Raymond Albert Barbezat US Navy USS California |
The story of Ramond Albert Barbezat's naval career reads like a history of the Pacific War. "Barb", as he is known by his many friends, comes from Alameda in sunny California. "Barb's" baptism of fire came on that fateful day of December 7 in Pearl Harbor, while serving on the USS California, he managed to escape when she sank. His only injury at the time was his dignity as he only had on his birthday suit at the time and reached the shores of Ford Island in that condition. Assigned to the USS Astoria then, he was along on all her salient engagements and barely escaped with his life at Savo Island. Barb received serious wounds at "Salvo", which his scars will prove. ----------------- I served on 3 different ships during World War 2. Two were sunk while I was on them. The first one was the USS California which I was assigned to January 1940. The California sank at Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941. I was assigned to the USS Astoria on December 13, 1941. The Astoria sank in Iron Bottom Bay on August 9, 1942. We were caught in crossfire between 2 columns of Japanese ships. Hundreds of armor piercing shells (8") came from all directions, many going through and out the other side. Information provided by Ray Barbezat. |
