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 Author  Topic: PT34 RON3 crewmans little known "Expendables" story
  Jerry Gilmartin

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Jerry Gilmartin   Send Email To Jerry Gilmartin Posted on: Dec 13, 2013 - 5:35pm
Hello Shipmates,
One of our PT658 crewmen, Wally was contacted by the son of an original PT34 crewman in regards to donating some memorabilia of his fathers. A resident of Alaska, Martin Beckner, who is the son of Charles C Beckner Pharmacists Mate 2/c, of PT34. He was awarded the Silver Star as result of actions on PT34. I am going to post this stuff here since it is way too historic to keep it a secret. I am sure you will find it of great interest as well. While he was on PT34 he went on a mission with Al Ross's Dad and LT Bulkley. Sometime after the boats were in Mindanao, Doc Beckner came down with malaria and missed the mission where PT34 was lost. After he recovered, he was taken out of Mindanao by a PBY Catalina on one of the last flights leaving the island. (Part of Project "Gridiron") I have the 12 page Operation Gridiron Summary here for you to read. Jerry

RON3 at Cavite Navy Yard 10-27-41 (on pier bottom of photo)


RON3 Homeport Change order


Chief Beckner in 1945 taken in Australia after leaving Okinawa


Beckner 5th from left at Chow Hall in Philippines


Letter from shipmate of PT35 who survived malaria on Mindanao


PBY Pilot contacted him after war.


At Close Quarters Story of two barges, mentions Al Ross' Dad and Beckner as crew


At Close Quarters Two Barges Page 2 mentions Beckner on 50cal MG


Operation Gridiron PBY Rescue Mission involving PT Crewmen Pg1


Gridiron pg2


Gridiron pg3


Gridiron page 4


Gridiron pg5


Gridiron pg 6


Gridiron pg7


Gridiron pg8


Gridiron pg9


Gridiron pg 10


Gridiron pg 11


Gridiron pg 12


Martins explanation of Dads uniforms




Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Total Posts: 1469 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm | IP Logged

Roy Forbes

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Roy Forbes  Posted on: Dec 14, 2013 - 7:44am
Awesome reading Jerry. What an outstanding find.


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TED WALTHER

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of TED WALTHER   Send Email To TED WALTHER Posted on: Dec 15, 2013 - 2:05pm
Jerry,
Have you noticed Grover Delong,is listed as passenger on plane #1?
This was 29 April 1942.
This same list is an appendix in the book : All This Hell: U.S. Nurses Imprisoned by the Japanese. This list is part of appendix E : Evacuees from Phillipines to Australia
Take care
TED


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Will Day

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Will Day   Send Email To Will Day Posted on: Dec 15, 2013 - 9:56pm
Awesome story! Thanks.....

Will

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Frank Andruss

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Frank Andruss   Send Email To Frank Andruss Posted on: Dec 15, 2013 - 10:27pm
Wonderful information, thank you for sharing this jerry.


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  Jerry Gilmartin

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Jerry Gilmartin   Send Email To Jerry Gilmartin Posted on: Dec 27, 2013 - 3:03pm
Hey Al,
Is your Dad pictured in that photo of the Mess Hall? Just curious. Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Total Posts: 1469 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm | IP Logged

alross2

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of alross2   Send Email To alross2 Posted on: Dec 27, 2013 - 5:46pm
Quote:

Hey Al,
Is your Dad pictured in that photo of the Mess Hall? Just curious. Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR



Nope.



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