The Seaweed

USS Champlin DD-601  

Fall 2001

MORE CHICKENPOOP

In a thoughtful e-mail, Ed Palen Y1c, writes of his experiences while aboard USS Ordronaux, " I can understand where Melsom was coming from. He was old navy and we were new navy. We got away with things that would have put us in prison during peacetime. My impression was that the Naval Academy grads were more understanding than the ninety-day wonders. Almost half of our crew, the ones over the age of 25, were not high school graduates. They were victims of the depression who had to drop out of school. They became carpenters, masons, electricians, welders, etc. and were the most valuable men on our ship as machinists, firemen, watertenders, shipfitters, electricians. Those men could do anything that had to be done. They may not have been the most literate, but were very clever persons. I had an officer who admitted that he learned from the black gang in the engine and firerooms. They made him look good in the eyes of the Captain. He treated the men decently and they appreciated what he had to take from the Captain, who was a perfectionist."

RAYMOND VACHON:
IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE

Raymond O. Vachon, S1c has located us. . . or rather his daughter, Sandra Hall, has located us through the Champlin web site. She advises that Ray lives at 6302 Skyline Court, Spring Hill FL 34606 and because he is "somewhat" hard of hearing does not like to use the telephone. Sandra and her husband, Dennis, live nearby and can be reached at 1736 Larkin Road, Spring Hill, FL 34606. Sandra states she and her father would be most appreciative of any help his shipmates can provide in their pursuit of benefits from the Veterans Administration. She writes, "We have been going through his papers to assist him with a claim he is filing with the VA over some of the hardships he has been enduring in the past years. I am wondering if you or some of the men who served with him can help me in some way. He has copies of his discharge papers but cannot find the original. I assume that I will have to contact the Dept. of the Navy to obtain these. Also, he was injured twice while on board, some shrapnel in his knee (which was just recently discovered at the VA hospital in an x-ray) and while they engaged the German U-Boat the day their Captain was killed in 1944. Would any of his fellow shipmates remember this and could you provide me with the list of the still surviving crew members to see if any jog his memory. He says he was in the #4 gun in the fantail section of ship and took a spring from one of the larger guns through his cheek and into his teeth. He was treated on a hospital ship but does not recall when and where. Maybe someone else remembers and could help him as he needs to know dates and names of others who might also have been injured and treated with him. Anything that you could do would be of immense help." In another e-mail, Sandra writes, "He mentioned something about being a pointer".

So, any shipmates who remember Ray Vachon's battle station and might recall any of his injuries, please contact Sandra Hall as soon as possible. From some of her comments, it may be Raymond was a pointer on one of the aft quad-forties when he was injured with a spring, and he could have had his battle station changed from, or to, mount #4. He should now have a copy of the most recent roster which will provide his daughter with the names of other shipmates she requested. Thanks for any help you can give them.

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Sandra Hall also writes, "When we went to the VA yesterday, it was kind of sad, because Dad became somewhat emotional when he related the story about the three guys from another ship on the way to Casablanca. Their cargo ship was torpedoed and sunk. They were soaked in oil and he watched the Lt. reach over to grab them. They just could not keep hold, because of the oil They were too slippery and unfortunately the ship could not wait to save them, because the Captain gave orders to depart immediately because radar picked up a German sub." Now, I need help on this story. Again, I have overheard discussions regarding an event like this. Who can help me with more information. I really don't recall who was discussing this at a reunion, but either Tom Morton BM2c or Joe Tricarico BM2c may have some memories of this. Who can help me?

OTTO STEIN, F1C

In an e-mail from Gregory Stein we learn that, "My father, Otto Stein, served on the Champlin DD-601 as a Fireman 1st Class. He enjoyed recalling the days he spent in Panama. He died this year one month before his 94th birthday. I sure wish I had found this site before he passed away. If anyone remembers my father, please feel free to contact me at:
greggrovvy61@ yahoo.com

JOHN RUSSELL GM3C LOCATED

John Russell GM3c has located us through the Champlin web site. He now lives at 9727 S. W. Terrace, Dunnellon, FL 34432-7708. He writes, "I remember the days of the Champlin. Can't place you personally by your name, but since you were on the ship with me, you will also remember these things, I am getting older, and these things were many years ago. One of the first things. . . we traveled the Mediterranean Sea on patrol duty through North Africa, Italy, France. . .Then called to sea to escort President Roosevelt. I believe he was on a cruiser with a bunch of young ladies, which I found hard to believe. Must have been secretaries. Then we escorted him to Malta for the conference with Stalin. Then we returned to New York. One day, they called us out to track a submarine that was interfering with shipping lanes. Our squadron left the Navy yard and we did find the sub off the port of New York. Our squadron bombarded with depth charges and we slowed him to a halt. Then the sub decided to surface. We shot at him and ran an attack of depth charges, crippling him, he came to the surface. We had guns, depth charges and the sub fought back. Our Captain got hit with machine gun fire. Captain Shaffer was such a nice guy. . it was a sad thing. After we rammed the sub, we backed off with our hull badly damaged. . kitchen and eating area. Saddest part. . after this fight we don't know for sure whose gunfire it was that hit the Captain. The sub crew abandoned and another ship in our squad picked up the prisoners. We have heard that there has been a segment on the History Channel about this event but we have not seen it. And I remember next, burying the Captain at sea. So here is this memory from the Champlin."