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ť Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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ť Topic: PT 155 RON 9 nickname "Rapid Robert"
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=3062

FYI;
I have been reading a book called "56" its about Yankee Great Joe DiMaggio's 1941 season in which he hit safely in 56 consecutive games. One thing I have learned reading ths book, is that someone on PT 155 crew was a Cleveland Indians fan(Skipper LT. Michael R. Pessolano, USN , was from Philadelphia, so I don't think he named the boat), because Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller was nicknamed Rapid Robert. Feller later enlisted in the Navy to become a pilot, but failed his hearing tests, so he was assigned to the USS ALABAMA(BB-60). Bob Feller is the only Chief Petty Officer in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Feb 20, 2013 - 7:50pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

As a lifelong Indians fan, that is a great story. BTW, there is a very nice and very large memorial to Bob Feller with a large picture of him in uniform at Progressisve Field in Cleveland.

Posted By: Jeff Sherry | Posted on: Feb 22, 2013 - 4:25pm
Total Posts: 84 | Joined: Oct 30, 2006 - 8:04pm

As a lifelong Indians fan, that is a great story. BTW, there is a very nice and very large memorial to Bob Feller with a large picture of him in uniform at Progressisve Field in Cleveland.

Posted By: Jeff Sherry | Posted on: Feb 22, 2013 - 4:26pm
Total Posts: 84 | Joined: Oct 30, 2006 - 8:04pm

Jeff;
I know your Dad was on PT 342 RON 24, But am I mistaken, or was he also on a 600 series Elco boat?
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Feb 22, 2013 - 5:00pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Ted,
No, Dad was only on PT-342. Did you find another Bill Sherry???

Posted By: Jeff Sherry | Posted on: Feb 22, 2013 - 5:09pm
Total Posts: 84 | Joined: Oct 30, 2006 - 8:04pm

Jeff;
I thought he was on 120, 342 and another,later boat in Miami,
sorry, I guess it was my msitake.
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Feb 22, 2013 - 9:02pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Hi. I recently learned my father served on PT 155 when it was under the title of "Ole Spooky". His name was Kirby Hill, and his picture and name appear in the YouTube video of "Kelly's Kids". Just interested if anyone out there was, or has family that was there during that time. Thank You Vets for your tremendous service !!

Posted By: RHill | Posted on: Nov 15, 2014 - 9:42pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Somebody brought in baseball so I thought I would make some comments. During the 1930's,I lived in Yorkville, a section that is almost in the center of Manhattan. I was a lonely Brooklyn Dodger fan in a world of NY Giant and NY Yankee fans. I was able to go to Yankee Stadium (in the Bronx) and the Polo Grounds (in upper Manhattan) through the "Knothole Gang" but no Ebbets Field (in the middle of Brooklyn). I once saw Bob Feller lose a game to the Yankees because he was too lazy to bend down and stop a ball that went through his legs. I think the score was 1-0.

I was on PT154, a constant companion to PT 155 and Lt. Pessolano when we did our patrols. Our QM, Arthur Schwerdt,came from Hollis, Queens and he was a Yankee fan. Lt, jg Joseph McLauglin came from the Boston area and he was a Boston Red Sox fan or a Boston Brave fan, depending on who had the better record. Arnold Beckett , the TM, came from Craig, CO and I don't think he was into baseball.

The three crew members are mentioned because they were KIA on Nov. 13th, 1943 because of enemy fire off of Shortland Island, near Bougainville in the Solomons. In the past, I would try to pay tribute in the PT Boater newsletter. I regret not having made mention a couple of days earlier.

Posted By: Pat Rogers | Posted on: Nov 16, 2014 - 12:54am
Total Posts: 72 | Joined: Oct 10, 2006 - 3:21am

Why the odd comment in the last column?

Did my previous post go through or not?

Posted By: Pat Rogers | Posted on: Nov 16, 2014 - 6:31am
Total Posts: 72 | Joined: Oct 10, 2006 - 3:21am

Why the odd comment in the last column?

Did my previous post go through or not?

Posted By: Pat Rogers | Posted on: Nov 16, 2014 - 6:33am
Total Posts: 72 | Joined: Oct 10, 2006 - 3:21am

Pat;
Your post came through. I am a life long Yankee fan, however, my Dad(born 1910) who grew up in Coney Island/ Sheepshead Bay, and Brooklyn was a lifelong Brooklyn Dodger fan, Gil Hodges and the Duke of Flatbush were his favorite Brooklyn players, Waite Hoyt and Dazzy Vance were his favorite Brooklyn pitchers. Dad went to go see them play as much as he could, he even remembered seeing Casey Stengel playing outfield when he was about 6 years old!
Like every other kid in Brooklyn his dream was to play for them, Dad was a lefty and a switch hitter, I do remember him telling me he did some kind of tryout at Ebbets Field, but it didn't have the desired outcome obviously because Dad enlisted in the New York State Naval Militia in 1927 and became an aviation gunners mate at Floyd Bennett Field flying in Vought Corsair O2U float planes. He also was hired by the New York Telephone Company that year.

Getting back to PT 155, if not named after Bob Feller(which I now see by your post, there is no way the boat would be named after a Cleveland Indian! :0).....), then who? Could it have been a reference to CDR Kelly?
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Nov 16, 2014 - 11:32am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am