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USS WALDRON (DD-699)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NTEX

Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign (circa 1968) - HANOVER

CLASS - ALLEN M. SUMNER As Built.
Displacement 3218 Tons (Full), Dimensions, 376' 6"(oa) x 40' 10" x 14' 2" (Max)
Armament 6 x 5"/38AA (3x2), 12 x 40mm AA, 11 x 20mm AA, 10 x 21" tt.(2x5).
Machinery, 60,000 SHP; General Electric Geared Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 36.5 Knots, Range 3300 NM@ 20 Knots, Crew 336.
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Federal Shipbuilding, Kearny NJ. November 16 1943.
Launched March 26 1944 and commissioned June 8 1944.
Decommissioned May 17 1950, recommissioned November 20 1950.
Completed FRAM upgrade December 1962.
Part of Gemini V recovery team, August 29 1965.
Decommissioned October 30 1973.
Stricken October 31 1973.
To Colombia October 30 1973, renamed Santander.
Fate Stricken and scrapped in 1986.

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Waldron 119kJohn C. Waldron was born at Fort Pierre, South Dakota, on 24 August 1900. Graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1924, he became a Naval Aviator in 1927. During the years prior to World War II, he served in several air units, was an instructor at the Naval Academy and at Pensacola, Florida, and performed other duties connected with aviation. In 1941, LCdr. Waldron became Commanding Officer of Torpedo Squadron Eight (VT-8), which was to serve on the new aircraft carrier Hornet (CV-8). He led that unit during the Battle of Midway, when all fifteen of its planes were lost to overwhelming enemy fighter opposition while making an unsupported attack on the Japanese aircraft carrier force. Lieutenant Commander John C. Waldron was killed during that action.Bill Gonyo
Waldron 154kArtist's conception of the Waldron as built in a cutaway view 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
Waldron 142kArtist's conception of the Waldron as she appeared following her FRAM II overhaul December 1962 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
Waldron 226kUndated, location unknown. The ship is painted in camouflage Measure 32, Design 9d.-
Waldron 164kUndated, location unknown.-
Waldron 56kUndated postcard Copyright © Marine Photos, San Diego, CA.Mike Smolinski
Waldron 112kUndated, Ponta Delgada, Azores.Carlos Manuel Estrela
Waldron 77kUndated, location unknown.Richard Miller BMCS USNR RET.
Waldron 117kUSS Waldron (DD-699) Underway on July 13 1944, during her shakedown period. Note dense white smoke issuing from her after stack. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss
Waldron 187kJuly 13 1944 at New York.Ed Zajkowski
Waldron 149kUSS Waldron alongside USS Taluga 2 January 1945 in a fast carrier task group. From the Lloyd Lavack collection of USS Taluga.Tommy Trampp
Waldron 87kSan Francisco Bay , January 20 1946Marvin Robinson AEC USNR (RET)
Waldron 34kUSS Charles S. Sperry (DD-697) and USS Waldron (DD-699) pierside in Guantanamo Bay, Santiago de Cuba 7-24-1948 to 8-07-1948 with Cass in the foreground.Cass Carr
Waldron 119kPitching her forefoot out of the water, while operating in heavy Atlantic seas, 31 September 1953. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Joe Radigan
Waldron 53kUSS Waldron (DD-699) circa 1958, location unknown. Photo courtesy of Ian S. Pearsall, Esq.Robert Hurst
Ault 127kThe USS Ault (DD-698) and the USS Waldron (DD-699) in port circa 1958.Ron Norene
Waldron 80kBoston, August 1963© Richard Leonhardt
Waldron 77kUSS Waldron (DD-699) At sea, 21 July 1964. Photographed by Photographer's Mate First Class Arthur W. Giberson. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss
Waldron 54kChesapeke Bay, August 1964© Richard Leonhardt
Waldron 135kAt sea in 1964, following her "FRAM II" modernization. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss
Huntington 44kIn the Mediterranean during 1965, coming alongside the USS Chikaskia for refueling. From the collections of RADM Edward L. Feightner, BM2 Charles Peterman, and LCDR Al Gordon as compiled and edited by BM3 David Zanzinger.LCDR Al Gordon USN (Ret.)
Waldron 169kDeparting Genoa, Italy, May 14 1965.Carlo Martinelli
Waldron 195kDeparting Genoa, Italy, May 14 1965.Carlo Martinelli
Waldron 90kComing alongside USS Mispillion (AO-105) to refuel, while operating in the Gulf of Tonkin, October 1967. Note Mispillion's "customer service" sign in the foreground and signal lamp at left. Photographed by Photographer's Mate First Class Don Grantham. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss
Waldron 138kView looking forward from the pilothouse, as the ship takes spray over her bow while steaming in the Atlantic, 22 March 1969. Note antennas mounted atop 5"/38 twin gun mounts 52 & 51. Photographed by Photographer's Mate Third Class P.C. Snyder. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss
Waldron 143kUSS Liberty (AGTR-5) At the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia, 2 October 1966. USS Waldron (DD-699) is tied up astern of Liberty. Courtesy of the Mariners Museum, Newport News, Virginia. Ted Stone Collection. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss
Waldron 118kUSS Waldron (DD-699) Photographed during the 1960s, following her "FRAM II" modernization. She is carrying an odd antenna on her helicopter landing deck. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.Fred Weiss
Waldron 153kUSS Waldron enroute SIXTHFLT in 1969.Bill Cooper
Waldron 37kShip's patch.Mike Smolinski
Waldron 11kCommemerative launching pin.Paul Morgan, LT USNR USS AULT 1961 - 1963
Waldron 65kShip's Zippo.Tommy Trampp
On Colombian Service
Waldron 53kUndated, location unknown.Luis Bernardo Castro Villegas
Waldron 84kEx-USS Waldron (DD-699) on Colombian service as the Santander DD 03 in 1978.Luis Bernardo Castro Villegas
Click here to see our Special Feature - Interior Views of Sumner Class Destroyers as Built

USS WALDRON DD-699 History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry
(Located On The hazegray Web Site, This Is The Main Archive For The DANFS Online Project.)

Commanding Officers
Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves

CDR George Edward Peckham    Jun 7 1944 - Nov 11 1945 (Later RADM)
CDR Theodore Adolf Torgerson    Nov 11 1945 - Apr 1946 (Later RADM)
LCDR Frederick Malcolm Radel    Apr 1946 - Nov 1946
CDR Edwin Arthur Shuman Jr.    Nov 1946 - Apr 1 1948
CDR George Paul Unmacht    Apr 1 1948 - Apr 1950
CDR Burton Lagerquist Bikle    Apr 1950 - Nov 5 1950
(Decommissioned Nov 5 1950 - Nov 20 1950)
CDR James Clair Shaw    Nov 20 1950 - Feb 13 1952 (Later RADM)
CDR Carl Raymond Cunningham Jr.    Feb 13 1952 - Apr 3 1954
CDR Fay Ellis Wilsie    Apr 3 1954 - 1955
CDR Rafael Celestino Benitez    1955 - Sep 1957 (Later RADM)
CDR John Wiley Mason Jr.    Sep 1957 - 1958
CDR Harry Albert Cummings    May 26 1959 - 1961
CDR Wallace Vern Van Pelt    1961 - 1963
CDR Robert Irving Marr    1963 -1964
CDR James Arthur Baxter    1964 - 1966
CDR Gerald A. Wilda    1966 - 1968
CDR Lawrence Cywin    1968 - Aug 1969
CDR Hugh St. Clare Sease Jr.    Aug 1969 - 1971
CDR David E. Williams    1971 - Aug 1973
CDR John Ford Hopper    Aug 1973 - Oct 30 1973

Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Jack Melnick
Address: 3210 N. Leisure World Blvd., Apt. 109, Silver Spring, MD 20906
Phone: (301) 598-7858
E-mail: leisureworldjack@mailcity.com


Note About Contacts.

The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.


Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Tin Can Sailors Website
Destroyer History Foundation
Destroyers Online Website
Official U.S.Navy Destroyer Website

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