WASHINGTON STATE HISTORY MUSEUM TO DISPLAY GRAFFITIED BEDS ONCE ABOARD TROOP SHIP
Marking Time: Voyage to Vietnam Runs Sept. 17-Dec. 13
TACOMA – June 15 - Forty-two years after Private First Class Mick Santa inscribed
his name and address onto the bottom of the canvas bed inches above his head aboard the
USNS General Nelson M. Walker, Santa will once again see his graffiti message.
Opening Sept. 17 at the Washington State History Museum,
see Marking Time: Voyage to Vietnam.
View an original sleeping station salvaged from the Walker, graffitied with the thoughts of
young Americans traveling to the Vietnam War.
The names of Soldiers and Marines, and their hometowns; wives and girlfriends; poetry;
drawings; patriotic sentiments; political statements and more cover these canvas beds
preserved by the Vietnam Graffiti Project and Virginia Foundation for the Humanities,
organizers of the exhibit. Among these men is Santa, a marine on his way to Vietnam
in 1967. He was seasick for 20 days, and didn’t know if he’d even live to get off the
ship in Vietnam, let alone survive war. He made it both in and out of Vietnam alive,
and eagerly awaits seeing his old sleeping quarters.
“It’s surreal to think I wrote my name on the Walker because I didn’t know if I’d make
it home alive,” said Santa. “Now, I’m alive and well and eager to show and tell my family
about my time on the Walker. I hope people see the men of the Vietnam War [in this exhibit].
We were just young guys heading out to fight for our country, with no clue as to what the
future would hold.”
Hundreds of men on their way to Vietnam left messages for all to see. Some wanted to leave
a piece of themselves in case they didn’t return, some were simply bored. Writing on any
part of the ship was against regulations, but one soldier later explained, “What were
they going to do to me - send me to Vietnam?”
When the Vietnam Graffiti Project recovered the graffiti, they found books, magazines,
newspapers, playing cards (many aces!), rosary beads, candy wrappers and more. In addition
to the graffitied beds, issues of The Walker Report, the ship’s newspaper, and
these other artifacts will be on display, furthering understanding of what these men were experiencing.
Upon scrapping the beds as crews dismantled the Walker in 2006, recycling 8,400 tons of
steel, Vietnam Graffiti Project volunteers searched for the soldiers who left their names
graffitied on the ship, including Santa, who now resides in Bellevue. Santa will bring his
family to the exhibit to share memories of his time aboard the Walker, and in Vietnam.
This traveling exhibit began at the United States Navy Memorial, Washington D.C. and is
currently on view at the Virginia Historical Society until August. 30. It will travel to
the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum in California in January.
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High resolution photos are available on our
online image gallery, or upon request from Kimberly Adams, public relations coordinator.
About the
Washington State History Museum
The Washington State History Museum, flagship of the Washington State Historical Society, is located at 1911 Pacific Avenue in downtown Tacoma, just off 1-5. The Washington State History Museum presents exhibits, programs and events that bring Washington's history to life. The Washington State Historical Society has been dedicated to collecting, preserving and vividly presenting Washington's rich and varied history since 1891.
HOURS - Wednesday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., with extended hours and FREE admission every third Thursday from 2 - 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
ADMISSION - $8 for adults; $7 for seniors, age 60
and above; $6 for students and military with valid ID; children, age 5 and below, and members are always
FREE.
CONTACT – 1-888-BE THERE, www.WashingtonHistory.org
Media Contact:
Kimberly Adams
public relations coordinator
Washington State History Museum
253-798-5877