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» Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic: Published memoir/diary of PT boat veteran
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=3974



Hello everyone,

My husband and I recently transcribed and published his grandfather's (Tom Hart) memoir/diary of his experience on a PT boat in WWII. It is a very interesting and personal account of day-to-day life on a PT boat, and their experiences at each stop along the way. He was in Squadron 16 on PT boat #221. If you are interested, it is available on Amazon as a paperback for $8 or e-book for $2.50. Thought this forum might find a few interested readers. Here is the link to the Amazon page, or you can just search Amazon for the name of the book, Squadron 16:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1502861097?keywords=squadron%2016&qid=1451928296&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

If you have any questions/comments, you can reach me at nancer22@hotmail.com.

Thank you!
-Nancy



Posted By: atirado80 | Posted on: Jan 4, 2016 - 9:30am
Total Posts: 5 | Joined: Jan 4, 2016 - 9:18am



[b]Thank you Nancy.[/b] Personal stories by those who were there are really worth a read!

Bridge


P.S., can someone check me on this but the cover shot appears to be a reversed photo of the PT-105 which is an ELCO 80' PT...yes?
[url]https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ah
UKEwiD37r775DKAhVDwGMKHahiC7YQjRwIBw&url=https
%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FPT_boat&psig=
AFQjCNGw5XGUuvANEVRqUEg0UEEMkuHZeg&ust=
1452021492524109[/url]





Posted By: TheBridge | Posted on: Jan 4, 2016 - 11:26am
Total Posts: 315 | Joined: Nov 22, 2009 - 3:04pm



Very good eye. It is a reversed image, but not sure if it's an ELCO PT.



Posted By: atirado80 | Posted on: Jan 4, 2016 - 11:31am
Total Posts: 5 | Joined: Jan 4, 2016 - 9:18am



Nancy;
Welcome aboard! Yes that is PT 105 RON 5, an 80" ELCO on the cover of the book.

Here are some items from your Dad's boat PT 221.


PT 221 RON 16 Crew List.


PT 221 RON 16 LT. Pete Rock Crew.


PT 221 RON 16 Crew 1944


PT 221 RON 16 being off loaded at Manus Island, Admiralty Islands, New Guinea Sept.1944


PT 221 RON 16 Cockpit.


PT 221 RON 16 Underway, Philippines 1944-1945

Enjoy!
Take care,
TED


Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jan 4, 2016 - 12:23pm
Total Posts: 3058 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am



We had seen the first three pictures, but those last three of the boat are wonderful. Thanks for sharing them. Just for reference, my grandfather was the fourth from the left in the second row on the Pete Rock crew photo.



Posted By: atirado80 | Posted on: Jan 4, 2016 - 3:28pm
Total Posts: 5 | Joined: Jan 4, 2016 - 9:18am



Nancy and Ted,
One of our Message Forum Members Pat Matthews (I think he goes by the "PATMAT" handle) his dad John Matthews was a crewman on board the same boat as your dad, PT221 and this is the source of most of the photos you posted. Pat and Nancy may want to get in touch. Also, just in case it interests you, I have the Squadron Diary written by Chief Cook Alvin Piotter who recorded every action of the PT221 and most all of the other boats of the Squadron. I could send it to your email address if you want to read it. I had it scanned to a giant pdf file but it is small enough to send as an email.
Let me know your email address or email me at my contact info on this Forum.
Jerry PT658 Crewman, Portland OR

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Jan 4, 2016 - 6:31pm
Total Posts: 1469 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm



Jerry,
I would love to have the squadron 16 diary. It will be very nice to get a more complete view of what the whole squadron was up to, rather than just the 221. Please send it to my email andre.tirado80@gmail.com.



Posted By: atirado80 | Posted on: Jan 4, 2016 - 6:58pm
Total Posts: 5 | Joined: Jan 4, 2016 - 9:18am



Jerry;
Don't forget Greg Mathews too! I didn't know Greg and Pat were related!
http://mvmbc1.tripod.com/id8.html
Take care,
TED



Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jan 4, 2016 - 7:10pm
Total Posts: 3058 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am



Ted you are right it is Greg not Matt. Sorry to both gentlemen for mixing it up! Nancy I will email that asap.
Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Jan 5, 2016 - 1:52am
Total Posts: 1469 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm



Just read the first few sections of the book. Interesting stuff, especially the interaction between the various crew members....

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Jan 5, 2016 - 6:17pm
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm



Nancy,
Thanks so much for the info and doing that to preserve history. My Dad, Richard "Dick" Stanton was with Ron 16 on the 224. I look forward to reading it.

Jerry,
I would also appreciate a copy of the Squadron diary you mentioned if possible.
My e-mail: rjstanton79@yahoo.com

Thank you all
Bob

Bob Stanton

Posted By: Robert J Stanton | Posted on: Jan 6, 2016 - 5:16pm
Total Posts: 19 | Joined: Jun 21, 2012 - 8:48am



Hi Jerry,

I am new to this site and came across this discussion in the forum. My former highschool history teacher's father was Fran Gelzheiser who was on the 221 boat. I was lucky enough to develop a great friendship with him before his passing in 2011. Right now his son Bob is writing a book about 221 and Ron 16, and I'm eagerly awaiting its release in 2017!

I am currently reading Tom Hart's book, but would also love to read Alvin Piotter's memoir if you could please email me a copy of it at j.arnone@att.net. Thanks, and I look forward to being involved in the discussions on this awesome site!

-Joe



Posted By: jarnone2006 | Posted on: Jul 6, 2016 - 9:04am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered



Joe,
Thanks for reading the book I hope you enjoy it. My grandfather and Fran were friends for many, many years, and I got to know Fran when I took my grandparents to the PT Boat reunions in the 2000's. I'm excited to hear about Bob's book and look forward to reading it in 2017.





Posted By: atirado80 | Posted on: Jul 6, 2016 - 11:50am
Total Posts: 5 | Joined: Jan 4, 2016 - 9:18am



Just ordered me a copy. Can't wait to get it.



Posted By: knd643 | Posted on: Jul 6, 2016 - 6:27pm
Total Posts: 7 | Joined: May 23, 2016 - 5:31pm



Double post.



Posted By: knd643 | Posted on: Jul 7, 2016 - 8:42pm
Total Posts: 7 | Joined: May 23, 2016 - 5:31pm



Hi Joe,
I sent you the Piotter diary. Check your email.

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Jul 8, 2016 - 2:07am
Total Posts: 1469 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm



Nancy,

Look forward to reading this. My dad was a gunner on PT220 so I suspect that your dad and mine might have known each other.

Thanks for doing this.

Tom Wallace



Posted By: Tom Wallace | Posted on: Jul 10, 2016 - 7:26am
Total Posts: 1 | Joined: Jun 13, 2019 - 11:46am



Hi there,

My dad was on PT Boat 221. He was Cliff Anderson. He passed away a little over a year ago. I remember as a kid we went to Al Piotter's restaurant in Wisconsin. I would love to have the diary too that Al put together of PT Boat 221 and Ron 16.

It would be fun if some of the next generation of PT Boat children/descendants could get together for a reunion and keep their legacy alive.

Merry Christmas!

Mark A. Anderson

Mark Anthony Anderson


Posted By: Mark Anthony Anderson | Posted on: Dec 23, 2018 - 8:37pm
Total Posts: 5 | Joined: May 29, 2014 - 6:22pm



Hi there,

My dad was on PT Boat 221. He was Cliff Anderson. He passed away a little over a year ago. I remember as a kid we went to Al Piotter's restaurant in Wisconsin. I would love to have the diary too that Al put together of PT Boat 221 and Ron 16.

It would be fun if some of the next generation of PT Boat children/descendants could get together for a reunion and keep their legacy alive.

Merry Christmas!

Mark A. Anderson

Mark Anthony Anderson


Posted By: Mark Anthony Anderson | Posted on: Dec 23, 2018 - 8:37pm
Total Posts: 5 | Joined: May 29, 2014 - 6:22pm