. He continued teaching on both undergraduate and graduate levels and assisting in research until 1983. It was rewarding to see many former students obtain good positions and advance in civilian and military weather services.
At the end of the academic year in May, 1983, Carl retired after 23 years at the University of Hawaii. Carl and Hitoye are now enjoying life in retirement, residing in the pleasant Aina Haina area of Honolulu.
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Upon graduation, eyesight not meeting the minimum requirements, a commission in the Naval Reserve was conferred. Orders to the Naval Academy were forthcoming, and a very rewarding tour was spent instructing in various departments at the Academy, including assistant coaching of Plebe teams. The most Noteworthy event was the meeting and subsequent marriage to Mary Byrnes.
In 1944, orders to USS COLUMBIA were received. During this tour, ending at the conclusion of the war, duties consisted of 3rd Div. Officer, F Div. Officer, Air Defense Officer, and finally Navigator for the voyage home. The story of COLUMBIA's participation in the Philippine campaigns, the Battle of Surigao Straits, the Kamikaze attacks and winning the Navy Unit Commendation are history and need no amplification here.
Upon conclusion of the war, a commission in the regular Navy was accepted, followed by tours as XO of a DD, PG at Stanford, and CO of a DD during the Korean conflict.
Upon retirement from the Navy in 1960, a minor career in the aerospace industry was started. The most interesting assignments there were in the administration of the construction and test firing of the Saturn II Missile, and in the administration of the updating of the Atlas missile bases in Plattsburg, N.Y.
In January, 2971, the opportunity arose to form a management company in Galveston, Texas. A bank building, hotels, apartment houses, office buildings, etc., were bought, sold, and managed for about 10 years, at which time another retirement was effected, and a return move to California accomplished. At the present time, almost full retirement is being enjoyed in close proximity to daughter, son, and 5 grandchildren.
To break the monotony, a position as data collector aboard Navy ships during Carrier Group operations was accepted and is being thoroughly enjoyed. This job provides the opportunity to evaluate the performance of our men and equipment on 4 or 5 occasions during the year, depending upon Navy budget.
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Following graduation, Andy served in MINNEAPOLIS and was control officer of that ship's fifth battery during the Battle of the Coral Sea on 7-8 May 1942. Detached in November, he underwent submarine training and then served in FLYING FISH for four war patrols. He transferred to KINGFISH in April, 1944, and was aboard for four more war patrols, during which he won two Bronze Star Medals with Combat "V." He also received a second Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V" (his first was awarded while aboard MINNEAPOLIS). KINGFISH had sunk 10,000 tons of enemy shipping while he served on board.
In June, 1945, he reported to the Postgraduate School at Annapolis, and then continued instruction at the California Institute of Technology at Pasadena, which led to a master's in aeronautical engineering. Subsequent duty was in BuOrd; Exec of CUSK; command of CARBONERO; and assignment in the Office of CNO in connection with submarine-launched guided missiles, notably the Regulus Project.
In 1953, Andy became Commander SubRon Five and later ComSubDiv Fifty-One, the guided missile division of submarines. Duty in the Special Projects Office of CNO followed before he became Chief of Staff to ComSubRon Fourteen, the first Polaris submarine squadron. He then joined the staff of CinCLantFlt; attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces; and served as NATO Nuclear Planning Officer in the Office of CNO, while also serving as Deputy to the Chairman of the Multilateral Force Working Group.
In 1964, he assumed command of TACONIC, and the next year he became Commander Amphibious Group Four. Duty followed in the Office of the Secretary of Defense where he was Senior Navy Member, Military Studies and Liaison Division, Weapons Systems Evaluation Group. Service followed as the Director of Long Range Objectives Group in the Office of CNO.
He next became Commander, Service Force, Atlantic Fleet, before assuming his final duty as Commandant of the Fifth Naval District. He retired in September, 1974. His other decorations included six awards of the Legion of Merit.
RADM Anderson was a life member of the Naval Academy Alumni Association, a member and elder of the Neosho First Presbyterian Church, past president of the Neosho Rotary Club, a director of The Bank of Neosho, president of Phil Ratliff, Inc., and an active participant in many civic activities. He is survived by his wife, Olivia ("Puddy"), a son, COL Philip Anderson, a daughter, Jean Radford, a sister, Mary Margaret Anderson, and four grandchildren.
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Vaughn was born in Sodus, New York, grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and was appointed to the Academy after two years at the University of Michigan.
After graduation, Vaughn was assigned to USS TEXAS, then at sea. While on graduation leave, Vaughn married Dorothy Eleanor Slocum (OAO from high school) in Ann Arbor on June 15, 1940. Upon reporting for temporary duty at Newport Naval Station, and upon advice of station Executive Officer, the marriage was reported to BUPERS. Result: Vaughn's commission was revoked, effective July 15, 1940.
Vaughn went to work for Detroit Edison August 1, 1940, as a Junior Engineer and there progressed to position of manager of District Engineering. He retired from Detroit Edison October 1, 1977 (37 years), to accept the management of a consulting unit for Harza Engineering Company in Cairo, Egypt (6 years).
While employed at Detroit Edison, Vaughn was granted military leave and re-entered the Navy by volunteering and being commissioned an Ensign, U.S.N.R. He was immediately assigned to commissioning of a new Fletcher Class destroyer as Assistant Gunnery Officer and Assistant First Lieutenant. After shakedown, the ship moved immediately to the Southwest Pacific, escorting a new battleship and for further fleet assignment.
During his two years aboard the destroyer, the ship was engaged in eight major engagements, primarily in escort duty and shore bombardment. After his first year, as Lt. (j.g), Vaughn moved up to be Gunnery Officer. The ship was involved in continuous duty from Guadalcanal to the Philippines, qualifying for eight battle stars and one surface submarine kill.
After two years in the Pacific and as Lt. (j.g), Vaughn was ordered back to the United States to place in service a new destroyer, then building, as Gunnery Officer. Advanced fire control and ASW refresher, construction installation supervision and crew training gave Vaughn a stateside interlude before returning to the war zone.
The end of WW II found Vaughn, as a Reserve Lieutenant, with points for release, and he returned to civilian life and to his job with Detroit Edison. He remained in the Naval Reserve and obtained the rank of Commander before mandatory retirement at age sixty. His wife, Dorothy, died in 1972, and he remarried in 1975, to Annie Bamford (Upton). Vaughn has one son, Scott, who is a Doctor of Biochemistry with the F.D.A. Annie has two sons and a daughter. Together, they have seven grandchildren, five boys and two girls.
Vaughn's awards received during service: Bronze Star Medal, American Defense, American Theater, Asiatic Theater, (9 stars), Philippine Liberation (1 star), Philippine Presidential Citation, World War II Victory Medal, Naval Reserve Medal.
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After graduation, John attended Basic School at the Navy Yard, Philadelphia. In July, 1941, he was assigned to a platoon with the 1st Battalion, 5th Regiment in Quantico. The battalion was reorganized as the First Raider Battalion, under the command of then LtCol. Edson, a tough and perceptive officer, and was included in the assault on Guadalcanal, 7 August, 1942.
From Guadalcanal to Iwo Jima, John led, trained, and fought with the three basic units: platoon, company, and battalion. He did this under outstanding superiors who taught him the tools of the trade, and to honor and to respect the dignity of man.
After the war, it was a joy for John to be assigned to the Executive Department, USNA. He had just married Lillian, his dear and talented spouse. She loved the Naval Services and soon contributed to community activities.
Subsequent assignments included: Staff, COM CRU LANT; Executive Officer, Basic School; Commanding Officer, 4th Marines; Staff, FMF PAC; National War College; Joint Chiefs of Staff, Pentagon; Deputy Operations Cinceur; CG Marine Corps Base, Quantico.
Throughout these assignments, John tried to use those tenets of leadership learned early in his military career. Perhaps the predominant one was to honor and to respect the dignity of man. This principle not only engendered Esprit D'Corps, but also inspired true friendship with all whom John served in the service of his country.
John retired in October, 1968, and joined James Ferrera & Sons, Inc., a wholesaler of foods and nonfoods in Canton, Massachusetts, where he served as President and Vice President. He has completed his 21st year with the company.
The Antonellis live in Westwood, Massachusetts, within driving distance of their four children and six grandchildren. John and Lillian are heavily involved with them, no matter what age or stage of the moment.
John says he is grateful to be employed in a position he enjoys. He is especially grateful for having had the opportunity to serve his country. His way of life has changed, in contrast to that of the military, but his way of work has not.
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Skip's first duty out of the Academy was four years in battleship PENNSYLVANIA, including the shock of Pearl Harbor and seven subsequent battles in the Pacific. (Qualifying as OOD while still an engineer took a lot of double watchstanding.)Then came Postgraduate School, gunnery officer in cruisers CHICAGO and PASADENA, staffs of the Battleship-Cruiser and Cruiser-Destroyer Force Pacific, procurement duties in the Bureau of Ordnance, student at the Armed Forces Staff College, skipper of destroyer JOHN A. BOLE, strategic plans division in OPNAV, student at the Naval War College, Commander Destroyer Division 212, back to Force Readiness Officer and Assistant Chief of Staff for Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Force Pacific, skipper of assault transport BEXAR, Commander Destroyer Squadron ONE, instituting and directing the Navy Readiness Analysis System in OPNAV, and finally Director for Output Measurement (military systems readiness) Systems in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Following retirement in 1970 came a year with Litton, helping to design the crews of the new LHA and Spruance destroyers, then six years earning a doctorate in public management systems and serving as Associate Director of the Public Policy Research Organization, both at the University of California at Irvine. Duty as CO of BEXAR included the only known successful effort to conduct an amphibious ship-shore training operation at night without visible light, radio, or radar.
Skip and Barbara Sandison were married in San Francisco in April, 1942, and happily discovered five other '40 brides and grooms in the same building as their new home. Saddest personal news of the war came shortly with the reported loss of Academy roommate David Spencer Wilson in submarine TULLIBEE. Son, Dan, born in 1943, graduated from UC Berkeley, is now president of D. Appleton Company (a management systems consulting firm) in Washington and Dallas and lives with his wife, Chris, in Palm Desert. Son, Steven, born in 1949, graduated from Cal State, Long Beach, is still single, and has personally remodeled, it seems, most of the homes in Southern California.
Through all of these years, Barbara's first loves have been to keep her family happy and healthy, then to lend support to other Service wives during tours at sea, and lastly, when time permitted, to design and construct fashionable garments. Skip has continued to devote his main energies to pursuing the conviction that if something is not done to overhaul the Navy’s archaic shipboard management systems, then modern Navy warship crews cannot be depended upon to win in violent littoral warfare. (107 relevant papers sent to Archive.) This work produced the first management experiment ship, the present Planned Maintenance System (practically simultaneously with classmate Terry McGillicuddy in the Atlantic), the Personel Qualification Standards system, the concept of warfare areas, the concept of shipboard work groups, the concept of warfare pins, issuance of an official Gunnery Drill Guide, first automated recording of the results of a major Fleet exzercise, and invention of an inflatable surface target. Honors came from serving as Main Battery Assistant and Spot One in the battleship, organizing the Bureau of Ordnance to rewrite the BuOrd Manual, writing the Gunnery Drill Guide, creating and supervising CRUDESPAC’s Ship’s Readiness Improvement Plan and Flotilla Competition Plan, initiating the Navy Readiness Analysis system and OSD’s Output Measurement System, and winning two Naval Institute essay contests. The family has lived since 1971 at 850 Coast View Drive in Laguna Beach, CA, and plan to stay.