MY NAME IS JOHN CRONKHITE, I'M A PLANK OWNER IN THE USS CHILTON APA/38 ASSOC. I HAVEN'T BEEN TO A REUNION SINCE NORFOLK '97 ,MUCH TO MY CHAGRIN.

THIS IS A PHOTO OF ME TAKEN ON THE AFTER 03 LEVEL IN 1960 I BELIEVE WE WERE MOORED AT NOB NORFOLK AT THE TIME.

THE CHILTON DID MORE THAN STANDBY AT THE BAY OF PIGS, ON THE THIRD NIGHT WE WENT IN TO DO AN EVACUATION OF THE WOUNDED AND DYING CUBANS.

THEY WERE LOADED IN NO.3 HOLE ON THE MESS DECK THEN WE TRANSPORTED THEM TO ANOTHER SHIP IN COVER OF DARK TO BE THEN TRANSPORTED TO A MEDICAL FACILITY. I WAS BELOW DECKS AT THE TIME BUT EVEN LATER TOPSIDE YOU COULDN'T IDENTIFY THE SHIPS BECAUSE THE HULL NUMBERS WERE PAINTED OUT.