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» Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic: PT-129 ?
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Hello everyone! I am very new to this site and the PT boat subject overall. Recently I found a letter belonging to my late father. It was sent from a relative, signed at the bottom, Earl A. Merryman CRM MTB Base #7 Navy one two nine (129). It indicates my uncle Earl is stationed somewhere around Guaducanal. In the body of the letter he says to my father, "you just keep your eye open for the PT outfits- especially mine PT-7-- maybe you will run into us".
I would like to know if anyone out there can put these numbers together and tell me what his actual boat number was along with any other information.
Thanks for your help. [:-cheers-:]

Posted By: KingBoat | Posted on: Jan 18, 2014 - 7:54am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered



Welcome to our board, we hope you will gain knowledge of the PT BOATS while you are here, there are a bunch of great guys here, all willing to help. From what I know CRM is a Chief Radioman , and as far as Base 7, I think there were two of them, with the first being GREEN ISLAND, used as a repair, staging, supply, and training base. The other Base 7 was located in Hawaii around 1943, also used as staging and Training. Although not sure he is talking about PT-129, this boat served with Squadron 7 in the Southwest Pacific area in New Guinea waters. Also, I doubt this is PT-7 he is referring to in the letter, as this boat was with Squadron 1, which never saw any action with the US NAVY, as it was a lend -lease to the British sometime in July 1941.



Posted By: Frank Andruss | Posted on: Jan 18, 2014 - 8:50am
Total Posts: 3964 | Joined: Feb 9, 2007 - 11:41am



I am thinking he meant look out for my Squadron 7, not PT-7.



Posted By: Frank Andruss | Posted on: Jan 18, 2014 - 8:52am
Total Posts: 3964 | Joined: Feb 9, 2007 - 11:41am



Frank, This is great info. It makes sense about him being a radioman. Do you think someone out there has a crew listing showing his name? Thanks, Dennis



Posted By: KingBoat | Posted on: Jan 18, 2014 - 10:54am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered



On Gene Kirklands PT Website, Gene mentions in his topic "Mystery PT's" that some of the earlier 77 footers had their hull number changed for a time when the boats arrived in Panama and mentions that PT-7 was the ID or call number of PT-38 and later the designation for PT-47.

Wayne

Posted By: Wayne Traxel | Posted on: Jan 18, 2014 - 12:14pm
Total Posts: 248 | Joined: Oct 11, 2006 - 5:40am



Dennis, at this point I have no clue if he was on a boat or not I have no real proof from your letter that he served on a boat. He could have been base force. It would be a tough chore from what you have presented to find out what boat he was on, if any. Wayne brings up a good point, which I think Ted may shed some light as to the changing of boat numbers from Panama.



Posted By: Frank Andruss | Posted on: Jan 18, 2014 - 2:25pm
Total Posts: 3964 | Joined: Feb 9, 2007 - 11:41am



King boat:
Welcome to the board!!! As per Frank's mention, here is some info from Gene Kirkland's website: The boats in Squadron 2 and later Squadron 3(2) were renumbered for security purposes. In RON 2 PT "7" was really PT 47 and the Radioman on that boat was RM2/c Bill R. Tatroe, USNR(Forum member Randy Finrock's father in law). PT "7" in RON 3(2) was PT 38 and the Radioman from August 1942/February 1943, was RM1/c Paul L. Stephenson USNR.
As for PT 129 RON 7(MTB DIV 19)LT Francis McAdoo, was the original Skipper, as for now, I have not much info on this first crew, but he was transferred to PT 132 and was relieved by his original 129 exec LTjg Marshall Roper. Ens. J.E. "TED" Meredith, USNR was his Exec from Jun 25, 1943- Jan 20, 1944 , he relieved Roper , and became skipper of PT 129 Jan 21-Mar 21 1944. During the entire time Ted Meredith was on 129, his radioman was RM 2/c Harold Clay USNR, from Laramie, Wyoming. Meredith was relived by Ens. A. Dix Leeson, USNR as Skipper of PT 129.
An interesting side note stated in Meredith's book, was when LCDR John Bulkeley was RON 7 CO they were known "BULKELEY's PROFESSIONALS", when he transferred out, RON 7 crews started referring to themselves as "THE DIRTY DOZEN".
Take care,
TED



Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jan 18, 2014 - 3:49pm
Total Posts: 3058 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am



Hi Ted,
That info is so amazing. You are such a wealth of information. I just love reading whatever you post.



Posted By: Roy Forbes | Posted on: Jan 19, 2014 - 7:26am
Total Posts: 371 | Joined: Sep 5, 2012 - 4:57pm




Dennis, at this point I have no clue if he was on a boat or not I have no real proof from your letter that he served on a boat. He could have been base force. It would be a tough chore from what you have presented to find out what boat he was on, if any. Wayne brings up a good point, which I think Ted may shed some light as to the changing of boat numbers from Panama.



I am sure he was on a boat. PT-129. The letter I have is typed which I would think is not common unless he was at a MTB. I also recall many years ago that my father referred to this fact when recounting his war effort and communicating with his brother while on Guadacanal. I hope over time someone will be able to link him with a crew. Thanks, Dennis




Posted By: KingBoat | Posted on: Jan 20, 2014 - 8:23am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered



Dennis;
We here on the board will assist you anyway we can, to uncover what boat or unit Mr. Merryman was assigned to.
Just speaking to what we know so far, MTB Base #7(which means the compliment of the repair unit, which also had some sub units attached) was put ashore at Green Island on Feb 15, 1944. MTB RON 10 arrived on Feb. 16, 1944. This unit would have passed through Tulagi/Guadalcanal area on their way north.
I do not know what 129 means, but RON 7(and PT 129) were never at Guadalcanal, they went from Brooklyn Navy Yard, to Panama(for advanced training), and then straight to New Guinea. they arrived at Milne Bay in late Feb 1943 with the advanced echelon of MTB Base 6 (this Unit set up shop at Kana Kopa, in early March 1943).
Once the New Guinea campaign was completed, On October 13, 1944, RON 7 (and PT 129), departed MTB Base 21 (Mios Woendi) and set sail for Leyte Gulf, Philippines. later that month a base was established, this was MTB Advanced Base 5 San Pedro Bay, Leyte.
MTB Bases also moved up. To add to the confusion there was a rear area base at Tutuila, American Samoa, that was established in Feb 1943 and it was named MTB Base 7. Tutuila was used a logistical staging base for USMC and USN amphibious forces.
This is just a pure guess here but maybe he means something like MTB Base #7 Unit 129?
Have you come across any photos? These would be helpful.
Charlie knows more about this, maybe he has some Ideas.
Take care,
TED



Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jan 20, 2014 - 12:04pm
Total Posts: 3058 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am



Does anybody have access to look his name up in a "Knights of the Sea" book? They listed all known PT Boaters at the time of publication. I am not near my copy at this moment and want to ensure we are looking for the entire and complete name. Could you repeat the correct name we are looking for? I think it is Earl A. Merryman CRM (Chief Radioman) but want to be sure. Thanks Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Jan 20, 2014 - 1:03pm
Total Posts: 1469 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm



Earl Allison Merryman CRM arrived at MTB Base 7 on Feb 19, 1943 (in Samoa). Left MTB Base 7 on July 30, 1944. On November 23, 1944, he arrived on the USS Alfred A Cunningham (DD-752) and left DD0752 on Feb 8, 1945 to NOB Norfolk.

Charlie

Posted By: 29navy | Posted on: Jan 20, 2014 - 1:17pm
Total Posts: 598 | Joined: Dec 28, 2006 - 3:02pm



Ted, you have an amazing amount of info at your fingertips. I appreciate you sharing any and all of it. I will keep digging too see what else may be stashed among other photos.

Thanks, Dennis



Posted By: KingBoat | Posted on: Jan 20, 2014 - 2:12pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered



He is not listed in our list of PT Boaters nor in Knights of the Sea.

I think the MTB Base 7 in Samoa is the best we can do.



Charlie

Posted By: 29navy | Posted on: Jan 20, 2014 - 3:20pm
Total Posts: 598 | Joined: Dec 28, 2006 - 3:02pm



You guys are fantastic. So I guess he was not actually on a PT boat. His arrival and departure window would match the typed letter date Aug. 4, 1943. Thanks, Dennis



Posted By: KingBoat | Posted on: Jan 20, 2014 - 6:20pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered