USS PGM - 7 All twenty - four crew members reporting on board USS " SC - 1072 " , 28 June 1943 , were received from the receiving station , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania . The official Reports of Changes for USS " SC - 1072 " provide port locations and sailing destinations as follows : 19 July 43 sailing from Naval Air Station , Cape May , New Jersey to Jacksonville , Florida 11 August 43 sailing from Pier # 2 , S . C . T . C , Miami , Florida to Navy Section Base , Key West , Florida 15 August 43 sailing from N . O . B . , Key West , Florida to Burwood , Mississippi 17 August 43 sailing from Burwood , Louisiana to Canal Zone [ Burwood is located in the state of Louisiana , perhaps the 15 August entry refers to the Mississippi River as the location of Burwood ? ] 28 August 43 sailing from Naval Station , Coco Solo , Canal Zone to Naval Station , San Diego , California 14 September 43 sailing from Naval Base , San Diego , California to Naval Base , San Francisco , California 24 September 43 sailing from Naval Section Base , Treasure Island , California to Naval Section Base , Seattle , Washington 19 November 43 sailing from NavSta , Pier 41 , Seattle , Washington to Naval Operating Base , San Pedro , California 23 November 43 sailing from NavSecBase , Treasure Island , California to Naval Operating Base , San Pedro , California 23 January 1944 , USS " PGM - 7 " departed San Pedro , California , headed for Pearl Harbor , Territory of Hawaii , in company of PGM ’ s 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 and 8 and USS Armadillo ( IX - 111 ) . The " Armadillo " provided fuel and water for the PGM ’ s in transit to Hawaii . The Log Book of USS " PGM - 3 " contains the following entry for 25 January 1045 hours : “ U . S . S . PGM - 2 reported bad leak and was ordered by Senior Officer Present Afloat to return to port accompanied by U . S . S . PGM - 4 as escort . ” " PGM - 7 " and the remaining ships continued their journey , arriving at Pearl Harbor on 1 February . On 12 February the " PGM - 7 " left Pearl Harbor en route to Palmyra Atoll in company of PGM ’ s 8 , 5 , 3 and 1 and arrived there 15 February . The next day the five PGM ’ s continued their journey en route to Pago Pago , Tutuila Island , American Samoa , arriving there on 20 February . Sadly , Edmund Roman Niess , Machinist ’ s Mate first class , a member of the crew of " PGM - 7 " , drowned in an accident on 23 February 1944 , in Pago Pago Harbor . He was buried in the USMC Cemetery , Tutuila , the next day . Niess was the only member of the crew of " PGM - 7 " lost during the war according to the official Reports of Changes for the ship . The five PGM ’ s left Pago Pago on 24 February , headed toward Suva , Viti Levu , Fiji , arriving there on 27 February after adjusting the ships ’ clocks forward one day . PGM ’ s 8 , 5 , 3 and 7 departed Suva on 28 February en route to Nouméa , New Caledonia , arriving there 2 March . The same four PGM ’ s departed Nouméa 10 days later en route for Espiritu Santo , New Hebrides , arriving there 14 March . " PGM - 7 " departed for the Solomon Islands on 15 March in company of PGM ’ s 5 and 8 , arriving at Guadalcanal two days later . After a short stay at Guadalcanal , the ships crossed over to nearby Tulagi , Florida Islands ( known today as Nggela Islands ) . After a stay of nearly two weeks , PGM ’ s 5 , 7 and 8 departed the Florida Islands on 29 March en route for Rendova Island , New Georgia Islands , Solomon Islands . On 6 April , " PGM - 7 " departed Rendova in company of " PGM - 5 " headed for the Motor Torpedo Boat Base # 9 , Treasury Islands , arriving there on the same day . MTB Base # 9 served as the home base for the remainder of " PGM - 7 " ’ s navy career . Two days after arriving at MTB Base # 9 , " PGM - 7 " departed at 1743 hours on 8 April for its first patrol of the coastal waters of southwest Bougainville Island . Over the next three months , " PGM - 7 " conducted anti - barge and anti - submarine patrols along the southwest and southeast coasts of Bougainville , the general vicinity of Fauro Island , and the west coast of Choiseul Island . The ship was accompanied on these patrols by various other PGM ships of PGM Division One as well as various PT boats from nearby squadrons . Starting at the end of June 1944 , the " PGM - 7 " participated in a prolonged patrol along the northwestern coast of New Ireland ( island ) , in view , at a distance , of night attacks on the Japanese base at Rabaul on New Britain . On 28 June , PGM ’ s 5 , 7 and 8 departed Torokina for New Ireland to patrol area “ uncle . ” The patrol included the coastal locations of Tambaker Point , Huru Point and Cape Roloss . The ships visited the advance base at Green Islands , arriving the afternoon of 1 July and departing the afternoon of 4 July , taking on fuel and water and doing other unspecified work during this period . The PGMs returned to the same patrol area , concluding their patrol on 7 July and arriving back at MTB Base # 9 on the Treasury Islands on 8 July . In the early morning hours of 18 July , " PGM - 7 " departed MTB Base # 9 for another patrol of New Ireland in company of PGM ’ s 4 , 5 and 8 . At 0543 hours " PGM - 7 " was severely damaged in a collision with " PGM - 4 " . An eye - witness account of the collision is available in the book " Splinter Fleet " by Theodore R . Treadwell . Heavy seas contributed to difficulties in maintaining proper patrol formation and " PGM - 4 " lost track of " PGM - 7 " on radar . Suddenly the " PGM - 7 " appeared off the starboard bow of " PGM - 4 " and it was too late to prevent a collision . Contrary to other reports , the official Log Book of " PGM - 7 " establishes for a fact that the ship did not sink . Quoted here are the entries in the ship ’ s log for 18 July 1944 and subsequent dates : 18 July 1944 “ 0300 underway from Sterling Harbor , Treasury Islands , en route to New Ireland and New Britain for operations in company with PGMs 4 , 5 & 8 “ “ 0543 rammed by PGM 4 in engine room , port side . Collision piped by watch topside , General alarm dead , all hands given word to put on life jackets , PGM 4 drifted out of hole alongside port side , bow facing PGM 7 ’ s stern , Captain went aboard PGM 4 , directed all hands to abandon ship , 19 men abandon ship before ships drifted apart , Executive and Third Officer and 8 men aboard PGM 7 , Executive Officer passes word to men still aboard to jettison all ammunition on starboard side of forward magazine , engine room flooded 30 inches above deck , control room had 6 inches above deck , after crew ’ s quarters reported by Savage , J . J . , PhM1c , water up to deck boards , permission granted by Executive Officer to jettison 40mm ammunition in after magazine , Captain returned aboard in rubber life raft with Reuter , J . E , BM1c and proceeded to unload after magazine , when magazine emptied with exception of port side of forward magazine , in order to counter - balance starboard list , 2 barbettes were jettisoned , during this time the water had risen above the deck in the after crew ’ s quarters and attempts were made to pump out the water with a gasoline handy - billy , it failed to start and soon after Lt . ( jg ) Lindblooom and two MoMMs came aboard from the PGM 5 in a rubber life raft and attempted to start handy - billy , it failed and the PGM 5 sent over their handy - billy which also failed , later these pumps were operated successfully ” “ 0745 PGM 8 attempted to tow the PGM 7 with the anchor chain but the attempt failed after five minutes when the chain parted ” “ 0830 PGM 8 attempted to tow the PGM 7 with the six inch hawser approximately 200 feet in length , this also failed several minutes later when the tow line parted due to the short length of the line used ” “ 0945 PGM 8 again attempts to tow with their own anchor chain , this attempt also failed about 45 minutes when chain parted ” “ 1000 the gasoline handy - billy began to work and the after compartment and the tank compartment were continually pumped thereafter ” “ 1240 U . S . S . YMS 249 came alongside to tow us in , proceeding at 1250 ” “ 1846 through nets , U . S . S . YMS 249 still towing ” “ 1900 PGM 8 received tow and brought us up to Steaming Dock , Sterling Harbor , Treasury Islands . ” “ 19 July “ “ 0000 - 0400 moored as before alongside Dry Dock Pier at Sterling Harbor , Treasury Islands , being patched temporarily ” “ 26 July “ “ Moored as before ” “ 0715 getting underway , secured alongside PGM 4 , proceeding in harbor , en route for Purvis Bay “ “ 0755 through nets “ “ 0800 PGM 4 left alongside , now taking tow , speed 5 knots ” " 0800 - 1200 being towed by PGM 4 en route to Purvis Bay , speed 5 knots , using 1200 feet ¾ inch cable , temporarily patched on deck and port side , 2 gasoline pumps on board for purpose of pumping bilges , 8 men and 2 officers aboard " “ July 28 ” “ 1130 Carter City [ Florida Islands ] , now secured to Sub - Buoy in harbor , PGM 4 left for water ” “ August 31 , 1944 ” [ last page of log ] “ 0000 - 0400 moored as before at Carter City , Small Craft Repair Base , Florida Island area , in dry dock , using portable gasoline generator for ships power , crew living on base , officers living aboard , awaiting further orders from Bureau ” The final fate of PGM - 7 is not indicated in the ship ’ s log . It was apparently scrapped by the navy due to extensive damage to the hull . Fate of the crew of " PGM - 7 " All 27 crew and 3 officers of " PGM - 7 " survived the collision of 18 July 1944 . The " PGM - 7 " Report of Changes for the month ending 31 July 1944 , lists 19 crew members transferred to MTBRons , Base 9 , Navy 811 , Treasury Islands , for temporary duty . The PGM Division One ( Base Force at Treasury Islands ) Report of Changes for the month ending 30 September 1944 , lists 28 crew members received from " PGM - 7 " on 17 September 1944 , with 14 transferred the same day to other PGMs of Division One ( the extra crew member reported aboard after the collision ) . Officers of " PGM - 7 " for the period 1 January 1944 to 17 September 1944 Deck Log List of Officers 31 May 44 to 30 June 44 provides the following three officers : A . J . Malcomson , Lt . , USNR , reported aboard 28 June 43 , duties : Captain , Navigator , 1st Lt . E . S . Rubin , Lt . ( jg ) , USNR , reported aboard 28 June 43 , duties : Ex . Officer , Gunnery Officer , Comm . Officer Morgan Ellsworth , Lt . ( jg ) , USNR , reported aboard 10 February 44 , duties : Engineering Officer , Commissary & Supply Officer L . L . Kupferberg , Ensign , USNR , 3rd officer , his signature appears on the ship log 1 January 1944 and is found for the last time on 3 February 1944 . Ensign Kupferberg was the 3rd officer of the ship for the convoy from San Pedro , California to Pearl Harbor , Hawaii . Ellsworth took his place at Pearl Harbor . Crew of " PGM - 7 " for the period 23 January 1944 to 17 September 1944 Crew member name is followed by the date reporting on board , date detached , rate at the time of detachment , and ship or location transferred . For men transferred to Base Force PGM Division One and later transferred to another ship of PGM Division One , date of transfer to Div . 1 is followed by date transferred to PGM ship . For Navy ratings see : US Navy Interviewer ' s Classification Guide Ray Davis , 3 January 44 to 17 September 44 , St3c , transferred to " PGM - 1 " ; William Earl Demaree , 9 March 44 to 17 September 44 , F1c , transferred to " PGM - 3 " ; August Dhieux Jr . , 29 September 43 to 17 September 44 , GM2c , transferred to " PGM - 5 " ; George Paul Fernekes , 28 June 43 to 17 September 44 , SoM2c , transferred to PGM Div . 1 , transferred 20 November 44 to MTB Base 9 ; Frank Adolph Frandeen , 29 July 44 to 17 September 44 , MoMM2c , transferred to PGM Div . 1 , transferred 5 January 45 to " PGM - 3 " ; Charles Edward Gerding , 28 June 43 to 17 September 44 , S1c , transferred to " PGM - 2 " ; Bernard Golden , 28 June 43 to 17 September 44 , Y3c , transferred to " PGM - 1 " ; Marsden Donald Guild , 28 June 43 to 17 September 44 , MoMM3c , transferred to " PGM - 2 " ; Ollie David Harvey , 12 August 43 to 17 September 44 , RM2c , transferred to " PGM - 4 " ; Donald George Hoover , 28 June 43 to 17 September 44 , MoMM2c , transferred to PGM Div 1 , transferred 15 November 45 to " PGM - 5 " ; Theron Wesley Horne , 28 June 43 to 17 September 44 , QM2c , transferred to PGM Div . 1 ; Howard Kelly Ingram , 27 July 43 to 17 September 44 , S1c , transferred to PGM Div . 1 , transferred 20 September 44 to " PGM - 2 " ; Howard Floyd La Favre , 3 January 44 to 17 September 44 , S2c , transferred to PGM Div 1 , transferred 23 October 44 to " PGM - 3 " ; James Edward Lawrence , 14 October 43 to 17 September 44 , RM2c , transferred to PGM Div . 1 , transferred 22 September 44 to USS " Jamestown " ; Billy Reeves Laws , 3 January 44 to 17 September 44 , S1c , transferred to " PGM - 2 " ; Keith Raymond Lewis , 3 January 44 to 17 September 44 , SC3c , transferred to PGM Div . 1 ; John Edward Lyons , 27 July 43 to 17 September 44 , GM2c , transferred to PGM Div . 1 ; Ralph Edson Morse , 27 July 43 to 17 September 44 , RdM2c , transferred to " PGM - 8 " ; Robert Edward Musser , 28 June 43 to 17 September 44 , EM2c , transferred to " PGM - 4 " ; Edmund Roman Niess , 28 June 43 to 23 February 44 , MM1c ; James Edward Ownby , 28 June 43 to 17 September 44 , CMoMM ( T ) , transferred to PGM Div . 1 ; John Everett Reuter , 28 June 43 to 17 September 44 , BM1c , transferred to PGM Div . 1 , transferred 15 November 45 to " PGM - 3 " ; Clarence Stanley Rhodes , 1 June 44 to 17 September 44 , S1c , transferred to " PGM - 1 " ; Cleveland Pearce Rhodes , 1 June 44 to 17 September 44 , S1c , transferred to " PGM - 6 " ; William Warren Robinson , 1 June 44 to 17 September 44 , S1c , transferred to " PGM - 3 " ; Raymond Rodrick Jr . , 28 June 43 to 17 September 44 , CY ( T ) , transferred to PGM Div . 1 ; John Joseph Savage , 3 January 44 to 17 September 44 , PhM1c , transferred to PGM Div 1 , transferred 20 November 44 to " PGM - 4 " ; Joseph Max Smith , 28 June 43 to 10 June 44 , CMM ( AA ) ; Thomas Franklin Strobietto , 3 January 44 to 14 March 44 , F2c ; John Darrell Wolfe , 17 October 43 to 17 September 44 , S1c , transferred to PGM Div . 1 ; Arthur George Wolszon , 17 October 43 to 17 September 44 ; S1c , transferred to " PGM - 6 " ;