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| 59k | Littleton Waller Tazewell Waller was born in York County, Va., on 26 September 1856 and was appointed as a second lieutenant of Marines on 24 June 1880 and served initial tours of successive shore duty at the Marine Barracks in Norfolk, Va., and Washington, D.C. Going to sea in Lancaster, the flagship of the European Squadron, in 1881, Waller participated in the landing of a mixed bluejacket and marine landing force at Alexandria, Egypt, during a serious local uprising in the summer of 1882. The timely arrival of the ships of the European Squadron and their landing forces gave protection to the American consulate and to American citizens and interests and also afforded a refuge for the citizens of other nations who had been displaced from their homes or businesses. Later, after tours of shore duty at Norfolk and Washington; and at sea in Iroquois, Tallapoosa, and Lancaster-—he served in Indiana (Battleship No. 1) during the Spanish-American War and was in that vessel during the Battle of Santiago on 3 July 1898. During this naval engagement, Spanish Admiral Cervera's fleet was totally destroyed by the American fleet waiting just outside the harbor. The Spanish-American War left the United States with a new colonial empire and increased the nation's responsibilities in world affairs. Waller played a part in America's colonial expansion into the second decade of the 20th century. While stationed at the naval station at Cavite early in 1900, Waller was ordered to command a detachment of marines assigned to take part in the expedition mounted to relieve the siege of Tientsin. This city, with its enclave of foreign nationals, was besieged by a mixed force of "Boxers" and Chinese Imperial troops supporting them. Accordingly, Waller and his men arrived at Taku, China, on 19 June 1900, soon moved inland, and linked up with a Russian column of 400 men. At 0200 on the 21st, this small combined force set out for Tientsin, arrayed against a Chinese contingent of some 1,500 to 2,000 men. Outnumbered from the start, the column came under heavy enemy fire and was forced to retreat, with the Russians in the lead. In a desperate rear-guard action, Waller and his marines— leaving their dead behind and dragging their wounded with them—fought off the numerically superior (but less aggressive) Chinese forces and reached safety. Waller's detachment immediately returned to duty, attached to a British column led by Comdr. Christopher Craddock. At 0400 on the 24th, an international army—consisting of Italian, German, Japanese, Russian, British, and American forces—set out again for Tientsin. Finding the enemy at 0700, a bitter fight ensued until 1230, when the Allied force reached the city and broke the siege. After participating in the final fighting for the city of Tientsin from 13 to 14 July, Waller and his men took possession of the American sector and brought order out of the havoc caused by the Chinese retreat. Promoted by brevet to lieutenant colonel and advanced two numbers in grade for his performance of duty at Tientsin, Littleton Waller was commended in 1903 by Brigadier General A. S. Daggett, U.S. Army, Ret., in his book, America in the China Relief Expedition. He recalled that the marine had ". . . participated willingly and energetically . . ." with the Allies ". . . in all movements against the enemy . . ." and that ". . . he and his officers and men . . . reflected credit upon American valor . . . ." Remaining in the Far East for a short time more, Waller led a detachment of marines which defeated Philippine insurgents in a battle at Sohoton on 5 November 1901. Later, he led an expedition across the island of Samar, from 28 December 1901 to 6 January 1902 - subduing insurrectionists there under great climatic hardships - his battalion returning to Cavite on 2 March. Returning to the United States soon thereafter, Waller served in charge of recruiting in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and western New Jersey into 1903 and commanded, in succession, the Provisional Regiment of Marines on the Isthmus of Panama in 1904; the expeditionary forces on the island of Cuba from 1906 and rose to command the Provisional Brigade in Cuba by 1911. He later commanded the Marine Barracks at the Mare Island Navy Yard from 1911 to 1914 and the First Brigade of marines during service at Vera Cruz in Mexico in 1914 before being appointed to command marines in Haiti in 1915. Waller's troops crushed all armed resistance to the American occupation of the country and restored some semblance of peace and order to Haiti. Promoted to brigadier general on 29 August 1916 and to major general on 29 August 1918, Waller closed out his active duty in the Marine Corps as Commander of the Advanced Base Force at Philadelphia from 8 January 1917 until his retirement in June 1920. Major General Waller lived in retirement in Philadelphia until his death on 13 July 1926. Digital ID: ggbain 24705, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. | Bill Gonyo |
| 82k | Artist's conception of the Waller as she appeared after original construction by the renowned graphic illustrator John Barrett with the text written by naval author and historian Robert F. Sumrall. Their company Navy Yard Associates offers prints of most destroyers, destroyer escorts, submarines and aircraft carriers in various configurations during the ship's lifetime. The prints can be customized with ship's patches, your photograph, your bio, etc. If you decide to purchase artwork from them please indicate that you heard about their work from NavSource. | Navy Yard Associates |
| 59k | Undated, location unknown. | - |
| 79k | Undated, location unknown. | - |
| 49k | Inclining test at the Bath Iron Works, August 27 1943. | Pieter Bakels |
| 78k | A view in camouflage in 1944 used in a Recognition ID packet. The ship is painted in camouflage Measure 32, Design 7d. | John Chiquoine |
| 99k | A view in camouflage in 1944 used in a Recognition ID packet. | John Chiquoine |
| 91k | Task Group ALFA, formation portrait of the anti-submarine group's ships and aircraft, taken during 1959 exercises in the Atlantic, while Secretary of the Navy William B. Franke was embarked. Ships include the group flagship, USS Valley Forge (CVS-45) in center, two submarines, and seven destroyers. Identifiable among the latter are USS Eaton (DDE-510) at left front, USS Beale (DDE-471) following Eaton, USS Waller (DDE-466) in the center foreground, and USS Conway (DDE-507) at right front. Aircraft overhead include two formations of S2F "Trackers" from the Valley Forge air group, plus one shore-based P2V "Neptune" from Norfolk Naval Air Station, Virginia. Two HSS-1 helicopters are flying low, directly over the submarines. Official U.S. Navy Photograph. | Fred Weiss |
| 105k | As above, different view. | Fred Weiss |
| 144k | USS Valley Forge (CVS-45) Steams in formation with other units of Task Force ALFA, during anti-submarine exercises in the Atlantic, 1959. The other ships present are (from left): USS Murray (DDE-576), USS Beale (DDE-471), USS Bache (DDE-470), USS Eaton (DDE-510), USS Conway (DDE-507), USS Cony (DDE-508) and USS Waller (DDE-466). Photograph was released for publication on 3 August 1959. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. | Fred Weiss |
| 78k | Photo #: NH 67921. Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, USN, Chief of Naval Operations addresses the crew of USS Waller (DDE-466), in the Mediterranean Sea, 1960. Photograph received from USS Waller, 1969. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. | Bill Gonyo |
| 96k | Circa 1961. | Marc Piché |
| 159k | USS Randolph (CVS-15) Refueling at sea from USS Pawcatuck (AO-108), circa 1960. USS Waller (DDE-466) is refueling from the oiler's starboard side, while USS Eaton is steaming astern, waiting her turn for a "drink". Photograph received from USS Waller, 1969. | Roger Rieman |
| 84k | Pearl Harbor, October 1968 | © Richard Leonhardt |
| 45k | Ship's patch | Mike Smolinski |
| 51k | Ship's patch | Mike Smolinski |
| 52k | Ship's patch | Mike Smolinski |
| 96k | Example of the Waller ship's patch as a custom plaque by the renowned graphic illustrator John Barrett of Navy Yard Associates. NYA offers custom plaques of most destroyers, destroyer escorts, submarines and aircraft carriers. For more examples check out their website page at http://www.navyyardassociates.net/classPlaques.html. If you decide to purchase artwork from NYA please indicate that you heard about their work from NavSource. | Navy Yard Associates |
