United States Navy

Valentino Dominelli, a watertender aboard USS Cassin Young, was the son of immigrants from Italy. A watertender was a crewman aboard a steam-powered ship and was responsible for tending to the fires and boilers in the ship's engine room. "Dom" died in action when a kamikaze plane struck USS Cassin Young on July 30, 1945.

Walt Wimley enlisted in the US Navy on September 11, 1942. He served aboard USS CASSIN YOUNG in the ship's engineering department as a Machinist Mate 1st Class in 1944 and 1945. He died in action aboard Cassin Young off the coast of Okinawa on July 30, 1945.

Joseph J. Barnes was born in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 27, 1917. He enlisted in the Navy on September 23, 1942 as an Apprentice Seaman (AS). After studying to be a machinist at a Service School, Barnes graduated as a fireman 2nd class. In 1943, he reported to destroyer training before joining the crew of the USS Cassin Young. In serving on the Cassin Young, he joined the Pacific front of World War II. Barnes was killed in action from a kamikaze attack.

At age 20, John Kappa enlisted into the U.S. Navy. He worked as a machinist's mate, maintaining and testing different components of the ship. During World War II he served on the USS Colorado before joining the USS Cassin Young. Kappa was killed in action from a kamikaze attack on the Cassin Young.

John was one of six children (three boys and three girls) of Stephen and Elizabeth Takacs, who immigrated from Hungary. John grew up in a Bridgeport, Connecticut. In mid-December he arrived in California and on December 31, 1943, he joined the crew of USS Cassin Young (DD-973). Cassin Young was hit by a second kamikaze on July 30, 1945. Forty-five sailors were wounded and 22 were killed. WT2c(T) John Takacs was one of them.

Miller enlisted in the US Navy in August 1942. On April 12, 1945, a kamikaze struck the mast of Cassin Young and exploded. Miller was wounded in the leg and awarded a purple heart. On July 30, 1945, USS Cassin Young was struck by a kamikaze a second time. WT2c Miller was one of 22 sailors killed, passing later that day.

Jasper McCartney spent most of his life at sea, enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1930 at age 20. In the 1930s, he served on three destroyers, including the USS West Virginia where he worked as a fireman and watertender. In 1940, McCartney joined the crew of the USS Arkansas and was promoted to chief watertender. He was assigned to the USS Cassin Young a few days after its commissioning in December, 1943. McCartney was killed in action during a kamikaze attack on the destroyer.

Born March 17, 1921, David Stewart Johnson grew up in Newbury, Massachusetts. While attending Middlebury College, Johnson decided to enlist in the Navy. He trained to become a torpedoman and achieved a rating of torpedoman’s mate 1st class. In 1944 he joined the crew of the USS Cassin Young. On July 30, 1945, Johnson was at his battle station when a kamikaze crashed into the main deck below him. He succumbed to his injuries the following day.

Clyde Reasoner enlisted in the Navy on November 14, 1944. His mother signed a consent form, because he was only 17 years old. Reasoner reported for duty aboard USS Cassin Young (DD-793) on April 26, 1945. In the early morning hours of July 30, 1945, Cassin Young was hit by a kamikaze for a second time. At 18 years old, Clyde Reasoner was the youngest sailor aboard Cassin Young to die in action.

Byron A. Smith served in the US Navy during World War II, voluntarily enlisting as an apprentice seaman (AS) in 1943. Prior to serving in the Navy, Smith worked at the Campbell, Wyant and Cannon Foundry Company in Michigan, a company that provided critical contributions to the defense industry. After completing different training schools, Smith was assigned to the USS Cassin Young. Smith was killed when a kamikaze attacked the destroyer.