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

USS Walton & USS Edmonds together in 2010!

At this years reunion we discussed a request by the USS Edmonds group to join the Walton reunion group in 2010.  We all agreed that would be a good idea since we often steamed together during the long life of the two ships and many of us have friends who were on the Edmonds.

So, if you have a friend who was on the Edmonds, let them know we will be together in San Diego for 2010 and encourage them to join us. 

San Diego should have lots to do and see.  Most went to “Boot Camp” there and there are historical ships, cruises of the harbor, nautical museums, excellent food, etc. in the area. 

Start setting aside the second week in October 2010 on your calenders for the reunion.  I look forward to seeing you there.

2009 Walton Reunion a Great Success!

Hello fellow shipmates!

Well, the 2009 USS Walton reunion is now history.  There were 31 of us, including wives, at the Staybridge Suites in New Orleans, where we were well fed, well entertained, and well cared for. 

If you’ve not been to New Orleans, you’ve missed a real treat.  The food alone made me want to emigrate to the “Big Easy.”  We ate at Mother’s across the street where my diabetes was abused with some of the best bread pudding I’ve eaten in years.  As a group, we attended the WWII museum,  took a evening dinner cruise on the “Natchez,” (One of the last true steam paddlewheelers still operating), and finished with a ride on two beautifully restored railroad cars up onto the Huey Long Bridge.  In between, we told sea stories, caught up with old friends, remembered those who are no longer with us, and just generally had a good time.

Next year will be in San Diego the middle of October and I hope that those of you who were not able to make it this year will be there in 2010!

Many thanks go to Mary & Jerry Hudson for making many the arrangements, and to Carolyn and Tony Gaspar who arranged the beautiful train ride, suggested places to see in their hometown, and helped Mary with some of the arrangements.

I’ll have pictures for you a little later.  – Ed

Wakee! Wakee!, Rise and Shine by Tony Gaspar (BT2)

Back in 1959 the Walton had a tradition of a Bosun’s Mate piping Reveille.  You old farts remember that, don’t you?  “Reveille, reveille.  All hands heave out and trice up! Reveille.”   Well, it seems that our Storekeeper, Robbie Mizel, had just about enough of the piping and the reveille and decided to wait for his chance to improve upon this Navy tradition.

One morning the crew heard their traditional Reveille but within a few short minutes were startled to hear another voice over the 1MC with this message. “Wakee, wakee, rise and shine, the cooks in the kitchen and the chows on the line.  Wakee, wakee! Rise and Shine!”

Well, no sooner had that inspiring message finished when Captain McGill came out of the wardroom heading for the passageway to try and catch the culprit who dared to change Walton’s standard morning message.  Unfortunately, for the captain, Mizel had anticipated that he might meet with official disapproval from the more traditional officers and had ducked down into the engine room.  Of course, no one saw anything, knew anything, or told anything and the Captain left without finding out the culprit’s name.

Of course, our Bos’un want-to-be, never used his Wakee, wakee, message again, so the traditional Walton reville message was used up until She passed from the Navy rolls.  Pity, since his fellow shipmates talk fondly of that message…. even to this day. 

Hit him again, Mishue! 1962 by Lou Bodiford (SN)

Back in 1962, while I was coming back on the bus from the ship’s party in Oahu, I witnessed an interesting occurrence.  It was late and almost everyone on the bus was drunk, and I was only slightly less drunk than most of the others but still aware of my surroundings.  One of the crew members on the bus was a 1st class Signalman named Simpson.  Many of us thought Simpson could be a jerk at times but then again, he was not alone in this talent.  Still, he was tall, pretty good build, and of course, a 1st class.  One of the other sailors on the bus was Mishue, 3rd class cook, shorter and less well built.  Apparently, there was bad blood between Mishue and Simpson but I didn’t know that at the time.  Knowing the two of them, I would bet that Simpson could probably kick Mishue’s ass if it came to that.

Anyway, everybody on the bus was quite, either sleeping or resting with their eyes shut, hoping to die and swearing they would never drink again.  I was in this latter group.  I heard someone get up from their seat in the front of the bus and opened my eyes to see what was going on.  Mishue, the cook, who I always liked and thought was a funny guy to be around, had gotten up and headed towards the back of the bus, and passed me on the way.  I looked to see where he was going and wondered why he had gotten up.   Well, he stopped in front of Simpson who was totally drunk and sleeping and sitting near the back.  He bent over Simpson, gave him two fast, powerful punches to the face and then went and sat back down in the front of the bus.  Simpson bounced back a little, didn’t react to much, but stayed seated and eventually looked around at a bus full of sleeping sailors, no doubt wondering why his face hurt. 

I said, “Holy Shit! and waited to see what was going to happen.  The bus arrived back at the ship, everyone was awakened and got off the bus, Simpson rubbed his face, and somehow made it back on board.   The next day, Simpson did come up to the Supply berthing area and asked Mishue if he had hit him on the bus.  Mishue, the 3rd class, said he had no idea what Simpson was talking about.  Simpson apparently had enough enemies that he couldn’t be sure it was Mishue since he didn’t do anything about it.  Either that our he was afraid that Mishue might cut his throat while he slept.  Who knows for sure.

As far as I know, no more was said, Mishue had taken advantage of his opportunity to get back at Simpson for some perceived wrong, and life aboard the Walton went on.  

P.S. : Of course, the names have been changed to protect the guilty.  

Buy Your USS Walton Hat!

Hey Walton Crew Members,

I know that some of you would like to be able to show the world, or at least your neighborhood, that you served aboard the USS Walton (DE 361), one of the best and friendliest ships in the Navy.  Well, here’s your chance.    We have a limited number of hats that Mary Hudson was selling at our reunion and she would love to have Walton sailors (or supporters) wearing them.

So, you want one?  If so, contact

Mary & Jerry Hudson, 4750 Co. Road 480, Tebbetts, MO, 65080, marjer67@ktis.net   1 573-291-1922

Price is a reasonable $15.00 and she’ll have the hat on it’s way in time for you to wear it at our next reunion.    Here’s a picture of the hat.

LTjg John D. Stempel writes book on Iran

For those aboard the Walton on the 61-62 WesPac cruise, you will remember Mr. Stempel, the CIC Officer.  He was a tall, 23 year old pup back then but is now a “mature” seasoned professor at the University of Kentucky and has written several books.  I think you will enjoy reading the “inside scoop” from someone we know and trust. The details of his latest book follow and you may want to order it.  I know I am. 

The Clark Group is pleased to announce the release of the second edition of Inside the Iranian Revolution, by John D. Stempel. Dr.Stempel is a Senior Professor of International Relations at the University of Kentucky’s Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce and served as the school’s director from 1993-2003.

The book offers a view to the public they rarely see as Stempel explores the past and present between the U.S. and Iran.  Because Stempel was a deeply involved diplomatic participant to the Iranian Revolution, he released his first edition of this book after his return from Iran and his time spent in Tehran during the revolution. Stempel, who knew those from both sides intimately, gives on-target assessments of key players and their roles in key events.
You can order a copy of this second edition directly from our website in either  hardcover  or softcover.
 

John D. Stempel is a career U.S. Foreign Service Officer (1965-1988), and spent four tumultuous years as deputy chief of the political section of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran (1975-79). His service in Tehran included being principal liaison with the opposition groups and Deputy Political Chief at the U.S. Embassy in February 1979 when it was taken over by student revolutionaries for the first time.  John helped to negotiate the release of a U.S. Marine who was taken hostage in that incident.  John is a member of the NY Council on Foreign Relations and has been in Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in the World for some years.
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