Wesley Wiedenbeck

USS **California** (BB-44) was a Tennessee-class battleship commissioned into the United States Navy in 1921. Serving as the flagship of the Pacific Fleet, she was moored at Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941, where she was heavily damaged and sank in shallow water. After extensive salvage and modernization, California returned to service in 1944, participating in major Pacific campaigns including Saipan, Guam, Leyte Gulf, and Okinawa, providing vital naval gunfire support. She earned seven battle stars during World War II before being decommissioned in 1947 and ultimately scrapped in 1959.

USS California (CGN-36) was a nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser commissioned into the United States Navy on February 16, 1974. As the lead ship of the California-class, she was designed to provide air defense and anti-submarine warfare capabilities for carrier battle groups during the Cold War. Over her service, USS California participated in numerous deployments, including operations in the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, and Persian Gulf, notably escorting vital convoys and supporting U.S. interests overseas. After over two decades of distinguished service, she was decommissioned on July 9, 1999, as advancements in naval technology and high operating costs led to the retirement of her class.