USS Walke (DD-416), Sims-class destroyer

USS Walke, DD 416, was built alongside O’Brien at Boston Navy Yard and commissioned there in April 1940. The following summer, she cruised to Brazil and Argentina, then spent the rest of 1940 and nearly all of 1941 in the Caribbean and North Atlantic, taking part in tests, making Neutrality Patrols and conducting “short of war” operations between the US east coast and Iceland.
Walke’s casualties at the
Battle of Guadalcanal.
Source: Bureau of Personnel casualty report, NARA.
In December 1941, soon after the US entered World War II, Walke went to the Pacific to join in the fight against Japan. She accompanied the aircraft carrier Yorktown (CV 5) during some of her early combat actions in the central and south Pacific. During the Battle of Coral Sea in early May, she operated with the Support Group of cruisers and destroyers that endured attacks by both Japanese and US land-based bombers, fortunately without significant damage to the ships.
Following an overhaul, Walke returned to the south Pacific in September 1942 to support the ongoing Guadalcanal Campaign. After two months of escort duties, she was attached to Rear Admiral Willis A. Lee’s battleship task force and sent on a mission to stop the Japanese from bombarding the US airfield on Guadalcanal. In the resulting second major surface action of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, on 15 November 1942, Walke was sunk by Japanese torpedoes and gunfire, with the loss of more than a third of her crew.

Source: Naval Historical Center including Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

Henry A. Walke was born in Princess Anne County, Virginia, on 24 December 1809. He was appointed midshipman in the US Navy in February 1827 and served on stations in many parts of the World over the next three decades. He was involved in combat operations along the Mexican east coast in 1847.
   In early 1861, Commander Walke supported Unionist forces at Pensacola, Florida, during the events leading to the outbreak of the Civil War. Later in 1861, he commanded the "timberclad" gunboat Tyler during early operations along the Western Rivers. In January 1862, Walke took command of ironclad gunboat Carondelet, leading her through the intense actions that marked the first half of that year.
   Promoted captain in August 1862, Walke outfitted and commanded the large river ironclad Lafayette until July 1863, when he was ordered to command the converted cruiser Fort Jackson. The following September, he was made captain of the steam sloop Sacramento, an assignment that lasted through the end of the Civil War.
   Promoted commodore in July 1866, he commanded the Naval Station at Mound City, Illinois, in 1868–70. He attained the rank of rear admiral in July 1870 and retired April 1871. Immediately recalled, he served under Admiral David Dixon Porter and on the Lighthouse Board until April 1873, when he left active duty for the last time.
   Rear Admiral Walke continued an active life as a writer and artist until his death at Brooklyn, New York, 8 March 1896.