Walke (DD 723) - Naval Cruise Book

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,X . x. ..,. , 'IINLZ 1 v t 5,2 .Vi I, V , ., I at ,, Y A f U 'Af n ff lx i . 'wht qty ,fgxvpgxtgx 1 1 4 .YS -. .',' J- LJ. - U.S.S. WALKE QDD-7235 was first commissioned on 21 January 1944 and named for Henry Walke, an American naval officer. He was born in 1808 near Portsmouth, Virginia, and died in 1896, having served with distinction in the Mexican and Civil iWars. He retired in 1870 with the rank of Rear Admiral. WALKE participated in the invasion of Europe in 1944, engaging in shore bombardment and close support of troops and then returned to the United States for overhaul. Upon completion, she proceeded to Norfolk and San Diego and then to Pearl Harbor, prior to departure for Pacific operations. ln November and December 1944, the ship participated in the Philippine campaign, with action in Luzon, Orinac Bay, Mindoro, and Lingayen Gulf. On 6 January 1945, while fur- nishing fire support for minesweeping operations, WALKE was attacked by four enemy planes. The first two were shot down. The third plane, although hit, crashed into the port side of the bridge, and the fourth plane, also hit, crashed off the port quarter. Extensive damage was done to the ship, and sixteen men were killed, including the commanding officer, Cdr George F. Davis, U. S.. Navy. He was awarded the Con- gressional Medal of Honor-posthumously. Following overhaul in the States, the ship took part in the Okinawan operations, the occupation of Japan, and finally, 4'Operation Crossroads, the first atom bomb tests in the Bikinis. In 1947, she joined the Hmothball fleetfy WALKE was recommissioned in October 1950 and joined Task Force 77 in Korea. While steaming off Wonsan on 12 June 1951, she suffered an underwater explosion, believed to be a torpedo or mine, killing twenty-six men and wounding forty. Following repair in Japan and overhaul in the States, the ship participated further in the Korean action, from June 1952 to January 1953, and July 1953 to February 1954. Since the Korean action, WALKE has made four tours to the Western Pacific. She is presently under the command of Cdr Jack Scapa, USN.

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EXECUTIVE OFFICER The Executive Officer, LCdr I-I. J. Klein, attended the U. S. Merchant Marine Academy in 1941, and upon graduation served as third and second mate at sea until 1944, when he came on active naval duty. On his first ship, U.S.S. WHITLEY CAKA-913, he took part in the Iwo Jima campaign and ac- tion in the Atlantic area. In 1946, Lt fjgj Klein joined U.S.S. BEXAR CAPA-2373 as Boat Group Commander and in 1948 went to U.S.S. F. D. ROOSEVELT CCVB-421 as Radio Of- ficer and Administrative Assistant. Shore duty at the Uni- versity of South Carolina followed, and then sea duty as , Engineering Officer, U.S.S. FLOYD B. PARKS IDD-8845 dur- ing the Korean conflict Next duty with the Special Weapons Project at Albuquerque and Lake Mead Base staff duty with CTG 7 3 and assignment to OPNAV preceded assignment to WALKE in November 1957 LCdr and Mrs Klein live with their three boys 1n Whittier California CAPTAIN Commander ,lack Scapa assumed command of WALKE in October 1957, following sixteen years of naval service. Com- missioned in 1941, he served throughout World War II in U.S.S. RALEIGH CCL-71. In 1946 he was assigned as Execu- tive Officer, Office of Naval Officer Procurement. Next came duty at the University of New Mexico and at the General Line School. From 1948-1950, he was Executive Officer, U.S.S. BUCK KDD-761J. In 1950, he attended the Naval War Col- lege, followed by duty on the Staff of the Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic. In 1952 he was promoted to Com- mander. From 1953-1955, he was the U. S. Representative on the French NATO Staff of the Commander Western Medi- terranean Area in Algeria. Then followed duty as Gunnery Officer, U.S.S. WISCONSIN IBB-641. This duty preceded assignment to WALKE. Cdr Scapa resides in Rolling Hills, California, with his wife and three sons. 0' . , I 3 o I . , 0' A , . C pr . . if , Q . . . . - I 'V f -L 3 v I V f ' S