Walke (DD 723) - Naval Cruise Book

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USS WALKE CDD 7235, first commissioned on 21 Jan- uary 1944, was named for Henry A. Walke, HH Ame' rican Naval officer. He was born near Portsmouth, Virginia on 24 December 1808, and died in Brooklyn, New York on 8 March 1896. He had served with -dis- tinction in the Mexican and Civil Wars, retiring in 1870 as Rear Admiral. Walke participated in the invasion of Europe in june 1944, engaging in shore bombardment and close sup- port of troops in Normandy. At Cherbourg she gave fire support to minesweep operations, narrowly es- caping enemy fire, the ship completed operations and returned to the State-s. In November and December 1944 Walke participated in the Philippine Campaign with action in Luzon, Or- moc Bay and Mindoro. On 6 january 1945, while fur- nishing fire support for minesweep operations in Lin- gayen'Gulf, four enemy planes approached the star- board bow, low on the water. Walke returned fire shooting down the first two planes. The third plane, although hit, crashed into the port wing of the bridge and burst into flames. The fourth plane, also hit, crashed in flames on the port quarter. Personnel casualties numbered sixteen, including the Comman- ding Officer, CDR George F. DAVIS, USN, who after heroic action passed away as the result of burns. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously. Following overhaul in the States , Walke took part in Okinawan operations and the occu- pation of japan in 1945, and the first atomic bomb tests at Bikini in 1946. In 1947 she joined the moth- ball fleet. Walke was recommissioned in October 1950 to join Task Force 77 in Korea. While steaming off Won- san on 12 June 1951 the ship sustained an underwater explosion believed to be a torpedo or mine. Twenty- six men died and forty were wounded. After repair in Japan and overhaul in the States, she returned to Korea in 1953 and again in 1954. Since Korea, Walke has made eleven tours of the Western Pacific. On this latest tour Walke provided shore bombardment and night illumination in support of ground troops in South Vietnam. Walke is a unit of Destroyer Squadron TWENTY- THREE, the famous Little Beavers. 2

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Give me a fast ship. . . for l intend to go in harm's way is almost always ans wered b send the destroyers y . These greyhounds of the sea are unique naval vessels, unique in their inherent characteristics--strong though lightly constructed hulls , sleek lines with excel lent seakeeping qualities , speed and maneuverability, and various weapons and equipment. Such qualities in a ship demand extraordinary men in a crew, and destroyer sailors fill the billet. Like their ships, destroyermen are recognized for their versatility. They learn quickly, work hard and carry out a wide variety of ex- acting shipboard duties. They are proud men who willingly accept more than their share of responsibility. Their destroyer heritage of more than sixty ears of training fighting and giving their lives aboard destroyers to preserve Y 1 our American ideals has given each man further insight into his role in the ship's mission. Here then--one ship, one crew, one cruise--Westpac 1965 wfwg dai

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