You are doing a great job. Here is an outline of my service aboard the "Swayback Maru".

I came aboard the Salt Lake city on December 17th, 1941 about sunset. There were about ten of us Battle Wagon sailors in the group. I was the only one from the "USS California", the rest were from the "West Virginia". I had been released from the Naval Hospital at Pearl Harbor earlier on that day.

I was offered a chance to return to the "California", go stateside for new construction, or take a ship out to fight the Japs. I took the last choice.

I had been slightly wounded on December 7th--- working around the ship and harbor; cleaning it up, my leg got infected. By the 12th of Dec., I couldn't walk, so I was sent to the naval Hospital at Pearl Harbor and was there for a week.

I was assigned to the 2nd Division and to turret #2. I first was sent to the lower powder handling room. In January I was transferred to the powder circle and that remained as my battle station until July of 1943 when I was transferred to the 3rd Division and turret #3 powder circle. I remained in the 3rd Division until October 5th.

We returned to San Francisco for repairs on that day, as I remember. Several of my shipmates had also put in for new construction. Our orders were cut and we reported to Treasure island, a naval receiving station. Treasure island was a man made island in San Francisco Bay and was the home of the 1939 World's Fair.

Albert G. Melville