After graduation from the Naval Acadamey on 06 June 1940, he received orders to report to USS CALIFORNIA, AKA "Prune Barge." Following a memorable and historic June leave, he reported aboard at Bremerton and was assigned to the Engineering Dept. as Main Engine Division Officer. He was aboard CALIFORNIA when she was sunk at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
In February, 1942, Bill returned to the states to report as Main Engine Division Officer aboard USS INDIANA, which was under construction at Newport News, VA. In May, on completion of sea trials, the ship proceeded to Noumea, New Caledonia, to operate with a task force during the Guadalcanal and Solomons campaigns.
INDIANA moved up to Pearl for some repairs then joined a fast carrier task force for the first raid on Marcus Island.
In 1944, after L.T.A. flight training at Moffett Field, Bill reported as Executive Officer of ZP-14, then became Commanding Officer of ZP-14, which provided anti-submarine coverage fortraffic in and out of Norfolk and the east coast.
After VE Day, Bill received orders to report to USS RENO as Chief Engineer and remained on board in that capacity for the balance of the war. She was decommissioned and laid up in the reserve fleet at Bremerton, Washington.
Resignation from the Regular Navy was submitted and accepted in the summer of 1946, at which time Bill returned to Ruston, LA, to become active in a family-owned department store. He accepted a commission in the Naval Reserve and organized and served as Commanding Officer of a U.S. Naval Reserve Surface Division located on the campus of La. Tech University. During this time, he was promoted to the rank of Commander, with which rank he retired.
Business affiliations have been with Lewis & Company, Ltd., a 105- year-old department store, and Jaclin Corp., a timber and real estate development company, serving as president of both. Leisure time has been devoted to sailing, traveling and family activities.
Carolyn and Bill will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this year (now it can be told). Two daughters and two sons and their spouses have made them the fortunate grandparents of six granddaughters and three grandsons. Looking back over the past fifty years, they are thankful for a wonderful, devoted family, good health, a close group of classmates and a great life --who could ask for anything more?
