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» Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic:
Just reread PT-105 for the umpteenth time
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=2309
One of my favorite passages;
"I am convinced that her enthusiasm to depart saved me on one dreadful morning when a dawn raid on an enemy harbor turned catastrophic and she was fleeing for her life, and mine, under heavy shore-gun fire, so close that one shell kissed my helmet and another left a burn welt across my starboard turret gunner Willie Monk’s bare chest. I looked astern for a moment just as Miles, my chief motor mac, popped halfway out the engine-room hatch. Frankly, I thought he had decided to go over the side. Instead he waved at me and pointed his index finger down, meaning “look at the tachometers,” then pounded his chest like Tarzan and dropped back into his engine room. I looked at my tachs; they were wiggling between 2,900 and 3,000 rpm. Rated maximum was 2,400, which equaled 42 knots. She was doing 50 knots! For a moment I ignored the shell bursts and the answering chatter of our machine guns. I saw and heard only my 105 racing flat out, her engines screaming like demented tomcats, and she was beautiful."
Posted By: Gary Szot | Posted on: Sep 20, 2011 - 11:59am
Total Posts: 193 | Joined: Feb 12, 2007 - 1:00pm
Gary, I totally agree with you -- that is a great passage.
"PT 105" is a very, very good book, a MUST read by anyone seriously interested in WWII PT boats.
Posted By: Drew Cook | Posted on: Sep 20, 2011 - 6:33pm
Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am
Thanks for sharing that Gary. It's hard to believe Mr. Keresey is not with us any longer. Seems like just yesterday I was watching him on the National Geographic special and the panel discussion at the John F Kennedy Museum and Library.
Gary, one of these days I would like to learn more about PT-524. I think it would be a great subject piece for my 1:35 Elco build.
Dave
David Waples
Posted By: David Waples | Posted on: Sep 20, 2011 - 8:13pm
Total Posts: 1679 | Joined: Jan 2, 2007 - 9:55pm
I still howl out loud (seriously - folks are work just asked me what's so funny) when I read that passage. It's another great example of reality being better than fiction - if you saw that scene in a Stallone movie you'd laugh but never actually believe that would happen. Who has a moment like that in the height of combat? Just an incredible story...
Grandson of James J Stanton
RON 15 PT 209 and RON 23 PT 243
Check out: www.pistolpackinmama.net
Posted By: newsnerd99 | Posted on: Sep 21, 2011 - 12:51am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
I often wonder how many wonderful passages have been lost in time. I am sure many times over these things happened to our PT BOAT VETS, but did not make it into print. I remember talking with MR. KERESEY several years ago, and he was so bright and witty. I only wish I could have met him in person before he took his last patrol.
Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Sep 21, 2011 - 1:21am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am