Captain Sells is remembered by those who served under his command as a mentor, a fearless pilot, and a fair and honorable ship’s captain.  We now know that he is also something of an artist, as was demonstrated by his excellent, detailed carving of the USS Mauna Kea (AE-22).

On October 2, 2009 Rear Admiral Warren H. Sells entered the Hospitality Room at the 7th Mauna Kea reunion in San Antonio, Texas.  After announcing, “I’m Captain Sells, dammit”, he presented the crew members with a carving of the Mauna Kea.  He had carved the ship from a piece of driftwood found floating in Suisun Bay near the Concord Weapons Station.  He now wanted the Mauna Kea shipmates to have the carving.

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​The carving has been on display at every reunion since he presented it to us.  It was on display at our last, organized reunion in October 2022 in Tucson, Arizona.  At this reunion, the shipmates agreed that the carving should be returned to Captain Sells' family instead of being donated to a museum where it would likely be put into storage.

On March 15, 2023, shipmates Jerry Mouton, Joseph Roseberry, and David Cannon traveled to Lake Charles, Louisianna, to make that happen.

The carving was presented to Captain Sells' youngest brother, James Sells, and James' son Kevin. 

James was not aware that the carving existed until he was notified by Jerry and was amazed to see it.

The shipmates joined James at his home and told war stories about Captain Sells that he had never heard.  They had lunch together and exchanged more stories. 

​And now the carving has found its home.

USS MAUNA KEA AE-22   Reunions