On-The-Roof Gang
Class #25
Class #25 convened in November 1940 and completed in February 1941. This was the largest OTRG class ever taught and the last “On-the-Roof Gang” class, although it wasn’t held on the roof of the Main Navy Building, as the previous twenty-four classes had been. The rooftop classroom was in serious disrepair by then and the number of students in the class exceeded the classroom’s capacity. Instead, the class was held in OP-20-G spaces after working hours. Chief Radioman Antone Novak was the instructor.
Radioman Second Class Maynard Glenn “Killer” Albertson
Maynard Albertson graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #25 in February 1941 and was assigned to Station HYPO in Hawaii. From Hawaii, he deployed aboard Radio Intelligence Units (RIUs), providing cryptologic direct support to Task Force commanders. He was listed on the USS Enterprise during the Battle of Midway. Later in the war, he deployed on the RIU to Adak, Alaska. After the war, he was assigned to the Navy Radio Station at Imperial Beach, California, and he retired as a Chief Petty Officer.
Maynard Albertson in Adak, Alaska, circa 1943
Albertson was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
24 Feb 1941: Navy Dept. (under instruction)
You can read about Maynard Albertson in On-the-Roof Gang, Volume 2 – War in the Pacific.
NCVA Member Victor R. Pepper wrote a tribute to Maynard Albertson, which was printed in the NCVA’s Cryptolog magazine, Volume 28, Fall 2007.
Albertson’s obituary was published in the NCVA’s Cryptolog magazine, Volume 34, Summer 2013, page 20:
MAYNARD GLENN ALBERTSON
Maynard Glenn ALBERTSON, CTC, 94, passed away on 25 February 2013. Maynard was born 18 May 1918 in Blackstone, Virginia, the youngest of five sons and had five living sisters. In 1937, after packing celery, milking cows, and anything to keep from starving to death, he was accepted, finally, into the United States Navy. More than once, he was rejected because “...they said I was too scrawny...” Selected early in his Naval career because of his work ethic and gumption, he joined Naval Intelligence and was shipped to Washington D.C. for training as an Intercept Operator. He was part of the “On-the-Roof Gang.” He was at Pearl Harbor on December 7th. Six months later, he was on the USS YORKTOWN (CV-5) when she finally sunk. Maynard got into the lifeboat with his earphones, teletype, and tape. He was on Adak, Alaska during the Korean war. After the wars, Maynard and his family settled in San Diego, California where he joined the teaching cadre at Naval Training Center, and later at Naval Communications Center, Imperial Beach, California. He retired in 1957 with twenty years of service, then got his high school diploma. He then charged on and upward through San Diego State to become a history teacher. Because of his work ethic, he completed the four year requirements in three. Maynard taught at Kearny High School, San Diego, California for almost 20 years. Maynard was preceded in death by His wife Clara LaMerle Albertson, the Kansas sunflower he married. He is survived by two daughters and one son. Maynard was scheduled for burial 27 March 2013, at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, Pt. Loma, California.
Pertinent data:
Born: 18 May 1918
Location: Blackstone, Virginia
Died: 25 February 2013
Location: Wasco, California
Interment Location: Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, Pt. Loma, California
Radioman Second Class Elmer Woodrow “Woody” Disharoon
Woody Disharoon graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #25 in February 1941 and was assigned to Station HYPO in Hawaii. From Hawaii, he deployed aboard Radio Intelligence Units (RIUs), providing cryptologic direct support to Task Force commanders. After the war, he retired as a Chief Petty Officer.
Disharoon was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
24 Feb 1941: Navy Dept. (under instruction)
Disharoon’s obituary was published in the NCVA’s Cryptolog magazine, Volume 13, page 13.
Elmer W. Disharoon, Cryptologic Technician Chief, U.S. Navy, Retired. OTRG, NCVA, died on 4 July 1991 at the age of 76 in Adelphi, Maryland. Chief Disharoon was born in Fruitland, Maryland and joined the Navy in 1937. He began cryptologic duties in 1940 as a student learning Japanese Morse code on the roof of the old Main Navy Building and retired from active service in September 1956. His cryptologic duty stations included Heeia, Hawaii; Kami Seya, Japan; Washington, DC; and Adak, Alaska. During World War II Chief Disharoon served at sea in various Task Force direct support billets.
After retirement from the Navy, he joined the National Security Agency (NSA) as an analyst and linguist. He retired from NSA in 1973.
Chief Disharoon is survived by his wife of 45 years, Dorothy Margaret Disharoon and a daughter.
Pertinent data:
Born: 1 September 1914
Location: Fruitland, Maryland
Died: 4 July 1991
Location: Adelphi, Maryland
Interment Location: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia
Radioman Third Class Reece Finley
Reece Finley graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #25 in February 1941 and was assigned to Station HYPO in Hawaii. He retired in 1959 as a Chief Petty Officer
Finley was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
24 Feb 1941: Navy Dept. (under instruction)
Pertinent data:
Born: 16 December 1917
Location: Cleveland, Arkansas
Died: 25 May 1983
Location: Cleveland, Arkansas
Interment Location: Cross Roads Cemetery, Kingsland, Arkansas
Radioman Second Class Stanley Ernest “Stan” Gramblin
Stan Gramblin graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #25 in February 1941 and was assigned to Station HYPO in Hawaii. From Hawaii, he deployed aboard Radio Intelligence Units (RIUs), providing cryptologic direct support to Task Force commanders. He was listed on board the USS Enterprise on October 1942. He retired as a Chief Petty Officer after the war.
Gramblin was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
24 Feb 1941: Navy Dept. (under instruction)
Pertinent data:
Born: 27 July 1916
Location: Webster, Iowa
Died: 22 May 1994
Location: Washington
Interment Location: Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, Washington
Radioman Second Class Joseph Christy “Christie” Howard
Christie Howard graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #25 in February 1941 and was assigned to Station HYPO in Hawaii. He retired in 1957 as a Chief Petty Officer
Howard was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
24 Feb 1941: Navy Dept. (under instruction)
Howard’s death was reported in the NCVA’s Cryptolog magazine, Volume 28, Summer 2007, page 19.
Pertinent data:
Born: 4 March 1918
Location: Jackson, Mississippi
Died: 28 November 2006
Location: Kenmore, Washington
Interment Location: Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, Washington
Radioman Second Class Roy E. Lehman
Roy Lehman graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #25 in February 1941 and was assigned to Station HYPO in Hawaii. From Hawaii, he deployed aboard Radio Intelligence Units (RIUs), providing cryptologic direct support to Task Force commanders. He was listed on board the USS Enterprise on October 1942. After the war, he served at Bainbridge Island, Washington; Imperial Beach, California; Recife, Brazil; NCTAMS Guam; and at the National Security Agency He retired as a Chief Petty Officer in 1957.
Roy Lehman as a Chief Petty Officer in an undated photo
Lehman was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
24 Feb 1941: Navy Dept. (under instruction)
Lehman’s obituary was published in the NCVA’s Cryptolog magazine, Volume 19, Summer 1998, page 19:
CTC Roy E. Lehman, U.S. Navy, Retired, OTRG Class 25, died on 8 February 1998. He was born in 1917 in Deshler, NE and entered the Navy in 1935. He served in USS Saratoga from 1936 until 1939, OTRG Class 25 in 1940, Hawaii until 1944, on detailed duty in USS ENTERPRISE during raids on Tokyo and in the Guadalcanal and Midway battles. He also served in Bainbridge Island, WA, Imperial Beach, CA, Recife, Brazil and in Guam and at the National Security Agency where lie retired in 1957.
Chief Lehman is survived by two children and several grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Shirley.
Pertinent data:
Born: 1917
Location: Deshler, Nebraska
Died: 8 February 1998
Radioman Second Class Hugh Webster “Mac” McGall
Mac McGall graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #25 in February 1941 and was assigned to Station HYPO in Hawaii. After the war, he served at Bainbridge Island, Washington; Adak, Alaska; Cheltenham, Maryland; Guam; Imperial Beach, California); Japan; and Skaggs Island, California. He retired in 1958 as a Chief Petty Officer.
McGall was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
24 Feb 1941: Navy Dept. (under instruction)
McGall’s obituary was published in the NCVA’s Cryptolog magazine, Volume 14, Fall-Winter 1993, page 20:
HUGH WEBSTER McGALL
Hugh Webster McGall, CTC, U.S. Navy, Retired, OTRG, NCVA, died 16 September 1993 in Concord, California at the age of 81. Born December 31, 1911 in Texas, he joined the Navy in April 1935 in Houston. In 1939 he arrived in Washington, DC too late to commence “On-the-Roof” training with Class #23 and was assigned to Cheltenham, Maryland. He was then ordered to temporary task force duty in USS TRENTON and returned, once again too late, this time for Class #24. He graduated with Class #25 in February 1941. He subsequent duty stations included: Hawaii and Palmyra Island (1941-44); Bainbridge Island, Washington (1944-46); Adak, Alaska (1946-47); Cheltenham, Maryland (1947-49); Guam (1950-51); Imperial Beach, California [Instructor Duty] (1951-54); Japan (1954-56); and Skaggs Island, California (1946 and 1956-58). He transferred to the Fleet Reserve in October 1958 with 23 years of active service.
After leaving the Navy, he was employed by the Kaiser Steel Corporation in Napa, California for the next 16 years.
He is survived by his wife, Catherine, three sons, and four grandchildren.
Pertinent data:
Born: 31 December 1911
Location: Hobson, Texas
Died: 10 September 1993
Location: Contra Costa, California
Interment Location: Carnes City Cemetery, Carnes City, Texas
Radioman Second Class Howard Eugene “Zeke” McConnell
Zeke McConnell graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #25 in February 1941 and was assigned to Station HYPO in Hawaii. Nothing else is known about this Sailor.
McConnell was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
24 Feb 1941: Navy Dept. (under instruction)
McConnell’s obituary was published in the NCVA’s Cryptolog magazine, Volume 24, Summer 2003, page 8:
Howard "Zeke" McConnell, NCVA Member and member of Class 25, "On-the-Roof' Gang passed away on 14 May 2003. His wife Rose, who was Australian, preceded him in death. No other information is available at this time.
Pertinent data:
Died: 14 May 2003
Radioman First Class Earl Lee “Ike” Rank
Ike Rank graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #25 in February 1941 and was assigned to Station HYPO in Hawaii. From Hawaii, he deployed aboard Radio Intelligence Units (RIUs), providing cryptologic direct support to Task Force commanders. He was listed on the RIU) that deployed to Adak, Alaska from March to September 1943.
Chief Radioman Earl Rank in Adak, Alaska, circa 1943
Rank was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
24 Feb 1941: Navy Dept. (under instruction)
You can read about Earl Rank in On-the-Roof Gang, Volume 2 – War in the Pacific.
Rank’s obituary was published in the NCVA’s Cryptolog magazine, Volume 12, Summer 1991, page 17:
EARL L. RANK
Earl L. (Ike) Rank, OTRG, NCVA, died recently. His dates of active service spanned the years 1940 to 1970. During his years of Naval service, he was stationed at various locations including Washington, Dc; Fleet Radio Unit Pacific (FRUPAC) Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; the Armed Services Security Agency; and the National Security Agency.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia.
From ancestry.com, listed on board USS YORKTOWN for temporary duty as of 19 May 1942.
Pertinent data:
Born: 4 December 1917
Died: 23 February 1991
Location: Sonoma, California
Radioman Third Class Raymond Arthur “Ray” Rundle
Ray Rundle graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #25 in February 1941 and was assigned to Station HYPO in Hawaii. From Hawaii, he deployed aboard Radio Intelligence Units (RIUs), providing cryptologic direct support to Task Force commanders. He was assigned to the RIU on board USS Enterprise for the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo and on board USS Yorktown for the Battle of Midway. He was listed on the RIU) that deployed to Adak, Alaska from March to September 1943. He continued his cryptologic service after the war, receiving a commission and retiring as a Lieutenant Commander in 1968.
Ray Rundle in Adak, Alaska, circa 1943
Rundle was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
24 Feb 1941: Navy Dept. (under instruction)
Ray Rundle is featured in On-the-Roof Gang, Volume 2 – War in the Pacific.
Rundle’s obituary was published in the NCVA’s Cryptolog magazine, Volume 06, Fall 1984, page 24:
Rundle, Raymond A., NCVA, age 66, died 7 September 1984 I San Diego. Rundle joined the Navy in 1938, was trained On-the-Roof, in class 25, 1940. Rundle served in USS Milwaukee and was attached to the USS Yorktown during the Battle of Midway and on the USS Enterprise when the Tokyo air strike was launched from USS Hornet.
In 1954, Rundle was promoted to Warrant Officer, to Lieutenant in 1960, and Lieutenant Commander in 1966. He retired from the Naval Security Group in 1968. In civilian life, Rundle was a clerk in the North County Office in Vista, California, played a major role in the development of the County Court House in that city, and as a County Clerk, his influence and position was a great asset to his community. Mass was held in St. Rose of Lima Church, and burial with military honors was at Holy Cross Cemetery.
Pertinent data:
Born: 23 August 1918
Location: Ryegate, Montana
Died: 7 September 1984
Location: San Diego, California
Interment Location: Holy Cross Cemetery, San Diego, California
Radioman Third Class Arthur Dearl “Art” Swain
Art Swain graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #25 in February 1941 and was assigned to Station M in Cheltenham, Maryland. Later that year, he transferred to Station CAST on Corregidor Island, Philippines. He was listed in the second group of evacuees from Corregidor island in March 1942 on board USS Permit. He then served at the intercept site in Moorabbin, Australia. He later retired as a Chief Petty Officer.
RM3c Arthur Swain, undated photo
Swain was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
24 Feb 1941: Navy Dept. (under instruction)
Pertinent data:
Born: 2 June 1917
Location: Hickory Flat, Mississippi
Died: 10 July 1996
Location: Richmond, Texas
Interment Location: Cornersville Cemetery, Cornersville, Texas
Radioman Second Class Merrill Frederick Whiting
Merrill Whiting graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #25 in February 1941 and was assigned to Station HYPO in Hawaii. He served beyond the end of the war. In 1946, he was reported at Adak, Alaska. He eventually retired as a Chief Petty Officer.
Whiting was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
24 Feb 1941: Navy Dept. (under instruction)
Pertinent data:
Born: 18 September 1918
Location: Syracuse, New York
Died:15 July 1983
Location: Englewood, Florida