The PT Boat Forum
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi
» Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi?cid=101&fct=showf
» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi?fct=gotoforum&cid=101&fid=102
» Topic:
Finding Info About My Uncle
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=2359
My deceased uncle Robert Laroza was a career navy man who retired a chief petty officer. He spent most of his career on aircraft carriers servicing aircraft. He was in the navy prior to WW2 and claimed to have served with PT boats 'because they had Alison engines'. He did not talk much about the war with one exception.
He stated:
1. That his boat sank a Japanese cruiser at night and that he was wounded in the stomach.
2. He was bayoneted in the foot by a Japanese in the Philippines.
He did have scars in these locations!
Although I am next of kin - he had no children, I would not qualify to apply for his service records.
Has anyone any suggestions?
Thanks,
Rich
Posted By: Rich Farr | Posted on: Nov 11, 2011 - 12:30pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Rich
You are correct that you are not next of kin, however, as your uncle had no direct descendants, you may be able to apply for his records anyway, specially if there is no one living who is next of kin. I suggest you send an application to the National Archives with an explanation of your situation. It'll only cost you a stamp. Of course, if there is living next of kin, you could ask them to apply for you.
Keith
Posted By: kgretter | Posted on: Nov 11, 2011 - 1:29pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Was his full name Robert Lincoln Laroza?
Charlie
Posted By: 29navy | Posted on: Nov 11, 2011 - 1:55pm
Total Posts: 600 | Joined: Dec 28, 2006 - 3:02pm
My uncle's middle initial was L.
Posted By: Rich Farr | Posted on: Nov 13, 2011 - 3:09pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Rich,
May want to look into PT -8. It was a prottype aluminum PT Boat built in the Philadelphia Naval Yard in December of 1939 but reclassified as YP110 in October 1941. She was powered by 2 3600 HP Allison engines. He may have been involved with her. Were was your Uncle from. Charlie you got me curious about where you came up with the middle name of Lincoln.
Gary
Posted By: Gary Paulsen | Posted on: Nov 25, 2011 - 7:42am
Total Posts: 249 | Joined: Feb 14, 2009 - 6:31am
I searched the muster reports available on Ancestry.com. It was the only one that popped up on a search. It showed he was on the USS Pocomoke (AV-9) in 1945. He was an Aviation Machinist Mate 3rd. then 2nd. I found him arriving at the receiving station, Norfolk, in September 1941 (enlisted 2-14-41). So I was trying to confirm if it was him. Still searching for him between 1941 and 1945.
(by the way, was he from Connecticutt?)
Charlie
Posted By: 29navy | Posted on: Nov 25, 2011 - 4:05pm
Total Posts: 600 | Joined: Dec 28, 2006 - 3:02pm
Charlie,
Thank-you very much. This is definately my uncle. He was from Connecticutt and was in the service before Pearl Harbour. He was an aviation machinist.
Rich
Posted By: Rich Farr | Posted on: Nov 25, 2011 - 9:07pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Charlie,
I did not know what type of ship the USS Pocomoke was. I justed looked it up and found that it was a sea plane tender. My uncle said he served on a tender after he was wounded in a PT boat attack on a Japanese cruiser.
Rich
Posted By: Rich Farr | Posted on: Nov 25, 2011 - 9:15pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered
Rich,
The Pocomoke was known to assist PT Boats too. Check out photo on page 65 in At Close Quaters for picture of Ron 5 boats refueling from her.
[url]http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/CloseQuarters/PT-2.html[/url]
Gary
Posted By: Gary Paulsen | Posted on: Nov 26, 2011 - 5:26am
Total Posts: 249 | Joined: Feb 14, 2009 - 6:31am