Dupwe recounts quest to bring home the Orleck
by Vicki Parfait, Orange Record

"It all started when several of us were trying to find memorabilia from the USS Aulick, the first ship built in Orange,' the soft spoken Torn Dupwe said, beginning the story of how he, Mark Foreman and James Reeh had been on an online site on a forum, talking about that ship. From there a fascinating set of circumstances and determination unfolded, and the USS Orleck began her long trip from Turkey to her birthplace. A man named Stan Lintner from California was reading the messages online and found out that he was a "plank member" in 1945, got in touch with Bob Orleck, the nephew of Robert Orleck for whom the ship had been named. They wanted someone to go to Turkey and collect the ship. Bob Orleck contacted the group in Orange and started the ball rolling.

The 3 Orange men held a meeting in the Council Chamber, hoping to bring the ship that had served first the United States Navy, then the Turkish Navy, and worn from many years of service home, it would be a daunting task. The USS Orleck was not even able to come back under its own power. They could resurrect her, the group hoped, and put her hack shipshape. Built in Orange, she could stand at her homeport as a symbol of what Orange shipbuilding had done for the war effort of WWII. But first, she had to get here.

Mike Jordan of Orange, whose son was a Councilman at the time and would eventually become a Mayor of Orange, was also very interested when he heard the facts. They needed someone to take the reins and begin the process to get the Orleck back. He agreed to help, hut no one wanted to take on the leadership, so Tom Dupwe did. He had a unique, hands-on perspective. He had helped with the building of that ship.

Dupwe is 77 now. He graduated in the last class of Orange High. His senior ring had Orange High on it, but his diploma said Lutcher Stark High, he said. There were 12 years then, but he had just turned 16 a month before they graduated. He had been "doubling promoted" twice, but like a lot of kids at that time, he was not college bound. He went directly from high school to work at Consolidated Steel. The shipbuilding division was being run by the Navy. The war would b~ over by the time he was old enough to go, and the son of Orange residents Ervin and Vivian McGill, Depwe went to school to train for a~ skill instead. He had 3 years of Mechanical drawing in high school so he moved easily~ into blueprints in the fabrication end of the~ shipbuilding business. Soon he was in the Plate and Angle Shop, pulling levers on a; 1,500 ton press brake to bend the keel of ships being built. He bent the keel of the~ Orleck.

"My entire career in shipbuilding was only I and a half years," Depwe said, "The war ended and lots of us got laid off about a month after."

He was not even 18 years old by then. The effort to bring the USS Orleck back to~ home port was a long and hard one. First, he~ and Bob Orleck had to make a trip to Turkey, to inspect the vehicle and see if it was even. worth saving. When they came back, they. knew that the Turkish Navy had deemed the ship inoperable, but when they gave the ship to the men, the project suddenly became how to get the money to bring the Orleck back Depwe said, and figure the best ways to get -the job done. Bids were opened and ranged from $6 and three quarter million down to, $250,000. The low bid came from a Russian Towing Company.

The State Department required that they bring in all military equipment that was on the Orleck in a militarized state, and the guns' in working condition. The group had to deed' all the military equipment to the City of Orange. It took 4 to 5 months to have every-; thing written up and approved by the State Department. The group formalized to become -the Southeast Texas War Memorial and Heritage Foundation. Depwe got the initial steps done as President of the organization, which was named by Judge Carl Thibodeaux. The USS Orleck Association had already been formed nationally, but this one was strictly to promote Orange County and the Orleck's role here.

The new organization raised about $36,000. Depwe talked to Chuck Pinto, who for tourism purposes and as a symbol for what Orange and surrounding areas had done for the war effort. They went to Hibernia Bank, he said, and Mike Jordan helped them borrow $250,000, with the City of Orange guaranteeing the loan. They wanted to restore the ship back to 1962 configurations.

The Orleck was named for Lt. Robert Orleck after his death, but Orleck's sister felt the news would kill her aging mother. For 13 years, the sister never informed her mother that the woman's son was dead. She died never knowing that her son had lost his life as a hero, and that a US Destroyer had been named in his honor.

The first 6 years of the Orleck project was spent getting the ship back to Port from Turkey, from whence it was towed, and to get paint, equipment and a thousand and one restoration problems covered. They got enough money to restore the ship, but not to repay anything but interest on the loan. The restoration began anyway. There was some contention between the local organization and the USS Orleck Association. Then local group wanted to promote Orange through the ship. The USS Orleck Association wanted to restore their own members of men who had served on the ship. The same overall objectives could be handled, and eventually they worked out their differences. Bob Orleck actually brought some of the USS Orleck Association for their "Field Days" as cleanup operations were called in Naval terms, using their money to help and their people to work on the restoration.

Depwe, who is a member of the local group but, by choice, no longer serving as an officer, due to "poor health and feeling that I am too politically incorrect," said the interest of about $700 a month is eating them up right now. They are also trying_ to pay on the principle. All income they get from gate receipts and membership goes to pa\ off that loan debt. Depwe said he was pleased with what they got done. but not with his inability to get political help. He said he just can't change his personality or belief. and sometimes that can make things difficult. The present officers have done a fantastic job over the past couple of years. he added, and he looks forward to the Orleck becoming a major tourist attraction. The new boat ramps, the park and 7 other attractions will add to the interest and hopefully, bring a lot of people into Orange County as tourists, new residents and bringing businesses with them, he hopes. It will also show the dedication and monumental effort made by Orange County during WWII.

The organizations' big meetings were held at the Orange County Airport on Thursday nights. Depwe elucidated. A year or so ago. they were meeting in the Conference Room It was raining hard, and he noticed a lot of Highway Patrol in the Airport. hut they began the meeting,

"A fellow walked in and came over to inc,' he said. "I looked at him and said, 'You look familiar. Who the hell are you?" and he said. 'If you live west of the Mississippi, I am your Governor!' It was Rick Perry."

The late Marie Helton, who had formerly worked for the Veteran's Service Office on FM 1442, followed the Governor out when he left, grabbing his arm and saying. '1 want to talk to you!" Depwe said. Months later, Depwe found out what she wanted to talk to the Governor of Texas about when he received word that Perry had made him an Admiral in the Texas Navy.

"Admiral" Depwe and his wile, Cecile Pengelly Depwe, the daughter of Minnie Pengelly who for many years was the "redheaded loan officer at Orange National Bank," Depwe said, have a son. Tom Jr. and a daughter. Jill Bohn. plus 6 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.