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 Author  Topic: Looking for info about SK2 Louis VanCamfort, MBTRON15
John Berry

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of John Berry  Posted on: Jun 17, 2021 - 4:45pm
Greetings All, I'm looking for information about my maternal grandfather, Louis VanCamfort. When I was young he told me he was a PT boat sailor in the Med, originally operating out of Bizerte. He was a Storekeeper 2nd Class and was the boat’s cook but I don’t recall him ever saying which boat. I do know he was on a Higgins boat, and through the process of elimination I’m about 90% sure he was with MTBRON 15. I wish I had asked him for more details before he passed away.

Anyway, if anyone can suggest some potential sources I’d appreciate it.

Thanks to all for the good work you are doing! As a retired Marine officer I appreciate your efforts to keep our naval heritage alive.

Semper Fi,

John



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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: Jun 18, 2021 - 12:39pm
I'm not coming up with anyone with that name in Ron 15 or any other unit. Is there any alternate spelling of hi last name?

Charlie

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John Berry

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of John Berry  Posted on: Jun 18, 2021 - 1:55pm
I've got an award letter to him from PT Base Twelve that puts a space after Van and reads:
"VAN CAMFORT, Louis John, 579-00-03, SK2c(T), V-6, USNR."
He's awarded a European-African-Middle Eastern Area Ribbon with two bronze stars for "Serving under Commander Boat Squadrons, Northeast African Waters" during the invasions of Elba Island on 17-18 August 1944 and Southern France on 15 August 1944. It is signed by LCDR Wolcott Fuller, CO.

I also have a liberty pass issued to him by the US Navy Port Office, Leghorn, for January 28, 29, & 30, 1945, It says he's a a crew member of YF 445. It is signed by the CO, whose name is F. R. Carliss if I'm reading his handwriting correctly. It is stamped approved by the port security officer, Livorno.


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Gary Paulsen

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Gary Paulsen   Send Email To Gary Paulsen Posted on: Jun 18, 2021 - 5:18pm
Found this on YF-445
http://www.navsource.org/archives/14/43445.htm
Good luck on your search
Gary


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John Berry

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of John Berry  Posted on: Jun 18, 2021 - 5:23pm
Thanks Gary. YF445 commissioning date of 9 Aug 44 means my grandfather was on a different vessel before that.

I'm beginning to wonder if he was in RON 22.


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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: Jun 20, 2021 - 8:54am

What I could find was that he enlisted 10 Dec 1943 and was discharged 4 Oct 1945.

He arrived at MTB Base 12 on May 23 1944 from ABPD Camp Allen, NOB Norfolk. (ABPD is Advanced Base Personnel Depot)

He changed rate from Seaman 1st to SK3 on 11-1-1944.

He went to SK3 to SK2 on 5-16-45,

On 6-2-1945 he was transferred from MTB Base 12 to Naval Operating Base, Oran, Algeria.

Don't see the muster reports from NOB Oran so can't tell what went on afterwards.

About the YF-445 - the muster reports for YF-445 are not available (don't exist). The muster reports for Base 12 for January 1945 don't show anything about him going to YF-445. So can't answer that question.






Charlie

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