The USS Warrington's Last Days
DD-843

After the Last Cruise

Rusting Away in Subic Bay

I received an email out of the blue from former CS2 Ed Gowan, who happened upon this website. His story, and some sad final pictures of the USS Warrington, follow.

"We were in the process of loading out for the Mid-East, before I left the ship.. The XO was convinced that it was in the ships best interest to send me to CS "C" school. First the squadron or MILPERS said that he would have to send me PCS. He agreed and then someone decided it would be better to send me TAD. In a few days I was off to San Diego for Management Principles course. The whole idea of the school was that I would need it to advance to first class. Up to that point I had no formal training by the Navy other than Basic training at Boot camp.I had found out a few weeks before leaving that I was successful on the advancement exam and would have a future quota to advance to PO 1.

The ships schedule was changed to the Far East while I was at school. I had a few more weeks to finish "C" school when The ship took damage. Upon Graduation, my records were handed to me without orders. When I inquired I was told I was TAD and I was to return to the ship. There was no port call ordered so I asked "Where am I to go?" The news reports read that the ship would be de-commissioned. I was told to return to Newport and they can take care of me. I was actually traveling without orders. When I reported in at Squadron, they were in a hissy fit as to why I came there and not to the ship. I sat in transit until a day before Thanksgiving, and was shipped to Subic to pick up the USS Nitro (AE 23) out of Davisville. While waiting at Subic for the ship to return to port (a couple of weeks) I found the Warrington and shot the pictures below. What an emotional feeling that was. The last time I saw the ship it was full of life and now here I was walking through it in Graveyard condition."

All photos are copyright 1972 Ed Gowan