Wally Barrus SK3

Served on Mispillion 1951-54
Born June 5, 1930

     Wow, I am very flattered to be chosen the shipmate of the month when there are so many shipmates who are more deserving of the honor. I am especially honored to be right after Commander Ziegweid. Boy, what a tough act to follow. On the Mispillion I was the ship’s photographer. I took the photographs for the 1952 cruise book. The picture of Commander Ziegweid is one I took for the book. I found Commander Ziegweid to be a very kind and caring man. We considered he, and Captain Munson, to be our friends not just commanders of our ship. They were both a great help in producing the cruise book. A short time before my enlistment was up I was invited to Commander Ziegweid’s cabin for the traditional “Re-up” talk.
He pointed out the advantages of staying in the Navy. I told him my plans were to leave the Navy and go to college. He was very kind and wished me well.

     I did attend Brigham Young University and Utah State University.
After graduation I served on the faculty of BYU for over
thirty-years, teaching visual art and photography. I left BYU as an
emeritus professor of visual arts. At almost eighty I am still in
excellent health and spend much time illustrating books and
exhibiting my photography in galleries. My wife, Shirlene, and I do a
lot of traveling where I shoot photographs for travel publications
and my website www.wallybarrusphotography.com