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 Author  Topic: This is what this board is all about
  TED WALTHER

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All;

Being a member of this board, it is my honor and duty, to keep the memories of my predecessors alive, I have help several PT splinters learn more about their Uncles, Fathers, and Grandfathers who served in PT Boats, mainly because the PT Boater never really spoke of their experiences after the war.

This correspondence is what it is all about.

While this gentleman was not a PT Boater, he was a good friend of my Father, who I was fortunate enough to meet. He worked with RON 3 in defense of the Philippines, as Chief Engineer on the patrol vessel USS Maryanne from December 8, 1941 until RON 3 departed the area with General MacArthur’s party. The Inshore Patrol Group continued offensive actions until they were forced to destroy their craft to prevent capture in May 1942. At that time, MM1/C Fred Wroble and his shipmates of the Inshore Patrol Group and former RON 3 members became a “guests” of the Japanese government.

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Mr Walther:

I came across your posting of Mar 29, 2015, while researching my Uncle, Fred Wroble on the internet.  I became interested in finding out more about Uncle Fred and his experience in Japanese War Camps after reading the book "Unbroken."

I had always known Fred had been a POW during WWII from my father but not many of the details.  Fred lived in the Miami area and we lived in the Chicago area so I never really had a chance to ask about his experiences and, truthfully, wasn't interested at the time.  Now, of course, he is gone as are all his brothers and sisters and there is no one to ask.

Your posting contained the most information I have ever seen on Uncle Fred and I appreciate that information.  I remember Fred mostly for his wonderful sense of humor.  He did die in November of 1978 the exact day his mother died.  Thanks for keeping his memory alive.

Kay Culhane

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Here is my original posting that Kay is talking about:

Found some info on While researching PT 32 and LTjg.Schumacher: 

In the 1960's, My Dad had a Naval Reserve Buddy at NRC Whitestone, NY, named Fred Wroble (then he was a LT, USNR, what we called an LDO machinist),I met Fred in the early1970"s, when he was moving to Miami. Dad told me that Fred was in the Philippines on the Bataan Death March. 
Today I found out Fred was a MM1/C originally assigned to USS Sealion(SS-195),Plankowner, which was bombed at Cavite on 10 Dec 1941 and destroyed to prevent capture on 25 Dec 1941.

Fred then became crew on the USS "Maryanne", a converted yacht (which was owned by Dutch "Sugar and Real Estate Millionaire" Jan Marsman and his wife "Diamond Mary" or "Aunt Mary" Marsman) which was part of the Inshore Patrol Group.

They would go on patrol every 3rd night with the PT Boats. 
They would act as a decoy to draw enemy ships into firing on them and the PT would attack from seaward unobserved. One such night was 1 February 1942, Maryanne was escorted by PT 32(LTjg V.E. Schumacher CO and LT Edward Grover Delong as OTC), when Maryanne drew the fire of what was thought to be a cruiser(Japanese records state that the Minelayer Yaeyama was damage this night), Schumacher attacked and fired two torpedoes seeing and claiming hits.

The Maryanne, Perry, and Fisheries ll and the tug Trabajador (which acted as a defacto RON 3 tender, LT Edward Grover Delong was later CO,) operated with the PT's of RON 3. Maryanne was also tasked with transporting 20 tons of Philippine gold and silver and deliver it and help load it on to USS Trout (SS-202) for evacuation to US via Pearl Harbor.

The Maryanne was destroyed to prevent capture on 5 May 1942. Both the CO and XO of the Maryanne both were awarded the Navy Cross and unfortunately died as POW's.

I have since found Fred Wroble's name on three POW camp rosters and he was a "guest" on the Hell Ship Dainichi Maru(AKA: Lima Maru) which took him from the Philippines to Singapore then to Formosa, arriving on Friday 13, November 1942.

Machinist's Mate First Class Fred Wroble (NSN: 4088487), United States Navy, was captured by the Japanese after the fall of Corregidor, Philippine Islands, on 6 May 1942, and was held as a Prisoner of War until returned to U.S. Military control at the end of hostilities in August 1945. He was held at: Taichu POW camp #2, Sen-05B-Kamaishi (Yanoura), and Tokyo Pow Camp Branch 2 Kawasaki Tokyo Bay Area 35 139.

He was a good guy, but Dad said his stomach was jacked up for the rest of his life. He went on his last patrol in November 1978.
Pretty interesting PT tie in, well at least I think so.

Take care, 
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Mar 29, 2015 - 5:01pm
Total Posts: 2428 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am


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Prisoner of War Medal:
Machinist's Mate First Class Fred Wroble (NSN: 4088487), United States Navy, was captured by the Japanese after the fall of Corregidor, Philippine Islands, on 6 May 1942, and was held as a Prisoner of War until returned to U.S. Military control at the end of hostilities in August 1945

General Orders: NARA Database: Records of World War II Prisoners of War, created, 1942 - 1947
Action Date: May 6, 1942 - August 1945
Service: Navy
Rank: Machinist's Mate First Class

Total Posts: 3058 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am | IP Logged

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: Aug 11, 2016 - 10:37pm
You are right, Ted. This is what the Forum is all about.



Will

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Nuge210

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Nuge210   Send Email To Nuge210 Posted on: Aug 12, 2016 - 7:48am
I couldn't agree more with you guys...............
Nice job, Ted.

Steve

Total Posts: 323 | Joined: Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am | IP Logged

  rickas

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of rickas   Send Email To rickas Posted on: Aug 12, 2016 - 6:00pm
Ted, Will, Steve,

Until you have experienced it, you cannot know the thrill and emotion upon receiving some information on a relative, or in my case a photograph, from events of 70+ years ago. Events that were long forgotten to the ages. But were recorded and stored in someones notes or photo album. Only to be resurrected at an opportune time. These bits and pieces of family history gave insight and connection to my father-in-law and a part of his life that was his and his alone. And in Ms Culhanes case insight to a relative who she never really knew.
This is the photo that came from a connection thru this board: http://s629.photobucket.com/user/rickas47/media/PT%20Boat/PT63Crew2.jpg.html?sort=3&o=2 Thank you all for keeping this board and the memories of PT Sailors alive.

Edit Dad is second from right 22 years old. On right is Don (?) Eaton his family sent us the photo.

Rick Schaefer
Splinter PT 63

TM2c John E Mirus
Solomon Islands
Dec 43 - Jan 45

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