Sheldon Toomer with more memories from DD-747, 1961 through 1965

Since 12-04-03

Sheldon Toomer, 1961-1965; 

DEAR BOB, I SENT TO YOU A LARGE PACKAGE WITH 98% OF WHAT IS IN THE 1964 WEST PAC CRUISE OF THE RAMMING SAMMY. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE PART LETTER FROM RADM RAYMOND M. WALSH, HE WAS GUNNERY OFFICER WHILE I WAS ON BOARD. HE WAS ALSO ONE OF THE BEST JUNIOR OFFICERS AND I KNEW HE WAS GOING TO STAY IN THE NAVY AND WOULD DO WELL.. IF IT WASN'T FOR HIM I NEVER WOULD HAVE GONE TO ANTI SUBMARINE SCHOOL IN SAN DIEGO.

RADM WALSH HELPED ME A LOT, I HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COMING BACK FROM THE WES PAC CRUISE . I SPENT 28 DAYS ON THE USS HAVEN , HOSPITAL SHIP , WHEN I CAME BACK TO SAMMY CAPT CERNEY WANTED TO SEE ME IN HIS STATE ROOM , HE WAS RECOMMENDING FOR LDO, I WISH I COULD HAVE TALKED WITH LT WALSH ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I MAY HAVE REENLISTED AND TOOK MY CHANCES OF PASSING THE TEST. I THINK LT WALSH HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE OFFER.

CAPT CERNEY JUST DIDN'T GIVE ME ANY IMPRESSION HE CARED FOR ANYONE TO GET AHEAD IN THE NAVY. I ONLY HAD ABOUT TWO WEEKS LEFT IN THE NAVY SO WHEN I TOLD CAPT CERNEY , I WAS TRANSFERRED TO LONG BEACH NAVAL STATION FOR DISCHARGE.

IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ON MY MIND ABOUT THIS, I ALWAYS WONDERED IF LT WALSH THEN WAS BEHIND IT AND I WISH I COULD HAVE WENT BACK TO SAMMY AND ASKED HIM BECAUSE IT MAY HAVE MADE DIFFERENCE IN MY DECISION. I WOULD HAVE TRUSTED LT WALSH AND NOT CAPT CERNEY.

I REMEMBER THE 30 TO 45 DEGREE ROLLS THAT RADM WALSH WAS WRITING ABOUT.

I ALSO REMEMBER THE RUSSIAN DESTROYER COMING SO CLOSE TO US WE COULD ALMOST SHAKE HANDS WITH THE OTHER SAILORS ON DECK. I GUESS THEY WERE TRYING TO SCARE US OUT OF THE SEA OF JAPAN. I GUESS MY MEMORY ISN'T 100%,

I THOUGHT WE REAR ENDED AN OILER IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA IN 1964 BUT RADM WALSH STATES IT HAPPEN IN 1963 HITTING THE USS GRAFIAS.

I DO REMEMBER THE (FRAM) MOD THAT NEVER HAPPENED, ALL INVOLVED HAD TO FILL OUT SECRET CLEARANCE PAPER WORK BECAUSE OF THE NUCLEAR WEAPONS. AS YOU KNOW BEING A TORPEDOMAN ABOUT ASROC ROCKET, THROWN DEPT CHARGE AND TORPEDO.

ANY WAY HOW ABOUT NAVY BEATING AIR FORCE THIS WEEK, THERE LEADING THE NATION IN RUSHING AND I BELIEVE THEY ARE UNDEFEATED THEY SHOULD BEAT NOTRE DAME AND ARMY THIS YEAR.

BY THE WAY WHEN YOU GET MY PACKAGE , MID- SHIPMAN FREDRICK J. BRUSH JR RAN THE WINNING TOUCH DOWN AGAINST ARMY 1963 SEASON. HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABOARD THE USS BRUSH DD-745. I DON'T KNOW IF HE WAS RELATED.

LET ME KNOW IF YOU GET THE PACKAGE, I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN IT A LOT SOONER TO YOU ITS PROBABLY TO LATE. GOD BLESS.