You Just Never Know!!

The following is a little ditty from John B.
When I was on the Navy Staff Wellington (DDCEW Cell) back in 1978, I had been tasked to deliver a classified bag to Suva for HMNZS Otago and USS Niagara Falls which were enroute to Auckland for exercises with the RNZN.  Upon arrival Suva I delivered the “bags” and was to return to Auckland courtesy of the Otago. However, when I delivered the bag to USNS Niagara Falls I met up with a Radioman Chief Jerry Whitworth from San Francisco, who was also the ship’s crypto custodian.  I also met his Commanding Officer who suggested I travelled with them to Auckland as a communications liaison officer.  This was approved, so I enjoyed the following week on board, having to endure hot buttered popcorn and movies every night washed down with soda pop and “cookies”.   Upon arrival at Auckland I went ashore with Jerry Whitworth, and a good time was had by the both of us.   The hospitality shown by him and other crew members on the Niagara Falls was exceptional.  Also the Commanding Officer gave me a signed photograph of the ship in appreciation of my services.  Whilst on-board, I spent most of my day in their “Radio Shack”.  I recall RMC Jerry Whitworth asking me politely not to look at any messages designated “NOFORN”!

Now the juicy bit that I have only recently found out which “blew my socks off”!

Now have a look at this URL http://ftp.resource.org/courts.gov/c/F2/856/856.F2d.1268.86-1256.html .  As it turns out, this RMC Jerry Whitworth was a spy working for the Soviet Union/KGB with that infamous co-conspirator John A Walker, JR, between 1975 and 1984.  If you do a “Google” on Walker, he made world headlines and was sentenced to “forever and a day” in a U.S. Federal prison.
The URL above also refers to, and indicts Whitworth during his time on USS Niagara Falls, that also coincided with the same time I spent working with him on-board as he was my host.
Extract Only
Whitworth next served on the U.S.S. Niagara Falls, a supply ship, in August 1978. During his one-year tour as chief radioman, Whitworth was the custodian of a large amount of cryptographic material used on a number of ships. He photographed classified information and delivered it to Walker in September and December 1978 and May and August 1979 in exchange for $24,000.
Whitworth is now serving time in a Federal Prison until 10-02-2048.  Refer http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/LocateInmate.jsp (type in 78095-011)