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Topic: Last WW2 service member on active duty, was a PT Boat Skipper! |
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TED WALTHER |
TOP BOSS
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 Posted on: Jun 27, 2023 - 3:40pm
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All;
Of the 16 Million that served in the US Military in World War Two, the last man on active duty was a true American Bad Ass and a PT Boat man….AKA: Dirty Boat Guy!
CAPT Earl R Fox Jr. RON 1, 25👍🏻😎⚓️🔱🇺🇸
Some more about Earl:
He served aboard PT boats, commanding PT 22 in the battles of Midway and Aleutians; then going to the South Pacific with PT 349 near New Guinea. In 1943, he transferred to the submarine service aboard the USS Bang in the South Pacific and China Sea. (When I heard he had transferred to Submarines, I instantly thought of LT Daniel S. “Chick”Baughman, Jr., USN. RON 6 DIV 17 OIC and RON 25 CO. Baughman also transferred to Subs and was lost on USS Swordfish (SS-193) was sunk, probably by enemy vessels, off the Ryukyu Islands on January 12, 1945).
For his action in combat, Fox was awarded the Silver Star and two Bronze Stars. He left active duty for the Naval Reserve and completed medical school at Medical College of Virginia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqXTIPqdVXQ
https://www.tampabay.com/news/obituaries/dr-earl-fox-who-had-been-last-active-duty-world-war-ii-veteran-dies-at-93/1255256/?outputType=amp
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CJ Skamarakas
New Member
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Posted on: Jun 28, 2023 - 4:32pm
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The War Diary for RON 25 mentioned a Lieutenant Fox in 1943. He was boat commander of PT-349 which went to Panama in September 1943 after the RON completed training at Melville. He was also there as late as October. In January 1944, RON 25 departed Panama for New Guinea.
PT-349 remained in action at New Britain, Mios Woendi, the Philippines, and Halmahera through 1945 under different commanders.
This is described in my book "Devil Boats."
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Frank J Andruss Sr
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Posted on: Jun 29, 2023 - 8:40am
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Wonderful read and historically so very important. Thanks Ted.
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