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» Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic:
PT Torpedo man ID Help
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=4828
Hi Guys,
I am in need of assistance research wise for a possible ID on a PT uniform. Last name was Mueller and first initials were H.J. I think I might have found the vet by sheer luck as I found a Harlan J Mueller on find a grave and it says Navy vet. Found his wife obituary and while it did not say it ought right, I really think that might be the PT boat vet. Could anyone help me regarding this conformation wise as I don't have access to navy records/pt boat records and if someone does can they please help see if Harlan J Mueller born September 24th 1918 to August 18th 1993 was indeed a PT vet I would really appreciate it. Vet was from Cape Girardeau, MO by the way and his rank was Petty officer 2nd class and he was as the title suggested a torpedo man
Posted By: Ant1942 | Posted on: Aug 23, 2019 - 11:15am
Total Posts: 8 | Joined: Aug 23, 2019 - 10:45am
Does the uniform have anything on it that makes you think he was a PT boater? Any pics?
Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR
Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Aug 24, 2019 - 8:29am
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm
Well my only suspicion is that he was the only H.J. Mueller I found obituary wise that I was born in the era (1918) that would have made him eligible for WWII service, plus again it said he did in fact serve in the navy. Also the only other hunch I have is on the jumper itself and pants and duffel bag which states either Mueller, HJMU and Mueller H.J. I would love to put pictures on here to show you guys but still trying to figure out how.
Also Jerry, thanks a lot for taking the time to try and help out a little, much appreciated
Posted By: Ant1942 | Posted on: Aug 25, 2019 - 9:50am
Total Posts: 8 | Joined: Aug 23, 2019 - 10:45am
Does the Jumper have a PT Boat Patch? What sleeve is the Torpedoman rating badge on? How many stripes? Is he a Tm3/c or a TM2/c or a TM1/c? Any other details you could provide would be helpful.
Jerry Gilmartin
PT658 Crewman
Portland OR
Posted By: Jerry Gilmartin | Posted on: Aug 25, 2019 - 10:27am
Total Posts: 1473 | Joined: Oct 8, 2006 - 11:16pm
yep has the PT boat patch. His rank insignia TM2/c the rank insignia is on the right side and the PT Patch is on the left side
Posted By: Ant1942 | Posted on: Aug 25, 2019 - 11:02am
Total Posts: 8 | Joined: Aug 23, 2019 - 10:45am
I don't see a Harlan J. Mueller in the listing of PT Boaters. And he doesn't show up in any muster reports. But those lists are not all inclusive. I'm sure there are a lot of names we don't have.
Charlie
Posted By: 29navy | Posted on: Aug 25, 2019 - 1:24pm
Total Posts: 600 | Joined: Dec 28, 2006 - 3:02pm
hey Charlie, thanks for looking. Mind if I ask where you can find PT Boat rosters/muster rolls? Also is there by any chance any Muellers that are TM2/c out there in any rosters?
Posted By: Ant1942 | Posted on: Aug 25, 2019 - 2:01pm
Total Posts: 8 | Joined: Aug 23, 2019 - 10:45am
Muster rolls are available through Ancestry.com (pay site), but unfortunately, you can only do a search on ships. They haven't indexed the shore station muster rolls so you have to do a manual search. Let me do a quick search on one place and see if I can track him.
He doesn't come up on any other ships muster reports.
Charlie
Posted By: 29navy | Posted on: Aug 25, 2019 - 5:43pm
Total Posts: 600 | Joined: Dec 28, 2006 - 3:02pm
Thanks alot! Really appreciate it, if nothing does pop up, its okay in the end because whoever this H.J Mueller is, ill keep his PT uniform preserved and in the end, that's the ultimate goal for many of us here (like the remembrance and honoring part of PT Vets)
Posted By: Ant1942 | Posted on: Aug 25, 2019 - 6:01pm
Total Posts: 8 | Joined: Aug 23, 2019 - 10:45am
We (PT BOATS, INC) only have 3 Muellers in our PT Boaters database, the closest is a Harold but he was a shipfitter. So far I don't see a Harlan in the training center muster reports, which was the starting point for most PT Boaters.
Charlie
Posted By: 29navy | Posted on: Aug 25, 2019 - 6:09pm
Total Posts: 600 | Joined: Dec 28, 2006 - 3:02pm
Hey Charlie, thanks again. Whoever it may be H.J. Mueller, it was worth a shot and ill have to post a picture on here of the uniform as well. Where was the training center where most PT Torpedomen went?
Posted By: Ant1942 | Posted on: Aug 25, 2019 - 6:16pm
Total Posts: 8 | Joined: Aug 23, 2019 - 10:45am
The Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons Training Center (MTBSTC) was in Melville, RI. Just up the road from Newport. I wrote a book on the history of the base titled "MTBSTC" available through AMAZON.COM.
[url]https://www.amazon.com/s?k=MTBSTC&ref=nb_sb_noss[/url]
Charlie
Posted By: 29navy | Posted on: Aug 26, 2019 - 6:09am
Total Posts: 600 | Joined: Dec 28, 2006 - 3:02pm
oh wow that's really cool book wise also thanks for the info about the center. What are some good books on PT boats/experiences on a PT Boat and like detailed info on stuff like what the men wore, etc.
Posted By: Ant1942 | Posted on: Aug 26, 2019 - 12:04pm
Total Posts: 8 | Joined: Aug 23, 2019 - 10:45am