Bob Hudson Posted June 8, 2013 Share #1 Posted June 8, 2013 Sometimes a grouping doesn't have to be large and flashy to be impressive. This one has no medals, no ribbons, two of the uniform coats have lots of moth holes and only two have the name inside. But the a few lines in the paperwork tell a heck of a story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCR79 Posted June 8, 2013 Share #2 Posted June 8, 2013 Bob, Very Nice Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted June 8, 2013 Author Share #3 Posted June 8, 2013 If Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 3 and PT-41 sounds familiar, well think of the movie "They Were Expendable" and MacArthur's departure from the Philippines in 1942. This sailor is one the "expendables" who lost their ship when MacArthur took off in PT-41 and the rest of MTB 3's boats were destroyed one way or another. I have a folder full of his original documents, but here's one I found online that tells about PT-41. A couple more online finds before I show some more of the original documents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyCanteen Posted June 8, 2013 Share #4 Posted June 8, 2013 WOW!!! Stunning find! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted June 8, 2013 Author Share #5 Posted June 8, 2013 In two different Navy documents he lists service with the Marines, having apparently served as a squad leader with the 4th Marines after MTB-3 became boatless. Somewhere in the records I saw a reference to him having qualified as marksman at the Marine range in La Jolla, which would have been Camp Matthews in San Diego. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyCanteen Posted June 8, 2013 Share #6 Posted June 8, 2013 He was probably part of the provisional infantry battalion? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted June 8, 2013 Author Share #7 Posted June 8, 2013 I assume that service records of soldiers, sailors and Marines taken POW in the Philippines would have disappeared. All of the records in the folder are post-war and the Continuous Service Certificate looks like it had the pre-WWII service reconstructed. After the war he became a Warrant officer (he retired as a CWO in 1958) and applied for the Limiyed Duty Officer Program and compiled this list of his service to that point: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted June 8, 2013 Author Share #8 Posted June 8, 2013 He was probably part of the provisional infantry battalion? Well I found another record that shows this: And it looks like his weapons training was during bootcamp. No idea what his score of 120 means: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rakkasan187 Posted June 8, 2013 Share #9 Posted June 8, 2013 Incredible... I love the PT boat items Leigh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted June 8, 2013 Author Share #10 Posted June 8, 2013 As with most service folders I've seen, most of the papers in this one have to do with rather mundane matters of pay, leave, promotions, etc. This one, though, reminded me that POW's had to deal with the matter of getting pay, leave, promotions, etc credits for their time in captivity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted June 8, 2013 Author Share #11 Posted June 8, 2013 Hayward Kenneth Miller was born on 12/21/1920 and died on 11/26/2004 at the age of 83. RIP sailor.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted June 8, 2013 Share #12 Posted June 8, 2013 W W!!!! An amazing/outstanding grouping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted June 8, 2013 Author Share #13 Posted June 8, 2013 I will ask, what decorations would a PI POW have been eligible for? I know about the POW medal, but what about a Bronze Star? When he reenlisted in 1946 he did not get the usual paperwork showing his record and decorations for the previous years: all he got was a letter saying he didn't get a certificate. His son is going to do a shadowbox and I'd like to help him get the correct ribbons or medal together, so what would you recommend for a sailor with this record? Here's his POW medal citation, found online: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted June 8, 2013 Author Share #14 Posted June 8, 2013 Doh... I just realized the photos gives me some idea: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyCanteen Posted June 8, 2013 Share #15 Posted June 8, 2013 Doh... I just realized the photos gives me some idea: 18.jpg Yeah I was going to point that out. NPUC PI Defense/ China Service PTO w/1 star, American Campaign (looks like a device for some reason?), NGC with device. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted June 8, 2013 Author Share #16 Posted June 8, 2013 NPUC PI Defense/ China Service PTO w/1 star, American Campaign (looks like a device for some reason?), NGC with device. As far as I know the POW medal would be the only addition, plus the Nat Def Service. There was an unnamed Bronze Star and ribbon with his things at his son's home. Think it was his? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack's Son Posted June 8, 2013 Share #17 Posted June 8, 2013 Quite a nice find Bob, I almost wish I were a uniform and paper guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted June 8, 2013 Share #18 Posted June 8, 2013 The last ribbon on the bottom rack looks like a Navy GCM w/ star, but looks to be longer than normal.Plus it seems out of place.Could it be a Philippine medal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted June 8, 2013 Author Share #19 Posted June 8, 2013 Quite a nice find Bob, I almost wish I were a uniform and paper guy. The uniforms are rather rough for the wear. The khakis have kept a lot of moth families alive. The blues are a little better, but only one has a name inside (the other, though has a bullion submariner badge on the left breast). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USMCR79 Posted June 8, 2013 Share #20 Posted June 8, 2013 If he was transferred to the "Naval Infantry" fighting on Bataan he should receive the Combat Action Ribbon and The Bronze Star - or the CIB in lieu of the CAR. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted June 8, 2013 Author Share #21 Posted June 8, 2013 If he was transferred to the "Naval Infantry" fighting on Bataan he should receive the Combat Action Ribbon and The Bronze Star - or the CIB in lieu of the CAR. Bill Thanks for that info. I noticed that he got a promotion from 2nd Class to 1st when he went from MTB 3 to the Naval Battalion at Mariveles. There is an account of this unit in ground combat at http://philippine-defenders.lib.wv.us/html/asiatic_fleet_longoskawayan.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrystonebooks.com Posted June 8, 2013 Share #22 Posted June 8, 2013 I love that paperwork- very rare to find anything to that unit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fstop61 Posted June 8, 2013 Share #23 Posted June 8, 2013 Awesome grouping-what an incredible story-thanks for keeping his memory alive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irish Posted June 8, 2013 Share #24 Posted June 8, 2013 Fantastic group, the submariners badge is nice and salty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted June 8, 2013 Author Share #25 Posted June 8, 2013 Above I posted an excerpt from the last War Diary for MTB-3. This is an online document from fold3.com and I have it put it into a PDF file in case anyone's interested. It's interesting to read it and then compare it to the movie They Were Expendable. MTB.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now