The troopship General Nelson M. Walker transported soldiers and Marines to Vietnam from West Coast ports like Tacoma, San Francisco and San Diego. Voyages of over 5,000 miles, lasted from 18 to 23 days.
Enlisted men, most in their late teens, slept on canvas bunks in the ship’s lower-level, crowded berthing compartments. It was here where the graffiti was created, mostly on outbound voyages, but sometimes on a return voyage. Officers were quartered in smaller and more comfortable rooms on the upper, main deck. Virtually no graffiti was left in these areas.
Voyages caused homesickness, seasickness, anxiety and boredom. Some men found ways to relax and share humor. Lifeboat drills, classes, church services, movies, music, reading and talking to fellow soldiers helped pass the time.
The closer the men got to Vietnam the hotter it became aboard ship, especially in the lower-level compartments where there was little air circulation. Open portholes in troop compartments above the waterline provided some fresh air to those berthing areas.
Crowded conditions aboard ship created delays that lasted hours. The slogan “hurry up and wait” was never more meaningful. Long lines formed for breakfast, lunch and dinner at the ship’s mess halls. Seemingly endless lines formed to reach the ship’s store where candy, cigarettes and other personal items could be purchased.
The ship often stopped at Okinawa for fuel and supplies. Troops usually were granted a short period of “liberty,” or leave, before continuing to Vietnam, just days away.
Click on the Image Below to Watch a Slide Show of Photos Taken Aboard the Walker During the Voyages to Vietnam
Audio clips from
Marking Time: Voyage to Vietnam exhibit
Marking Time Exhibit
Creating Grafitti
Who Were the Soldiers?
Leaving Home
A Card Game
Music on the Walker
Leaving History Behind
Vietnam Arrival