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 Author  Topic: PT 59
ThePTboater

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of ThePTboater  Posted on: Mar 28, 2016 - 9:59am
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

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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: Mar 28, 2016 - 10:14am
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

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of CJ Willis  Posted on: Mar 28, 2016 - 12:17pm
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

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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: Mar 28, 2016 - 10:27pm
Thanks, C.J. Good info....

Will

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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: Mar 28, 2016 - 10:27pm
Thanks, C.J. Good info....

Will

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David Buck

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of David Buck   Send Email To David Buck Posted on: Mar 29, 2016 - 12:06pm
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

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of ThePTboater  Posted on: Mar 30, 2016 - 10:13am
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

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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: Mar 30, 2016 - 12:21pm
Thanks CJ I Always love listening to your stories of being out there...............


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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: Mar 31, 2016 - 7:44am
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

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Mar 31, 2016 - 4:27pm
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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