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ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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ť Topic: I think my Great grandfather was on PT Boat?
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=3858

My Grandma has been telling me stories my whole life about her Dad's time spent on his PT boat in the south pacific. She said he was a gunners mate. She also said, he witnessed his gunner getting his head shot off by a plane and his body was still firing. He had to pry the fingers off the gun to take over. I was given his navy issued knifePlease help if u can. My best guess is PT-522. His name was: Howard D Westphal. CM 3/C

Posted By: WestphalGGson | Posted on: Jul 5, 2015 - 3:29pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Hi;
All I could find on S 1/c Howard D. Westphal was that he was assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Base 722 which was Finschhafen, New Guinea and on 7 January 1945 he was a passenger on LST 560. If you click on the envelope I can send you what I found.
Take care
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jul 6, 2015 - 6:20am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Howard D. Westphal was assigned to MTB Base 3100, which was listed to be in San Jose, Mindoro, Philippine Islands. He was advanced to Gunner's Mate 3rd (temporary) on May 2, 1945. On October 4, 1945, he was transferred to a Receiving Station in the US for discharge (doesn't say which one).

I do not see him listed in MTBSTC or MTBRTU musters. So I am not sure where he was before he joined MTB Base 3100.

It appears that MTB Base 3100 loaded on LST 560 at Hollandia. There was an MTB advanced base there, but can't find a muster report for it, yet.

Charlie

Posted By: 29navy | Posted on: Jul 7, 2015 - 1:20pm
Total Posts: 600 | Joined: Dec 28, 2006 - 3:02pm

I found him on the muster roll for MTB Base 722 (Base 4), in Finschhafen, New Guinea in December 1944. However, I haven't found a report that shows when he came aboard. He just shows up on the crew muster report.

Interesting.

Charlie

Posted By: 29navy | Posted on: Jul 7, 2015 - 2:05pm
Total Posts: 600 | Joined: Dec 28, 2006 - 3:02pm

Thank you both for all your help. I am very pleased to have this information to share with my Grandmother and the rest of the family. I also plan to request all his documents from the national archives. I will post all updates on any information I receive about his involvement on the PT Boats. Thanks again.

Posted By: WestphalGGson | Posted on: Jul 7, 2015 - 9:31pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered