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» Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic:
WW II Citations: Unit and Presidential
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=1049
MTB Historians:
Where can I find details on all of the Presidential Unit Citations and Navy Unit Commendations issued to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons? I am aware of the single Pres Unit Cit. issued to Rons 12 and 21 as included in Appendix C of "At Close Quarters" and the single Navy Unit Commend. for Ron 7 also listed there. However, my father's discharge certificate lists him as being qualified for the "Pres. Unit Citat. Ron: 7 (Temp)" and the "Navy Unit Commendation TorpRon: 2-8" with those quotes typewritten onto the certificate, along with other more customary medals, etc.
Allan (PT 113 Div 17 2nd Gen)
Posted By: Allan | Posted on: Nov 2, 2008 - 7:35am
Total Posts: 161 | Joined: Sep 18, 2007 - 7:07pm
A squadron in the Solomons was included in the award of the Presidential Unit Citation to the First Marine Division. In At Close quarters it is reported as Ron 3 along with the USS Jamestown, but I do not believe that Ron 3 was in the Solomon islands.
At Close Quarters also reports that Ron 3 received the army distinguished unit citation.
Posted By: QM | Posted on: Nov 2, 2008 - 6:08pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Allan,
Found this with a google search
Mike Crawford
Posted By: Rm2c Ron 16 PT 221 | Posted on: Nov 4, 2008 - 12:28pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
QM: Thanks for the reply. I was aware of that reference in At Close Quarters.
Mike: Thanks for your reply, as well. That Google search was productive. I didn't have the same "luck". The document is fantastic. It gives me hope that I will one day locate the document for the Rons referenced upon my father's discharge certificate. Perhaps someone else has some thoughts as to where I can go from here.
Allan
Posted By: Allan | Posted on: Nov 4, 2008 - 8:07pm
Total Posts: 161 | Joined: Sep 18, 2007 - 7:07pm
Guys! Never give up! I found out about a diary about a night my father was wounded. It was 60 years ago and we just found out the whole story! Thanks for computers and the Alamo Scouts!! I believe it's going to be in the All Hands newsletter this winter.
Ray
Posted By: Ray Wilbur | Posted on: Nov 5, 2008 - 5:43pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Fantastic Ray!
Posted By: ducati650 | Posted on: Nov 5, 2008 - 6:21pm
Total Posts: 450 | Joined: Feb 19, 2007 - 10:01am
Thanks Ed, but think about it. It's just amazing. It's been what? A few months now and it's still has me in aw that someone actually kept a diary. Had it not been for this site, I would have never found out about it. My kids still talk about it. I'm hoping now that they will become members of PT Boats. 3rd Generations! Let's keep it going!!
Ray
Posted By: Ray Wilbur | Posted on: Nov 6, 2008 - 8:27pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
That is an amazing letter - it has special meaning for me as my uncle would have been one of the men killed. He was on the 300 boat that was hit by a kamikaze. It is my mission in life to find a picture of the 300 boat! If anyone can help me I would be forever grateful! I cannot get to Nashville to sift thru all the pictures at the PT Boats headquarters, although one of these days I am sure I will just leave home and family behind and go spend a few days doing just that!
Thanks again to this wonderful web site!
Posted By: colleen | Posted on: Nov 7, 2008 - 5:16am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Hi Colleen-
I'm glad the Message Board has been so helpful to you and other folks seeking information on relatives. What was your Uncle's name? I recently built a model of PT 297 from the same squadron. I can look him up in my research files from the model project. My email is alexjohnsonpt155@hotmail.com
Thanks,
ALEX
Posted By: Alex Johnson | Posted on: Nov 7, 2008 - 7:22am
Total Posts: 70 | Joined: Mar 2, 2007 - 12:07pm
Ray and Colleen,
It's amazing how the past keeps popping up! I am still working hard to recreate the events of October and November 1944 re: PTs 300 & 495 respectively.
Colleen, did you know that your relative was most likely on PT-300 when they helped Alamo Scouts rescue 66 Dutch and Javanese POWs from Cape Oransbari. It took 16 years, but with the help of Randy Finfrock, Ray Wilbur (Jr. & Sr), Jerry Gilmartin, Ed, et al, two incredible missions have been identified and new friendships made. Thanks again to everyone on behalf of the Alamo Scouts.
Keep the info coming!
Lance Zedric
Historian,
Alamo Scouts Association
www.alamoscouts.org
Posted By: Alamo Scout | Posted on: Nov 11, 2008 - 6:39pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Hi Alex, I'm interested in your model & research on the PT-297 since my father in law, RM1c Bill Tatroe, was in the same squadron, 16-B, and served on the PT-299 and PT-301 for the most part. I met a gentleman at the Wichita Reunion (3-yrs ago I think it was) that was on the 297. He told me that the worst moment of his PT days was when their boat was lost. Do you have information you can share about missions? Since they would be similar to those Bill served on, I'd be grateful to hear any stories.
adaam0073@cox.net
Thanks,
Randy Finfrock
Posted By: Randy Finfrock | Posted on: Nov 13, 2008 - 6:07pm
Total Posts: 97 | Joined: Nov 27, 2006 - 6:21pm
This likely won't help because it is not an official citation. However the lone PT167, Ron 10, was attacked by 12 Kate torpedoe planes and we shot down 7, plus two went over the horizon trailing thick smoke. The 167 was heavily damaged but no causalties. This telegram was received from Fleet hq. It took me a long time looking for it but Mr Berlin (skipper's son) forwarded it to me. Good luck!
This from RDO KOL 1..................also pass on to PT167 all for actionX from CTF31X The Nips reported they had sunk one large carrier and one small carrier off Bouganville the night they attached youX Your fine shooting and five Kate made them believe you were big stuffX Grand job for all of youX WilkinsonXXX
Posted By: BobPic | Posted on: Nov 14, 2008 - 6:49am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Bob
I would be interested to know what guns the 167 was equipped with at the time of the encounter with torpedo bombers. Do you know which guns shot down an airplane?
Your posting sounds like the 167 was out alone. My understanding of our rules was than a boat should not be out alone. Regardless of the rule, we made several "lone ranger' trips.
Posted By: QM | Posted on: Nov 14, 2008 - 2:17pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Sorry, wrong boat.
Posted By: Russ Blaise | Posted on: Jul 3, 2009 - 12:09pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
RON 21 Presidential Unit Citation; Oct 1943-March 1944.
I have a list of 72 PT Crew members names on the list that shows them to receive this citation. If you were in Spokane at the meeting in 2007 you may have seen my father Paul Vinci of RON 21, PT 321, along with Jack Shuttleworth of FL , receive a copy of this Citation.
Posted By: Edd Vinci | Posted on: Sep 12, 2009 - 2:31pm
Total Posts: 5 | Joined: Sep 12, 2009 - 2:06pm
IF someone can post photos on this site ,I can e-mail them my copy of RON 21 citation and they can add it....I gave up trying to post it.Edd
Medguy360@aol.com..or I can send to anyone that wants to have a copy of it.
Posted By: Edd Vinci | Posted on: Sep 15, 2009 - 12:18pm
Total Posts: 5 | Joined: Sep 12, 2009 - 2:06pm
Hi Edd,
I think I remember meeting when you and your Dad came to visit PT658 in Portland. I saw a lot of your photos you posted on the internet of that day. I remember when your whole family was at the PT Boaters Bull Session and Banquet Dinner we held a couple of Years ago at the Red Lion Hotel. Anyway, if you want to email that Citation to me I can post it one this message board. Say hi to your Dad for me and all the crew of PT658 ! My email address is jerry.gilmartin@ZZZZZintel.com (Please remove all of the the ZZZZZ's when you address the email, I put those in there to help reduce spam robots)
Jerry Gilmartin PT 658 Crew Portland Oregon
Jerry Gilmartin
Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Sep 15, 2009 - 6:52pm
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm
Allan and QM;
the RON 3 that was mentioned in the Presidential Unit Citation was RON 3(2) from 12 Oct 42-1 Feb 43
TED
p.s. dates might be loose but I don't have At CLOse Quaters in front of me at the moment
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Sep 15, 2009 - 7:26pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
Here is the Unit Citation that Edd Vinci was trying to post for RON21. Jerry
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Ron21AWARD.jpg[/image]
Jerry Gilmartin
Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Sep 16, 2009 - 11:25pm
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm
Thanks Fellows:
The Citation is a nice piece of history- something I had not read before. It seems a bit disheartening that so very many units performed so well in the face of the enemy without being issued an particular recognition. Thankfully, it seems that those involved wanted only to "get back home" and had little interest at the time for the "decorations".
Allan
Posted By: Allan | Posted on: Sep 17, 2009 - 7:07pm
Total Posts: 161 | Joined: Sep 18, 2007 - 7:07pm
Re. list of Ron 21 personnel receiving Presidential Unit Citation. I would estimate that approximately 200 personnel would have earned the citation. In 1946 copies of the citation and a letter from the secretary of navy were mailed to the home address of those who earned the citation. Are these mailing lists included in the archives? Perhaps someone with computer search knowledge could try to locate and publish on this site the mailing lists for Ron 12 and Ron 21.
Posted By: QM | Posted on: Sep 22, 2009 - 7:51am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
QM;
I suggest you contact HQ, years ago the sent me a list of every PT boater within my area. I suggest you contact Alyce directly for this request, as my request was almost 20 years ago, and the world was a very different place.
Take care,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Sep 22, 2009 - 9:34am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
My father Paul Vinci just found his original list of the 73 Ron 21 men that were given the Citation .I will scan soon sometime this week and send on to Jerry again get it posted on this site.
Posted By: Edd Vinci | Posted on: Nov 15, 2009 - 8:32pm
Total Posts: 5 | Joined: Sep 12, 2009 - 2:06pm
Hello Message Board. Edd Vinci sent this to me to post for the RON21 PUC with the names. Jerry
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Ron21Cit1.jpg[/image]
Here are some of the names. page 1
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Ron21Cit2.jpg[/image]
Here is the last page of the citation.
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Ron21Cit3.jpg[/image]
Jerry Gilmartin
Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Dec 11, 2009 - 3:34pm
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm
Re: List of 72 Ron 21 Men. I would like to repeat some information from an earlier post on this subject. Families of Ron 21 personnel should be aware that this list is is not a complete list of personnel who earned the citation. Every original member of the squadron, including base force, who arrived at Morobe with the squadron probably earned the citation. There also may have been some replacements during the six month period from October 1943 to March 1944. If you have a family member who was a member of Ron 21 during that time period he should have the citation. My guess is that about 200 personnel earned the citation.
Ron 12 tried to publish a list of their men who earned the citation in Hell on Keels. Unfortunately there are many omissions. I know seven men from one boat, and possibly an eighth man, who are not listed in the book. Ron 12 has some complications in personnel because five older boats were transferred to the squadron in New Guinea.
That is why I suggested that someone who is interested try to search the archives for the mailing list from 1946 that was used in mailing copies of the citation to those who earned it. Any family member who is interested could also try to obtain copies of their relative's service records. The service records are not always correct, I know one individual who had the citation added to his record many years later.
finding the mailing lists is a good project for some capable researcher. Please publish here lists for both squadrons if found.
Posted By: QM | Posted on: Dec 11, 2009 - 7:14pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Edd, the list that you have posted is a group of enlisted men who received their Presidential Unit Citation ribbons at Melville in 1945. The ribbons were not made available in New Guinea. The Navy Department traced them down many months later after the squadron personnel had returned to the States and scattered to many locations. Was there any kind of marker on the left margin of the list next to your father's name indicating the copy he has was for him?
Posted By: QM | Posted on: Dec 19, 2009 - 12:56pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
By chance I do have more info.My e mail is Medguy360@aol.com and If you would like to see what else I have I can scan and e-mail to you or fax once you connect with me at this address.I have Naval Mail from Feb 6 and Feb 17 giving notice to Paul in Shoemaker,Calif as well as Newport,RI
Posted By: Edd Vinci | Posted on: Dec 19, 2009 - 1:17pm
Total Posts: 5 | Joined: Sep 12, 2009 - 2:06pm
Thank you but I am not looking for more documents. I am at the age where I should be disposing of things. I was just curious about whether your father's list of men had a mark on the left margin indicating that the copy was for him. My ribbon caught up with me at the Fargo building in Boston. There were only four men on the list and each received a copy of the letter which had a mark on the left margin indication who it was for. I was at the Fargo building twice in 1945 but I do not remember when I received the ribbon. The letter was not dated.
Posted By: QM | Posted on: Dec 19, 2009 - 6:24pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Yes you are correct.The Feb 6th ,1945 letter had only 7 men named with an arrow to the left of my fathers name very much like yours.I hope you have a great Christmas and Holiday season.All the best.Edd
Posted By: Edd Vinci | Posted on: Dec 19, 2009 - 7:47pm
Total Posts: 5 | Joined: Sep 12, 2009 - 2:06pm
A few months ago someone posted about diving on various wreck sites of PT boats - does anyone remember that post? I was wondering if those people were successful in finding any of the sites. Thanks!
Posted By: colleen | Posted on: Dec 20, 2009 - 6:23am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Colleen;
You are looking for Bill Manley, a RON 21 splinter. put "Diving" in the search of this site, and you will find the post with your Lat-Long of PT 300.
Take care and Happy Holidays,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Dec 23, 2009 - 6:37am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am