Steve Elke's Tribute to Dan

A long time ago I saw in "Shift Colors" or the Fleet Reserve Association's "Naval Affairs" of a ships reunion for the USS DeHaven DD-727. The contact point was a man in Oregon by the name of Dan Wisner. I sent off a short note saying that I was looking for shipmates that I had lost contact with. A few days later I got a phone call from a low, slow voice saying, "Hello Shipmate." The voice was not one that rang a bell to me, but friendliness was in it. "My name is Dan and I walked the same decks as you did, just at a different time." We talked for quite some time, boy I'm glad he was paying the bill, he got the dates and rank I held while I was on the DeHaven. Then he said, "Lets look for your shipmates." He found Capt. Joe D. Edwards, SK1 Sam Barraco, (I still say that I was the best Store Keeper you ever had), and my old LPO ETN2 Ervin T. Sumner. He told me that if I got a hold of him to reminded him that he was in the rears with his dues, but he would still send him the news letters anyway. I knew that I had found a new friend, even though we had not seen each other.

I read all of the "Raven DeHaven" Dan sent out. Checking the Association Membership list for names from the past, like the Empey brothers RM1 and SM1. Then came the news that there was to be a small get together in Everett Washington. My hometown. At last I was going to meet this good friend that I had never met before. When the day came Dan could not make it, had to do that four letter word, WORK. Next to the best thing did come though, Mary, Dan's wife. I felt like a long lost brother. She welcomed me in with a big hug and a cup of Joe. She told me that of all the people that was to be there Dan was looking forward to seeing me the most. At the end of the day Mary gave me a big hug and kiss, "Till the next time shipmate, we never say good-bye."

Years may come, and years may go. Some go fast, some go slow. Some are good, and some are bad. For each one, just be glad. The next time I thought I would get to meet Dan was at the reunion in Bremerton Washington. This time I was the one that had to back out on the deal. I had to attend the Washington State trap shooting championships, someday Dan, someday.

Then came the E-mail that no one liked to get. The friend I had never met was gone. My thoughts went to Mary with her great loss. The Association had lost its founder, leader and best friend. My heart was heavy, but not broken, for Dan may be gone, but his spirit lives on. I know that Mary got cards from a lot of us, me included, letting her know we shared in her loss.

A short time later I got a thank you card from Mary, thanking us for the card and our prayers. As she said, "Dan will be deeply missed, but he will live on in our hearts and memories, he was one of a kind." Then she hoped to see us at the reunion in San Antonio. Sorry Mary it is a no go for us.

Another State Championship came around again. Five full days of shooting, but this year I started to the shoot a day before it started. I had to see an old friend that I had never met before. You see Mary sent Dan's memorial program in the thank you card. This time we were going to meet. I found Dan at the Sunset Memorial Gardens just outside Chehalis Washington. We had a long talk like good friends do. I will admit it was a little one sided, but sometimes it is like that. All too short it was time to go. Now that I know where I can find my old friend that I had finally met, I'll stop by every year to have our little talk. Oh, and as I turned to leave I swear I heard, "Till the next time shipmate, we never say good-bye," Till then Dan, till then.