OUR
FATE
The day after arriving in
Charleston, Dec 4th, the WILKES reported to the Charleston, SC, Group of the
Atlantic Reserve Fleet, for decommissioning. There were about 75 or so cans in our
class, which were to be placed in "Moth Balls", over the next few months. With very few exceptions, destroyers
in the older classes than the "W" were promptly decommissioned/used as target
ships in Bikini atom tests or scrapped.
Only a few ships of our Class were kept in operation or sold/given to
other countries. The NICK had a
reprieve and was assigned as a Naval Reserve training ship in the Third Naval
District in NYC. She had a cameo
appearance in a Frank Sinatra/Gene Kelly movie. June 1951 she was sold/given to the
Italian Navy, where her new name was AVIERE. Her ultimate fate is
unknown.
China got the following
ships: BENSON, HILLARY P. JONES,
PLUNKETT, RODMAN.
Italy got: WOODWORTH,
NICHOLSON
Greece got: ELBERLE,
LUDLOW.
Japan received: ELLYSON.
MACOMB.
Turkey received: BUCHANAN,
LANDSDOWNE, LANDNER, McCALLA.
Under the direction of the
Reserve Fleet people, our personnel started down the road to
decommissioning. We off loaded
our ammo, supplies, except for spare parts for on board equipment. Fuel, except for a small amount, was
pumped out. Then a complete
cleanup of the entire ship started.
Even the bilges, boilers and under the boilers, had to be thoroughly
cleaned. After all the rust,
dirt, and grease had been removed, the ship was painted inside and out. In the meantime, all equipment,
engineering, radio, radar, gunnery, etc. was brought up to par. At that time, there was some hope that
some honorable use would be found for such a Gallant Ship. However that was not to be.
Almost immediately there
was a draw down of personnel.
There was no further need for signalmen, quartermasters, radiomen,
radarmen, fire controlmen, etc.
People were either transferred to other ships, or discharged as they
got "sufficient points." Berthing
and messing facilities were gradually phased out, as the ship approached the
decommissioning date.
March 4, 1946 was the
fateful day. All hands were
mustered on deck. Captain Rommel
spoke to the crew for the final time.
The flag was taken down, as was the jack and commissioning
pennant. It was a sad time for
all. Shortly, after farewells to
old shipmates, all hands proceeded to the next phase of their
lives.
The WILKES now belonged to
the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. No
more open seas and skies, hurricanes/typhoons, enemy ships, planes or shore
fire to be delivered. ALL WAS
QUIET ON THE WILKES, for the
first time in almost 5 years.
The Reserve Fleet's people
took over and finished up the job.
Unpainted, exposed metal was sprayed with a protective coating. The guns were covered in "cocoons",
turrets sealed. Dehumidifiers were installed, along with their duct work, to
prevent rusting, mildew and retard general aging. Then all hatches were sealed
and the ship was completely secured and sealed, except for one hatch left
unsealed for routine inspections.
Sometime between 1946 and
1971, the ship was towed from Charleston to the Inactive Ship Facility,
Orange, Texas. July 7, 1968, her
name was cancelled so another WILKES (a Survey ship) T-AGS-33 could have the
WILKES' name.
DEATH KNELL -- Feb 8, 1971
the Navy finally decided: "Considering present and future warfare
requirements, the cost to activate, repair, and modernize the WILKES, are
disproportionate to the value of the ship. The President, Board of Inspection and
Survey, has found the WILKES (DD 441), unfit for further Naval service and
recommended that the ship be stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on March
1, 1971. Feb 11, 1971, the
Secretary of the Navy concurred and the WILKES was so stricken.
Even in death, the WILKES
proved to be superior. Bids were
taken and she was sold to the Southern Scrap Material Co, New Orleans, La, for
scrap, for $69,000. The SWANSON
brought $67,000, the GLEAVES- $67,000.
Only $57,000 was bid for the MURPHY.
1030, July 18, 1072, the
WILKES departed Orange, Texas, under the tow by the tug, ELAINE, of the Sneed
Towing Co, Orange, Texas, bound for New Orleans and death in the "breakers
yard."
Thus ended the saga of a
gallant ship, who did well by all those who sailed on her. This book is in tribute to her
and all who served on her.
HER COMMANDING
OFFICERS
JOHN KELSEY
4/22/41-4/27/42
JOHN McLEAN
4/27/42-2/18/43
FREDERICK WOLSIEFFER
2/18/43-8/19/44
FRED MC ENTIRE
8/19/44-3/8/45
HERBERT ROMMEL
3/8/45-3/4/46
As the ship was being
decommissioned, the crew put together a fine book. The Captain and Commodore wrote
messages that still have meaning 55+ years later.
"FROM THE
CAPTAIN--
It was love at first
sight. I think it was those beautiful curves that did it that afternoon when I
first saw the WILKES. She has
brains, too. How else could we have missed that LST anchor chain at
Kerama?
A ship lived by the hearts
and minds of those living with her.
I knew right away the Captain McEntire had given me a happy ship. I soon learned that he had also turned
over an efficient ship. I still
marvel at and appreciate the WILKES
spirit-the extra volunteer lookouts, when we searched for downed
pilots-the way each man did his job with a devotion to duty which cannot be
commanded, but only given.
I am proud of the WILKES,
proud of her victory garden, her appearance, her reputation as a "feeder", and
proud of the attitude and performance of her officers and men.
HERBERT ROMMEL,
COMMANDING, U.S.S. WILKES
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A few at a time, we are
going home. Soon we will
scattered over the entire country, busy with out own thoughts and lives. We have just ended a phase of a great
crisis in history. The shooting
is over. For us the end was quite
enough. At home the celebration
was both great and noisy.
Not so many years ago, I
took part in just such a celebration: Armistice Day, Nov 11, 1918. The end of "The War to End All War." Though many of you, who fought this
war on the WILKES, were not born then, that celebration was only a short time
ago. Yet in so short a time, we
have just closed another bloody, tragic war. Again we hope this war has ended all
war, at least within our time and that of our children and
grandchildren.
But will it? Will some of you and most of your sons
and likely your daughters, too, be fighting a war 25 short years from
now? We hope not. But so did your parents hope that in
1918.
You are now going home to
the life you intend to live. Make
the most of it. To all of you, my
best wishes for happiness and success.
But in parting, I ask a favor of each of you. not for myself, but for
us all. Keep yourself abreast of
the times, keep up with events, do your part to see that we, as the most
powerful group of individuals on earth, use our power wisely and unselfishly
to keep the world at peace.
It won't be easy. It can't be done by saying that it is
none of our business as we did before, and many will say again. Under our system they have their right
to say what they wish. But under
our system you, each and every one, have your right, too. You have just fought the good
fight. Now do your part to make
fighting unnecessary. It can be
done. Use your political
franchise to guide the nation and the world wisely along the path to peace on
earth, good will towards
men.
It can be done. It rests with you.
ROBERT BRODIE-CDD-14
There is an age old Hymn
that set the mood in 1946:
"THE STRIFE IS O'ER, THE
BATTLE DONE:
THE VICTORY OF LIFE IS
WON:
THE SONG OF TRIUMPH HAS
BEGUN-----
ALLELUIA