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

Playing with the Subs by Tom Loftis, 1958

Hello Shipmates,

One of the things we did week in and week out was leave Pearl Harbor on Monday along with submarines from the sub base Pearl and practice ASW for a few days and then return back to Pearl on Friday.  Thursday, May 7th. 1958 was not routine.  We were steaming with the USS Silverstein (DE 534) and the others of our squadron exercising ASW with a sub named USS Stickleback (SS415) when at 13:15 the Sub fired a dummy torpedo at the Silverstein then went into a steep dive.

Racing at 17 knots, the Silverstein headed for the sub’s position to simulate depth charging. At 100 feet the sub’s main power unit failed, throwing the diving planes out of control. Raising swiftly the sub surfaced 200 yards from and directly in the Silverstein’s path. The DE could not stop in time to avoid a collision and struck the sub’s port side just forward of the conning tower. The DE cut about half way through the sub and miraculously no one was seriously hurt.

The USS Walton along with the other DE’s were standing by to assist and take the sub personel aboard. The sub rescue ship Greenlet arrived and attempted to take the sub in tow but as soon as the Silverstein backed out of the hole the sub sank bow first in two miles of water. 

I stil have the article I cut from the Honolulu news paper with pictures.  All in all it was a successful day at sea considering we lost no sailors. It was a much quieter evening that night at the old Block Arena over at the Sub Base where we all hung out rather than going down town.    

Tom Loftis,  SF2  USN.

See also Wikipedia history of USS Stickleback   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Stickleback_(SS-415)

U.S.S. Walton: Witness to History: A-Bomb Test, by Tom Loftis

Hello Walton Shipmates,

In 1956 I was on board the Walton as a young E3 / Shipfitter striker, home ported at Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii. All of a sudden a group of scientists came aboard and supervised the installation of what they called a water wash down system. We had never heard of such a thing before this.

After installing the wash down system we deployed to the central Pacific (Marshall Islands). We spent a couple of weeks there anchored off an Island called Eniwetok.  While the construction crew was working under the guidance of the scientists building a large platform on the beach we were taking shore breaks by duty sections playing ball and exploring the Island.  Then in May 1956 the Walton, along with other ships, took our station around the Island and observed the detonation of a 20KT Atomic Bomb.

Many of us, including the scientist, were standing on the main deck with purple goggles on watching this explosion.  As they were counting down I felt like I should not be exposed like that so, at the last minute, I stepped behind mount 51.  I did not get the full effect of the Gama radiation like the others did but I did get enough to peg out my DT-60 and Film Badge.

We all ran inside and dogged the doors closed as the base surge was approaching. We had our water wash down system energized. Afterward those of us in Repair Division (SF / DC) suited out and took our AN-PDR 27 Radak instrument out on deck to monitor hot spots. We scrubbed down hot spots for a couple days until the DCA and scientist thought we were at a safe level. You can read all about the “Operation Redwing” of 1956 at http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Tests/Redwing.html .

I reported aboard the Walton in late 1955 and remained there until April 1959. In 1958 the Walton transferred to San Francisco, Treasure Island as a Reserve Trainer. I still have many fond memories of the West Pac cruises and all the good friends.   

Tom Loftis, SFFN, A & R Division.

Thanks for the story Tom.  You were indeed, a witness to history.  Since you didn’t mention any health problems, we are all glad you survived the radiation exposure.  – Ed

Where the USS Walton Rests….

I have just learned from the Navy Department a few of the particulars regarding the sinking of USS Walton, and want to share them with you.

 She was sunk at 1300T (1:00 pm PDT) on 7 AUG 1969 “after utilization as a test bed for Project Harpoon Wart.” The coordinates of the sinking are latitude 33-09N, longitude 118-50W.

 My unofficial guess is that after Walton was hit and damaged by the Harpoon missile, she was then sunk to dispose of the hulk. And by my very crude calculations, working from the coordinates supplied by the Navy, she now rests on the bottom of the Pacific in about 265 fathoms (some 1600 feet) of water in the southern corner of an “explosives dumping area” approximately 72 nautical miles west (256 degrees magnetic) of Oceanside, California and approximately 14 nm northwest (293 degrees magnetic) of San Clemente Island. I can’t be any more exact than this because I lack detailed coordinates and a good West Coast navigation chart.

 I also do not know from what platform the Harpoon was fired. As you may know, that missile can be launched from aircraft (AGM-84) such as the F/A-18 and P-3C, surface ships (RGM-84) and submarines (UGM-84) against surface targets. Presumably, Walton was expended as a target for a Harpoon warhead test.
 Wish I could tell you more but at least now we know where our ship ended up and how she got there.

 Best regards,

 Ken Sayers

Here are a couple of pictures of her resting place from Herb Mesler, using the coordinates given by Ken.

Thanks go to both Ken and Herb for providing us with this information.  R.I.P. USS Walton (DE 361)!

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!

Walton and Wiseman on Vietnam Patrol

Seeking to verify an Communist infiltration of arms and supplies from Cambodia into the Ca Mau Peninsula and adjacent areas, U.S. and South Vietnamese naval forces mounted a similar effort in the Gulf of Siam. 

Training the Vietnamese Navy in blue-water surveillance operations also became a goal in this area.  Destroyer escorts Wiseman (DE 667) and Walton (DE 361) initiated the combined patrol when they steamed into the gulf on 27 February 1962.  For the next three months, U..S. ships’ radar vectored South Vietnamese ships toward suspicious contacts for boarding and search.  Nonetheless, the gulf’s shallow waters precluded combined operations by U.S. and Vietnamese ships, Thus allowing little opportunity for training.  At the same time, the forces found no appreciable infiltration. 

Accordingly, U.S. participation in the gulf patrol was ended on 21 May, when the ships of Escort Division 72 departed South Vietnamese waters for their scheduled return to the United States.

Thanks to Herb Mesler (RMC) for passing on this article and his picture.  – Ed

The Navy’s Girl in Hong Kong-Mary Soo

Walton sailor, Roy King’s friend in Hong Kong is profiled in this 1954 Collier’s article:

“The first person to greet the U.S. Navy during its visits to Hong Kong was Mary Soo.  Mary didn’t wait for the sailor’s  to come ashore; her 15 foot sampan is bobbing alongside a visiting American warship before the anchor is down.  Mary is forty-one years old, stands four-feet six inches, and has four radiant gold teeth and a three-foot pigtail. She bosses a dozen sampans and 35 Chinese girls.  For the exclusive rights to garbage while a ship is in port, Mary’s girls will scrub down the sides of any ship from a destroyer escort to the slargest aircraft carrier.”

Roy King made tea for Mary Soo and her girls when they were aboard the U.S.S. Walton (DE 361).  Once, in answer to a question, Mary answered, “I no marry, I sleep on Sampan.  I sell garbage for pigs.  I no marry, I take care of Mary.”

Later, Roy heard of Mary Soo’s death at age 101, surrounded by friends and family.  Of Mary Soo’s passing, the article concludes: “Her family mourned her.  So did Hong Kong.  So did thousands of American Seamen.”

Thanks to Herb Mesler (RMC) for passing this article on to me.  – Ed