We are seeking information on the USS Colahan and her crews. Files and photos may be E-mailed to us and we will incorporate them into these pages.

5/13/08

Mark,

My name is Joseph Roberts, and my Dad, Chet Roberts served on the U.S.S. Colohan - DD 658 during World War Two. He was on her when commissioned in late 1943 through early 1945. Dad is 90 years old now and still clear headed. He has no e-mail but does have a phone at home. His number is (772) 288 - 2612. He and Mom live in Stuart, Florida.

Dad moves around pretty slowly these days, but I'm sure he'd get a kick out of hearing from one of his old shipmates. He has told me many times of the Colahan's assistance during the bombardment in the Marianas before the Marines went ashore, and also, being with Halsey in the northern battles supporting the invasion of the Philipines. Dad also saw the three typhoon capsized destroyers which the Navy blamed Halsey for.

I think you're doing a great thing here. God bless ya. - Joseph Roberts

Subject: CDR. Gale Felton obituary
Date: Fri, 26 Mar 2004
From: W. Ross Yates
To: LTJG Thomas Bunn
CC: DestroyersOnline.com

Hello Tom,

I picked your name from a list of Colahan shipmates on www.destroyersonline.com because you served as an officer aboard Colahan during 1951-53. I recently found the following obituary for your CO of that period in the Las Vegas Review-Journal for Mar. 22, 2004:

Gale S. Felton, died Sunday, March 7, 2004, at Summerlin Hospital. Commander Felton graduated from Annapolis Naval Academy Feb. 7, 1941. Upon graduation he was assigned to the U.S.S. Trever, which he was aboard at Pearl Harbor.

Commander Felton served aboard several destroyers during World War II and had command of the U.S.S. Colahan during the Korean War. He retired from military service in San Diego after 20 years in the U.S. Navy.

Commander Felton worked for Sperry/Univac in San Diego and Valencia, Calif. then moved to Southern Pines, N.C.. In July 1998 the Feltons moved to Las Vegas.

Commander Felton is survived by his wife, Lillian; children, Serena and husband Jim Neese, Cathy and husband, Steve Strunk and Charlie and wife, Donna; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held for Commander Felton at 5 p.m., Tuesday, March 23, at Summerlin Community Baptist Church, 2100 Snow Trail Dr. He will be interred at 11 a.m., Thursday, March 25, at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego.

I could find no online info for reunions of either Trever or Colahan, which is why I checked DestroyersOnline. I hope this is of interest to you and perhaps to your shipmates should you be in contact with some of them. I just couldn't let the obit go by without doing something.

Best regards,

Wes Yates RD2
USS Foss DE-59
1951-53