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Topic: USNS Toboga, Balboa Canal Zone - WWII |
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DD991Vet8286
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Posted on: Aug 22, 2022 - 11:51am
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Hello everyone, I am honored to be part of this forum, thank you Dick Washichek for making that happen.
I am conducting family research, specifically related to my Uncle that served in the US Navy during WWII in the Pacific Theater, April '43-February '46. He was trained as a Quartermaster, became lead helmsman / driver of an LST during the Normandy Invasion, Omaha Beach, D-Day. After the war ended, he changed his rating to Carpenter's Mate and was assign duty at USNS Toboga, Balboa Panama Canal Zone. I don't have specific dates of his time in Panama, but I know it was post VE Day, approx. July 1945-Feb. 1946.
Name: William M. Oeste
Rating: QM3c / CM3c
Search:
1. What his duties would had been post WWII on the base as a CM3c.
2. Images of the base during that time
3. Image of him if available
4. PT Boat images 1945-1946
5. Muster Reports with his name
Thank you in advance to all that may be able to help.
Regards,
John Oeste
US Navy Vet. '82-'86
USS Fife DD-991
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29navy
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Aug 22, 2022 - 1:33pm
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Hey John, and welcome to the group. I did a quick search, and it looks like he was with two different LCT Flotillas, not LST. LCT Flotilla 1 and LCT Flotilla 19 which is the one he was with at D-Day.. Figuring out which LCT he was on is a bit more difficult unless you have that but probably can be done with a little more digging.
Looks like he was on the USS Sims for a bit in early 1945 before he went to Taboga. Think I can find the muster reports for that....Give me a little time and I'll check.
As far as what a carpenter's mate does, it kind of says it all....mostly dealing with making or repairing anything with wood. Could be including fixing PT Boats.
Finding pictures of Taboga kind of tough but I'm looking into that too.
By the way, I'm a Navy vet of your era also. 1979 - 1985 - USS Richard S Edwards, DD-950 & NAVCOMSTA Puerto Rico.
Charlie |
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29navy
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Aug 22, 2022 - 1:38pm
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Looks like he got to Taboga on Feb 7, 1945.
Charlie |
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DD991Vet8286
New Member
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Posted on: Aug 23, 2022 - 7:07am
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Quote:
Hello everyone, I am honored to be part of this forum, thank you Dick Washichek for making that happen.
I am conducting family research, specifically related to my Uncle that served in the US Navy during WWII in the Pacific Theater, April '43-February '46. He was trained as a Quartermaster, became lead helmsman / driver of an LCT during the Normandy Invasion, Omaha Beach, D-Day. After the war ended, he changed his rating to Carpenter's Mate and was assign duty at USNS Taboga, Balboa Panama Canal Zone. I don't have specific dates of his time in Panama, but I know it was post VE Day, approx. July 1945-Feb. 1946.
Name: William M. Oeste
Rating: QM3c / CM3c
Search:
1. What his duties would had been post WWII on the base as a CM3c.
2. Images of the base during that time
3. Image of him if available
4. PT Boat images 1945-1946
5. Muster Reports with his name
Thank you in advance to all that may be able to help.
Regards,
John Oeste
US Navy Vet. '82-'86
USS Fife DD-991
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Total Posts: 13 | Joined:
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DD991Vet8286
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Posted on: Aug 23, 2022 - 7:12am
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Thank you Charlie for the reply and info. I wasn't aware of the USS Sims, thx. The muster report you attached says he had orders to Panama prior to D-Day, but I know for a fact he was at D-Day. Is this just advanced orders maybe?
Your "digging" efforts are greatly appreciated. Kind regards, John
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DD991Vet8286
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Posted on: Aug 23, 2022 - 7:33am
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Charlie, I found more information on the USS Sims - USS Sims (DE-154/APD-50) was a Buckley-class destroyer escort in service with the United States Navy from 1943 to 1946. She was scrapped in 1961.
Battle of the Atlantic
After fitting out, Sims completed her shakedown off Bermuda. She was then assigned to Task Group (TG) 21.6 escorting tankers from Curaçao to Derry, Northern Ireland. After two such runs, the western terminus was changed to New York, and the escort made eight more trips escorting tankers from New York to Derry. In the 20 crossings, only one tanker was sunk by a U-boat.
On 23 September 1944, Sims entered the Boston Navy Yard for conversion into a Charles Lawrence-class high speed transport. The work completed, Sims (now designated APD-50) departed Boston on 6 December 1944 for Norfolk, Virginia.
Pacific War
Sims served as a training ship there until 24 January 1945 when she put to sea. After transiting the Panama Canal, and a brief shakedown period at San Diego, the transport arrived at Pearl Harbor on 20 February.
I assume he sailed from Virginia post D-day via the Panama canal to disembark in Tabogo Balboa Panama on the USS Sims. Would this be your assumption as well?
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TED WALTHER |
TOP BOSS
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 Posted on: Aug 23, 2022 - 8:03am
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John;
Welcome and Thank you! Finally someone whose relative was stationed at Toboga! You are the first, in all the years of my PT Boat research, and since this message board was first started back in the 1990’s!
Reading through yours and Charlie’s posts it looks like he arrived at Toboga still as a QM. In this rate, he would have probably been assigned to Port Ops, or the Chart “shack” if they had one. Most likely Ops.
If he crossrated to Carpenters Mate as Charlie said, he would be assigned to the Carpenters Shop. He could have worked on some boats.
However, the time frame in which he was there, they started closing Toboga, so he would be packing stuff to be sent back to the US, or moving items off the Island to be distributed to other Navy Shore Commands in Panama, most likely, Rodman Naval Station.
Take care,
TED
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TED WALTHER |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Aug 23, 2022 - 8:09am
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By the time he got there things were in full swing, he was there to see RON 37-40 pass through training and head out to the Pacific. RON 40, (the last Squadron to go to the Pacific,) Division B (PT 593,594,595,596) was there 1Aug -9Aug to train and on the 9th they we’re loaded on the S.S. William H.Crawford and headed for the Philippines. Division C (PT 597,598,599,600)was the last group to train there, they were there Aug 1- Sept 15 1945. Naval Station Toboga was decommissioned in March 1946.
I was Stationed at Rodman assigned to Special Boat Unit 26 from 1991-1998. Since my wife is Panamanian, I go back every year. I have been to Toboga a lot, sadly, next to nothing remains of the base.
Here is an earlier thread that explains more.
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?fid=102&cid=101&tid=2132&pg=1&sc=20&x=0
Take care,
TED
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29navy
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Aug 23, 2022 - 12:48pm
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OK, here's his Taboga history. As posted, he arrived in Feb 7, 1945 way after D-Day.
While there, on August 2, 1945, he was reduced in rate from QM3 to Seaman 1st. The authorization cited is a provision that the CO can reduce someone's rate if he thinks he is not qualified for it. Whether that is the case or not, don't know. On scenario is that he wanted to change rates to carpenter's mate so he was reduced in rate so he could work on his new one and not get caught up in being a POA and maybe they had too many Qms on hand. Who knows?
Charlie |
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29navy
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Aug 23, 2022 - 12:50pm
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But whatever the reason, it didn't last long because on Nov 2, 1945, he was made Carpenter's mate 3rd.
Charlie |
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