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 Author  Topic: I think my Great grandfather was on PT Boat?
WestphalGGson

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Jul 5, 2015 - 3:29pm
My Grandma has been telling me stories my whole life about her Dad's time spent on his PT boat in the south pacific. She said he was a gunners mate. She also said, he witnessed his gunner getting his head shot off by a plane and his body was still firing. He had to pry the fingers off the gun to take over. I was given his navy issued knifePlease help if u can. My best guess is PT-522. His name was: Howard D Westphal. CM 3/C


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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: Jul 6, 2015 - 6:20am
Hi;
All I could find on S 1/c Howard D. Westphal was that he was assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Base 722 which was Finschhafen, New Guinea and on 7 January 1945 he was a passenger on LST 560. If you click on the envelope I can send you what I found.
Take care
TED


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29navy

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of 29navy  Posted on: Jul 7, 2015 - 1:20pm
Howard D. Westphal was assigned to MTB Base 3100, which was listed to be in San Jose, Mindoro, Philippine Islands. He was advanced to Gunner's Mate 3rd (temporary) on May 2, 1945. On October 4, 1945, he was transferred to a Receiving Station in the US for discharge (doesn't say which one).

I do not see him listed in MTBSTC or MTBRTU musters. So I am not sure where he was before he joined MTB Base 3100.

It appears that MTB Base 3100 loaded on LST 560 at Hollandia. There was an MTB advanced base there, but can't find a muster report for it, yet.

Charlie

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29navy

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of 29navy  Posted on: Jul 7, 2015 - 2:05pm
I found him on the muster roll for MTB Base 722 (Base 4), in Finschhafen, New Guinea in December 1944. However, I haven't found a report that shows when he came aboard. He just shows up on the crew muster report.

Interesting.


Charlie

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WestphalGGson

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Jul 7, 2015 - 9:31pm
Thank you both for all your help. I am very pleased to have this information to share with my Grandmother and the rest of the family. I also plan to request all his documents from the national archives. I will post all updates on any information I receive about his involvement on the PT Boats. Thanks again.


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