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ť Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi?cid=101&fct=showf

ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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ť Topic: PT 242 Squadron 16: RDM2C
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=4199

Hello all,

Keep in mind that I know very little about PT boats and Navy terms in general.... but I am looking for some information (mostly for my own curiosity's sake), and you all seem quite informed and helpful.

I have this paper currency, a Japanese peso, apparently--I'm assuming it originated from the Philippines?

I've no idea where I got it. But I noticed writing on the back and got curious--however, I can't make out the name: a W. H. Roushbough, perhaps, or something to that effect.

From what I've gathered, he was a radarman second class [Rd M 2/C? I assumed this was a rank of sorts. I originally thought metalsmith (M) until I discovered the full abbreviation of RDM2C.] in squadron (RON) 16 on P.T. 242, but again, I could be completely mistaken. I'm not having much luck past that. My information is based on compiled online information and not from personal experience, so I'm not too sure of myself, either.

Would anyone here happen to know anything about this individual? As I said, I'm simply curious, but it would be neat to know more. It could be quite the trinket for someone related to this individual, I suppose. I've had the currency for years without thinking much of it and am not even too sure how I came to possess it, unless it came from my great-grandfather.

Thank you ever-so-much in advance!

Posted By: Christian Johnston | Posted on: Jan 18, 2017 - 3:26pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Here's what I found out so far:

Name William Henry Roushkoulp
Enlisted July 28, 1942.

Assigned/Arrived in MTB Ron 23 12-7-1943.

Assigned/Arrived MTB Ron 16 Feb 26, 1945

Departed RON 16 for MTBSTC , Melvillle RI 4-10-1945

Still working on filling in the blanks between 1942 and 43.

Charlie

Posted By: 29navy | Posted on: Jan 18, 2017 - 4:14pm
Total Posts: 600 | Joined: Dec 28, 2006 - 3:02pm

Wow, thank you, Charlie! Perhaps I can also find some things now that I have a clear name--that part was quite the hindrance.

Posted By: Christian Johnston | Posted on: Jan 18, 2017 - 4:28pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Is there a possibility of another letter in the last name? Seems as if there is something between "kou" and "p"--perhaps an "l". Roushkoulp?

Posted By: Christian Johnston | Posted on: Jan 18, 2017 - 4:50pm
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

Update:

Looks like he was Born Dec 10 ,1925 In Michigan

Died June 1979 In Detroit, Michigan

I do not believe he went to MTBSTC as when he was assigned to Ron 23, he did not have PT next to his rate, which was Seaman 2nd Class at the time. They sent a batch of sailors (untrained PT boaters) out to fill in PT slots from trained PT boats they (the navy) stole to fill other slots.

I cannot find him on the MTBSTC muster reports either before or after he was assigned to RON 23 and 16.

He became Radarman 3d on June 1, 1944, RdM 2 on April 1, 1945.

He stayed in til at least early - mid 1946. He was on LST 220 and LSM 64 In Jan through March 1946 when he was sent home for discharge in March.

Charlie

Posted By: 29navy | Posted on: Jan 18, 2017 - 5:08pm
Total Posts: 600 | Joined: Dec 28, 2006 - 3:02pm

Found some info on him at fold3.com You can go there and use the free trial to access the 20 or so records they have on him. I spelled his name with the "l". What I saw briefly, he passed in 1979; was assigned to LST 220 in 1946 and LSM 64 ( what is an LSM??) and PT boats from 43-45. Hope this is helpful

Rick Schaefer
Splinter PT 63 108

TM2c John E Mirus
Solomon Islands
Dec 43 - Jan 45

Posted By: rickas | Posted on: Jan 18, 2017 - 5:21pm
Total Posts: 82 | Joined: Dec 26, 2013 - 5:16pm

WOW Seriously guys? NOBODY put 2+2 together and realized the PT242 is CJs Boat!!! Somebody should ask CJ Willis. He was on the 242 boat. He has written about that fact extensively and recently as the last message thread next to this one! He may actually be in touch with this guy. It is possible CJ left before he showed up. What are the chances? WOW

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Jan 19, 2017 - 1:16am
Total Posts: 1472 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Wow. What a coincidence.

One correction, I wrote that he was a Radioman, but he was a radarman. I'll correct that in my posts.

Interesting thing is that he is not in the database of names of PT Boaters we have at HQ.

But I will send the info and get him added.

Charlie

Posted By: 29navy | Posted on: Jan 19, 2017 - 6:28am
Total Posts: 600 | Joined: Dec 28, 2006 - 3:02pm

...and that is the beauty of this forum!

Andy

Posted By: Andy Small | Posted on: Jan 19, 2017 - 7:28am
Total Posts: 262 | Joined: Nov 20, 2013 - 9:04pm

Jerry you are right - PT 242 was the boat I served aboard. I did not know Roushkoulp. He would have been a crew member sometime after me. My whole crew was relieved when I was relieved of duty in Nov 1944. after 13 months in the Solomons. The new crew then took 242 to the Philippines there it was placed in Ron 16, I believe in Feb 1945. I was later in the Philippines at Base 17 for 8 months before the war ended but I never saw the 242 there.

C. J. Willis

Posted By: CJ Willis | Posted on: Jan 19, 2017 - 8:49am
Total Posts: 464 | Joined: Nov 5, 2006 - 5:02pm

Jerry you are right - PT 242 was the boat I served aboard. I did not know Roushkoulp. He would have been a crew member sometime after me. My whole crew was relieved when I was relieved of duty in Nov 1944. after 13 months in the Solomons. The new crew then took 242 to the Philippines there it was placed in Ron 16, I believe in Feb 1945. I was later in the Philippines at Base 17 for 8 months before the war ended but I never saw the 242 there.

C. J. Willis

Posted By: CJ Willis | Posted on: Jan 19, 2017 - 8:50am
Total Posts: 464 | Joined: Nov 5, 2006 - 5:02pm

Thank you all so much for your responses and information! It is simply amazing to me that all of this information arose simply from some writing on the back of a bill that's been in my jewelry box for years now.

Mr. Willis' stories and information here are actually what drew me to this place. As I searched for PT 242 and Mr. Roushkoulp, I repeatedly saw the name "CJ Willis" and associated stories. But, as I put two and two together in bits and pieces, I noticed that it did seem that Mr. Roushkoulp was on the RON to which the PT 242 was transferred after Mr. Willis' RON was decommissioned--or at least, something to that effect. I can't recall for certain (I did a LOT of reading last night), but did I see something about Mr. Willis being on RON 23 after RON 19--am I remembering correctly? If so, I suppose Mr. Roushkoulp and Mr. Willis could've been in the same squadron for a short period of time, depending on the dates. (It appears Mr. Roushkoulp was temporarily in 23 before being moved to 16.)

Out of all of the information I managed to find, I could only find very little on Mr. Roushkoulp. Outside of his military career, it seems he did marry, but she has also passed (according to online records). I believe he has a daughter, though, and I have reached out to her. I know that, if it were my father, I would love to have trinkets like this.

I'd also like to add a quick but heartfelt thank you to you all for your service to our country. I am not personally in the military, though a majority of my family has served at some point in life. This search has been absolutely amazing to me--seeing video of PT 242 and even finding relatives of this person who has been such a mystery to me for all these years. Incredible!

Posted By: Christian Johnston | Posted on: Jan 19, 2017 - 11:29am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered

IS THIS A GREAT SITE, OR WHAT?

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Jan 19, 2017 - 9:26pm
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm