After graduation from the Naval Acadamey on 06 June 1940, he joined USS CALIFORNIA, which was in drydock at Bremerton, Washington Naval Shipyard. Served as Turret Officer until CALIFORNIA was sunk at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Detached in February, 1942, and ordered to INDIANA, which was fitting out in Newport News, Virginia. Married Helen Barbara Engh, 40's color girl) in March, 1942, before it was legal to do so. Married same girl again in April, 1942, after it became legal in order to claim the $40/month housing allowance
without having to lie about the marriage date.
He served as Turret, Division, and Deck Officer on INDIANA until 1944. Detached and ordered to PG School at MIT shortly after the great collision between INDIANA and WASHINGTON - this was the worst collision in the history of our Navy, and reduced both ships to six knots maximum speed, within 90 miles of a Japanese airfield.
He arrived in Boston 30 days before the MIT course was to commence, and within three weeks concluded that he simply couldn't concentrate on school work -- he called BuPers and requested a sea billet, resulting in telegraphic orders to MASSACHUSETTS within 12 hours -- a record for fast action by the U.S. Navy.
He served out the war in MASSACHUSETTS in various capacities, ending up in command with the ship in mothballs, tied to a dock in Norfolk. Cros suffered for six months in this boring assignment, and since he couldn't see any interesting billets coming up in the near future, he resigned in December, 1946.
His first civilian job was with Anaconda Wire and Cable Company in California. After two years, left to join a small engineering and construction company in Los Angeles. In 1950, moved to Chicago and joined the Pyle National Company as plant manager. Was elected President of Pyle in 1955 and served in this capacity until 1977.
He purchased a small company in 1971, started another in 1973, and now has six companies engaged in manufacturing electrical and textile products, plus a sales order catalog business selling first aid items. Currently serves as chairman of his own company (Clements National Company) and since August, 1987, as chairman and CEO of First Illinois Corporation, a $1.5 billion bank holding company.
