Willie William [nickname: Bill] Raines (Stavi-Raines)

Served aboard the USS Princeton in OS Division (weather) from mid 1962 to mid 1964. While aboard the ship participated in Operation Dominic near Johnston Island. Enjoyed many hours of playing chess with my fellow Marines, Howard Hada, Sgt. McDaniels,.... and Sailors, D. E. Byrnes....

From 1964 until September 1966 I was stationed at Lake Meade, Nevada, a DASA operation (Defense Support Agency). And, as part of that operation, I spent 6 months on Amchitka, part of the Alaska Aleutian Island chain. While on the island, DASA & AEC (Atomic Energy Commission) set off America's last below the ground nuclear test.

After being discharged from the Corps I went to school under the GI Bill studying Architecture & Business. In the 70s and early 80s I was the CEO of a Dallas commercial real estate development and construction company. In 1981 established my company, En-Compass, Inc., an Architectural, RE Development & Construction company in Dallas and shut it down in the late 80s. From there I Moved to Southern California where I was the VP of Operations of a Commercial Reals Estate Development/Construction company based in Santa Monica. In the mid 90s, I established a consulting service for real estate development & construction.

In November 2002 my wife and I decided to retire after we completed the last project that she designed and of which I was the consulting director (three 18 story condos in San Francisco...more than $480-million).

Upon retiring we decided to move to Southern California. July 2017 we sold our our home on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, 1400 feet above sea level, with views of the Pacific Ocean, downtown Los Angeles, Long Beach/San Pedro and a view of USS Princeton Home port during the 60s, Terminal Island, Long Beach. For a short period of time we moved into our condo in Marina del Rey while the house is for sale.

We moved to Manhattan, NY for two years (2016/2018), moved to Paris for a brief period and have now moved back to the US and bought a high rise condo, Downtown Miami, FL. We sold this condo and in 2020 moved to Sarasota, FL, bought and sold our condo after only living there seven months due to "No-C-Um" bugs!

1 February 2021 we bought a condo in Dallas Arts District, MUSEUM TOWER. We are loving it here as we can walk to nearly everything...Symphony, Opera, Ballet, Museums, Restaurants, etc. This is the city that I had left about 35 years ago and moved to Los Angeles.

While living in Palos Verdes, CA my wife and I attended the 2014 USS Princeton Reunion in Long Beach. I was pleased that I was able to connect with former Marines & Sailors that served aboard the Princeton. I visited with some of my shipmates at the 2014 Reunion! For this, I appreciate Red's efforts in making our association such a vital part of our lives and especially at this Point & Times in our LIVES when it is very Special to remember those that we have served with. Thank you Red.

Looking forward to the possibility of attending a future Reunions!

Again, thank you Red for your efforts.

Best to all of you,

Bill