Walke (DD 723) - Naval Cruise Book

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The 1967-68 deployment to WESTPAC will be remembered and relived many times by allof us. We will recall the liberty in Hong Kong, the gunfire support, and the Sea of Japan. Who can forget the Christmas party for the orphans in Sasabo, Japan? This cruise book, in years to come, will jog our memories of a cruise that lasted a week short of eight months, covered 60,000 miles and yielded a team of destroyer men who proved equal to every test. As I have said before in Familygrams ,l am proud of the manner in which you conducted yourselves both on board and ashore. It is grati- fying to lcnovv that when I called for your best, l received it. In years to come each one of you will be proud to have served in WALKE, a member ofa can do team. ROBERT ENNIS CDR USN

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I 4 , , USS WALKE DD'723 The present Walke IDD-7231 was authorized by Congress on 9 June 1942. Her keel was laid at the Bath lorn Works, Bath, Nlaine, on 7 June 1943, and she was commissioned on 21 January 1944. After sea trials, the Walke operated on the East coast as an experimental and training ship. One of the new 2,200 ton destroyers, Walke was the first unit of the fleet to have the new sound detection gear installed. On 14 IVlay, 1944, Walke departed Norfolk for Europe as a unit of Destroyer Division 119 to participate in the in- vasion of Europe. During the month of June 1944, she engaged in successful shore bombardment and close support of troops. In July, Walke returned to the States for a period of upkeep. Upon completion, she transited the Panama Canal, arriving in Pearl Harbor on 15 September 1944. Walke participated in Task Group operations in the Marshall and Philippine Islands including operations in the vicinity of Luzon, Mindoro, Leyte, and the Lingayen Gulf. On 6 January, 1945, while providing fire support as a unit of Task Group 77.2, Walke was attacked by four Japanese aircraft. After successfully downing two aircraft and damaging a third, the third aircraft conducted a successful suicide attack and crashed into the after port side of the bridge, bursting into flames. This plane carried a 250 pound bomb which passed completely through the ship without exploding. The fourth plane was then taken under fire and downed. As a result of this attack, two officers and twelve men were killed, including the Commanding Officer, Commander George F. Davis, USN, who was later awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for gallantry during this action. In addition, one man was missing and thirty-two injured. Walke returned to the United States to repair battle damage, and returned to the Western Pacific to participate in Okinawa campaign from 4 Nlay to 14 August 1945. September 1945, Walke entered Tokyo Bay as a unit of Task Group 38.1. Following the war, Walke participated in the first Atomic Weapon tests at the Bikini lslands and in June 1947 was decommissioned and assigned to the Pacific Reserve Fleet. On 5 October 1950, Walke was recommissioned at San Diego, California to participate in the Korean conflict. As part of Task Force 77 steaming off Wonson on 12 June 1951, Walke struck a mine or torpedo, and, in the ensuing explosion, twenty-six men were killed and forty wounded. After repairs in Japan, Walke returned to the United States and entered Mare Island Shipyard for overhaul. Walke has engaged in Western Pacific operations regularly since completion of overhaul in June 1952. On 30 September 1961, Walke completed extensive modification as part of a Fram lVlark ll overhaul at Nlare Island Naval Shipyard. During her most recent cruise, Walke deployed as a unit of ASW Group 5. During most of the cruise, Walke steamed in the Tonkin Gulf, providing ASW protection for other Seventh Fleet Units operating there. Walke also partici- pated in Naval Gunfire Support, firing over 7,000 rounds in support of troops in South Vietnam. In addition, Walke operated for a month in the Sea of Japan, conducting ASW exercises.

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?f 1ii17 lt was a pleasure to be a part of an organiza- tion that displayed time and again the ability to work together to produce such outstanding results as were achieved during this cruise. Spirit and cooperation keynoted our WESTPAC operations. JACK Fl. FLIKEID LCDR USN