Walker (DD 517) - Naval Cruise Book

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1 l l l l i PRIL Finishing up our shipyard overhaul . . . refresher training , , , naval gunfire support training . . . antisubmarine warfare opera- tional readiness exercise. A hectic spring went rushing by Q5 WALKER, completing a regular shipyard overhaul of her 24 year old plant, hurried to retrain old hands and teach the new ones. As the deployment drew near, the pace quickened. A combat zone is not the place to learn, but the place where vigilance and readi- ness perfected through hard work may be called on at anytime. The polish and confidence come with experience, but unless the ship and her crew know their job they can not be counted on in an emergency. Whether working in a coordinated ASW team or answering an emergency call for gunfire support, training is the key to success. As the task group steamed out of Pearl Harbor April l8th, the men of WALKER were confident that they were ready. The morning of April 18th found WALKER, her sister ships ot Destroyer Squadron Eleven, the destroyer escorts of Escort Squadron Three and the USS HORNET CCVS 123 at the Bravo piers in Pearl Harbor,

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Commanding Officer Commander Stephen W. McClaran, USN, the son of the late Rear Admiral John Walter McClaran, was born September 4, l926. Graduated from the U.S. Naval Acad- emy in June l95O, he has served aboard USS JUNEAU fCLAA-ll9l, USS MOUNT MCKINLEY CAGC-7l, USS LOFBERG CDD- 759l, and USS RICHARD S. EDWARDS CDD-9505. He has also served tours on the staffs of Commander Service Squadron Three in Sasebo, Japan, and Commander First Fleet, as well as a tour as a faculty member at the U.S. Naval Academy. He reported for duty in WALKER in December 1966 after serving two years on the staff, Commander-in-Chief U.S. Pacific Fleet. Commander McClaran is married to the former Patsi PritchardofHonolulu,Hawaii, and has four children, John, Stephana, Peter, and Victoria. ',,.f- ' 4 ., 5 X. Q lf S- . y ,ff T 9 Q' W-W r'f ! A 3 Executive Officer Lieutenant Commander Robert F. Baril, USN, was born November l4, l935. He graduated from Maine Maritime Academy in 1956, where he receivedathirdengineer's license in steam and diesel engineering plants, and accepted a direct commission as an Ensign in the Naval Reserve. LCDR Baril served as main propulsion assistant and Engineering Officer aboard USS ROCKBRIDGE CAPA-2285 followed by duty aboard USS STRONG QDD-7585 where his duties included CIC officer, Engineering Officer, Operations Officer and Navigator. His next duty was as Commanding Officer of USS ACCOKEEK QATA-1815. He served as Program Manager for Fleet Training at the Bureau of Naval Personnel, followed by a year in Vietnam as training advisor to the South Vietnamese Navy. Lcdr. Baril relieved as Executive Officer of WALKER on December 23, l966. He is married to the former Johanna Christenson and has four children, Karen, Paul, Christen, and David.

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One of the hardest times for the Destroyerman is the morn- ing when he must tell his wife, children, or sweetheart good- bye knowing the next time they will be together is many months away. The bravado ofwives with flower leis does a littleto boost the spirits, but as those stand- ing on the pier Fade into the distance as multicolored dots, an occasional lump grows in the throat of those staring back from the ship. Aloha 3 AV 1' Q.