Ok guys been ages since I've shared anything. Normally it seems like folks ask me for help with ID's so it's a bit backwards for me to be asking lol. I picked this up yesterday at an estate sale. The owner said her husband recieved it as a "tip" after unloading furniture from his Atlas Van Lines haul some 30+ years ago. I've used all of my Navy Officer indexs and searched every possible thing I can come up with on Anscestery. So who can help me figure out who Lt. E.R. Welsch was. Obviously Devil's Den must have been a smaller craft. At least LST or smaller. The back of the frame has a tag from a frame shop in Louisville.

If I can ever get a picture small enough to attach I'll post

...

...

I've got to believe he was a PT skipper but I can't find any E.R. Welsch in any of my research. Several E variations and Welsch but none officers. And no R. initial.

Here is what I found:

 

Welsch, Ermal R. , ensign, date of precedence 9-22-43

 

Nice looking flag!

What size is the flag? any ensign No. on it?

(PT boats used a size 12)

C

 

Great Flag.

If it is the same person, it looks like he was originally from Indiana. Very cool!

Damn Beast where did you find that!!

Mr. Jerry I haven't taken the frame apart yet. Was waiting to have it reframed to do that so I see no marking yet. It meassures 15x31 though if that helps.

Thanks!

Thanks Ron and Beast appreciate it!

Damn Beast where did you find that!!

Wish I could tell you that it was amazing in-depth knowledge, but I got lucky and found him in my copy of the 1944 USNR officer register.

shinola I had to have totally missed him! Because I looked in my register! Lol

Looks like it is a size 12 with a 15x31 measurment

Looks like it is a size 12 with a 15x31 measurment

 

Sure looks like one that would be on a small craft or PT.

 

I tried searching refferance to the Devils Den in WW2 with a ship/boat connection but didnt see anything.Im not real adept at searching.

 

Wonder if you contact a PT association if they have any info??

I will check my PT boat references when I get home tonite..

 

Leigh

Leigh thanks a million!

I looked in both my PT boat books and did not find any matches for this name. I will continue to search...

 

Leigh

I show an Edward R. Welsch that was in MTB RON 12, but they were in Sothwest Paific area.

Thanks for the reply 29. I have actually determined for sure that it was Ermal Welsch mentioned above. He died here in Iowa a few years ago.

I don't think "Devils Den" refers to a ship or boat group, but rather an unofficial grouping of the crew. For example, Chiefs Mess's were generally referred to as "Goat Lockers". So, many "unofficial" awards presented by/to folks from the CPO mess refer to the Goat Locker.

I am the son of Ermal Welsch. That flag used to sit above the fireplace in our home in Louisville in the early 70's.

Welcome aboard Bob! Maybe you could help us out with some of your fathers military history. As you can see from these posts, we greatly respect and try to preserve the military history of the artifacts original owner.

Best regards,

BKW

Hey Brian -- He was the captain of the PT Boat called The Devil's Den in WWII. Later he served in the Korean Conflict in Washington, DC. What I am trying to find out is if marineamtracer still has the flag and whether or not he would consider letting me have it.