Sinking History
Built by Boston Navy Yard in Boston. Laid down May 31, 1938 as a Sims-class destroyer. Launched October 20, 1939 as USS Walke (DD-416) as the second ship in the Navy named for Rear Admiral Walke sponsored by his grandniece Mrs. Clarence Dillon. Commissioned April 27, 1940 in the U.S. Navy (USN).

Afterwards, departs on a shakedown cruise. On June 25, 1940 departs for Norfolk arriving two days later where the destroyer embarked U.S. Marines and transported them to USS Wichita (CA-45) then with USS Wainwright (DD-419) proceeded to Cuba. On July 4, 1940 after refueling departs bound for Brazil and two days later made a diversion to pick up a U.S. Marine for medical treatment via Para to refuel then continues to Rio de Janeiro arriving July 19, 1940.

Afterwards, Walke and Wainwright tour ports in South America including Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Santos and Bahia, Brazil, and returning back to Buenos Aires the rendezvous with USS Quincy (CA-39) and Wichita (CA-45) on August 15, 1940. Returns via Bahia and Guantanamo Bay to the Boston Navy Yard arriving September 4, 1940 for alterations and repairs. In November 1940 assigned as a unit of Destroyer Division 4 (DesDiv 4), Destroyer Squadron 2, Patrol Force. Later in the month, used for degaussing tests by the Naval Ordnance Laboratory on Solomons Island then to Norfolk.

On December 2, 1940 departs for Guantanamo Bay. On December 6, 1940 refuels at San Juan then begins a patrol with USS O'Brien and while underway rendezvous with USS Moffett and USS Sims off Fort-de-France, Martinique. On December 15, 1940 arrives Castries, British West Indies and embarks Comdr. Lyman K. Swenson then back to Guantanamo Bay for the remainder of the year.

PARTIAL HISTORY

Wartime History
On November 10, 1941 placed under the command of Lt. Commander Thomas E. Fraser. On November 25, 1941 arrives Boston Navy Yard and began an overhaul that was completed December 7, 1941 and departs the same day via Casco Bay then to Norfolk arriving five days later. On December 16, 1941 departs Norfolk via the Panama Canal to San Francisco.

On December 30, 1941 departs with Task Force 17 (TF 17) screening USS Yorktown (CV-5) to the South Pacific. On January 24, 1942 arrives Tutuila then departs bound for the Marshall Islands and provides anti-submarine patrols and plane guard duty for the carrier. On February 7, 1942 returns to Pearl Harbor and continues training for the rest of the month. On February 27, 1942 departs for Ellice Islands the participates in training exercises off New Caledonia then sorties with TF 17 bound for New Guinea.

On May 4, 1942 at the start of the Battle of the Coral Sea, screens for USS Yorktown while her carrier planes attack Tulagi then separates to join the "Support Force" including HMS Australia, HMS Hobart, USS Farragut and USS Perkins to protect the Jomard Passage. On May 7, 1942 the support force is targeted by D3A Val dive bombers that are driven off with anti-aircraft fire, followed by G4M1 Bettys that make a torpedo attack that results in five shot down without scoring any hits. Later, B-17s at high altitude accidentally bomb them without result.

Afterwards, Walke continues to screens for USS Yorktown until detached to escort escort Ramsay (DM-16) and USS Sumner (AGS-5) to Suva arriving April 19, 1942 and three days later departs for Tongatapu where refueled by USS Kaskaskia (AO-27) and underwent boiler repairs and loaded depth charges then returns to TF 17 but was detached due to a damaged starboard reduction gear and proceeds to Brisbane arriving May 2, 1942 for a month of repairs. On June 9, 1942 departs for Nouméa arriving four days later and was refueled then departs via Tongatap to Pago Pago. On June 26, 1942 assigned to Task Group 12.1 (TG 12.1) and departs for Bora Bora.

On July 11, 1942 assigned to Task Group 6.7 (TG 6.7) and escorts USS Castor (AKS-1) bound for San Francisco arriving August 2, 1942 then to Mare Island Navy Yard on Mare Island for alterations and repairs that were completed by the end of the month and underwent trials. On August 25, 1942 departs for San Pedro and rendezvous to escort USS Kankakee (AO-39) to the South Pacific. On September 9, 1942 arrives Tongatapu the escorts USS Kankakee (AO-39), USS Navajo (AT-64) and USS Arctic (AF-7) to Nouméa then proceeds to Guadalcanal.

Sinking History
On November 14, 1942 in the evening with Task Force 64 (TF 64) under the command of Admiral Willis A. "Ching" Lee enters Iron Bottom Sound off Guadalcanal to defend the area against Japanese Navy warships. The American force includes USS Washington (BB-56) and USS South Dakota (BB-57) with destroyers USS Preston (DD-379), USS Walke (DD-416), USS Benham (DD-397) and USS Gwin (DD-433). The force was ad hoc, the battleships had only operated together for a few days and the destroyers were from different divisions and were assigned as screens based on their fuel supply. The force began patrolling south of Savo Island in a column formation with the destroyers in the lead and battleships close behind.

At 11:00pm radar aboard USS Washington (BB-56) spots the Japanese force including Sendai, but did not detect the other groups of Japanese ships. Walke was leading the U.S. warships in column formation. At 11:17pm the Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal commences with an exchange of gunfire that disperses the Japanese force. Next, off southern Savo Island the destroyers enter the engagement with USS Gwin (DD-433) firing star shells to illuminate the area of initial contact and became the target of light cruiser Nagara.

On November 15, 1942 at 12:16am USS Washington (BB-56) and USS South Dakota (BB-57) open fire. At 12:26am Walke opens fire on a Japanese warship that was likely Nagara. At 12:32am checked fire and switched to engage a Japanese destroyer at 7,500 yards to starboard that was either Ayanami or Uranami. At 12:37am fires at gun flashes off her port side. In total, Walke fired approximately 300 5" shells with the no. 3 gun firing star shells.

At 12:39am straddled by gunfire and hit by a torpedo that caused an explosion then was hit by another salvo of gunfire believed to be from a cruiser that damaged the radio room, foremast, below the boat davits and near gun no. 3. An explosion forecastle and a section of the bridge and caused fires. The engines were stopped and the crew order to abandon ship as the destroyer began to sink with only two lifeboats able to be freed. At 12:42am sank stern first southwest of Savo Island. During the sinking, the bow detached and remaining afloat. A minute later, her depth charges exploded underwater, killing and wounding survivors in the water. During the engagement and sinking, 76 crew lost including Commander Fraser. Officially stricken from the Navy register on January 13, 1943.

Fates of the Crew
Afterwards, USS Meade (DD-602) rescued of her 151 crew, but six later died of wounds and were put ashore on Tulagi.

Awards
For her World War II service, Walke earned three battle stars.

Memorials
The missing crew were officially declared dead on November 16, 1943. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing.

Fraser earned the Navy Cross and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Saint Edward Cemetery in Stafford Springs, CT.

References
Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - Walke II (DD-416)
Destroyer History Foundation - USS Walke (DD-416)
NavSource - USS Walke (DD-416)
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Thomas E. Fraser
FindAGrave - CDR Thomas Edward Fraser (photo, memorial marker photo)
FindAGrave - Cdr Thomas Edward Fraser (tablets of the missing photo) death listed as November 14, 1942

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Last Updated
November 2, 2023