21 January 1945.
- CPO Willard Croley
Chief Petty Officer Willard Croley, one of five sons of Mr. and Mrs W.A. Croley, Emlyn, in the service of thier country, gave his life in the Pacific while on board USS Ticonderoga after suicide planes struck the carrier while operating off Formosa in the Phillippine Islands. In The Navy before the war, his battle action began during the convoying of lend-lease materials to Europe before the declaration of war and continued with various invasions from Casa Blanca through the Phillippines.During his years in service he advanced in rank from apprentice seaman to Chief Petty Officer and his commision as an Ensign had been approved at the time of his death. He had been awarded numerous badges and medals.
Relatives would appreciate hearing from any members or relatives with any info regarding CPO Croley on or before 21 Jan..

Melvin Brown,
A member of B Division - BOILERS, passed away in 1988 in Osceola, AR. He entered the service in Jan. 1944 and after training at Great Lakes. Ill. was assigned to USS Ticonderoga. Born 12/08/1912 in Amory, MS. and was one of 8 children. Mr. Brown enjoyed fishing in his spare time. He was a farmer and eventually worked for the Corp of Engineers in Memphis, TN on the Mississippi River. He married Ruby West and they had 7 children and many grandkids. His oldest son, Dwight Brown, joined the US Navy during the Vietnam era and served 2 tours on the USS Kitty Hawk, and his final tour was on the USS Forestall.
Relatives would appreciate hearing from any members or relatives of members from B division who might recall Mr. Brown.

Banner, Virginia
- Garnet G. Porter
Garnet G. Porter was killed in action aboard the USS Ticonderoga 21 January 1945 by two kamikaze attacks. Several of his comrades were killed during the same attack. He was the son of Joseph Emmett Porter and Golda Lawson Porter. Garnet's best friend Ralph Markham, was aboard USS Yorktown and witnessed the attack but did not know his good friend had been killed until months later. Garnet's brother, Bill Porter who was only five and a half when Garnet was killed, has written a story of that event and the effect it had on the family. Bill has been searching for a picture of Garnet's good friend Ralph Markham to include in his book.

J. S. Stu Gurske,
of Lodi, passed away on Friday, March 9, 2001 at age 75. Stu had been licensed for 46 years and had been a member of Air Force MARS. He was best known for his long-time interest in weather satellite reception. He authored many articles for various magazines and designed and produced an extensive line of products for use in satellite reception which were sold through his company Swagur Enterprises. He also operated a 2 meter FM repeater from his hilltop QTH. Stu was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Navy aboard the USS Ticonderoga aircraft carrier in the Pacific. After the war, he graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. He worked as an insurance examiner for the State of Wisconsin and then worked at Cuna Mutual Insurance Society for 27 years, retiring as Director of Research and Development. Stu is survived by his wife of almost 53 years, Lois (WB9YXU), and several nieces and nephews. No services were held. Memorials are suggested to the Lodi Band, c/o Bob Weber, Weber's Bakery, 161 South Main St., Lodi, WI 53555.

- MM3 Charles F. (Charlie) Panigot
passed away October 1, 2003 as the result of cancer and kidney failure. He began his career in the US Navy Reserves in 1944 at the age of 17. His first ship was the USS Ticonderoga CV14 and was present at the surrender of Japan in Tokyo Bay in 1945. During his time in the Navy he served on various ships to include USS Herbert J. Thomas DD 833, USS Currier DE 700 and the USS Manatee AO-58 . His awards included WW II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, US Navy China Service Medal,United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal w/2 Bronze Stars, Rep of Korea Presidential Unit Citatio

- DODSON, CLARENCE L. "HERB"
75, of Clearwater, died Thursday (Sept. 7, 2000) at Northside Hospital and Heart Institute, St. Petersburg. He was born in Bluefield, W.Va., and came here in 1975 from Radford, Va., where he was a branch manager for First Virgina Bank. He also worked as an agent for Nationwide Insurance and as a carrier associate for the St. Petersburg Times. He was a Marine Corps veteran of World War II and Korea. He served on the USS Ticonderoga and was a member of a group called The Big T., formed by those who served on the ship. He was a Methodist. He was a graduate of Bluefield State College with a bachelor of science degree. Survivors include a son, Charles L., Dublin, Va.; a daughter, Denise D. Gabriel, Vinton, Va.; and two granddaughters, Sarah and Casey Dodson, both of Dublin

- James E. Slavin
77, died Sunday, November, 17, 2002, at Genesis Elder Care Mountain View Center in Rutland after a short illness. He was born on September 6, 1925, in Mt. Tabor, Vt., the son of James and Mildred (Churchill) Slavin. Jim quit school to serve with the U.S. Navy from 1942-1946 during WWII aboard the USS Ticonderoga, serving in Pearl Harbor, Okinawa, Philippines Liberation, Japan and China and was awarded the Purple Heart for his wounds received in action. The Navy was number one for Jim. He valued his Navy pride, his Navy boxing pride and his Navy buddies for life.

Charles "Charlie" Hawks,
89, of Orange, TX, formerly of Arcola, MO, died Wednesday, November 17, 1999 at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Beaumont, TX. Born in Arcola, MO December 19, 1909, he farmed until he joined the U.S. Navy during World War II. After serving on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Ticonderoga, he settled in Orange, TX. He retired from DuPont after 30 years. He was a charter member of Grace Lutheran Church and a member of the VFW Post No. 2775 of Orange. He was preceded in death in 1963 by his first wife, Irene Kollmeier Hawks. He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Faye Hawks of Orange; daughters Charlene Laxton and her husband Jim of Lake Jackson, TX, Sharon Engelhard and her husband Earl of Davidsonville, MD, Susan Lindamood and her husband Steve of Houston, TX; stepson Mike McDonald and his wife Patsy of Spring, TX; brothers Thomas Hawks of Greenfield, MO, and Warren Hawks of Lockwood, MO; sisters Mary Bettis of Laguna Miguel, CA, and Fern Martin of Topeka, KS; grandchildren Cheryl Laxton, Lauren Laxton, Darren Lindamood, Shannon Lindamood, Brent McDonald, and Misti McDonald; and great-grandchildren Landon McDonald and Lane McDonald.

Robert "Bob" Leighton
Bob passed away at the age of 86 on his and Doris’s 64th Wedding Anniversary, Tuesday, April 5th, 2011 at the Westridge Nursing Home in Clarinda, Iowa. He was born on August 18, 1924, in Gravity, Iowa, to Chester Leighton and Berniece (Brooks) Leighton. He was raised and attended school in Gravity, Iowa. He served in the Navy as a member of the flight deck crew aboard the aircraft carrier, the USS Ticonderoga in the South Pacific from March 1943 until he was honorably discharged in January 1946. After leaving the Navy, he returned to Omaha where he was united in marriage to Doris Westfall on April 5, 1947.
Bob was employed as a welder and steel fabricator for many years. He eventually started his own steel fabrication business in 1968 and retired in 1987. In 1972 he bought an 80 acre farm at Ladoga which is located just west of Gravity. After retirement he sold that farm and bought another 100 acre farm north of New Market where he raised miniature horses and later, Angus cattle. Bob enjoyed the outdoors,
hunting, fishing and working with his livestock. He was very creative and enjoyed working with his hands. He also enjoyed working with Doris in her ceramics studio, B&B Ceramics. Burial with military rites were at the Clarinda Cemetery. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Clarinda, Iowa.

Posted 6/10/02
Clement W. Rodden,
78, of Andover, died Tuesday, Aug. 7 at home. Born and educated in Lawrence, he graduated from Lawrence High School. During World War II, Mr. Rodden served in the Navy, serving as a radioman second class on the USNAAB, Plymouth, Escort Sweeper Group, USS Lyon, USS Ticonderoga, USS Essex and Commander Carrier Division Two. He received the World War II Victory Medal, European African Ribbon with two stars, Asiatic Pacific Ribbon with two stars and American Area Ribbon. Mr. Rodden was a sales representative in the Boston area for about 20 years for Brown & Bigelow of St. Paul, Minn. Before that, he worked for New England Life and Massachusetts Mutual Life insurance companies. Members of his family include his wife of 55 years, Loyce (Bowes) Rodden; sons, Jeffrey W. Rodden of Keene, N.H., William C. Rodden of Dorchester and Timothy D. Rodden of Billerica; daughters Dianne L. Cavanagh of Atkinson, N.H., and Paula A. Paravecchio of Bellevue, Wash.; brother, Vincent of Littleton, N.H.; nine grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Memorial contributions may be made to Lahey Clinic, 41 Mall Road, Burlington, MA 01805; or Merrimack Valley Hospice, 360 Merrimack St., Bldg. 9, Lawrence, MA 01843.

Cloise Dean Spivey,
81, of 960 Hawthorne Ave., died Thursday, March 18, 1999. A native of Decatur, Miss., Mr. Spivey was a son of the late Bunyan Dean and Martha Ann Pennington Spivey and was married for 50 years to the late Eileen Jones Spivey. He was a retired professor emeritus from the University of Georgia and a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II having served on the aircraft carrier USS Ticonderoga. He was a longtime member of First United Methodist Church, Athens, was a graduate in chemistry and horticulture with a master's degree from Mississippi State University, Starkeville, Miss., and was a longtime member of Athens Kiwanis Club. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Grady Wigley officiating. Burial will be in Oconee Hill Cemetery. Survivors include a daughter, Patricia D. Spivey, Atlanta; a son, John D. Spivey, Atlanta; a sister, Euna Graham, Meridian, Miss.; and five grandchildren.

JOHN ROBERT ARMBRUST,
JOHN R. ARMBRUST, born Feb. 27, 1924, Continental, OH. Enlisted in the USN on May 11, 1943, and attended boot camp at the NTS Great Lakes, IL. Afterwards he was stationed at Lakehurst, NJ, and was assigned to the captain's office.
When requests for volunteers to serve on the USS Ticonderoga CV-14 came, he volunteered and was assigned to K Div., where he was on board for the shakedown. He was in the executive office and later transferred to the engineering office. He was on duty in the office on Jan. 21, 1945, when GQ was sounded. He ran to his battle station in damage control when the first kamikaze hit. He served in the battles of Pacific Fleet during 1944 until the end of the war. He also served with the Blimp Sqdn. #12, Blimp Sqdn. #1 at USNB Bremerton, WA.Discharged in Bremerton, WA, on April 17, 1946, Y2/c.
Married his childhood sweetheart on July 1, 1949, and has three daughters, one granddaughter and one grandson. Retired from W-S Life after 29 years.

Walter W. Niles,
He was a former president of Benicia Industries Inc., San Francisco. Earlier he worked for Chemical Bank in New York City and RAND Corp. in Washington, D.C.; and he was a vice president of First Western Bank and Trust in San Francisco. A U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, he served aboard the U.S.S. Ranger, Randolph, and Ticonderoga aircraft carriers and was awarded a Bronze Star. He is survived by his wife, Helen, 110 41st St., #604, Oakland 94611.

Clarence H. Jenkins,
Clarence H. Jenkins, 92, of Ocala, Fla., and formerly of this area, died Monday, March 10, 2003, in Ocala. Clarence served his country in the United States Navy. He was stationed in the Pacific aboard the USS Ticonderoga Aircraft Carrier. He was wounded in action in 1945 and awarded the Purple Heart, as well as other citations. He was a 38-year member of American Legion Post 438 of New Berlin.He was born March 21, 1910, in Cassville, N.Y., to George H. and Lena (Monroe) Jenkins. Throughout his life he lived in Cassville, West Winfield, N.Y., Oneonta, N.Y., South Edmeston, N.Y., Silver Lake, N.Y., New Berlin, N.Y., Connecticut and Florida. He was married to Frances A. Jenkins on Sept. 12, 1959.He spent his early years on the family farm in West Winfield and also worked for the railroad. He was a retired auto body repairman. He is survived by his wife, Frances A. Jenkins, of Ocala; one son, Ronald B. Jenkins of Morris, N.Y.; a daughter, Margaret Cernak of Ocala; one brother, George Jenkins of Winston, N.C.; 11 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.

TAMPA, Fla.
John 'Jack' W. Faus,
John "Jack" W. Faus, 86, of Tampa died Monday, March 24, 2003, at his home after an extended illness. He was born June 13, 1916, in Yonkers, N.Y., to Herbert and Bricia Faus. He was raised in New York and graduated from White Plains High School. In 1939, he graduated from Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y., with a bachelor's degree. After college, he served in the Marines during World War II as a captain on the USS Ticonderoga. In 1941, he married Joan Kuehne. They lived in the Marietta area in the 1960s. While living in Marietta, he was plant manager at Remington Rand on Greene Street. They were very active in the community. Before moving to Tampa, Faus spent 25 years in Battle Creek, Mich. As president and as a board member of the Lakeview Business Association, he was instrumental in bringing the Lakeview Square Mall to Battle Creek. He is survived by his wife, Joan Faus; one brother, Herbert Faus of Troy, Ill.; one sister, Nancy McKinless of Alexandria, Va.; two daughters, Gale Boston and her husband, David, of Tampa and Jill Hawley and her husband, Larry, of Huntington Beach, Calif.; three granddaughters, Ginger Brown and Geri Sobczak, both of Tampa, and Angela Gay Eddy-Huck of Marietta; and four great-grandsons, Justin Eddy of Marietta, and Thomas and Jack Brown and Alex Sobczak, all of Tampa. Cremation services are being handled by Mark III Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to Life Path Hospice, 3010 W. Azeele, Tampa, Fla. 33609.

J. Burleson Smith
Known as "Burley" to his friends, J. Burleson Smith has called San Antonio home for the past 73 years and has practiced law there for the past 54. Smith served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, as a night fighter director on the aircraft carriers Ticonderoga, Hancock and Midway, in the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters. His job was to direct pilots by radio and radar so that they could take off and land safely at night. He was aboard the Ticonderoga, off the coast of Formosa, when it was hit by two Kamikaze pilots. The crash sparked fires and disabled the ship, which then had to be taken to port. He got his law degree from the University of Texas in 1940 and took a job the next year as a special agent with the FBI, where he worked until 1943. He says the work was interesting, but he doesn't recall many specific cases he worked on. "I couldn't talk about them if I did," he notes. Returning to San Antonio after the war, Smith got a job from his friend John Cox at the firm Seeligson, Cox & Patterson, which would later become Cox & Smith. He developed a general practice with emphasis on litigation, estate administration, and oil, gas and mineral law. Smith isn't trying cases anymore, but he still is in the office regularly. His son, James Burleson Smith Jr. - "Jamie" to friends - is a partner in the firm.