Photo submitted by Curtis Hannah Claude Winford Hannah was born Feburuay 1, 1925 at Seminole, Gaines County, Texas, to Albert Washington, Jr. & Thelma Christine McAlister Hannah. Claude was the youngest of four brothers, all serving in the military in WWII. Claude was married to a lady by the name of John Frances (Fran) Stallings Woodruff from Texas. The marriage record has not been located. Claude registered a second time for the military draft January 8, 1946. His draft card says "Honorable Disc. from US Navy 12, 29,, 1945." An earlier draft card has not been found for him. Claude is found serving on three ships, the USS Iowa, USS Vincent and the USS Macaw. Some of the muster rolls from both ships are below. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Claude W. "Toby" Hannah, 82, of Greenwood, died Monday, December 31, 2007 at Conway Regional Medical Center. Mr. Hannah was born February 1, 1925 to the late Albert and Thelma (McAlester) Hannah; and was also preceded in death by a step-son, Scott Woodruff. He was a retired coal miner and a member of the Church of Christ; and a Navy Veteran of World War II. "Toby" is survived by his wife of thirty-three years, whom he devoted himself to her care after her health failed only one year after they married, Fran Hannah; step-children, Orby Woodruff of Dallas, Texas; Ronald Woodruff of Ft. Worth, Texas; Traci Lillard of Midland, Texas. The family will receive friends and relatives at the funeral home on Thursday, January 3, 2008 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Graveside service will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, January 4 in Greenwood Memorial Cemetery, Greenwood, Arkansas, with Howard Brownfield officiating, under the direction of Roller-McNutt Funeral Home of Conway. 501-327-7727. Shared by Vicki Graves Jones from Fighting Men of Arkansas USS Macaw launched 12 July 1942; Departing California 28 August 1943, after shakedown and training exercises, Macaw steamed in convoy to Espiritu Santo, arriving 2 October. Thence proceeding to Funafuti, via Wallis Island, she charted previously unknown reefs. She anchored off Funafuti on the 16th and remained until 13 November when she was ordered back to Pearl Harbor. Spending only a short time in Hawaii, Macaw departed for Midway Island Macaw was sunk at Midway Island on 12 February 1944 while attempting to rescue USS Flier (SS-250) that had run aground, 16 January 1944. During the sinking her commanding officer Paul Burton and four crewmen were killed after abandoning ship during a storm. In early May of 1944, the Vincennes was sent to the Pacific war zone, beginning first in Pearl Harbor. Initially placed in the Task Force 58, the cruiser was in action soon after arrival at Pearl Harbor. USS Iowa, the strongest American Battleship to have ever sailed in the seas back in WWII. She was the lead battleship of her class of 4. When transferred to the Pacific Fleet in 1944, Iowa shelled beachheads at Kwajalein and Eniwetok in advance of Allied amphibious landings and screened aircraft carriers operating in the Marshall Islands. She also served as the Third Fleet flagship, flying Admiral William F. Halsey's flag at the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay.