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	66k	Henry A. Walke was born on Christmas Eve 1809 in Princess Anne County, Va. and was appointed a midshipman on 1 February 1827 and reported for duty at the navy yard at Gosport, Va. (Norfolk). Walke received his initial naval training at Gosport and, from July 1827 to November 1828, cruised the West Indies in sloop Natchez in the campaign against pirates in that area. He made a voyage to the Mediterranean in Ontario between August 1829 and November 1831. Walke received his warrant as a passed midshipman on 12 July 1833 and, after several months of post-sea duty leave, transferred to duty ashore at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 7 March 1834. Between January 1836 and June 1839, he cruised the Pacific Station in the 74-gun ship-of-the-line North Carolina, primarily along the western coast of South America protecting American commerce during a period of unrest caused by strained relations between the United States and Mexico and the war between Peru and Chile. During service in the receiving ship at New York, Walke was promoted to lieutenant before reporting on board Boston on 5 October 1840. While Lt. Walke was assigned to that sloop of war, she made a cruise to the East Indies. Returning home in 1843, he went ashore for an extended leave before returning to sea in the brig Bainbridge in May 1844 for a cruise along the Brazilian coast. He returned home early in 1846 and, after a year assigned to the receiving ship at New York, made an eight-month voyage in Vesuvius20during which his ship participated in the Mexican War, blockading Laguna and supporting landings at Tuxpan and Tabasco. In October 1847, Lt. Walke went home for another extended leave after which he reported back to the receiving ship at New York on 22 September 1848. On 23 June 1849, he returned to sea in Cumberland for a cruise to the Mediterranean which lasted until mid-January 1851. Following a post-voyage leave, he reported to the Naval Observatory on 22 April for a very brief tour before beginning further duty in the receiving ship at New York. That tour lasted three years, from 17 July 1851 to 17 July 1854, but consisted of two distinct periods separated by a very short tour of duty in St. Mary's during September of 1853. In January 1861, as the American Civil War approached, Comdr. Walke found himself on board Supply at Pensacola, Fla. On the 12th, Capt. James Armstrong surrendered the navy yard to Confederate forces from Alabama and Florida. After providing temporary support for the defenders of Fort Pickens who refused to follow Armstrong's example, Walke took off some of the loyal sailors and navy yard employees and got underway for New York on the 16th. After arriving at New York on 4 February, the commander and his ship loaded supplies and reinforcements for Fort Pickens. Supply set sail on 15 March and anchored near the fort on 7 April and landed the troops and supplies. Operations supporting the nascent Union blockade occupied the ship for the next month, at the end of which Walke received orders to New York to take command of one of the Navy's newly acquired steamers. Following that service, during the summer of 1861, and a four-day tour as lighthouse inspector for the 11th District early in September, Walke headed west in response to orders to special duty at St. Louis, Mo. That assignment proved to be the command of Tyler, one of the river gunboats of the Army's Western Flotilla. In September and October, he took his gunboat downriver to bombard Confederate shore batteries at Hickman and Columbus in western Kentucky and traded a few shots with the Confederate gunboat Jackson. Early in November, his ship supported Grant's move on the Southern camp at Belmont, Mo., escorting troop transports, bombarding shore batteries and, finally, covering the withdrawal of Grant's mauled forces. In mid-January 1862, Comdr. Walke assumed command of the ironclad gunboat Carondelet, also assigned to the Western Flotilla. In February 1862, during his tenure as Carondelet's commanding officer, Walke led her during the captures of Forts Henry and Donelson which guarded the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, respectively. In April, he led her in the passing of heavily fortified Island No. 10 and in the attack on and spiking of shore batteries below New Madrid, Mo. From April through the end of June, his ship participated in the drawn-out series of operations against Plum Point Bend, Fort Pillow, and Memphis. On 15 July, Comdr. Walke almost met his match when the Confederate ironclad ram Arkansas made its move down the falling Yazoo River toward Vicksburg. Carondelet supported by Queen of the West and Walke's former command, Tyler, engaged the Southern ironclad. During the brisk opening exchange, Carondelet suffered heavy damage and was forced out of action in a disabled, though floating, condition. Queen of the West retreated immediately, leaving only little Tyler to face the powerful ram. The Southern warship, consequently, made it safely to the stronghold at Vicksburg. On 4 August 1862, Walke was promoted to captain and assumed command of the ironclad ram Lafayette then under conversion from a river steamer at St. Louis. He put her in commission on 27 February 1863 and commanded her during the dash past Vicksburg on 6 April and during the duel with shore batteries at Grand Gulf on the 29th. That summer, his ship briefly blockaded the mouth of the Red River early in June. Later, on 24 July, Capt. Walke was ordered back to the east coast to prepare the sidewheeler Fort Jackson for service. He put her in commission on 18 August 1863 at New York, but his command of that steamer proved brief. On 22 September, he was transferred to the screw sloop Sacramento, which he commanded through the final two years of the Civil War, cruising the South American coast in search of Confederate commerce raiders. On 17 August 1865, he was detached from Sacramento and returned home to await orders. On 31 July 1866, Walke was promoted to Commodore. From 1 May 1868 until 30 April 1870, he commanded the naval station at Mound City, 111. While waiting orders to his next assignment, Walke was promoted to rear admiral on 20 July 1870. He was placed on the retired list on 26 April 1871. However, his service to the Navy did not end for, on that same day, he reported for some variety of special duty under the senior admiral of the Navy, Admiral David Dixon Porter. That tour lasted until 1 October at which time he was appointed to the Lighthouse Board. Detached on 1 April 1873, he retired to a life of writing and sketching until his death on 8 March 1896 at Brooklyn, N.Y. Photo #: NH 66752. Captain Henry Walke, USN photograph taken circa 1863-66, in the uniform of a Captain. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.		Tony Cowart/Robert M. Cieri
	156k	Undated, location unknown. From the collection of Bob Dawson.		Ed Zajkowski
	210k	Undated, location unknown. From the collection of Bob Dawson.		Ed Zajkowski
	188k	Undated, location unknown.		David Buell
	174k	Undated, location unknown.		Tommy Trampp
	129k	Undated, location unknown.		Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
	106k	Undated, location unknown.		Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
	75k	Undated, location unknown.		Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
	126k	Undated, location unknown.		Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
	94k	Receiving mail by boatswain's chair, date and location unknown (probably during World War Two)		Dave Wright
	60k	Photo #: NH 86537, USS Walke (DD-723) sliding down the shipways at the Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, during her launching on 27 October 1943. Photographed by Douglas. Courtesy of Commander Donald J. Robinson, USN(MSC), 1978. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.		Tony Cowart
	60k	USS Walke (DD-723), right centre, and USS Mississippi (BB-41), left centre, cover the landings in Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 9 January 1945. Two other destroyer types are present at each side of the photo. Walke is painted in what appears to be Camouflage Measure 31, Design 25D. Mississippi's camouflage is Measure 32, Design 6D (USN Photo No 80-K-G-2516).		Robert Hurst
	84k	USS Walke (DD-723) covering the landings in Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, Philippine Islands, 9 January 1945. This slightly blurry image is cropped from Photo #: 80-G-K-2516 to emphasize Walke's camouflage pattern, which appears to be Camouflage Measure 31, Design 25D. Source: United States National Archives, Photo No.: 80-G-K-2516 cropped-right.		Mike Green
	109k	Navy Photo 887-45, view of the battle damage to USS Walke (DD 723) upon her arrival at Mare Island on 6 Feb 1945 for repairs. She departed the yard on 4 April 1945.		Darryl Baker
	110k	Photo #: 19-N-84480, USS Walke (DD-723) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 24 March 1945. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.		Tony Cowart
	102k	Photo #: 19-N-84479, USS Walke (DD-723) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 24 March 1945. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.		Tony Cowart
	92k	Photo #: NH 99807, USS Walke (DD-723) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, 24 March 1945. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.		Tony Cowart
	90k	Photo #: 19-N-84482, USS Walke (DD-723) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 24 March 1945. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.		Tony Cowart
	85k	Photo #: NH 99808, USS Walke (DD-723) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, 24 March 1945. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.		Tony Cowart
	90k	Photo #: 19-N-84484, USS Walke (DD-723) plan view, forward, taken at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 26 March 1945. USS Halford (DD-480) is at right, with her bow shortened as the result of a collision with the M.S. Terry E. Stephenson in Saipan harbor on 14 February 1945. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.		Tony Cowart
	107k	Photo #: 19-N-84485, USS Walke (DD-723) plan view, amidships, taken at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 26 March 1945. Note her K-Gun depth charge throwers and quadruple 40mm gun mounts. Ship in the foreground is USS Halford (DD-480). White outlines mark recent alterations to Walke.		Tony Cowart
	141k	Photo #: 19-N-84486, USS Walke (DD-723) plan view, aft, taken at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 26 March 1945. Note her stern depth charge installation, after 20mm machine gun position, 5"/38 twin gun mount and quintuple 21-inch torpedo tubes. Ship in the foreground is USS Halford (DD-480). Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.		Tony Cowart
0572372	91k	USS Walke pulling alongside USS Putnam during operations of TF32 off Okinawa, 05 July 1945. From the George Hansen collection.		Eric Hansen and John Chiquoine
0572373	95k	As asbove.		Eric Hansen and John Chiquoine
0572374	90k	As asbove.		Eric Hansen and John Chiquoine
	107k	Circa 1950's, location unknown.		Marc Piché
From the collection of Bob Dawson, who was a radarman aboard USS WALKE during the Korean War. The damage photos are the results of a mine explosion on June 12 1951 which killed 26 men, and wounded another 40 sailors.				Tim Rizzuto, Executive Director, USS SLATER Destroyer Escort Historical Museum
	102k	June 14 1951 location unknown.		Marc Piché
	109k	On 9 August 1951, the battle scarred USS Walke (DD-723) returns to West Coast. Veteran of the Korean War, the battle-scarred destroyer and ties up alongside the USS Stickell (DD-888) at Navy Pier, San Diego, upon their return to the west coast. The first re-commissioned destroyer of the Korean campaign, the Walke returns with hearts heavy from the loss of 26 of their men when the ship was blasted by an underwater explosion off the east coast of Korea. Although severely damaged she managed to steam to San Diego with Stickell, who acted as escort. Wives, sweethearts, parents and friends numbering nearly 300 jammed the gate at the entrance of the pier attempting to be one of the first to greet these returning heroes. 9 August 1951 Source: Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo No. NH 108849.		Mike Green
	109k	Award ceremonies at San Francisco Naval Shipyard on 16 November 1951. These crew members were awarded the Silver Star for their action on 12 June 1951. Left to right: Charles W. Akins, Little Rock, AR; Donald P. Colins, Oakland; CA; George L. Echtle, Yelm, WA; and LTJG George H. Lewis, Baton Rouge, LA; CDR M. F. Thompson, Commanding Officer, presented the awards.		Darryl Baker
	88k	USS Walke (DD-723) off Korea circa 1952-53.		Mike Green
	88k	Taken from USS O'Brien (DD-725) in the Japanese Inland Sea summer 1952.		Roy C. Thomas
	785k	Walke (DD-723) underway at sea in Far Eastern waters, 23 November 1953. Photographed by W.L. Fowler, of USS Yorktown (CVA-10). Note that Walke has been refitted with 3/50 guns by this time, replacing her original 40mm battery. Naval History & Heritage Command photo NH 99810		Tony Cowart Robert Hurst
	111k	Photo #: NH 99814, USS Walke (DD-723) off the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California, 11 October 1961, at the completion of her FRAM II modernization. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.		Tony Cowart
	93k	Photo #: NH 99815, USS Walke (DD-723) off the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California, 11 October 1961, at the completion of her FRAM II modernization. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.		Tony Cowart
	105k	Photo #: NH 99816, USS Walke (DD-723) off the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California, 11 October 1961, at the completion of her FRAM II modernization. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.		Tony Cowart
	94k	Photo #: NH 99817, USS Walke (DD-723) off the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California, 11 October 1961, at the completion of her FRAM II modernization. Note the variable depth sonar installation on her fantail. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.		Tony Cowart
	99k	Photo #: NH 99813, USS Walke (DD-723) seen from directly ahead while off the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California, 11 October 1961. She had just completed her FRAM II modernization. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.		Tony Cowart
	101k	Photo #: NH 99818, USS Walke (DD-723) seen from directly astern while off the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California, 11 October 1961, at the completion of her FRAM II modernization. Note the variable depth sonar installation on her fantail, and stern navigation lights atop a tripod on her starboard quarter. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.		Tony Cowart
	96k	USS Walke (DD-723) off the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California, 11 October 1961, at the completion of her FRAM II modernization. Source:  Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo No. NH 99815.		Mike Green
Change of Command pamphlet - May 16 1963				Ray Harves
	138k	1965 on West Pac deployment.		Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
	95k	USS Walke (DD-723), refueling from the British Carrier HMS Victorious (R 38) in May, 1965 during the SEATO Exercise Seahorse. The huge 'Seaborn Supermarket' operation involved the transfer of fuel, ammunition and stores among ships of the British, Australian, Thailand and United States Navies. Source: Imperial War Museum Admiralty Official Collection, Photo No. © IWM (A 34961).		Mike Green
	167k	The U.S. Navy fast combat support ship USS Sacramento (AOE-1) refuels the combat stores ship USS Mars (AFS-1) and the destroyer USS Walke (DD-723) during a Western Pacific deployment, circa 1966.		Mike Green
	83k	Photo #: NH 99811, USS Walke (DD-723) at sea in May 1966. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.		Don Scott, YNCS (SS) USN (Ret.)/Tony Cowart
	110k	Photo #: NH 99812, USS Walke (DD-723) underway in the western Pacific while en route to Yokosuka, Japan, 28 September 1967. Walke was then operating with USS Kearsarge (CVS-33). Photographed by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class J.C. Thompson. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.		Tony Cowart
	95k	The ship's patch was designed by crew member Ronald G. Bauer in 1962 based on the actual family crest and motto of the Civil War naval hero after whom the USS Walke was named.		Mike Smolinski/Ronald G. Bauer
Click here to see our Special Feature - Interior Views of Sumner Class Destroyers as Built

CDR John Crawford Zahm    Jan 21 1944 - Nov 26 1944

CDR George Fleming Davis    Nov 26 1944 - Jan 6 1945 (Killed in action)

LT John Simeon Burns    Jan 6 1945 - Feb 12 1945 (Acting)

CDR John Frink McGillis    Feb 12 1945 - Apr 17 1947

LCDR Bennett Olheim    Apr 17 1947 - Jun 30 1947

(Decommissioned Jun 30 1947 - Oct 5 1950)

CDR Marshall Fery Thompson    Oct 5 1950 - Nov 12 1951

CDR Frank Anthony Zimanski    Nov 12 1951 - Jun 30 1953

CDR Walter Miller Ousey    Jun 30 1953 - Jul 15 1955

CDR Paul Haynes Shropshire Jr.    Jul 15 1955 - Oct 11 1957

CDR Jacob (Jack) Scapa    Oct 11 1957 - Mar 14 1959

CDR Robert Edward Fitzgerald    Mar 14 1959 - Apr 2 1961

CDR Harlan Lon Cheney    Apr 2 1961 - May 16 1964

CDR Josef McGinley Seger    May 16 1964 - Dec 30 1964

CDR Robert Kenneth Thompson    Dec 30 1964 - Aug 3 1966

CDR Robert Ennis    Aug 3 1966 - Oct 10 1968

CDR Watson Thomas    Oct 4 1968 - Dec 1 1968

LCDR Jack Manuel Hix    Dec 1 1968 - Feb 16 1970

LCDR Irving Ken Goto    Feb 16 1970 - Nov 30 1970