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» Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic:
PT658 and CJ Willis visit Laker Oswego Festival
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Hello Board members! I just wanted to share the photos that I took when C.J. Willis and his son Randy flew out from Oklahoma last week and got underway with the crew of PT658 on our trip to the Lake Oswego Classic boat and car festival. It was on August 20-21 and we had a great reception. The mayor of Lake Oswego and other dignitaries welcomed the PT658 to town, and personally welcomed the 5 WW2 PT Boat veterans CJ Willis (PT242), Maury Hooper (PT238), and Frank Lesage (PT205) Rolf Bruckner (PT127) and Pphayne Sayer (PT Base 16) into town. CJ and his son Randy were given a tour on Friday by Bob Alton of the PT658, then rode the boat with me as their personal tour guide. We all had a great time, and then our crew gave tours of the boat to about 4-500 people the rest of the weekend. I hope you will enjoy these photos. CJ looked really pleased to be manning the port 50 cal gun tub again!
It was truly an honor to meet him and get to know a real hero from WW2. Thanks for coming out here CJ! Hope you can make it again this next year. Jerry
New 20mm spare barrel box on charthouse
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/DSC00016.jpg[/image]
CJ and randy (standing on right) prepare to get underway
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/DSC00045.jpg[/image]
My son Trae (as a Linehandler) sitting on torpedo getting underway from boathouse
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/DSC00048.jpg[/image]
Randy CJ and Jerry just before we got underway
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/DSC00050.jpg[/image]
CJ Jerry and Randy playing on the 40mm Bofors cannon
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/DSC00055.jpg[/image]
CJ taking aim at some Jap barges from the Port 50 cal turret, his battle station on PT242
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/DSC00061.jpg[/image]
Randy on the 50 cal
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/DSC00063.jpg[/image]
My son Trae and Frank LeSage (PT205) on the stbd 50 cal
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/DSC00064.jpg[/image]
PT658 moored at Lake Oswego dock on the Williamette River 20Aug2011 Note the 5 inch Mark 50 Rocket Launchers in the launching position outboard from the bow Port and Stbd
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/DSC00067.jpg[/image]
PT658 sporting her new 5 inch rocket launcher tubes at Lake Oswego
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/DSC00069.jpg[/image]
Maury Hooper Molly McCready and Mrs Billups man the booth at top of boat ramp
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/DSC00073.jpg[/image]
Tom Cates explains exhibits to guests at Lake Oswego display tent
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/DSC00072.jpg[/image]
Jerry PT658 Portland OR
Jerry Gilmartin
Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Aug 27, 2011 - 12:02am
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm
Jerry, these are some great shots. C.J. looks like one proud guy in his .50 caliber gun tub. What a thrill for these guys to board something that they fought on during the War. I will get there one day, you can bank on that............
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Aug 27, 2011 - 4:15am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am
Great stuff, Jerry. Thanks for sharing.
Will
Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Aug 27, 2011 - 6:44am
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm
Jerry: Thanks for all the pictures of Randy and me. I would suggest that anyone interested in P.T. Boats and any P.T. Vets go to Portland and see P.T. 658. Jerry and the 658 crew will certainly give you a grand welcome. They have done a marvelous job rebuilding the boat to what I call "fighting condition" with new camouflage paint and all the armament. It was a beautiful day last Saturday for the 1 1/2 hour trip up the Williamette River. The ride brought back many memories of the 13 months I spent aboard a Higgins in the Solomons. (Frank, The three Packards purred along nicely.) The engine room still pretty noisy though.
Thanks Again Jerry and Crew for all your planning and hospitality.
C. J. Willis
Posted By: CJ Willis | Posted on: Aug 27, 2011 - 9:44am
Total Posts: 464 | Joined: Nov 5, 2006 - 5:02pm
CJ looked right at home manning the twin 50's. Being able to share that moment with his son was truly remarkable. . Moments like this make me wish that my dad was still with us so that we could experience an event like this together.
.
Posted By: Gary Szot | Posted on: Aug 27, 2011 - 10:06am
Total Posts: 193 | Joined: Feb 12, 2007 - 1:00pm
Jerry . . .
CJ looks ready to go back into service, glad to see he really enjoyed his visit.
By the way the 658 looks marvelous in camo. The crew did a great job painting her.
Dick . . .
Posted By: Dick | Posted on: Aug 27, 2011 - 10:28am
Total Posts: 1417 | Joined: Aug 27, 2006 - 6:36pm
I just LOVE that boat! Hey Jerry? An idea, .... I've got a 15 foot speedboat ... wanna make a trade? MOXIE II is in great shape. You'll be getting the better part of the trade ........
Garth
Posted By: TGConnelly | Posted on: Aug 27, 2011 - 12:37pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Hey Dick,
I put that photo of the spare 20mm barrel box on there for your benefit since we spoke about it during your drawing of the 658. I told everybody we had to build it and mount the box on there or your drawing would be wrong! It also by the way makes for a great seat for up to 3 people!
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/DSC00026.jpg[/image]
Garth
I am sure your boat is pretty cool, but I dont think our board of directors would go for the trade! However, I will bring it up at the next board meeting!
New Rocket launchers MK50
[Image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/RocketTubes1.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Jerry%20Gilmartin/RocketTubes2.jpg[/image]
PS I found a video of the PT658 leaving dock taken from Steve Greenbergs DUKW. Watch it here.
[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lju6-7QllU[/url]
Jerry
Jerry Gilmartin
Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Aug 27, 2011 - 6:46pm
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm
CJ, you don't look a day over 60. What's your secret?
Thanks for posting the images Jerry. She sure looks fine.
Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Aug 27, 2011 - 7:36pm
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am
Aw, Dernit!
Would it help that MOXIE II has been seen at the Kennedy Compound?
Garth
Posted By: TGConnelly | Posted on: Aug 28, 2011 - 6:43am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
CJ, That must have been quite an experience sitting at your old station after all these years. I can't imagine the thoughts that were going through your mind. I agree with you. It's a wonderful boat. I would really love to see her sometime.
Dave
David Waples
Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Aug 28, 2011 - 6:50am
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm
Garth, giving Ted a ride to Moms after he parked under a bridge again isn't much of a name-drop...
Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Aug 28, 2011 - 9:25am
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am
David: One of my thoughts was "Thank God there are no tracers coming back my way" also I needed a pair of binoculars to be scanning the shore line for barges.
C. J. Willis
Posted By: CJ Willis | Posted on: Aug 28, 2011 - 9:44am
Total Posts: 464 | Joined: Nov 5, 2006 - 5:02pm
jerry,
great post!
do you have any email contact info for Rolf Bruckner?
thanks.
mark
Posted By: PT127 | Posted on: Aug 28, 2011 - 4:09pm
Total Posts: 35 | Joined: Aug 21, 2011 - 1:32pm
Hi Mark,
I just sent you and Rolf an email. I used your webmaster @pt127 address. Let me know if you got it. Jerry
Jerry Gilmartin
Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Aug 28, 2011 - 7:04pm
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm
Jerry; The boat looks great, especially with C.J. onboard!! I am sure Maury, Frank, enjoyed themselves too, Higgins PT's were very well represented there! Pphayne I am sure enjoyed riding the boat instead of fixing it as he used to at base 16. I am also sure Rolf enjoyed seeing and riding on the box his PT 127 came in!! Just Kidding!!
I know a great time was had by all!!!
The MK 50 rocket launchers turned out to look fantastic!!! Bravo Zulu to your metalsmiths!
You and the 658 crew are really doing an extremely honorable deed for these men, I salute you MMC and your crew. I only wish I can do the same type of thing here on the East Coast with a boat we have talked about...........maybe someday.
Take care,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Aug 29, 2011 - 7:42am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
CJ, those are just the kinds of thoughts I would have expected. It really brought a smile to my face to read your reply.
Take care
Dave
David Waples
Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Aug 29, 2011 - 8:42pm
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm