The following comment was left on the Hazelwood history
posting of August 6, 2009.
“Don May 4, 2012 8:38 PM
I was reading the history of the Hazelwood and was wondering
why Cmdr. V.P. Douw is listed as the commanding officer when according to official
records my uncle, LtCmdr. Walter A. Hering took command on January 24, 1945 of
the USS Hazelwood. LtCmdr. Hering was killed aboard the Hazelwood by enemy air
attack on April 29, 1945”
It was my understanding that when the attack occurred, that the
commanding officer and a relieving commanding officer were killed. All records
that I recall indicate that the captain was V. P. Douw. I am sure there are
some records in the boxes that I have that may confirm this but I have not had
time to dig them out as yet.
I did call Otis Wolfe and spoke to him about this and he
felt sure that Douw was the commanding officer. He had no recollection of a new
commanding officer being on board ready to take command. It is quite possible
that the records referred to by ”Don”, may have stated that Hering was assigned
to take command but it was never completed. In wartime it sometimes took a long
time to get to a station, especially a naval war vessel in the Pacific.
If any other shipmates have information on this, please post
it or email me at dd531reunion@earthlink.net.
I will then post it.
Smooth sailing, Jim Julian
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