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 Author  Topic: In search of myfather's boat
n d plume

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of n d plume  Posted on: Mar 22, 2020 - 4:18pm
Hello: New to this forum. My father , William M. Asher, MD, was in the Med , and the RON commander's first name was Stephen. Perhaps Stephen Daunis? I have deduced it was probably RON 29, containing boats 552-562. .
I am writing a piece which centers on the water rescue of a German Marine, a rescue in which my father was involved. I have the name of the Marine but prefer, out of consideration to his family, to not reveal it in this post.
If any members have details of this, I would be most appreciative.
I would like to know what PT# he was on, when the rescue took place, etc. BTW, the Marine survived and lived out his life in Germany.
Do you know if it was conventional to have a shipboard physician? Would the physician have had other duties? Would it have been one MD for the RON?
When (and if ) published, I would be happy to share the piece with you.

Thank you all. Stay healthy.


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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: Mar 23, 2020 - 6:54am
Based on my research, PT Boat Squadrons were not assigned a Doctor. In a 12 boat squadron they had a Chief Pharmacists Mate and 2 Pharmacist's Mate 1st classes.. Less than 12 boats, they had two 1st classes. In an 18 boat Squadron, they had an additional 2nd class.

I do see a William Asher on the list of PT Boaters in Ron 29. I'll see what else I can find.

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: Mar 23, 2020 - 7:27am
Did some digging through various Squadron officer lists and found RON 29. And Dr Asher does show up as the medical officer. This is unusual as no other squadron has a Medical Officer listed. Wonder how they wrangled that one.

He wouldn't have been assigned to a boat but to the base. If he was needed or whatever other reasons, he would go out on a boat.

jeEOw.jpg

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: Mar 23, 2020 - 7:32am
A right-side up view

jeOAs.jpg

Charlie

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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 23, 2020 - 12:01pm
Nice work, Charlie...

Will

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Jeff D

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Jeff D   Send Email To Jeff D Posted on: Mar 24, 2020 - 4:14am
Welcome n d!

Thanks for answering a question I've thought about but never asked Charlie. And you too n d for asking it. I'm guessing that a Pharmacist's Mate was much more than simply a medication dispenser?



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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: Mar 24, 2020 - 6:42am
Yes, as the Pharmacists mates move up in rate, they learn more and more. By the time they reach 1st class or Chief Petty Officer, they are usually equivalent to a Physician's Assistant (modern term) or a nurse practitioner. In many cases the senior Pharmacist's mate will be the only medical personnel available and working independent duty so they have to know a lot more than just passing out pills.

Charlie

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Jeff D

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Jeff D   Send Email To Jeff D Posted on: Mar 24, 2020 - 5:49pm
Thank you Charlie.



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JEno

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of JEno  Posted on: Mar 25, 2020 - 4:55am
There were several instances during the war where Pharmacist mates performed appendectomies aboard US subs. An assistant usually held the instruction book for them while they operated. This was usually done with the boat submerged to provide a smooth steady platform and to keep the wardroom table ( the operating gurney) steady. I beleive that his was even portrayed in one of the great movies of the time, maybe with Burt Lancaster?


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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: Mar 25, 2020 - 7:38am
The movie was Destination Tokyo with Cary Grant. The Burt Lancaster (and Clark Gable) movie was Run Silent, Run Deep.

During the war when the submarine appendectomies seemed to become rampant, the Navy's Bureau of Medicine put out a directive basically stating - stop doing them.

https://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/appendectomy-on-a-submarine/

Charlie

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