USS Walke explosion 12 June 1951

Lowe, Merlin Roy
Navy Seaman

Merlin Roy Lowe, age 19, from Beaver Creek, Minnesota, Rock county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Tuesday, June 12, 1951
Death details: Killed aboard the destroyer USS Walke which was was providing anti-submarine protection to carriers from Task Force 77 off the east coast of Wonsan, North Korea, when it was struck on the port side by an enemy mine or torpedo. The force of the explosion tossed many sailors into the water, and those who were injured had a difficult time staying afloat while they waited for rescue. Twenty-six sailors were killed in the explosion and forty were wounded.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Bertain, Robert Eugene
Navy Petty officer 1st class

Robert Eugene Bertain, age 26, from Eureka, California, Humboldt county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Tuesday, June 12, 1951
Death details: On June 12, 1951, the destroyer USS Walke (DD-723) was providing anti-submarine protection to carriers from Task Force 77 off the east coast of Wonsan, North Korea, when it was struck on the port side by an enemy mine or torpedo. The force of the explosion tossed many sailors into the water, and those who were injured had a difficult time staying afloat while they waited for rescue. Twenty-six sailors were killed in the explosion and forty were wounded. Although the ship’s hull was heavily damaged, after the incident the Walke was able to proceed under its own power to Sasebo, Japan, for repairs. Of the men killed in the incident, the remains of eight could not be recovered. During repairs, the remains of seven sailors were recovered from flooded parts of the ship and identified. However, two of those men later became unaccounted-for due to unknown circumstances, so the total number of unaccounted-for sailors from the Walke now stands at ten. Radarman First Class Robert Eugene Bertain, who joined the U.S. Navy from California, served aboard the Walke and was killed in the explosion on June 12. His body could not be recovered. Today, Radarman First Class Bertain is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual’s case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Napa Journal (1951)

Meyers, Harold N.
Navy emp3

Harold N. Meyers, age 37, from Missouri Valley, Iowa, Harrison county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Tuesday, June 12, 1951
Death details: Killed aboard the destroyer USS Walke which was was providing anti-submarine protection to carriers from Task Force 77 off the east coast of Wonsan, North Korea, when it was struck on the port side by an enemy mine or torpedo. The force of the explosion tossed many sailors into the water, and those who were injured had a difficult time staying afloat while they waited for rescue. Twenty-six sailors were killed in the explosion and forty were wounded.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Chewning, Harry John
Navy Petty officer 2nd class

Harry John Chewning, age 31, from Ormond Beach, Florida, Volusia county.

Parents: Marion Schooler
Spouse: Married

Service era: Korea
Military history: World War II veteran

Date of death: Tuesday, June 12, 1951
Death details: On June 12, 1951, the destroyer USS Walke (DD-723) was providing anti-submarine protection to carriers from Task Force 77 off the east coast of Wonsan, North Korea, when it was struck on the port side by an enemy mine or torpedo. The force of the explosion tossed many sailors into the water, and those who were injured had a difficult time staying afloat while they waited for rescue. Twenty-six sailors were killed in the explosion and forty were wounded. Although the ship’s hull was heavily damaged, after the incident the Walke was able to proceed under its own power to Sasebo, Japan, for repairs. Of the men killed in the incident, the remains of eight could not be recovered. During repairs, the remains of seven sailors were recovered from flooded parts of the ship and identified. However, two of those men later became unaccounted-for due to unknown circumstances, so the total number of unaccounted-for sailors from the Walke now stands at ten. Sonarman Second Class Harry John Chewning, who joined the U.S. Navy from Florida, served aboard the Walke. He was killed in the June 12 explosion after his ship struck a mine, and his body was not recovered. Today, Sonarman Second Class Chewning is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual’s case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, The Item (1951)

Milam, Otis Eugene
Navy btg1

Otis Eugene Milam, age 29, from Kansas City, Missouri, Jackson county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Tuesday, June 12, 1951
Death details: Killed aboard the destroyer USS Walke which was was providing anti-submarine protection to carriers from Task Force 77 off the east coast of Wonsan, North Korea, when it was struck on the port side by an enemy mine or torpedo. The force of the explosion tossed many sailors into the water, and those who were injured had a difficult time staying afloat while they waited for rescue. Twenty-six sailors were killed in the explosion and forty were wounded.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Green, Wilba
Navy Petty officer 2nd class

Wilba Green, age 25, from Saint Francis, Arkansas, Clay county.

Parents: Eli Green

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Tuesday, June 12, 1951
Death details: On June 12, 1951, the destroyer USS Walke (DD-723) was providing anti-submarine protection to carriers from Task Force 77 off the east coast of Wonsan, North Korea, when it was struck on the port side by an enemy mine or torpedo. The force of the explosion tossed many sailors into the water, and those who were injured had a difficult time staying afloat while they waited for rescue. Twenty-six sailors were killed in the explosion and forty were wounded. Although the ship’s hull was heavily damaged, after the incident the Walke was able to proceed under its own power to Sasebo, Japan, for repairs. Of the men killed in the incident, the remains of eight could not be recovered. During repairs, the remains of seven sailors were recovered from flooded parts of the ship and identified. However, two of those men later became unaccounted-for due to unknown circumstances, so the total number of unaccounted-for sailors from the Walke now stands at ten. Boilerman Second Class Wilba Green, who joined the U.S. Navy from Arkansas, served aboard the Walke. He was killed in the June 12 explosion after his ship hit a mine, and his remains were not recovered. Today, Boilerman Second Class Green is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual’s case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Delta Democrat Times (1951)

Morton, Ralph Frankline
Navy Fireman

Ralph Frankline Morton, age 18, from Alabama, Etowah county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Tuesday, June 12, 1951
Death details: Killed aboard the destroyer USS Walke which was was providing anti-submarine protection to carriers from Task Force 77 off the east coast of Wonsan, North Korea, when it was struck on the port side by an enemy mine or torpedo. The force of the explosion tossed many sailors into the water, and those who were injured had a difficult time staying afloat while they waited for rescue. Twenty-six sailors were killed in the explosion and forty were wounded.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Hansen, Leonard Harold
Navy Petty officer 1st class

Leonard Harold Hansen, age 26, from Omaha, Nebraska, Douglas county.

Parents: Laurence Hansen

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Tuesday, June 12, 1951
Death details: On June 12, 1951, the destroyer USS Walke (DD-723) was providing anti-submarine protection to carriers from Task Force 77 off the east coast of Wonsan, North Korea, when it was struck on the port side by an enemy mine or torpedo. The force of the explosion tossed many sailors into the water, and those who were injured had a difficult time staying afloat while they waited for rescue. Twenty-six sailors were killed in the explosion and forty were wounded. Although the ship’s hull was heavily damaged, after the incident the Walke was able to proceed under its own power to Sasebo, Japan, for repairs. Of the men killed in the incident, the remains of eight could not be recovered. During repairs, the remains of seven sailors were recovered from flooded parts of the ship and identified. However, two of those men later became unaccounted-for due to unknown circumstances, so the total number of unaccounted-for sailors from the Walke now stands at ten. Boilerman First Class Leonard Harold Hansen, who joined the U.S. Navy from Nebraska, served aboard the Walke. He was killed in the June 12 explosion after his ship hit a mine, and his body was not recovered. Today, Boilerman First Class Hansen is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual’s case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Omaha Evening World Herald (1951)

Musgrove, Richard Dearl
Navy Fireman

Richard Dearl Musgrove, age 19, from Murfreesboro, Arkansas, Pike county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Tuesday, June 12, 1951
Death details: Killed aboard the destroyer USS Walke which was was providing anti-submarine protection to carriers from Task Force 77 off the east coast of Wonsan, North Korea, when it was struck on the port side by an enemy mine or torpedo. The force of the explosion tossed many sailors into the water, and those who were injured had a difficult time staying afloat while they waited for rescue. Twenty-six sailors were killed in the explosion and forty were wounded.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Hart, George Walter Jr.
Navy Petty officer 3rd class

George Walter Jr. Hart, age 25, from Oklahoma, Garfield county.

Spouse: Lois Hart

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Tuesday, June 12, 1951
Death details: On June 12, 1951, the destroyer USS Walke (DD-723) was providing anti-submarine protection to carriers from Task Force 77 off the east coast of Wonsan, North Korea, when it was struck on the port side by an enemy mine or torpedo. The force of the explosion tossed many sailors into the water, and those who were injured had a difficult time staying afloat while they waited for rescue. Twenty-six sailors were killed in the explosion and forty were wounded. Although the ship’s hull was heavily damaged, after the incident the Walke was able to proceed under its own power to Sasebo, Japan, for repairs. Of the men killed in the incident, the remains of eight could not be recovered. During repairs, the remains of seven sailors were recovered from flooded parts of the ship and identified. However, two of those men later became unaccounted-for due to unknown circumstances, so the total number of unaccounted-for sailors from the Walke now stands at ten. Boilerman First Class Leonard Harold Hansen, who joined the U.S. Navy from Nebraska, served aboard the Walke. He was killed in the June 12 explosion after his ship hit a mine, and his body was not recovered. Today, Boilerman First Class Hansen is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual’s case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Enid Events (1951)

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