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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic:
MSO USS Tide sunk D-Day vet Jim Gardner rides PT658 video
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Here is a KPTV Portland OR, Channel 12 FOX news story of a WW2 survivor of the sinking of minesweeper USS TIDE off the coast of Normandy. We took him out and let him run the boat for about 2 hours then had catered lunch after. What Channel 12 didn't include was that the PT boat that plucked Jim Gardner out of the water off of Utah Beach on June 7, 1944, was none other than John Bulkeley, skippering PT 504 at the time. We asked him if he was sure it was not PT509 and he was adamant it was 504.
Also, the narrator messed up a little on her script script where she says we were headed to Europe at the end of the war, which actually was the USSR via Bremerton WA, The transfer of PT658 to USSR was cancelled at wars end.
Enjoy the video!
Jerry
PS You can catch of glimpse of yours truly standing Man Overboard Watch on the stern 40mm loaders platform with sunglasses and headphones.
[url]https://www.kptv.com/news/this-was-on-my-bucket-list-d-day-veteran-drives/article_4ada1df8-897d-11e9-acc2-cbfa952a3009.html[/url]
Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR
Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Jun 10, 2019 - 5:02pm
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm
"Any ship can be a minesweeper... once". Good to see him able to enjoy the PT ride this time thanks to you guys. Thanks for sharing that Jerry.
Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: Jun 11, 2019 - 3:56am
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am
Great story. Thanks Jerry!
Former crew member of the Big Blue Sightseer ex-PT 486
Posted By: Gerry McGovern | Posted on: Jun 12, 2019 - 7:33am
Total Posts: 78 | Joined: Oct 7, 2016 - 1:47pm
Jerry
Great job you guys do for our vets! One question, who watches the guy on the fantail to make sure he makes it back, or is he just expendable? After all it is a PT boat and I've heard they were expendable.
Thanks!
Jeff
Posted By: Jeff H | Posted on: Jun 12, 2019 - 1:27pm
Total Posts: 32 | Joined: Jun 7, 2019 - 6:00am
LOL good one Jeff! I guess if I fell off the boat I would just have to swim for it.
Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR
Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Jun 12, 2019 - 5:39pm
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm