Vietnam 'Ghost Ship' Artifacts Topic Of Museum Talk In Holmdel

HOLMDEL, NJ — The long Pacific Ocean voyage from America's West Coast heading to the war in Vietnam can be seen through the lens of the artifacts and graffiti left behind by those who made the crossing - in particular, the artifacts from the USNS General Nelson M. Walker.

Thanks to the salvage efforts of military historians, many of these artifacts - drawings on canvas bunks, magazines from the era and even empty cigarette packs - have been preserved and tell their own story of those who had to leave their homes and loved ones for war.

Experts in military artifacts will visit the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation and Vietnam Era Museum Thursday for a discussion titled "Ghost Ship: Art and Lee Beltrone and Treasures of The USNS General Nelson M. Walker."

The talk is Thursday, Feb. 16, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Vietnam Era Museum in Holmdel.

U.S. Marine Corps Reservist Art Beltrone, a historian of military artifacts with more than 60 years of experience, joined by his wife Lee, will visit the museum for a talk with Interim Museum Director and Curator of Collections and Interpretation Mike Thornton.

The event is free and open to the public.

It will focus on the United States Naval Ship General Nelson M. Walker, and the discovery, recovery, and legacy of its artifacts, the museum says.

You can find more information on the Beltrones' Vietnam Graffiti Project on the appraisal website of the Beltrones. They formed the nonprofit organization to preserve historic Vietnam War artifacts they found aboard the Walker, the website says.

The ship was anchored in Virginia’s James River “Ghost Fleet.” Beltrone served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves from 1965-1967.

The project's mission was to tell the stories of the young soldiers going to Vietnam aboard the ship in 1966 through graffiti left on the canvases, the website says.

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.

The ship itself has a long history of service in all parts of the globe.

Its namesake was a distinguished military officer. After being wounded in World War I and fulfilling many other postings, Walker was promoted to Brigadier General in September 1942. He became Assistant Division Commander, 8th Infantry Division, in November 1943. He was killed in France on July 10, 1944, during the invasion of Western Europe. You can read about his background and the ship on the Naval History and Heritage Command website here.

The Vietnam Era Museum, dedicated in September 1998, provides political, cultural and historical context for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at the site.

The Vietnam Era Museum enables all visitors to learn about the myriad of forces that produced the conflict abroad and the dissension at home.

You can call the museum at 732-335-0033 or visit its website, https://www.njvvmf.org.