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ThePTboater
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Mar 28, 2016 - 9:59am
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Even if the boat is too far gone to even consider restoration, i would still want to see the boat as it is now, im sure something can be out in a museum at least, something along the lines of" the boat kennedy commanded" or something like that, i mean we aren't getting 109, so this is the best alternative.
ThePTboater
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Jerry Gilmartin |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Mar 28, 2016 - 10:14am
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Thanks Dave,
I had to LOL when I read your explanations. Also Nic I had forgotten the link to JFK. Let me know when you guys find something!
Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR |
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CJ Willis
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Mar 28, 2016 - 12:17pm
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I suppose I am one of the few guys left that actually set foot aboard the 59. I was not a crew member but we berthed next to the 59 in the mangrove bushes at Vella La Vella for 2-3 weeks. She was a gunboat then with 40 mm bow and stern with 4-50's port and starboard. Of course a lowly seaman like me did not know Officer Kennedy but we knew some of the crew. The officers lived in tents on the beach and were not on the boats much except when we left to go on patrol. One of the crewmen (I think the quartermaster) gave me a 45 automatic Army issue pistol when they left to come back to the States which I carried until I came home. After they left, the 60 boat, also a gunboat, took their spot and we berthed next to them.until the big fuel dock fire December 14, 1943 that closed the base at Vella La Vella and we moved up to Treasury and operated with Ron 9 until the last of January when Ron 19 was relieved from patrols after being in.the combat zone and patroling for 12 weeks. One half of our crew was given R& R for 2 weeks to New Zealand. My name was not drawn out of the hat so we stayed and cleaned the bottom of the boat and added two more twin fifties on the bow while they were gone.. We were promised to get to go on R & R later but it never happened..
C. J. Willis |
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Will Day
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Mar 28, 2016 - 10:27pm
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Thanks, C.J. Good info....
Will |
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Will Day
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Mar 28, 2016 - 10:27pm
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Thanks, C.J. Good info....
Will |
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David Buck
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Mar 29, 2016 - 12:06pm
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C.J.
Thankyou Sir, as someone that has walked the deck of this boat during that time your service and personal accounts are priceless.
Yours,
Dave. |
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ThePTboater
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Mar 30, 2016 - 10:13am
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You never know what we could get when it comes to a boat that been in the water and mud for about 42 years or so. As of now i guess we can be sure shes mostly buried in the mud, which hopefully at least preserved some of the boat.
It doesn't seem(at least from pictures i have seen)the fire that sank her did much to the hull itself, it seems that the topside superstructure(which isn't important) was pretty much destroyed.
Any idea how deep the cove is in that area that she sank?
ThePTboater
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Frank Andruss
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Mar 30, 2016 - 12:21pm
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Thanks CJ I Always love listening to your stories of being out there...............
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TED WALTHER |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Mar 31, 2016 - 7:44am
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All;
NOAA Chart 12342 (24th Edition May 2013, last corrections made 8/12/2015), shows a sounding depth of 9 feet at the exact location. Depth out in the river, in that area ranges from 18-22 feet.
Take Care,
TED
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Jimbo Melanson
New Member
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Posted on: Mar 31, 2016 - 4:27pm
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I am amazed she has not been dragged out of the silt yet. Last I knew back around 04 - 05 when that guy reached out to me you could still see her stem sticking out of the mud. It is the disturbing of the toxic silt and mud that would bring up an issue
by all means keep digging!!
Jimbo |
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