Wes Chapman Memorial Page

USS Surfbird Crewmember 1956-1958

Passed away on 6 January 2006

If you would like to add comments to this memorial page for Wes, to send email.   I will check my email daily and add your comments.

Wes was one of the first former Surfbird crewmembers I made contact with on the internet.  Although I did not serve with him on the Surfbird, we had that common Surfbird bond and we stayed in contact.  He provided a wealth of information about the Surfbird and her conversion to a degaussing vessel and you will find his stories and pictures throughout these web pages.  He was very supportive of the web pages in their infancy, providing encouragement when I needed it.  He was my friend and I am honored to call him a shipmate.  He will be missed.  Our condolences to Ruth and the family.

Don Gillispie

I am sure Wes' Family will be in all of our prayers. I offer condolences to the family and may God continue to bless.

Marvin S. Robinson

This has brought a great sadness into my life. We were friends for a long time. To hear of his passing was a great shock. We spent a lot of time on the phone and email. I will miss him. May God bless him and his family always....

Jerry Stout

George L. Pierce Jr.

Chapman Family,

I am so sorry to hear of Wes' passing. He has been an inspiration to me over the years. He taught me to make sheath's when I was learning to make knives after my retirement and he always gave me positive comments on on my weekly newpaper articles. He is one of the people that gave me hope that there is more to life than the daily grind. He served his country when it needed him and he stayed proud to the Navy that gave him a career. I was saddened when he told me about how his career ended in the hospital, and his retirement was walking out the back door after 30 years instead of to the sound of a band playing Anchors Aweigh. He missed some of what the Navy afforded me in the pomp and circumstance, but he stayed true to the spirit of the sailor to the end. I am proud to have known him and will miss him greatly.

I will be thinking of him on the 11th and wish to pass my condolences to the entire Chapman family.

Wes, Fair wind and following seas for all eternity my friend, my shipmate. God Speed.

Chuck Cardamon

BMC SEAL USN, Retired

God bless

Larry Bennetts

Rusty and I offer our condolences to the Chapman Family. I would like all Wes' shipmates to know that he helped me a great deal in finding some of them and also info about the ship.

Ed Fournier

I SHIPED WITH WES CHAPMAN ON THE ADG 383 FOR 3 YRS WAS A OUTSTANDY SHIPMATE AND HE WILL BE MISSED BY ALL THAT KNEW HIM

DAVID L PRUDEN DCC USN RET

FAIR WINDS AND FOLLOWING SEAS TO HIM

My condolences to the family of Wes Chapman.

Brooke Hambley