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

San Diego’s Naval Training Center postcards

Herb Mesler found these and sent them along.  Thanks Herb.

For all of you who did your “Boot Camp” in San Diego, these should bring back memories.  By the way, if you attend this years Walton Reunion in San Diego, we’ll be doing a tour of this facility.  Talk about a “flash from the past!”  Another reason to sign up for the reunion.  

And, of course, it starts all over again!  Over here boot!

USS Slater (DE 766) Video

I thought I’d pass this along on this page instead of under video links. 

The USS Slater (DE 766) is the only remaining DE afloat.  Last Saturday was DE Day, to honor all those who served in DE’s.  This video tells the story of the USS Slater and of DE’s in general and the efforts to honor the contribution of DE’s by saving the Slater.  If you’re in New York, I’m sure you’ll want to visit.       ;-)

I think you’ll find it of interest. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hJEJzZaOPo&feature=related

Navy Pin-Up Girl Posters

Since we’ve been putting up patriotic posters from WWII, it seems only fitting that we put up some other posters that motivated our sailors and kept them fighting.  Here are a series of  ”Pin-Up Girls” that should encourage any red blooded American male to join the fleet! 

 And this last pin-up could be found anywhere, not restricted to any branch of the service.  It is:

Betty Grable, 1943

Navy Posters from WWII – page 2

Here are some more Navy posters from WWII.  Some good stuff for a total effort to win the war.  Thanks to Herb Mesler for finding these additional posters.

Navy Posters from WWII – page 1

This was a time when nobody knew who was going to win the greatest war in history.  It was a total national effort.  It’s worth remembering.  Thanks to Jim Smith (RD3) for passing these on.

Let’s hope our children and grandchildren never forget the sacrifice that these folks made for our freedom.  As the man says, “Freedom isn’t free!”

Destroyer Escort Day – Third Sat. in June

Did you know we had a Destroyer Escort Day?   Neither did I.  Destroyer Escort day is commemorated on the third Saturday in June of each year, to honor the 10 DE’s which were sunk and 1300+ destroyer escort sailors who gave their lives in WWII. 

DE Day is remembered each year on the USS Slater (DE 766) museum ship in New York harbor.  She is the only DE that remains afloat. Here is a report from their newsletter.

  Speaking of old veterans, we remembered DE day for the eleventh year in Albany. Paul Czesak and Bob Donlon put together an impressive ceremony with the help of Tom Sawyer from the Saratoga National Honor Guard, Steve Stella, Ken Kaskoun and a strong contingent of Sea Cadets. We had an impressive list of dignitaries aboard this year that included speeches by Albany Mayor Gerald Jennings, U.S. Congressman Michael McNulty, Assembly member John McEneny, Rensselaer County Executive Kathleen Jimino, and Mike Russo representing Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand. The Master of Ceremony was CDR William Kraus, SC USNR and Executive Deputy Director, New York State Division of Veterans Affairs. The commemoration dates back to an original proposal by the Statue of Liberty Chapter of DESA that was presented to the DESA membership in 1990 at the Baltimore Convention. They approved the third Saturday in June as the National Date for the Chapters to remember their departed shipmates around the country.

Here’s a link to her website.  If you’re ever in New York, you may want to go by and see her.      http://www.ussslater.org/