Person:Walter Ogle (4)

Notes for Walter Edwin Ogle: News Clippings collected by Denny Ogle "Paris Sailor Home on Leave After More Than Two Years Spent At Sea" By H. P. Twyman Paris, 111., Nov. 11— Tales of the lifetime experiences of Sinbad, the historically famous merchant-sailor of Bagdad (Baghdad), although interesting in their way, seem commonplace when compared with the adventures, both hazardous and noteworthy, of Paris' Walter Ogle, crowded into the two years and eight months he sailed the seven seas as a petty officer first class on a heavy cruiser of the United States Navy. Home on an extended and richly earned rest for a visit with his wife, the former Martha McCULLOUGH. and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ogle, of South Jefferson avenue, Petty Officer Ogle brought with him a log he has religiously kept of his many voyages over many thousands of miles to the four corners of the earth, which include participation in two major invasions. Seaman Ogle must have been born under a lucky 7 star, for at the very outset of his maritime career he was transferred to a heavy cruiser from the crew of a small American transport the same day the latter vessel was sunk by a German torpedo off the Atlantic coast. Mr. Ogle says he has no knowledge of the fate of his former shipmates. Although somewhat adverse to publicity, Officer Ogle consented to a perusal of the record he has kept. Briefly summarized, entries in this log reveal the following major events in which the Paris sailor had a part: When the invasion at Casablanca took place in November, 1942, Ogle was aboard the warship that transported Gen. George S. Patton and Admiral Hewitt to the North African coast. A naval engagement just previous to the landing cost the enemy four ships and a presidential citation for this victory is anticipated. Took Part in D-Day For 25 days Officer Ogle participated in battle off the coast of Normandy at the time of the D-Day invasion of France. He had a part in the intensive 17-day bombardment off Toulon, Nice and Marseilles, on the southern coast of France and says all the ammunition of his ship was expended in all but silencing the coast artillery of the Germans. His ship was hit, but there were no casualties and only minor damage was sustained. It was in the course of this bombardment that the crew of which Ogle was a member, captured 800 Germans stationed on Prot Crow Island, off the southern French coast and transported them to North Africa. Ogle's ship joined the British fleet for seven months of convoy duty in northern waters, guarding mine sweepers and merchantmen loaded with supplies for Russia. Steaming die farthest north any warship had gone, Ogle says that at one time the vessel reached a point only 750 miles distant from the North Pole. He crossed the Arctic Circle three times and had a part in the capture of Spitzbergen from the Germans. Later he engaged in maneuvers designed to lure into battle the German fleet, lurking in the waters of the far north. Inspected by King At Portland, England, Ogle's ship was inspected by King George VI and party, the inspection taking place just prior to D-Day. Ogle has a number of snapshots of the king's party as a reminder of this occasion. Ogle has touched so many ports that he has lost all count. He does recall stopping at Reikiavik (Reykjavik), capital of Iceland, where, he says, the residents enjoy bathing in the water of a geyser, delightfully warm the year around except in the months of January and February. Paris' seaman has crossed the Atlantic no less than 14 times on various missions, including convoy duty for ships loaded with planes bound for the Ivory Coast of West Africa. Despite the excitement and thrill of it all, Ogle says he has had enough of sea experiences and that instructions in advanced welding on dry land in the near future will be a most welcome change from the role of a seagoing shipfitter. Thus ends a prolonged saga of the sea experienced by a native Parisian." I believe this to be from the Paris Beacon News from the 1940's

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