The following is the journal that my father, Joseph Nash Myers, kept during his service on board PT 191 in the South Pacific during World War II. The first entry is 3 Aug 1944 when he went on his first patrol out of Mios Woendi, New Guinea and the last entry is 29 Dec 1944 out of Ormoc, Leyte Island, Philippines. He continued to serve on the 191 through June 1945.

It starts with some pictures of my mother and one of his parents, and the following poem:

Break, Break, Break

Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Break, break, break,

On thy cold gray stones, O sea!

And I would that my tongue could utter

The thoughts that arise in me.

O, well for the fisherman’s boy,

That he shouts with his sister at play!

O, well for the sailor lad,

That he sings in his boat on the bay!

And the stately ships go on,

To their haven under the hill;

But O for the touch of a vanish’d hand,

And sound of a voice that is still!

Break, break, break,

At the foot of thy crags, O Sea!

But the tender grace of a day that is dead

Will never come back to me.

[And, from Henley’s “Invictus”…]

“Out of the night that covers me,

Dark as the pit, from pole to pole:

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.”

Patrols of – Motor Torpedo Boat 191, Skipper Lt. (jg) [Nels] Davis

To date 11 barges, 2 planes, 1 sub, 1 gun boat, 1 luger

[Aug 2-3, 1944]

The beginning of a new adventure – my first patrol. At 1400, in company with the 156 boat, we got underway. Even with all one’s training everything seems different, nothing works out right. We have mail for Neomfoor – air wing. There we received word a plan was down around Mios Woendi – so we immediately took off, arriving there at 2305. We searched for the plane for two and a half hours – no luck! Air wing on station, below Cransbasi, we worked north past Masiwoci Point. The moon was out and the beach with the palms as a dark background made quite a nice sight – so nice we went within 200 yds of the shore. But all was quiet – so at 0510 we secured and head for home. Stopping at Neomfoor to discharge some passengers, I had my first chance to take blinker and made rather a mess of it. We arrived back at the base 1335, Aug. 3.

Aug 4, 1944 Dore Bay to Mawi Bay

Again underway at 1705, for the same hunting grounds. I have found out that in this area there are four Jap airstrips with numerous shore batteries. At 2200 we sighted lights at Waremi (Mawi Bay), but we were still seven miles out. At 2400 we sighted a target and began closing the beach, some six miles below Waremi, near Remberpoon Island. When we were about a half mile from the beach at General Quarters, shore batteries from Waremi opened up on us. We got the hell out of there, even if they weren’t too close. We head on up on our patrol though, and at 0330 we saw heavy flak of Noemfoor. Again we were called to General Quarters off Oraushari. We made a run on a barge (dead), and shot for the first time. I was so startled, and spell bound, that I shot only about 20 rounds – the Lord only knows where they went, I didn’t. By that time it was time to head home – 0430. I had just dozed off when G.Q. sounded. In have a daze Mitch and I started stuffing into our life jackets and helmets. Mr. Davis said, “that’s all right boys, it’s only a fire in the [?]layerette.” He’s one of the coolest men I have ever seen – I wish I could say the same for the other officers. The fire was in the stb. Stack and was quickly extinguished. Secured at base 1010, Aug 5, 1944.

Aug. 8, 1944 Japen[Yapen – aka Sorenarwa] - Roon – Nappen

Tonight we are rather crowded, we have aboard some Javanese[?] & Army scouts plus some natives. We landed them at Sorai[Serui?] on Japen[Yapen] Island. There’s a good size village there – pop. Around 300. The women had on dress – blue, white, and there was one set of twins [?] in identical red dress. None spoke English, but did speak Dutch. It’s quite a picturesque spot, a nice harbor, palm trees and native huts built out over the water. At 2000 we took off, head for our patrol area, which we arrive at around 0025. We circled Angra Meos Island. The skipper of the other boat thought it was a target, so we had to stand G.Q. At 0215 we started strafing the beach at Bawi, which was one of the purposes of the mission. The reports were there was a Jap village there. Not heeding the warnings of our skipper, the other boat ran aground in the midst of the operation – and I’ll be damned if we didn’t too. A nice spot, but fortunately we backed right [out] and there was no return fire. But our center engine had too great a vibration – so we began limping home on two. We stopped again at Saroci[?] and picked up a Canadian correspondent – finally chugging into the base at 0710 –Aug 9.

[Note: Yapen is an Island in Cenderawasih Bay off of northwestern New Guinea; Serui is a village on the south side of the island. Angra Meos and Roon are islands also in Cenderawasih Bay closer to the coast of New Guinea Island.]

Aug 14, 1944 Memori to Boropen

Not leavin til late – 1825 – we did not get on station until 0255. The reason for that was it was to be a daylight patrol with two Beaufighters. It was a very dark night, and damp – no targets appeared, no nothing – until the sun came up. At 0700 we layed up at Sorobe and waited for the planes. 0750 G.Q. – 8 planes on the horizon – we had only a few minutes to wait and they began peeling off - A20’s. Boy did they look good. Then they began to patrol the beach – one wing touching the beach, the other the palm trees – they really did some flying. We weren’t doing any good – no Beaufighters – so we headed for home. We had another G.Q for a PBY – stopped at Noemfoor and secured at base at 1645 Aug 15.

Aug. 16, 1944 READY DUTY

This is really taxi service between here and Biak. At 1915 we took aboard a few passengers and took them to Soride Lagoon (Biak) and picked up a couple of others. Made a touch landing at Owi to discharge some passengers and managed to bum two 20 gal cans of state side coffee off a liberty ship that was unloading there. 1750 we arrived back – it was a pleasant little cruise on our yacht.

Aug. 17, 1944 DORE BAY

Underway at 1830 for what should prove to be rather an interesting patrol. A group of barges were reported along the beach at Marsinam Island, camouflaged and otherwise. We are to meet planes in the morning and see what we can do. At 0120 we reached our destination - and laid to – which we did all night. Before daybreak the skipper of the other boat suggested we didn’t wait for the planes or the other two P.T.’s. Mr. Davis nearly said “Fine, Fine!” At daybreak things began to get a bit clearer – and the Jap smell was predominant. It’s funny how the places where the Japs are stink. WE could see smoke – presumably they were cooking breakfast. Right on the tip of the island was an outhouse (over the water) and a barge. The other boat closed in to the beach about 2 – 300 yards and opened up. The outhouse disappeared – the barge suffered a couple of hits. Whoever was in the outhouse didn’t suffer much. We started making our run along the beach – it was port and Mitch and I had a lot of fun watching Mr. Pillinger run up and down the deck shouting “this is more like it.” Barges were strung up along the beach and the boys really gave them the works. Some were out in the open, others had attempted camouflage jobs. For one hour they shot hell of them – and we couldn’t shoot – we were really [?]sore. Finally the 90 mm’s began getting closer and some small cal, began popping away – we got the hell out of there – besides ammo was running low. However we didn’t get hit – Sheldon really poured it into the m,g, positions, and they shut up. The other boat got a few small holes. The other two boats were waiting, and soon Beaufighters came (Aussies). When you hear them over the radio they sound like Japs. The went in and did a little shooting drew a little AA fire and came out. The other PT’s decided to go in – 1 ½ miles from the beach at 2000. As soon as they started in the 90’s opened up – they came out – one burst hit one boat, injuring slightly one man. Score – 9 probable barges. We then headed home – securing at 1415.

Aug 20, [1944] PICKET BOAT

Just anchored in harbor all night in case of air raid – some laugh.

Aug 24, 1944 ROMBERPON – WANDERMAN

In company with the 170 boat, we started what proved to be quite a patrol. At 1653 we passed to bouys and headed out starting our patrol in Wanderman Bay and working up the coast. On board we had a Dutch Army interpreter and intelligence. Arriving of Ramberpon at 0550 we laid to ‘til day break. A native canoe set out from shore – flying Queen Wilhelmina’s flag. The interpreter learned from them that six British Indian troopers, who had been captured at Singapore, had escaped from the Japs at Manahori and worked their way down where the natives had hid them. So under the direction of the natives we went between the island and mainland – uncharted water – lots of reefs, but thanks to the natives we kept in the channel. At the lower end of Maui Bay was the village – the skipper went ashore and brought them out. Meanwhile we traded cigarettes for Jap invasion money. The Indians were quite a decent group, but rather ragged - one had a #4 iron – but wouldn’t sell for anything. The natives gave the Dutchman a Jap 25 and some credentials of an officer they had killed. At 0930 we started for home – at 1200 bbetween Japen and Neomfoor the engines crapped out – no fuel pressure! For nine hours in rough sea we laid to – no power, no chow, no nothing. The other boat tried to tow us but the lines broke. Finally a frigate came up and towed us into Neomfoor where we tied beside an LCT. They were good enough to feed us at 0200 – the first chow since the night before – we were so hungry we could hardly eat. The morning came and at 0800 we got underway under our own power – 1230 and they crapped out again [] Bitch! It was smooth enough so the other boat towed us in. 1600 we tied up at the base – Aug 26. 48 hours on two meals – and hardly any sleep – some fun.

Aug. 31, 1944 ROMBERPON – WANDERMAN

About 1840 we left the buoys astern, heading for our patrol area. We were to pick up some scouts on Romberpon – but the skipper of the lead boat did some rare navigating ahd mistook Mior Waori for Romberpon. After 2 hours he finally decided he was wrong – as we had tried to tell him. At 0113 we arrived off Point Kaloeng and picked up the Army scouts. Heading along the coast, we laid to off Saboebei Harbor where a Jap village was reported with about 150 Japs. At 0630 we started in – and strafed the village at sunup. It was lots of fun until my guns stopped shooting. A cartridge had pulled apart spreading powder over everything, jamming the works – she was a hot baby smoking like hell. The 40 did sound good shooting putting them right in the huts. At 0717 we started home – there may have been Japs there – if they were they had better had shagged it – or were dead. Base – 1400 – Sept 1.

Sept 2, 1944 ROMBERPON – WANDERMAN

Patrolling with the 190 boad we left the base at 1510 and arrived off Roon Island at 2033. When we came to Windeosi we laid to ‘til morning when some natives came out – they reported there was a barge hidden in the mouth of the river. So we proceeded in about 200 yds off of shore. The natives pointed out the place and both boats opened fire with the40. After firing about 50 rounds we withdrew – and a canoe load of natives went in; returning with the barge compass – reporting many hits. At 1030 we headed for the base – arriving at the buoys – 1510 Sept 3. Credit ½ barge. A rather tragic aftermath – scouts on Romberpon learnt that we had killed one and wounded another Indian when we shot up the barge. So 30 of them had escaped from the Japs and were sleeping near there.

Sept 4, 1944 ROMBERPON – WANDERMAN

Again with the 190 boat we started on patrol – but this time we headed for Romberpon. The skipper of the other boat, due to bad DR or something mistook Mios Woari for it and laid to off there for two hours. We had scouts aboard to disembark at Romberpon. We finally got straightened out and got to Romberbom. We took the boats right up on the beach at a native village at Jamakoan and stayed there ‘til morning trading with the natives. In the morning we proceeded down the coast to Wetmirais River where the natives told uis we had missed a barge by 3 hours – it had gone towards Miei – we went down there and found it had gone up a river we could not navigate. Miei’s a beautiful village with a mission (it was later learnt there were Japs there). The mission was then finished so home we went – (1535 Sept 5)

Sept 8, 1944 DORE - ROMBERPON

For a change we went out with the 194 boat. We stopped at Noemfoor and Mr. Davis went ashore to see the boy from the 192 who had been shot up at Manbiwi. At 2300 we arrived off of Oranshari. 0330 our batteries went dead – no communications other boat Snafu – both [?]Torfu. Headed home at 0910 we secured at the base Sept. 9. Some patrol!

Sept 12, 1944 ROMBERPON – DEMAR

After the 150 went Snafu & the 151 couldn’t go we finally got underway with the 324 for the DORE – ROMBERPON patrol. At 0000 we arrived off of Oransbori and 4 miles above it we sighted a light on the beach. The other boat fired two flares at the beach, but nothing developed – to sit there and watch the beach light up – is rather an eerie sight and nerve racking. In the morning we were between the northern tip of Manson Island – there shot at some possible barges on the beach while we strafed the island. We then headed for home – 1140 Sept 12. [14 patrols in New Guinea]

Sept 25, 1944 DORE – ROMBERPON

Same old thing – lost a lot of sleep didn’t see a damn thing – didn’t even fire.

Sept 27, 1944

Same as before only we lost more sleep.

Oct 13, 1944

We left [Mios] Woendi today. Probably we’ll never see it again – no one knew until we left where we were going – once out of the harbor we found out – the Philippines!

Oct 15, 1944

1600 entering Kossel Passage in the Palan Islands – a very uneventful trip so far.

Oct 18, 1944

1300 underway on the last leg of the journey.

Oct 21, 1944 LEYTE, PHILIPPINES

1438 secured in San Pedro Bay – the cans and cruisers are still shelling Jap concentrations on the hillds, TBF’s dive bombing and strafing. During the night there was an air raid – no hits but lots of flak.

Oct 22, 1944

Proceeding again in convoy – we went to Liloan Bay – a beautiful spot with a Hollywood setting. 1744 - air raid.

Oct 23, 1944

055 air raid – 0615 secured

1802 UNDERWAY TO PATROL AREA #114

02:46 G.Q. – on station – 2201 secured.

Oct 24, 1944

0240 G.Q. – one barge class B destroyed on first run – I had a runaway gun – the triggers froze.

0315 On sea truck – 110’ armed – 5 runs and it was a “burnt peanut.”

0845 Home again!

1758 UNDERWAY TO MADILAO POINT – JAP TASK FORCE REPORTED COMING UP.

1945 G.Q. which was to last all night. We didn’t pick up anything all night, but saw tracer fire, 6” fire, and flares in the straits –

towards morning 2 fires broke out.

Oct 25

When dawn came we headed home – over the horizon were sitting 2 Jap cruisers & 3 cans at the mouth of the bay – we couldn’t get in.

About 0900 word came for all boats with fish were to go through Panoan Straits & aid the [PT Tender] Wachapreague! When got there all was secure!

1205 air raid – 1255 secured.

1410 in convoy heading north

1815 Anchored in Hinunayan Bay.

[In margins:] Midget [Charles F. Medgett, Motor Mechanic’s Mate 3rd class] on 152 killed; Swede, Coon & Lewis injured on the 194; 492 sunk

[http://books.google.com/books?id=SUKjmOykxtUC&pg=PA315&lpg=PA315&dq=%22pt+191%22+1945&source=web&ots=QfmmZxXc4J&sig=_awyfSwaLu3me-KwQa9-LVzjdLs

From “The Battle of Leyte Gulf” page 315

On the night of 24-25 October 1944 the PT boats on station were held between 09deg10’North and 10deg10’North at the southern entrance to theSurigao Strait…on the opposite side of the Strait, off Bilas Point which is the northern tip of Mindanao, were three formations, the first, section 4 (Lieutenant Commander Theo R. Stansbury) with the PT-191, PT-192, and the PT-195…]

Oct 26

At 0800 we began fueling. We hading been fueling for more than 15 minutes when a Zeke dived on the bow and dropped a bomb

(it killed Suttire [on the] 134) We got underway and had a running battle with Jap planes (2 Dinahs) – Wachapreague was credited with one plane.

1115 we secured in San Pedro Bay. 1225 AIR RAID – 1710 secured. 1805 AIR RAID – 1920 secured.

Oct 27, 1944

P38’s came into the air strip today – no more daylight raids! (We hope)

Nov 1-4

No patrols, but ever night there’s air raids/ - and how! Shrapnel (our own rains around, you can hear forties going overhead, and we can’t shoot! The other morning we saw them shoot four down – but they still come.

Nov 5

PT 320 sunk by direct bomb hit – Red Young

1205 Underway to patrol area #109

On reaching Liloan other patrols had returned - so following instructions we tried to reach Outspoken – no luck.

Deciding to get can screen to relay we approached (DD664) – they challenged us (F) I answered (X) – next thing we knew 5 shots across or around our bow – did we shag -. We were instructed to remain at Liloan and returned the next day.

Nov. 7 –

Attended Midget’s [Medgett] funeral.

Nov. 9

1545 Underway to patrol (Jap convoy Ormoc)

1655 Crapped out water in gas

Nov 14

1615 Underway to patrol Ormac Bay with 150 boat

2146 150 threw center seal – returned Liloan

Nov 15 – 1050 secured

Nov 16

1547 Underway to patrol Camotes Islands with 196

1841 Army shot down 1 twin engine boogie

2038 196 – center engine fouled out

0130 196 went on nigger head in Liloan Bay

Nov 18 – 1520 secured

Nov 21

1355 Underway to patrol Cebu with 146

2115 Lights on Poco (blinking) 0145 1 sea truck – one run – one fish (miss)

Secured 0945 Nov 22

Nov 24

1928 Underway on special mission (3 transports one aground) with 524

2125 We’re on nigger head!

Nov 26

1140 4 ZEKES two suicide dived at the Oyster Bay

1305 1 ZEKE crash dived Oyster Bay

Left me a good case of nerves – I was on dry dock 500 yds away

Nov 28

1340 Underway to patrol with 128

1740 Possible sub G.G.

2116 Heavy artillery around Ormoc

2350 1 Jake dropped bomb 100yds astern

2400 1 boogie dropped Mg bomb

Nov 29

0005 1 boogie dropped bomb 1 mile away

0020 1 plane overhead

0035 1 ½ mi S.W. of Ormoc City.

Fired 3 fish – 2 poss. Hits

Shore batteries! 75mm 40mm 37mm

0050 2 bombs – BETTI & ZEKE

0105 1 plane – 1 bomb – 1 mile

Nervous in the service!

1010 Secured.

[http://www.ibiblio.net/hyperwar/USN/USN-Chron/USN-Chron-1944.html indicates the following for Nov 29 1944:

Motor torpedo boats attack Japanese shipping in Ormoc Bay; PT-127 sinks Patrol Boat No.105 (ex-Philippine Arayat), 10°59'N, 124°33'E; PT-128 and PT-191 sink auxiliary minelayer Kusentai No.105. ]

History of United States Naval Operations in World War II

By Samuel Eliot Morison; pp 369-370

http://books.google.com/books?id=9AR7jpjL1TsC&pg=RA1-PA369&lpg=RA1-PA369&dq=motor+torpedo+boat+191+1945&source=web&ots=cnM1nhJm-z&sig=JCaFMp-ss4vKajomiIr2tB2hKng&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=5&ct=result#PRA1-PA369,M1

28-29 November

Two escorts of the reinforcement convoy that Captain Smith had hoped to encounter were sunk by PT boats the following night, 28-29 November (1944). Motor Torpedo Boat crews who had taken part in the Battle of Surigao Strait had been kept busy since with odd jobs, but like the Marine aviators they were chafing for lack of combat. PT’s 127, 331, 128 and 191, under squadron commander Lieutenant Roger H. “Woof” Hallowell USNR, were given the pioneer mission for Ormoc. At midnight they separated…

Dec. 2

1702 Underway to patrol area #123 with 151

Didn’t see a thing (possible fish fired at us)

But we’re all pretty jumpy.

Can sunk in Ormoc (ours) –

Heavy artillery seen down there.

Dec 2

0900 Secured.

Dec. 2

1702 Underway to patrol #123 with 151 - through straights

Dec 3

0025 Lady Luck asked for air cover

AA fire over Ormoc

0130 Torpedo wake passed astern

0145 Lady Luck asked for help in picking up survivors (DD sunk)

1030 secured.

Dec 6 patrol Ormoc with 151

2040 Flares over Ormoc

2202 Ship afire of Canaguagan – P.T.

2350 contacted Hellfire special

0155 flares over Ormoc (daylight)

Pre-invasion barrage

0956 secured.

Dec 8 Underway to patrol #113 & 114

Nothing happened – made complete trip around Leyte.

– Torpedo passed under boat?

Dec 16 Underway to patrol area #123

Lots of GQ’s & nothing but fish nuts

Dec 20 Underway to patrol area #123

Nothing but loss of sleep

Dec. 22 Underway to patrol area #125

Nothing

Dec 26 – 28 Convoyed tug and fuel barge

One H???p on 28th but didn’t see us

[http://news.webshots.com/album/43230483QNUcgP news true Dec. 27, 1943. PT-190 and PT-191 are attacked by Japanese Naval aircraft while crossing the open stretch of water between New Britain and New Guinea known as the Vitiaz Strait.]

Dec 29 – Patrol area 114 – 115 with PT 194

Total (official) 29

This is the last entry in this journal. Four weeks later on Jan 25 1945 Joseph was wounded by shrapnel from the same bomb that killed Robert W. Rauch who was standing next to him.

The following is a write-up from the book “Hell on Keels – The Saga of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 12 A Story of Wooden Boats and Iron Men” by Rick Desloge:

_…Two days later – patrol the night of January 25-26 – the enemy tasted revenge. The Bambi [191] and Purple Shaft [196] again paired up for a patrol off Cebu’s eastern shores to break up Japanese shipping. The mosquito boats were in formation when two Allied P-61 nightfighters warned them the Japanese had a plane in the area. It was a clear enough night that the phosphorus glow of their wakes would make the Devil Boats easy targets. _

Eighteen minutes later an unidentified plane flew over at 600 feet and flashed its running lights.

“This seemed to indicate that the plane was friendly,” Skipper Nelson Davis reported.

He was wrong. The plane unloaded a 250 pound bomb on [Bambi] stunning the unsuspecting crew. Robert W Rauch, one of the motormacs, was hit in the neck with flying shrapnel. He died within a minute. Five others received shrapnel wounds, including Joseph Myers, the quartermaster who was manning the starboard .50 caliber guns. The PTs immediately hit the throttles and zigzagged away at 25 knots. Out of nowhere, shore batteries fired several more rounds. Five minutes later, the badly wounded Myers, seized a chance for revenge. The attacking plane returned to drop a second bomb and Myers threw up enough flak, even as he was getting lightheaded from loss of blood, that the attacker backed off. “When I saw him I opened fire and then he jettisoned his bomb and flew away,” Myers recalled years later.

Myers lived to fight again, but the war took its toll on the men. Charles N. Kantner Jr., a torpedo man from the [Bambi], was a good friend of Rauch. “That was the first casualty I experienced with someone I was close to. In my mind, I said from that day on, I’m not going to get close to anybody,” Kantner told himself…

[pg. 274]

After several blank pages in the log is the following entry, some 15 days or so after his injury:

LST 464 (helpful) USA 1

Marigold

Feb 11 [1945]

One note about the Nov. 26 1944 entry regarding the kamikaze attack on the Oyster Bay: some 50 years later I (Joseph P. Myers) worked in Atlanta with Steve Lewis, who was originally from Alabama. Steve’s father passed away around that time, and Steve shared with me that his father had been in WW II in the South Pacific. As we shared stories about our fathers, it became apparent that their paths had virtually crossed half a world away and half a century before. Steve’s father had served on the Tender Oyster Bay, which had tended the PT’s of squadron 12, including my father’s 191. Also, we talked of the kamikaze attack on the Oyster Bay, which my father witnessed from the dry dock 500 yards away, and which Steve’s father, a non-combatant medic on board the Oyster Bay that day, witnessed from much, much closer.

Joseph N Myers