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Thread: USGI sea stories

  1. #21
    Boolit Master WRideout's Avatar
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    My stepfather, Ralph Gattis, also served in the Pacific during WWII; Army Air Force. He once told me that in his AO, there was a fenced compound that held Japanese POWs. He said with a straight face that nearby Australians would climb a tree about three hundred yards away and shoot at the prisoners. When the war was over, anyone who could fly would land on his island and abandon their aircraft to hitch a ride back to stateside. Ralph's Lt. said he had been ordered to leave the island, and not leave any aircraft behind. Ralph told him not to worry; next day all the excess airframes had been pushed over a cliff into the ocean.

    Wayne
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    Venison is free-range, organic, non-GMO and gluten-free

  2. #22
    Boolit Grand Master popper's Avatar
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    all the excess airframes had been pushed over a cliff into the ocean Called deep six-ing. Always befriend the cook.
    Whatever!

  3. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by Winger Ed. View Post
    When I was at Quantico, the Marine Corps Air Museum was just starting to come together.
    It was in the hangers of the old air station that are on the grounds
    of what is now OCS, and near the big brig where they kept John Hinckley after he shot Pres. Reagan.

    I had a couple buddys that worked there, and I'd often visit during my Lunch hour.
    I had free run of all their spaces and back warehouses.

    I don't think they ever displayed it, but they had a dud V1 'back in the back'.
    It didn't explode when it landed, and had a big dent on the nose.

    Just from looking at it, being that close to one when it went off--your uncle was lucky.
    Those things had a BIG warhead on them.
    To be specific, 1 ton. Same as the V2, a one ton warhead.
    Wayne the Shrink

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  4. #24
    Boolit Master

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    There were so many that fought, died, and lived that were not recognized, without whom we would probably speak German or Japanese. It was the cumulative impact of the "little things" that made the difference.

    My father, though not recognized, was and is my hero. As a Lieutenant JG, he commanded his own Mine Sweeper and provided two-way escort for a fleet of 23 Landing Craft between islands in the Pacific, keeping the flow of troops fresh and supplied.

    Dad identified one of our remaining Destroyers in the Pacific as it arrived in previously uncharted water at some Philippine island port, which name I have long forgotten. Dad's Mine Sweeper had the days before charted underwater peaks there, which the Australians had not yet blown up to provide adequate clearance for shipping. No word had been passed to the fleet of these underwater obstructions.

    When a military Ship of the Line arrives in any port, the small military vessels commence signaling with light - all of them - toward the larger ship. "To which berth are you assigned?" "Is Joe Schmoe aboard?" "Have you seen any action?" And other messages from literally dozens of boats that should be left for face-to-face later at the Enlisted Men's Club (if there had been one). The Signalmen on the large ship see and ignore most of the attention as they prepare for mooring.

    In order to warn the larger ship of the navigational hazard, Dad ordered his Mine Sweeper crew to signal the Destroyer - the standard hail (ship's call sign) in an attempt to get their attention. After eight to ten attempts without recognition Dad instructed the Signalman to send - in the blind - "You are standing into 8-feet of water." and to keep sending until acknowledged.

    Momentarily, there was the sudden emission of black smoke from its stacks, a shuttering of the Destroyer from end-to-end in its attempt to halt its forward movement while its engines were in Full Reverse, and a signal light from the larger ship to "Direct to clear water." Can you imagine what that Bridge Crew on that Destroyer were going through when they received and UNDERSTOOD that message? Following a successful maneuver and anchorage, the Destroyer's Captain sent his launch over to invite and dine my Father on the larger ship.

    If the hull had been breeched or the Destroyer stuck aground, that Captain's career would have been severely blackened (if not over), even in the unknown condition described. We had so few remaining big ships after Pearl...saving every one was paramount.
    Last edited by Land Owner; 07-23-2019 at 05:13 PM.
    If it was easy, anybody could do it.

  5. #25
    Boolit Master OldBearHair's Avatar
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    My story of WW11 is the death of my Brother< Paul B. Barrick on the USS Mississippi Dec 4 1943 when an order to cease fire came after 24 hours of shelling an island in the Philipines. As the crew received the "cease fire' the projectile had been loaded and the bags of powder loaded the breech was shut but the latch was not closed............ all the crew stood at attention waiting for further orders when the powder went off, killing all 47 young men. Bro. Paul had relayed the cease fire and was in his position and at the explosion ran into the fire and began dragging the guys out two at a time. In the process burned his lungs so badly he passed during the night bringing the toll to 48. During the war the ship lost a total of 53 men....
    Someone mentioned about officers in trouble and stuff. In 1963 working at Harlingen AFB with Dynalectron doing IRAN (inspect and repair as necesary)inspections of the Convair 240, my partner and I were down at the augmentor cleaning tanks. The same water system for washing the planes was right there as well. When they turned on the pressure, the 2 inch hose we used to maintain the correct level in the tank was hanging inside the tank as a visiting Colonel came along to find out why there were civilians in grey kakai uniforms there and he was beginning to rake us over the coals. The pressure came up and the hos came out of the tank, the stream of water struck the man right in the groin and made a slow upward move all the way past his head. Poor guy was standing there with his shirt pockets full of water and wondering how I had just been able to cause all that. He just got very red faced, turned and walked off. The base colonel whom was in charge of us came to our rescue.

  6. #26
    Boolit Bub
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    My father was a ww2 seabee. He hated it and didn't want to be there.

    Anytime I was a kid and bitched about something his response was " you don't know nothing, you should have been on Saipan when the japs counter attacked".

    Thank god I never had a day like that.

    He was a better man than me and I miss him every day.

  7. #27
    Boolit Master


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    "never volunteer for anything"
    One of our HS Class Advisor's was a WW II vet of the Pacific Theatre. He gave us a unique perspective on that philosophy. He recounted that he had "admitted" being able to type and was given an office assignment. As I remember him telling it, none or a very small minority of his original outfit survived. In 1971, as a draftee, I volunteered for Jump School in Basic Training. I was medically disqualified after I got to Ft. Benning and that began my second and third MOS's, both great alernatives to 11 B.
    Micah 6:8
    He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

    "I don't have hobbies - I'm developing a robust post-apocalyptic skill set"
    I may be discharged and retired but I'm sure I did not renounce the oath that I solemnly swore!

  8. #28
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    My Dad, newly married, had orders to Hawaii, which suddenly got changed to Japan. Another officer was heard bragging that he had gotten the assignments officer drunk and gotten his orders changed from Japan to Hawaii. My Dad wrote his name and service number on a piece of paper and carried it in his wallet swearing he would get even some day. While Dad was in Japan the Korean war broke out. The army grabbed everybody the could in Hawaii stuck them in a unit and threw them into the front lines to stop the North Koreans. Turned out the guy wound up a quadriplegic, Dad tore up his piece of paper. Dad was in the Inchon landing, but never talked much about the Korean war or his tour in Vietnam.
    "Only the weak blame parents, their race, their times, lack of good fortune, or the quirks of fate. Everyone has it within his power to say, this I am today, that I shall be tomorrow. The wish, however, must be implemented by deeds." Louis L'Amour The Walking Drum

  9. #29
    Boolit Buddy


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    A guy I knew had been trained as a teletype operator. When he showed up for the Korean war they said "Signal Corps, here is your radio." Spent the next 12 months humping a radio around Korea (he said he was part of a sapper team blowing up enemy ammo dumps). Said he hated the army and when it came time for him to rotate back to the states he still had 3 months before he would be out, but if he extended for a month he would be out of the army as soon as his feet his US soil. Everything had gone well so far, so what was another month if he could get out 2 months early. He was captured and spent 18 months as a POW. Never volunteer.
    "Only the weak blame parents, their race, their times, lack of good fortune, or the quirks of fate. Everyone has it within his power to say, this I am today, that I shall be tomorrow. The wish, however, must be implemented by deeds." Louis L'Amour The Walking Drum

  10. #30
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    Quote Originally Posted by William Yanda View Post
    being able to type and was given an office assignment.
    A life long friend whose cousin got drafted in the late 60's found himself issued a rifle in Viet Nam.

    Soon after he arrived, he stuck his head in the office and asked to use a typewriter.
    The Lt. in charge of the office perked up at that and asked why.
    He told him his handwriting was so bad, his parents couldn't read it, so he typed his letters to them.

    After typing his letter, he'd unknowingly demonstrated his skills to the young officer who then asked him what unit he was with.
    He told him some Grunt lingo---- Platoon such & such, Company so and so.

    The Lt. told him, "Not any more".

    He spent his tour there typing away..
    Last edited by Winger Ed.; 07-24-2019 at 11:19 AM.
    In school: We learn lessons, and are given tests.
    In life: We are given tests, and learn lessons.


    OK People. Enough of this idle chit-chat.
    This ain't your Grandma's sewing circle.
    EVERYONE!
    Back to your oars. The Captain wants to waterski.

  11. #31
    Boolit Master Thumbcocker's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Wayne Smith View Post
    To be specific, 1 ton. Same as the V2, a one ton warhead.
    V1 850 kilograms V2910 kilograms. FWIW the US contracted for American producers to copy the V1 for use against Japan. If you look on youtube there is a combat bulletin showing the launch of American made V1's.
    Paper targets aren't your friends. They won't lie for you and they don't care if your feelings get hurt.

  12. #32
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    Quote Originally Posted by DukeConnors View Post
    My father was a ww2 seabee. He hated it and didn't want to be there.

    Anytime I was a kid and bitched about something his response was " you don't know nothing, you should have been on Saipan when the japs counter attacked".

    Thank god I never had a day like that.

    He was a better man than me and I miss him every day.
    Dad was a Marine on Am. Samoa when Pearl was bombed. He was asked to transfer to the See Bees as he could build anything. He did so but figured it cost him as it froze his rank. He served from 1940 to 45 without ever pointing a gun at anyone. He had a few stories he loved to tell and a lot more he would never mention. No one there had it easy.
    [The Montana Gianni] Front sight and squeeze

  13. #33
    Boolit Buddy Kent Fowler's Avatar
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    Funny story from my uncle who was stationed with the Army Air Corp in North Africa in the early part of the war. He said some general called for a big inspection which the troops thought was pretty dumb as the constant sand storms kept everything dirty. My uncle said the sergeants, which he was one, got the pick of the bunk locations and they all bunked around the coal stove. Uncle said he spiffed up the stove for the inspection with shoe polish and when he climbed into his upper bunk he got hit by a bad bout of dysentery, which was really prevalent, and crapped all over his newly shined stove. Said he spent the rest of the night re-cleaning the stove when he wasn't out visiting the slit trench.

  14. #34
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kent Fowler View Post
    crapped all over his newly shined stove.
    I wouldn't have told anybody about that...……..
    In school: We learn lessons, and are given tests.
    In life: We are given tests, and learn lessons.


    OK People. Enough of this idle chit-chat.
    This ain't your Grandma's sewing circle.
    EVERYONE!
    Back to your oars. The Captain wants to waterski.

  15. #35
    Boolit Buddy Kent Fowler's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Winger Ed. View Post
    I wouldn't have told anybody about that...……..
    I am probably the only one he ever told that story to, other than my dad. He said very little about his service, especially since he was a senior master sergeant, flying on B-52's later on. Don't know what specifically he what had to do with the nuclear weapons on board, but when he retired out of the Air Force, he went right to work for Pantex. My dad knew, but he would never tell me. Those WWII men were never talkers. It wasn't until very late in life in his life that my sister got another uncle of ours to talk about his days on Guadalcanal. Only way we knew he was on Guadalcanal when we were kids was we had a picture of him on a bulldozer with a Thompson laid across his lap. That was on Henderson Field.

  16. #36
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    One of my uncles drove a tank in Korea(wrecked his spine too doing it). He was in the same battle that killed my other uncle and he saw him go down. Nothing he could do because they were fighting to back away from whatever hill they were on. He refuses to talk about much other than what it was like to drive a tank outside of combat.

  17. #37
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    Going to night school in the early 80's, one of my professors was a former Air Force Intelligence Officer.
    Among his duties in the 50's into the early 1960's was de-briefing air crews when they returned from a mission.

    ,,,,,,,,,,,,
    A little set up here:
    The 2 Atomic bombs dropped on Japan were 15 and 20 kilotons.
    Hydrogen bombs are built in layers, and get more and more powerful with each layer, theoretically up to 7 of them.
    H-bombs can be in the 50,000 kiloton range, or more, up to 3,000 times more powerful than a Atomic bomb.
    The Russians did a air burst with one that the shock wave blew out windows 560 miles away.
    When they say a H-bomb can flatten 2 cities the size of New York city 40 miles apart from each other- its true.
    ,,,,,,,,,,,


    My professor recounted his debriefing of the crew that dropped the first air burst H-bomb the US tested.
    Usually when a bomber crew came in, they were pretty rowdy and it'd take a bit to settle them down and get their report.

    This time, the crew came in and sat down looking like they were in shock.
    He asked them, "Well, what did you see"?

    ...….Total silence.

    Upon more quizzing, they went down the line "I was on the Flight Controls, and didn't see anything", "I didn't have a window",
    "So-and-so had a better view", Nobody would describe what they'd seen.

    Finally, one of the crew said, "I saw a lake of fire,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, with a radius of 40 miles".
    Last edited by Winger Ed.; 07-26-2019 at 10:36 PM.
    In school: We learn lessons, and are given tests.
    In life: We are given tests, and learn lessons.


    OK People. Enough of this idle chit-chat.
    This ain't your Grandma's sewing circle.
    EVERYONE!
    Back to your oars. The Captain wants to waterski.

  18. #38
    Boolit Master


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    My father served in the Merchant Marines the whole war. He wrote a book about it (never published). I've been thinking about re-writing it and posting/publishing.

    Anyway, his first ship, the Edward S. Everett ran into what were probably the last two surviving German commerce raiders in the Atlantic. After about a five minute firefight all three ships where sinking. Out of 72 men on his ship, seven survived.

    They spent the next seven + weeks in lifeboats making their way to Brazil, some 2,400 miles.

    Dad had his 18th birthday in those lifeboats. He was a great dad.


    Cat
    Cogito, ergo armatum sum.

    (I think, therefore I'm armed.)

  19. #39
    Boolit Buddy
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    When I was in High School I worked at a truck garage. There was a grumpy old man that only I got along with for some reason. Art was in an artillery unit in WW2. He was a couple years older than the others so was the unit's "Old Man". He said he was somewhat undecided about the war, it was what you did at the time. Until his unit liberated Auschwitz. After that he hated the Germans, they killed as many as they could anyway they could. He still had some of it when I knew him.

    Don

  20. #40
    Boolit Buddy Wild Bill 7's Avatar
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    My step father was in the Pacific during WWII. He never talked much about it but I do know he was captured by the Japs and had the stripes on his back to prove it. He never ate rice after the war and only thing he would say about it was (I ate enough if it during the war). If you tried to get him to talk about that time he would either walk away or say that's in the past.

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BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
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GC Gas Check