Oct. 01, 2000
To Debbie Rogers, niece of USS SLC Veteran Billy Joe Boegen
from SLC & CY Veteran Charles E. Serey

I served with Billy Joe Boegen on the Salt Lake City and we were along with another 40 or so men who were transferred to the Cassin Young. I was a 3rd class Gunners Mate on the 20 mm guns. My station was opposite his station when he was killed. I too was wounded July 31, 1945. I received the Purple Heart.

Billie Joe was a very good Gunner. He was a very likable and outgoing person. I have attended reunion of Cassin Young in Boston where the CY is now berthed as a National Historic landmark. It is along side Old Ironside. Great place to be. We have talked about Billie almost everytime we are together. I have recently found the U.S.S. Salt Lake City on my computer and found Billy's and my name under "Enlisted Navy." It brought back many memories of my time served on U.S.S Salt Lake City. Especially when we were in near the Komandorski Islands and were dead in the water with survivability being two minutes in water. I think Billie Joe was on a five inch gun crew at that time.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Serey