My dad served as a Machinist Mate in the Engineering Dept. of the West Virginia during the war. He enlisted in 1940 and served onboard the USS Yorktown until she was sunk at the Battle Midway. He and the other Yorktown engineers with names starting with A through M were assigned to the West Virginia. The remaining Yorktown Engineers went to the USS California. First job on the West Virginia (She was in dry dock at PHNS) was to muck out the 6 foot or so of Pearl Harbor mud from the main propulsion and auxiliary machinery spaces. During the work, they discovered uncovered the bodies of several sailors killed during the attack. He sailed on her throughout the war and remained onboard
until she reached the Bremerton Naval Ship Yard for decommissioning January of 1946.
Wow, that must have a horrible experience. Sounds like you have a dad to be proud of. My father and his father served in the Navy at the same time. He didn't talk much about the war, but, from what I recall him saying at least once was that he operated the guns on an aircraft carrier.