Wally Rairden

Wally Rairden was born in Batavia, Java in 1917, grew up in the Los Angeles area, worked in the film industry from 1938 through 1941, appearing in nine films, one of which (Mystery Sea Raider) he also wrote and for which he served as Technical Advisor. in 1941 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, which he made a career. He survived sinkings of two different ships, one of which he commanded, due to kamikaze attacks. He was awarded two Bronze Stars and the Purple Heart in that war. Following World War II, he was stationed in Seattle, San Francisco, and Corvallis, Oregon. During the Korean War he commanded a division of minesweepers, and was awarded a third Bronze Star and the Korean Medal of Honor. Rairden continued his career in minesweepers and destroyers on the East Coast. His last duty station was Rota, Spain, from which he retired to work as a Spain-based wine and travel writer.