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Topic: Last Patrol - Bob Robello, PT 134 gunners mate |
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Doug Robello
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Posted on: Feb 17, 2008 - 2:31pm
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My father, Bob Robello, died last week in Queens, New York, of complications from emphysema and heart disease. He was 81. Bob left behind 3 children and 3 grandchildren.
Dad did not talk to us much about his experiences in the Navy. I always took this to mean that he had seen some bad stuff, and it was painful to revisit it. However, I can tell you that he was always extremely proud of having been one of the PT sailors.
By coincidence, recently I had been reading Cutler's book about the battle for Leyte Gulf, and it mentioned PT 134 as the flagship of the PT boat fleet in context of the Surigao Strait engagement. Until then, I had no idea just where Dad had been in the Leyte battle. That these little plywood boats were attacking armored ships many times their size during the middle of the night really stunned me. I called Dad in the hospital to confirm the number of his boat, and he said I could never forget that! PT 134 is burned into my brain. He died a few days later.
The Navy sent an honor guard to Dad's gravesite. We were impressed beyond words. A bugler played Taps, and they performed the flag folding ceremony over Dad's grave, and the officer expressed condolences from the President of the United States and the US Navy.
We put Dad's sweatshirt from the PT Boat organization with him in this coffin.
I would be pleased to hear from any of his former shipmates or their survivors.
Doug Robello
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ducati650
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Posted on: Feb 18, 2008 - 4:02am
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Sorry to hear of your fater's passing.
Have you read "At Close quarters"? There are a number of references to PT134 in it.
Ed
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Frank J Andruss Sr
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Posted on: Feb 18, 2008 - 4:25am
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Doug:
The one thing that really gets to me, is the love these men had for their Crews and their Boats. Being on an 80 foot wooden boat, one tends to get some close ties with those they serve with. These guys depended on each other for their very lifes as they bounced across a vast ocean in the dark of night. Gun battles sometimes lasted only a few moments, but the devastation that these little PT BOATS could cause was tremendous. I want to cerainly say how sorry I am to hear of your Dad's passing. Too often these men are leaving us, but rest assured that your Dad is once again reunited with his PT BOAT Buddies that have gone before him. He is once again riding the waves on that special wooden boat he once called home.............
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ducati650
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Posted on: Feb 18, 2008 - 7:03am
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Frank, you have the heart and soul of a poet.
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Doug Robello
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Posted on: Feb 18, 2008 - 3:40pm
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Thanks for the kind words - brought a tear to my eye.
There is also a photo showing PT 134 in Victor Chen's book. I just got this from the library this weekend.
Does anyone reading this know David Storey? Apparently, David was researching the history of Ron 7 a few years ago, as I found some correspondence between him and Dad in Dad's house. There were also some great photos from PT 134 among the papers. Apparently Dad was able to identify many of the crewmen. I tried to contact David by e-mail and by post, but no reply yet.
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Michael
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Posted on: Feb 18, 2008 - 4:21pm
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Hi Doug,
Please accept my condolences for your loss.
Ive just recieved an email from David Shorey,he sent me a list of Boats and Crew names and contacts for Ron 8,id be glad to pass these on to yourself or anyone else who might like to view them,there is also a log from the 144 boat.
Michael
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Doug Robello
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Posted on: Feb 20, 2008 - 2:51am
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Michael: Thanks for the condolences. I just received an e-mail from David Storey, as apparently he had moved and it took a while for my letter to reach him.
Here's an old photo of my Dad in uniform, back home in Astoria, New York with his mother, sometime around 1945 .
![](http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos4914/2/79/49/75/99/6/699754979207_0_ALB.jpg )
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David Waples
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Posted on: Feb 20, 2008 - 4:49am
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Greetings Doug,
It would be a great tribute to your father's legacy if you were to send copies of your photos to PT Boats Inc. They maintain a library of information and photos of the PT Boats and crew. Certainly keep originals for your family but placing copies with PT Boats Inc. helps assure that these men wont be forgotten for many generations to come. I can't help but wonder how many photos and memories of these crews are out there and how many have been lost to time.
Others on this board can give you guidance on that process better than I can.
All the best
Dave
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Scott Cunningham
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Posted on: Feb 20, 2008 - 6:14am
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Michael Hallinan & David Shorey:
My father Jim Cunningham was skipper of PT-144. I would love to get any info. on my Dad & the 144 boat. Would love copies of logs or anything I could get. Thanks in advance.
Scott Cunningham 2nd rons 8 & 13
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phone- 318-617-9212
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Will Day
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Posted on: Feb 20, 2008 - 10:49am
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Doug: I have a PT-134 crew picture. What is your e-mail?
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