When Whitehurst became a Reserve Training vessel, her full time crew was cut back to about three dozen Regular Navy sailors. There was little need for an onboard Post Office.  Late in 1958 the ship's Postman, Radarman 2/c Ken Baroa, closed the ships Post Office.  PO Closed

In 1961 Whitehurst was reactivated and once again assigned a full crew of full time sailors.  The onboard Post Office was also reopened.  After the ship's mission was complete, she was sent back to Seattle, de-activated and placed back in service as a Reserve Training ship.  Again the Post Office was closed.

 On July 25, 1962 someone purchased a specially cancelled envelope with a Project Mercury stamp and a "Last Day of Service" emblem boldly imprinted on the left side.  This envelope was kept in a collector's possession for 47 years.  In the summer of 2009, it was placed on E-Bay for auction.

On behalf of the USS Whitehurst Assn.  I offer our thanks to my nephew, Clay Palmer, who spotted the offering, won the bid, and sent this wonderful piece of Whitehurst memorabilia to me.  max crow webmaster.

If any reader knows the name of the man who was the Whitehurst Postman in July 1962, please send it to me.  I'd like to contact him..    crowmax@aol.com  Thanks mc