Walsh (APD-111)
1945-1966
Patrick Joseph Walsh -- born on 19 January 1908 in New York City -- accepted a commission in the U.S.Naval Reserve as a lieutenant, junior grade, on 4 May 1942. Receiving instruction at the Naval Training School, Boston, Mass., he later received more specialized training at the Armed Guard School, Little Creek, Va., from 16 June to 22 July.
As armed guard commander on board the U.S. freighter Patrick J. Hurley, Lt. (j.g.) Walsh was killed in a brief, one-sided engagement with a German U-boat in the North Atlantic. On the night of 12 September 1942, U-512 stealthily surfaced and closed the merchantman, undetected, before she opened fire with devastating effect. Walsh fell severely wounded in the initial shelling, taking shrapnel in the throat. In spite of the withering machine-gun fire directed at his battle station on the bridge, Lt. (j.g.) Walsh remained at his post, though weak from loss of blood. For displaying selfless gallantry in battle, Walsh was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Silver Star medals.
(APD-111: displacement 1,650; length 306'0"; beam 37'0"; draft 13'9"; speed 23.6 knots; complement 203; armament1 5-inch, 6 40 millimeter, 6 20 millimeter; class Crosley)
Walsh (APD-111) was laid down on 27 February 1945 at Hingham, Mass., by the Bethlehem Steel Co.; launched on 27 April 1945; sponsored by Mrs. John J. Walsh; and commissioned on 11 July 1945, Lt. Cmdr. Philip J. Tiffany, USNR, in command.
After shakedown out of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, from 1 to 29 August 1945, Walsh visited Norfolk and then took part in smokescreen experiments in Chesapeake Bay as part of Task Group 23.19. On 4 October, the high speed transport sailed north for training exercises in company with motor torpedo boats out of Melville, R.I. She later participated in Navy Day festivities at Portland, Maine, in late October, before departing Portland on 30 October, bound for Philadelphia.
Walsh secured her sonar gear at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard and received hull repairs. She departed Philadelphia on 13 November 1945 bound for Hampton Roads and arrived at Norfolk the following day. She then unloaded all ammunition and turned in registered publications before proceeding on to Jacksonville, Fla.
Later decommissioned on 26 April 1946 at Green Cove Springs, Fla., Walsh berthed initially with the Florida reserve group and, later, in the Texas group. She remained there until stricken from the Navy Register on 1 May 1966, and she was scrapped soon thereafter.
