Here is a little article (unfortunately this link is now broken) about an ordinary Coastie’s experience in WWII that, in addition to having a cute dog story, includes reference to a little remembered program that resulted in the Coast Guard manning 75 Tacoma Class Patrol frigates (PFs), beginning in October 1943. These ships were adaptations of the British “River” Class, a design similar in purpose to Destroyer Escorts, but built to merchant standards by the Maritime Commission.
The ships were 2238 tons full load, 304 feet in length, with a 36’6′ beam and 12’8″ draft. They were steam powered and used triple expansion reciprocating engines for 5,500 HP and a speed of 20 knots. They had a range of 9500 nmi at 12 knots. The ships were typically armed with three 3″/50s, two twin 40mms, nine 20mms, a “hedgehog” multiple ASW mortar, depth charges, and eight depth charge projectors (K-Guns).
Twenty-three of the class were converted to serve as weather ships with the aft 3″/50 replaced by a balloon shelter and the crew reduced from 190 to 176. They replaced Coast Guard manned merchant ships that had been providing the service previously.
The battle, with subsequent rescue, referred to in the article, was the Battle off Samar, an inspiring story, worth a look if you are not familiar with it.
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 
I was a signalman on the USS Corpus Christi based in
Fremantle Australia1944-1946. I had a WWII memoir on the internet but can’t find it anymore.
William Sprague
The Corpus Christie rescued 96 survivors after the sinking of the liberty ship Pete Sylvester in the Indian Ocean about 500 miles west of Australia. I have made many attempts to locate some of those survivors with no results. Probably none still alive and there very few around from the Corpus Christie.
Email the secretary of the Coast Guard Combat Veterans and see if any of the former crew members of USS Corpus Christi (PF 44) are members or have been members.
Gary Sherman shermag1@comcast.net
You might also want to check out these:
http://www.davidhhendrickson.com/ which claims to be “The Official Site for the Patrol Frigate Story” and his blog, http://davidhhendrickson.blogspot.com/
He may also have some contacts for you.
Mr. Sprague. I served on the USS Kretchmer DER-329 during the Vietnam war. The were refitted a couple time but were the old WW 2 DE’s, similar to the CG Frigates. I am viisiting my father Frank Kolb in CA who was a survivor of the sinking of the Peter Sylvester and was rescued after 7 days by the USS Corpus Christie. At 90 years of age he is at least one survivor.
We both thank you and your shipmates for your efforts that day!!!
my dad was a survivor of the ss peter Sylvester and he is alive today he will be ninty years old this march and he is trying to find information on the survivors if any are alive today—he has spoke to one survivor Frank Kolb but would like to know if there are anymore of the survivors alive —-my dads name is glenwood skaggs his lives in Missouri please let me know if you have any information on this
my dad glenwood skaggs is a survivor of the peter Sylvester and he is alive today would like to know if some of the survivors are still alive e mail me at osewneat@yahoo.com love to have some information on this
Miss Peggy,
I was a Seaman on the U. S. S. Corpus Christi during the rescue of men on the Peter Sylvester. I have pictures on the rescue, if ypu would like them.
Buried William Lowel Sprague few weeks ago in Jamestown, RI. He was a Signalman on board the Corpus Christi, and spoke of the SS sylvester. Only
Still trying to get in touch with Bob Kolb. I have informati0n and pictures of the Corpus
Christi rescue of 96 survivors of the Peter Sylvester. {Please contact me by my Email: jssprague@cox.net.
B Sprague
I have emailed Bill Sprague and hope to get in touch with him.
I also mentioned a book LIBERTY SHIP SURVIVOR by Joseph Mazzara about the experience of Ray Laenen.
USS MINTAKA (AK-94) COAST GUARD WWII
LOOKING FOR RICHARD CLARK/SAN DIEGO
AM LOOKING FOR FELLOW CREW MEMBER,
JERRY
USS MINTAKA (AK-94) COAST GUARD WWII
LOOKING FOR RICHARD CLARK/SAN DIEGO
AM LOOKING FOR FELLOW CREW MEMBER,
JERRY
Harvey Anger (San Gabriel Valley,CA.) was aboard an AK ship in WW-2,if anyone knew him please contact because he has Alchimrez
I was on the USS Allentown PF 51, I am looking for any stories from the pacific theater guys. I would also like to get any pictures of the the frigates in combat or any on board photos for my kids and grandkids to see.
Thanks
The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships has a brief history of each ship and usually some pictures. You can look up any of the frigates there. This is the link for the Allentown: http://www.history.navy.mil/DANFS/a7/allentown.htm
There are a number of photos here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacoma_class_frigate
And links for all the members of the class here: http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/08idx.htm
There is a book here, sorry I can’t vouch for it, haven’t read it:
http://www.amazon.com/Patrol-Frigate-Tacoma-class-Frigates-1943-1953/dp/0984637109
Hello- My father has mentioned that he was on a PF 51, however didn’t include USS Allentown. Is this significant? He does have a photo of himself on board the ship but that is all that I know. I’m sure that he would be willing to share. Good luck with your search.
I have an entire log for the Allentown while they were in the pacific. It tells almost. Everyday of deployment. I have many pictures. His name was George Bauer.
Jerry Thompson. You are looking for crew info on AK-94 Mintaka. I am the son of a crew member (Bill Pratt). I am attempting to collect as much information as possible on Mintaka events based on information my dad is able to provide. I have numerous photos of the ship and people on the ship, many annotated with names. If interested in replying please follow-up here.
Hi my father Joseph Howard Lee was a crew member on the USS Mintaka I have a beautifully framed picture of the ship and also a framed Imperium Ngptvni Regis a call to all mermaids with the ships name. Also a photo of all the crew members. I know how proud I was of my father. He lost his brother Robert Lee who was in the army in Luzon. How grateful we all should be for all are service men.
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Cool Blog, Bill Sprague is a friend of mine. Many Coasties here in RI not far from New Port. I retired from the reserves a few years back form Boston. George Silve, Tom Cer, Merril Slate, Richard Hubbell, Mario Tomolini, Greg Isabel, Tom Bartolini, Dave Blair….all Coasties, all great guys. Many more not mentioned. late uncle Ed makowiec USCG/USMC sailor on CGC Campbel WW-2, often spoke of Rasin Jack…
One CG vets experience on one of the frigates used as a weather ship. http://tucson.com/news/local/coast-guard-vet-collected-storm-data-during-wwii/article_7543e4ac-3ec6-5957-ad70-84b1ddbea49c.html
I’m looking for floor plan of USS Brunswick PF 68, my Dad served on it during WWII with the Coast Guard
Vicki, I don’t have specifically what you are looking for but, hopefully I can help you find it. USS Brunswick https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Brunswick_(PF-68) was a Tacoma class patrol frigate. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacoma-class_frigate
There is a book about this class. https://www.amazon.com/Patrol-Frigate-Tacoma-class-Frigates-1943-1953/dp/0984637109
One of the book reviewers indicates he is using the book as a reference for model building, so must have some detail, at least some pictures.
R. P. Dinsmore on May 12, 2014, “I served on the Patrol Frigate MUSKEGON (WPF-24) during WWII. I am now building a model of the ship. and am using the book as reference in the construction of the model.”
Apparently you can contact the author of the book here: http://www.davidhhendrickson.com/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=1&Itemid=55
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The story of this class did not end with WWII. Some of them were reactivated for the Korean War and three of them suffered minor damage.
Hoqulam (PF-5) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Hoquiam_(PF-5)
Everertt (PF-8) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Everett_(PF-8)
Glouchester (PF-22) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gloucester_(PF-22)