WALTER A. SHARER, LCDR, USN
Lucky Bag
From the 1938 Lucky Bag:
WALTER ALLEN SHARER
Carney's Point, New Jersey
Walt, Was
Four years ago Walt came forth from the "wilds" of New Jersey to conquer a new adversary, academics at the United States Naval Academy. To do this he gave up his desire to become a second Guy Lombardo. Studies have never proved a problem and he can always be seen dragging on the week ends. Women are his only worry. To lie on his bunk any afternoon of the week is a big waste of time. All his spare moments must be spent in keeping up his correspondence. Since he would rather learn new stunts on the horse and parallel bars than sleep, he has made himself into a star man on the gym team. Industrious, neat, and cheery, Walter will always be missed if not in the crowd. He is certain to achieve success. We wish him luck!
Gym 4, 3, 2, 1, N*; Reception Committee 1; Lieutenant (j.g.).
WALTER ALLEN SHARER
Carney's Point, New Jersey
Walt, Was
Four years ago Walt came forth from the "wilds" of New Jersey to conquer a new adversary, academics at the United States Naval Academy. To do this he gave up his desire to become a second Guy Lombardo. Studies have never proved a problem and he can always be seen dragging on the week ends. Women are his only worry. To lie on his bunk any afternoon of the week is a big waste of time. All his spare moments must be spent in keeping up his correspondence. Since he would rather learn new stunts on the horse and parallel bars than sleep, he has made himself into a star man on the gym team. Industrious, neat, and cheery, Walter will always be missed if not in the crowd. He is certain to achieve success. We wish him luck!
Gym 4, 3, 2, 1, N*; Reception Committee 1; Lieutenant (j.g.).
Loss
Walter was lost when USS Capelin (SS 289) was lost in early December 1943, possibly to a mine or surface attack.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Walter was recommended for his appointment to the Naval Academy by U. S. Senator Hamilton F. Kean. He graduated from Pennsville High School, held 19 Boy Scout merit badges for skill, and was a member of the Presbyterian Church orchestra.
He was attached in 1941 to the submarine training base at New London. In January 1943, he and his wife and their sons spent a month with his parents.
LCDR McKinley, Walter's commanding officer, received the Navy Cross in 1942, and Walter’s mother saw a picture of McKinley in a magazine. His mother said, “This indicates the men on my son’s submarine are doing their work well.” Two weeks earlier, she received a cablegram from Walter from Java. (Per Courier-Post, Camden, New Jersey, April 11, 1942.)
His father was a claims adjuster for a dye works company in 1940.
His wife was listed as next of kin.
Walter is remembered at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.
Silver Star
From Hall of Valor:
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Commander Walter Allen Sharer (NSN: 0-81380), United States Navy, for gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy in the line of his profession as Sound Officer in the U.S.S. SALMON (SS-182) during four War Patrols in enemy controlled waters during World War II. As Officer-of-the-Deck, on one occasion, he sighted two enemy destroyers and maneuvered his boat into a favorable firing position. His skill in operating the sound gear and his gallant action during severe enemy counter efforts contributed directly to the success of the SALMON in sinking one enemy cruiser and one destroyer and in seriously damaging another cruiser with two torpedo hits. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Commander in Chief Pacific: Serial 31
Action Date: World War II
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant Commander
Division: U.S.S. Salmon (SS-182)
Though the citation above is a posthumous one, he was presented the award in person in March 1943.
The "Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps" was published annually from 1815 through at least the 1970s; it provided rank, command or station, and occasionally billet until the beginning of World War II when command/station was no longer included. Scanned copies were reviewed and data entered from the mid-1840s through 1922, when more-frequent Navy Directories were available.
The Navy Directory was a publication that provided information on the command, billet, and rank of every active and retired naval officer. Single editions have been found online from January 1915 and March 1918, and then from three to six editions per year from 1923 through 1940; the final edition is from April 1941.
The entries in both series of documents are sometimes cryptic and confusing. They are often inconsistent, even within an edition, with the name of commands; this is especially true for aviation squadrons in the 1920s and early 1930s.
Alumni listed at the same command may or may not have had significant interactions; they could have shared a stateroom or workspace, stood many hours of watch together… or, especially at the larger commands, they might not have known each other at all. The information provides the opportunity to draw connections that are otherwise invisible, though, and gives a fuller view of the professional experiences of these alumni in Memorial Hall.
July 1938
LT William Pennewill '29 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 42)\
LTjg Harrington Drake '31 (Bombing Squadron (VB) 4)
LTjg Frederick Schrader '35 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 4)
January 1939
LT William Pennewill '29 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 42)\
LTjg Harrington Drake '31 (Bombing Squadron (VB) 4)
LTjg Frederick Schrader '35 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 4)
October 1939
LTjg David Taylor, Jr. '35 (Bombing Squadron (VB) 4)
LTjg Richard Bull, Jr. '36 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 41)
June 1940
LTjg Wendell Froling '34 (Bombing Squadron (VB) 4)\
LTjg Richard Bull, Jr. '36 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 41)
November 1940
LTjg Ralph Embree '36 (Bombing Squadron (VB) 4)
April 1941
LTjg Richard Bull, Jr. '36 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 41)\
LTjg Ralph Embree '36 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 41)
ENS Richard Crommelin '38 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 41)
Memorial Hall Error
Walter is listed in Memorial Hall as LT. Some documents — including the Silver Star citation above — have him as a LCDR. Posthumous promotion? The Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps of 1945 lists him as a Lieutenant. (Have been unable to locate a 1946 edition of this document.)
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
