U.S.S. Walton (DE-361)

Dan Ash in & out of Hospital: Let’s drop him a line.

I just heard from Jerry & Mary Hudson and they recently called Betty & Daniel Ash.  Dan was a BT on the Walton from 1961 to 1963 more or less.  Well, come to find out, Dan has been in & out of the hospital or Rehab since November.    Jerry & Mary have sent cards but Dan’s wife Betty says Daniel would sure like to hear from his old shipmates.

If you want to send a card or call, here’s Dan’s address and phone number.  Let’s see if we can’t cheer up our old shipmate.

 Daniel Ash –3089 Bertis Dr.—Sacramento,Ca.95821
 Phone# 541-580-0847

2010 Reunion Date Set! Oct. 13 to 17 in San Diego

I’ve place our reunion in 15 magazines . It will be  Oct-13-17- at the Hampton Inn —3888 Grenwood Street — San Diego,Ca.    reservatioms  619-299-6633 or www.sandiegoseaworld.hamptoninn.com

Ask for USS Walton De 361 rates of $ 89.00 a night.

I am having cataract surgery next week. We plan to go to San Diego in April.-   Mary Hudson

Email Mary with any questions at this email address:  marjer67@ktis.net

The U.S. Navy….Then and Now!

Then – If you smoked, you had an ashtray on your desk.
Now – If you smoke, you get sent outside and treated like a leper,
if you’re lucky.
       
Then – Mail took weeks to come to the ship.
Now – Every time you get near land, there’s a mob topside to see if
their cell phones work.
       
Then – If you left the ship it was in Blues or Whites, even in home
port.
Now – The only time you wear Blues or Whites is for ceremonies.
       
Then – You wore bellbottoms everywhere on the ship.
Now – Bellbottoms are gone and 14 year-old girls wear them
everywhere.
       
Then – You wore a Dixie cup all day, with every uniform.
Now – It’s not required and you have a choice of different hats..
       
Then – If you said “damn,” people knew you were annoyed and avoided
you.
Now – If you say “damn” you’d better be talking about a
hydroelectric plant.
       
Then -The Ships Office yeoman had a typewriter on his desk for doing
daily reports.
Now – Everyone has a computer with Internet access and they wonder
why no work is getting done.
       
Then – We painted pictures of pretty girls on airplanes to remind us
of home.
Now – We put the real thing in the cockpit.
       
Then – Your girlfriend was at home, praying you would return alive.
Now – She is on the same ship, praying your condom worked.
       
Then – If you got drunk off duty, your buddies would take you back
to the ship so you could sleep it off.
Now – If you get drunk off duty, they slap you in rehab and ruin
your career.
       
Then – Canteens were made out of steel and you could heat coffee or
hot chocolate in them.
Now – Canteens are made of plastic, you can’t heat them because
they’ll melt, and anything inside always tastes like plastic.
       
Then – Our top officers were professional sailors first.  They
commanded respect.
Now – Our top officers are politicians first.  They beg not to be
given a wedgie.
       
Then – They collected enemy intelligence and analyzed it.
Now – They collect our pee and analyze it.
       
Then – If you didn’t act right, they’d put you on extra duty until
you straightened up.
Now – If you don’t act right, they start a paper trail that follows
you forever.
       
Then – Medals were awarded to heroes who saved lives at the risk of
their own.
Now – Medals are awarded to people who show up for work most of the
time.
       
Then – You slept in a barracks, like a soldier.
Now – You sleep in a dormitory, like a college kid.
       
Then – You ate in a Mess Hall or Galley.  It was free and you could
have all the food you wanted.
Now – You eat in a Dining Facility.  Every slice of bread or pat of
butter costs, and you can only have one.
       
Then – If you wanted to relax, you went to the Rec Center, played
pool, smoked and drank beer.
Now -You go to the Community Center and can still play pool, maybe.
       
Then – If you wanted a quarter beer and conversation, you could go
to the Chief’s or Officers’ Club.
Now – The beer will cost you three dollars and someone is watching
to see how much you drink.
       
Then – The Exchange had bargains for sailors who didn’t make much
money.
Now – You can get better merchandise and cheaper at Wal-Mart.
       
Then – If an Admiral wanted to make a presentation, he scribbled
down some notes and a YN spent an hour preparing a bunch of charts.
Now – The Admiral has his entire staff spending days preparing a
Power Point presentation.
       
Then – We called the enemy things like “Commie Bastards” and “Reds”
because we didn’t like them.
Now – We call the enemy things like “Opposing Forces” and
“Aggressors or Insurgents” so we won’t offend them.
       
Then – We declared victory when the enemy was dead and all his
things were broken.
Now – We declare victory when the enemy says he is sorry and won’t
do it again..
       
Then – A commander would put his butt on the line to protect his
people.
Now – A commander will put his people on the line to protect his
butt.

The Night Before Xmas….Navy Style

What I saw out there looked like those Mardi Gras floats,
T’was a Captain’s gig drawn by four white Navy goats.
In the boat was a man who seemed quiet and moody,
I knew in an instant St.  Nick had the duty.

As quickly as Monday his billy goats came,
 He whistled and shouted and called them by name.
“Now Perry, now Farragut, Dewey and Jones, What’s the matter John Paul, got lead in your bones?
A little to Starb’rd, now hold it up short, No fluffing off now, or you’ll go on report!”
 
He was wearing dress “Reds” that fit like a charm,
His hash marks they covered the length of his arm.
The gifts to be issued were all in his pack,
The gedunk was ready to leave on each rack.

His eyes they were watering, his nose caked with ice,
He wiped it with canvass, then sneezed once or twice.
He opened his mouth and started to yawn,
It looked like the Sun coming up with the dawn.
 
The stump of a pipe, he held tight in his teeth,
And took a small nip from a bottle beneath.
He wasn’t so big, but he must have been strong,
I figured he’d been in SEALs early and long.

 
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old Tar,
Who said “Evenin’ Matey, here have a cigar.
“He filled every seabag with presents galore,
And left us all leave papers, right by the door.
 
With “Anchors Aweigh” he climbed back into place,
A broad smile was creeping all over his face.
One look at his watch and he started to frown,
“This mid watch is certainly getting me down.

“Then out to the breakwater and into the night,
 The gig started fading, the landscape was bright.
 ”Merry Christmas” he said, as he drove on his way,
Now I’ll finish my rounds and sack in for the day.”
 
Submitted by J.W. Smith (RD3)

Robert McKinnon’s Pics: 1955 – 58, Part 2

Native men and women in New Guinea, circa: 1957

Native Bird

 Walton sailors relaxing and goofing off: circa 1957

Native of the Carolina Islands in Outrigger canoe

Walton sailors on liberty somewhere in Asia. circa: 1957

Rickshaws in New Guinea, circa: 1957

Walton sailors in black rubber raft: circa 1957

Walton Deck Log Entry: Jan. 1, 1953

There existed a tradition in the Navy, that on New Year’s Eve, the first entry into the Deck Log would be a poem.  The poem was often written by the Quartermaster but could also be done by the Officer of the Deck, should he wish to do so, which was then approved by the Executive Officer or Commanding Officer.   This was no easy task since the log entry had to have pertinent facts about the ship’s position, condition, etc.    

The following is an example of a New Year’s Deck Log entry from Thursday, January 1, 1953, 00-04 hours, for the USS Walton (DE 361) written by LT J.B. Keck.  I think you will agree that it is very well done.  Bravo Zulu LT Keck.

Moored like a mighty Destroyer
    At each spot is a standard line.
Standing port side to and outboard
    Of the FOSS, DE fifty-nine.
A brand new year has reported
    At this very hour and date;
And Father Time has been transferred,
    A retiring old bos’un’s mate.
At this berth, Mike-1, it is noisy
    Sirens all over the place,
At Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii,
    On the U.S. Naval Base.
Steaming on #1 boiler
    And generator to boot,
Used for auxiliary purposes
    And steam so the whistle can toot.
Many units of Pac Fleet are present
    As every man here will agree;
Most important of which is the WALTON,
    And second the PHILIPPINE SEA.
There are craft of the yard and district
    To make the picture complete.
They supply many shouting indulgees,
    And SOPA in CinCPacFlt.
We remember the staff of the  squadron
    In the D.E. McGINTY embarked
Is ComCortRon 11 at Sail-13
    And we bet that their office darke’d.
And from this sober old duty section,
    Who each prefers not to be here;
But since there’s no choice-in a lusty dry voice,
    We wish you a Happy New Year!