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ť Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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ť Topic: trying to make sense of discharge papers
http://www.ptboatforum.com/cgi-bin/MB2/netboardr.cgi?cid=101&fid=102&tid=2438

I am trying to put together a chronological order of my husbands fathers service years. I would like to put what I can together and give to him as a gift on fathers day this year 2012. His father died young age 50, and like so many vetereans never wanted to talk about the war. My husband has always wondered about his fathers service years since he knew so little about it. I have been digging in old family memorabilia boxs and I have found some stuff. I just cant make much sense of it. I found his discharge papers which I'm sure would make sense to some of you.
His name was Robert Richard Rocheleau, Minneapolis Mn
entry 5-26-43 discharged 3-5-46 rank GM2c(T)
This is the part I dont understand, NTS Farragut,Idaho - MTBS Nine - NTB, Sqd 7th Flt. - MTB STC, Melville, R.I. - NAD Navy 926
I am hoping the above information could tell me what boat, where he served and when, so I could find some photo's of the boat, some maps and photo's of the islands I presume he was at. Best case sinario would be that someone would have known him. No nickname that I know of. Someone elses dad was on the same boat at the same time and would have some photo's. ect.
I have contacted two agencys and applied for his records. I understand that can take up to 6 months, (hope not) and that they can be a disapointment,
thanks for any help.

Posted By: MN Gal | Posted on: Jan 4, 2012 - 8:21am
Total Posts: 126 | Joined: Jan 4, 2012 - 7:57am

MN Gal;
from what you posted, I will decipher:
NTS Farragut,Idaho - Navy Training School Farragut, Idaho(probably his Gunners Mate "A" school, this is his trade school for his rate, Gunners Mate
MTBS Nine - NTB, Sqd 7th Flt. - Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 9, Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons, Commander 7th Fleet (the reference on the orders:NTB is a typo, it should be MTB)
MTB STC, Melville, R.I. - Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons Training Center, Melville, Rhode Island
NAD Navy 926- Naval Aviation Depot 926, Guam, Marianas Islands(this reference on the orders might also be a typo, while there was a NAS 926 Guam, Naval Air Station-926, Guam, there was also a NAB 926, Guam: Naval Amphibious Base 926, Guam)
Did he ever mention working with Naval Aviation after his PT Boat service? If not, it was not uncommon for PT Boat/PT Squardon personnel to recieve a transfer to the Naval Amphibious Force.
Hope This Helps,
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jan 4, 2012 - 10:09am
Total Posts: 3091 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

MN Gal;
Here is some more info: NTS Farragut,Idaho - Navy Training School Farragut, Idaho: Located about 30 miles from Sandpoint at the far end of the lake, the Farragut Naval Training Station -- briefly to become Idaho's largest city -- served as boot camp for "Blue Jackets." During basic training, recruits left home for the first time, came to Farragut and learned to how march, row, swim and use firearms before heading off to the Mediterranean Sea or the South Pacific. Others received additional training as signalman's gunner's mates, the hospital corps or radiomen.
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jan 4, 2012 - 10:14am
Total Posts: 3091 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

MN Gal
Might be a long shot but there are a few crew photos of Squadron 9 Boats 152, 155, and 157 boats here.
[url]http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/05idx.htm[/url]
Good hunting,
Gary

Posted By: Gary Paulsen | Posted on: Jan 4, 2012 - 11:54am
Total Posts: 252 | Joined: Feb 14, 2009 - 6:31am

MN Gal;
The boats that were assigned to MTB RON 9 were PT 126, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 187, 318, 319. the 150'ed and 160'ed number baots were the original squadron boats, PT 126, 187, 318, and 319 were all added after May 29, 1944. So when using the navsource website Gary posted, these are the boat photos you should focus on,
Take care,
TED

Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: Jan 4, 2012 - 4:07pm
Total Posts: 3091 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am

Thank you so much for the reply's guy's.
So the numbers I posted dont tell me what boat huh?
Do you think the papers I have requested from the National Personnel Records Center or the PT Boat Historical Center In TN will have that information? I will go forward w/ the info you have given me while I wait for what ever they will send me. So that I understand,..... I should focus on the boats that were added "after" may 29, 1944? Not the original squadron boats? How long was a guy at the training centers? I do enjoy the adventure of learning about this and hopefully finding the answers. All the help I get is very much appreciated.
thank you

MN Gal

Posted By: MN Gal | Posted on: Jan 5, 2012 - 6:36am
Total Posts: 126 | Joined: Jan 4, 2012 - 7:57am

Probablly not on the boat assignments. The Squadron was the overall administrative element and they kept the records, so that is what would be recorded.

RON 9 muster report shows he arrived on 12-4-1943 and left for MTBRON7th Fleet on 11-3-1944.

Charlie

Posted By: 29navy | Posted on: Jan 5, 2012 - 6:59am
Total Posts: 611 | Joined: Dec 28, 2006 - 3:02pm

MN Gal
I have a copy of the Ron Nine Roster for December 1943. It shows that Robert Rochleeau enlisted 19 May 1943. He reported to Ron 9 on 4 December 1943. He was a Seaman 2nd Class with a rating of V6-SV (I need help here.) His service number is 8679-96-64.
At that time Ron 9 had the following 8 boats:
PT-154
PT-155
PT-156
PT-157
PT-159
PT-160
PT-161
PT-162

He was not on PT-154 or PT-155.

Thanks for the heads-up ... Gary!

[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Nathaniel%20Smith/Ron9MusterRoolpage5.jpg[/image]

natsmith

Posted By: Nathaniel Smith | Posted on: Jan 6, 2012 - 1:43pm
Total Posts: 213 | Joined: Jun 25, 2024 - 3:07pm

MN Gal,

I have rosters for the 162, and do not see a GM Rocheleau on them. So maybe the field has narrowed to five boats.

Steve

Posted By: Nuge210 | Posted on: Jan 8, 2012 - 7:59am
Total Posts: 323 | Joined: Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am

Dear Ted, Gary, Charlie, Nathaniel and Steve.
Thank you so much for taking the time to try and help me find this information. Every bit of information is an important part of the puzzle for me. I just appreciate it so much. I hope w/ the information that is compiling out here, we may get more.
Thank you All

Posted By: MN Gal | Posted on: Jan 8, 2012 - 12:02pm
Total Posts: 126 | Joined: Jan 4, 2012 - 7:57am

MN Gal,

I found an entry in the deck log of the 156, that your father in law came on board in Feb
1944 ( I think it was ), but was not on the log roster on July 16, 1944. I checked a bit to see if there was an entry that he left the boat, but didn't see one.

Send me your email address or I'll post it here, whatever you'd like.

Steve

Posted By: Nuge210 | Posted on: Mar 13, 2012 - 3:18pm
Total Posts: 323 | Joined: Jun 4, 2008 - 7:50am

You might also want to contact headquarters as well. Alyce might have some info and if not she would love to add his name to the archives.
PT Boats. Inc. P.O. Box 38070, Germantown, TN, 38183
Tel: (901) 755-8440
Fax: (901) 751-0522

Ray

Posted By: Ray Wilbur | Posted on: Mar 14, 2012 - 8:54am
Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered