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Topic: Last Patrol - Clay C. Cooper Jr.- CO PT 324 |
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scooper
New Member
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Posted on: Jul 11, 2007 - 8:29am
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Frank, you're corrected; my Dad's wartime experiences as a PT Boat officer truly enriched his life. He met such a great group of fellows through his service. He told me an interesting story about how he got into the service: He was told that, as a junior officer, he could command his own boat if he went into Motor Torpedo Boats. So, on his Naval Officer application, he "fudged" a bit and checked the "yes" box which asked, "Do you have any small boat experience?" Of course, growing up in the Midwest at that time, he had no such experience. Regardless, he successfully got into the Motor Torpedo Boat training program. He also told me that many of the PT Boat officers he met were from wealthy Eastern families who, by virtue of their patrician upbringing, had experience sailing yachts and other types of small water craft.
After VJ Day, the 324 boat, like most of the PT Boats, was stripped of its usuable gear and burned. However, we still have the wheel off of Dad's boat, as well as its National Ensign (US flag) and the Bureau of Ships Navy Comparing Watch that was issued to Dad. I treasure them even more since Dad passed away on May 31.
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Frank J Andruss Sr
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Jul 11, 2007 - 2:34pm
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Scooper:
Would you please contact me at mosquitofleet@comcast.net I would like to talk with you off site. Thanks Very Much...........
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Wade Johnson
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Posted on: Jan 13, 2008 - 12:29am
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LtCol Cooper USMCR(Ret),
My condolence for the lost of your Father.
My Dad, LtJg Henry Johnson and your Father may have served together on the USS Pinnacle AM-274. My Dad was aboard the Pinnacle for her entire WW II experience plus the post war sweeping operations. I remember him say that he became the skipper of the Pinnacle when the LT skipper when home in late 1945. I believe my Dad was then made the CO, and would have sailed her back home to CA in 1946.
While not a PT, if you have any information or pictures about your Dad's time on the Pinnacle, I’d love to see them. I am currently serving in Iraq as mobilized reservist myself. Both of my brothers and myself were all Marines. My Day use to lament, "Three Sons all Marines were did I go wrong." My home e-mail is wadedeb83@aol.com. Here in Iraq: wade.johnson@mnf-wiraq.usmc.mil
Semper Fi,
Wade M. Johnson
Colonel, USMCR
Camp Fallujah, Iraq
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TGarth Connelly
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Posted on: Jan 13, 2008 - 2:16pm
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You have my heart-felt condolences. Your father was truly a hero.
You've got a question, I've got an answer. |
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Drew Cook
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Posted on: Jan 14, 2008 - 2:32pm
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Scooper,
My sincere condolences on the loss of your Dad. God bless him, and may he rest in peace.
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QM
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Posted on: Jan 14, 2008 - 6:37pm
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SCooper; Regarding your fathers PT possessions, if there are any items which you do not desire to keep in your family, please consider contributing them to the PT Museum. |
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scooper
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Posted on: Jan 30, 2008 - 7:08pm
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All-
Thank you for your continued condolences on the loss of my father, Clay Cooper Jr. He was, as others have written, a hero, as were all of his comrades-in-arms who served our great country in WWII. Not a day goes by without me missing him. Hardly an hour passes without me thinking of him. I know many on this board had fathers who served in the "Mosquito Fleet," and I'm sure you all have similar feelings about your Dads.
For LtCol Wade Johnson USMC:
Thanks for getting in touch. Yes, I do have some photos of my father aboard the USS Pinnacle (AM 274), where he served for about 8 months following VJ day. I have one photo of my Dad with three of his fellow Pinnacle officers taken at night club in Shanghai, China, where the Pinnacle was in port for several weeks at the end of 1945. Maybe your Dad is one of them? I will try to scan them and e-mail them to you. Thank you for your service as a brother Marine, and to your "blood brothers" as well. Watch your six and take care while in Iraq.
Semper fi.
Shep Cooper LtCol USMCR (Ret)
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