The PT Boat Forum
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi

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

» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboard.cgi?fct=gotoforum&cid=101&fid=102

» Topic: New Member
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=4460

Hello to all, My name is Brady. I am a Navy veteran, 1971-1975 and served on the ammo ship, USS Pyro (AE-24) in the Tonkin Gulf. I was a machinist mate 2nd and spent my time in the engineroom (hole snipe).

My dad was a motor machinist 3rd class and served his time on a PT boat during WWII. Dad died young, right after I got home from active duty and he didn't talk a whole lot about the war. I do remember going to see PT-109 when it came out and remember dad saying that his boat was a bit different than the 109. If I recall vaguely, it seems it might have been a hull number in the 80"s which would be a Higgins and possibly a member of squadron 13 but I'm not sure.

I remember him serving around Corsica-Sicily-Italy before going to the Phillipines. I recall him talking about Borneo as well. Somewhere, I have a picture of his boat in dry dock in the Phillipines being repaired because a torpedo hit them in the stern and knocked a big hole through the hull but it did not explode. I also remember him talking about stripping the boat at the end of the war and burying stuff in a huge trench, or hole. Maybe after it was burned.

I hope to learn and perhaps have something to offer.

Posted By: Brady | Posted on: Jul 13, 2018 - 5:52pm
Total Posts: 5 | Joined: Jul 13, 2018 - 8:25am

Welcome Aboard, Brady.

If you post your dad's name, I can do some checking to see what I can find of your dad's service.

Charlie

Posted By: 29navy | Posted on: Jul 13, 2018 - 7:00pm
Total Posts: 600 | Joined: Dec 28, 2006 - 3:02pm

My dad's name was Carse E. Rodgers MM3

Posted By: Brady | Posted on: Jul 14, 2018 - 1:14pm
Total Posts: 5 | Joined: Jul 13, 2018 - 8:25am

Brady;
Welcome Aboard!!! Your Dad MoMM 3/C Carse Elbart Rodgers USNR (4/1/23-7/13/77) went to NTC Bainbridge Maryland 1943, then presumably Melville, Then was assigned to MTB RON 15(MED) in 1944 and then transfered to MTB RON 20 in 1945(Pacific).

I don't have any boat numbers.

Charlie;
Here is another PT man that is not in the back of Knights of The Sea.

Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jul 14, 2018 - 1:46pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Got it.

He was at Melville (MTBSTC) from Aug 14, 1943 through Nov 13, 1943. Where he was transferred to go to RON 15.

Arrived at RON 15 Jan 5 1944.

Charlie

Posted By: 29navy | Posted on: Jul 14, 2018 - 6:13pm
Total Posts: 600 | Joined: Dec 28, 2006 - 3:02pm

You fellas have brought tears to my eyes. Thank y'all so very much for that information.

Posted By: Brady | Posted on: Jul 15, 2018 - 9:19am
Total Posts: 5 | Joined: Jul 13, 2018 - 8:25am

Us PT Boat guys stick together!

Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR

Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Jul 15, 2018 - 9:46am
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm

Welcome aboard, Brady.

Will

Posted By: Will Day | Posted on: Jul 15, 2018 - 12:54pm
Total Posts: 1955 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 4:19pm

Where were you able to find this information, Charlie. I sure would like to learn more about his movements. I think the Navy sent him to diesel school in Virginia when he got out of basic training. Then from there to Melville? Not sure about this, just a recollection from what my mom told me. Maybe she got the training mixed up.

Mom took a train to Boston before Christmas (right before dad deployed to the Med) and my sister was 9 months old. They visited for 2 or 3 days before he shipped out. I think this was the first time he had seen his first born daughter. She was born while he was in basic training and they certainly had no money or means to visit in between assignments. This might have been the only time she saw him until the end of the war.

Posted By: Brady | Posted on: Jul 16, 2018 - 11:30am
Total Posts: 5 | Joined: Jul 13, 2018 - 8:25am

It comes from the Nay's muster reports. They are available via paid sites like Ancestry.com and Fold3.com. I'll track his movements for you.

Charlie

Posted By: 29navy | Posted on: Jul 16, 2018 - 3:52pm
Total Posts: 600 | Joined: Dec 28, 2006 - 3:02pm

Here's his movements from enlistment to arrival to RON 15:
Any questions, just ask.

Carse Elbart Rodgers SN 837-36-93
Enlisted 1 March 1943 in Birmingham, Ala.

Sent to Naval Training Center, Bainbridge, MD
10 March 1943 Apprentice Seaman

Changed rate to Fireman 3rd Class (at that time, same rate as seaman 2nd class – not a petty officer rate. Basically E-2)

Sent to Motor Machinist Mate school, Richmond, Va.
20 May 1943

Sent to Boston Receiving Station, Boston. (All MTBSTC students went to Boston RS prior to class starting)
23 July 1943

Sent to MTBSTC, Melville RI 14 August 1943.

Changed rate to Fireman 1st class (same as PO 3rd class but not a PO rating (E-4). Looks like he skipped Fireman 2nd.) This changed in January 1944 and he would have been a Motor Machinist mate 3rd class.)
1 Nov 1943

Transferred to Receiving Station Norfolk, VA for future transfer to ComEighth Fleet for assignment to MTB Ron 15
13 Nov 1943

Arrived MTB RON 15 from Receiving Station Oran, Algeria
5 Jan 1944
6 Jan 1944 – changed rate to MoMM3rd class.

Charlie

Posted By: 29navy | Posted on: Jul 16, 2018 - 5:00pm
Total Posts: 600 | Joined: Dec 28, 2006 - 3:02pm

Thank you so much! That all coincides with my memories and what my mom told me. My folks started out very poor in rural Alabama. My dad's parents were both dead by the time he was 7 years old and he basically raised himself.
My mom's father was 38 when he was called to active duty from the reserves and he died during WWII. They had no resources to visit (except once) during his active duty time. My oldest son was only 3 when dad died, I'm going to try to put together a narrative of his short life so his 13 grandchildren will come to know him better.

Posted By: Brady | Posted on: Jul 18, 2018 - 10:28am
Total Posts: 5 | Joined: Jul 13, 2018 - 8:25am

I am wondering if he might have been on the 204 in Ron 15, when she took the torpedo in the stern. That would have been May, 1944.

Steve

Posted By: Nuge210 | Posted on: Aug 13, 2018 - 5:56pm
Total Posts: 323 | Joined: Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am

Steve;
Maybe, it might help if Brady posts the photo of the boat in drydock. I have only seen photos of PT 308 with stern damage.

Brady;
Jerry Gilmartin, has posted PT 204 photos from the collection of MoMM1/C Dave Prentice. You should take a look to see if your Dad is in any of the photos.
http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/05204.htm

Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Aug 15, 2018 - 5:25pm
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am