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	Plank Owner, NAVetsUSA   yms425@comcast.net BOB COLANTUONO S2c USNR 16 CORDWOOD ROAD Mashpee,  MA 02649 (508) 477-3820 Please visit my website: www.ussyms425.com Please post a message on the Message Board

Born 9/29/1927 in newton, ma. after service, graduated from
Springfield College (ma). married Regina (di pirro) June 25, 1949. seven children: Susan, Tom, Nancy, Janet, Lynn, Ann & David.
Five grandchildren: Sarah, Christine, Justin, Samantha & Catherine.
Retired 1992 from Mass. turnpike auth., where I worked as a
construction inspector. sold house in Sudbury, Ma and moved to our house in Mashpee on Cape Cod.

NAVAL SERVICE

May 5, l945       Enlisted at Fargo Building, Boston

June 7, 1945  Reported Fargo Building for transfer to Sampson Naval Training Station (NY) for Boot Training.

Aug. to Sept. Assigned to Battalion G, Company 573 for training; graduated with 4.0 rating, only because they never caught me doing things that were not allowed.

Home on leave; reported back to Sampson, left 9/9 by troop train
Sept. 13  Arrived Camp Shoemacher (California) Receiving Station 19th Battery

Sept.21  Transferred to Treasure Island, San Francisco Bay 

Sept. 22  Went aboard USS Admiral Benson as part of an advance work 
   party of about 500. After one day of loading supplies, was
   transferred to the cleaning crew, the job I had for the 
   duration of our trip.

Sept. 29  Departed San Francisco. Took Northern Pacific route to Okinawa.
   Passed the Islands of Ha Ha Jima, Kito Shiro Shima and Iwo Jima.
   Buzzed by 3 P47s. Encountered heavy seas caused by the Typhoon
   that hit Okinawa.

Oct. 11   Arrived Okinawa. Unable to transfer any of the crew as scheduled 
   due to damage caused by typhoon.

Oct. 19   Departed Okinawa for Sasebo, Japan; after 2 days departed for 
   Matsuyama; after 2 days departed for Hiro.

Oct. 28 or 29  Transferred to USS Gemsbok (tanker) anchored in the harbor.
   Met Harry Bambookian from Newton.

Nov. 5   Departed Gemsbok at 0200 hrs. on a LCVP to find the ships to
which we had been assigned. At 0500 hrs. Went aboard the 
YMS 425. 

(Please visit my Web Site: http://www.geocities.com/yms425/YMS425.html 
At 0800 hrs. departed for Kure So to commence 
sweeping operations. After we completed sweeping the approaches to Kure, the ships anchored at Hiro were able to sail to Kure.

One day, the following ships entered Kure in single file: USS Vulcan (repair), USS Oklahoma, USS Baltimore, USS Boston, several destroyers and other smaller Ships. An impressive sight. "Where The Fleet Goes, We’ve Been"

Dec. 3 Departed for Kobe area. Swept Kobe Ko channel (25 miles long) and ordered to continue sweeping operations on Christmas Day. In remembrance of that day, part of the poem "Captain Donahue" by Ensign Charles Ivey is quoted: Task Group Fifty-two point six; All minecraft except a few, Is always screwed by nasty tricks of that four-striper Captain Donahue. We rode the hook for three weeks straight. To be exact ‘twas twenty-two days we didn’t haul freight, because of Captain Donahue. In Wakanoura Wan we lay till Christmas Eve came due. He made us sweep on Christmas Day, That bastard Captain Donahue.

At the end of one of the sweeps, we went ashore in a small village.
It was apparent that we were the first Americans in this village,
because the people had all gone into their homes. Finally, some,
realizing that we meant them no harm came out to greet us.

Jan. 12, 1946  Started the sweep into Kobe. Scheduled to take 5 days, after which  the ships anchored at Wakayama could move into Kobe. One day at 1030 hrs., we got our mine. After completing our sweeping operation, we remained in Kobe until we received orders to proceed to the States. During this time, we were notified that we had received a Battle Star for hazardous duty and also received the following commendation:
   :
Busy Bee 7         240910  Persia 7
Bt  Upon completion Persia 7’s operation, I take particular pride in your 
performance which has substantially beaten all dates given us to complete
each area. Your successful record is solely due to each man’s spirit and
determination to see the job through despite any obstacle. It is my belief that no group of Mark 4 Easy sweepers could have equaled your record. I again extend to all hands, Well Done.

Early Feb.   Supply Officer, Mr. Watson (Academy Graduate) was transferred.

Feb. 7             Trip to Kyoto organized by Lt. McElroy. 

Feb. 9              Lt. McElroy transferred.

Feb. 28             Captain Hart transferred.

March 11   Departed Kobe for the U. S. in convoy with the following ships: ACM-6, AMC-9 and the YMSs 231, 291, 426, 432, 436, & 438. First stop, Saipan. Encountered heavy seas on route.
     .
March 17-20 Arrived Saipan for refueling and re-supply. Four crewmembers (cook, 2 machinist mates & an electrician mate) transferred.

March 25-27 Arrived Einewetok Atoll. Refueled.

March 29-30 Arrived Kwajelein Atoll. 

April 5 Arrived Johnston Island with 7 other YMSs. Left behind to do repairs to port engine. After completing repairs, we had to wait for a ship to escort us to Pearl Harbor. Not a bad duty station; good chow and USO shows.

April 18 Departed Johnston Island for Pearl Harbor. Refueled from a LST on route.

April 23 Arrived Pearl. Made two liberties. Took bus over Pali Pass to
 Kailua. Returned by car along the coast road
.
April 27 Departed Pearl for San Francisco. Refueled from LST on route.

May 7  Arrived San Francisco. Anchored in the Bay and went ashore in LCVPs. After many rumors as to our final destination, we received orders to proceed to Boston.

May 23 Moved to Mare Island and off loaded ammo and mine sweeping gear.

May 24 About 13 crewmembers transferred to be discharged, leaving only 
8 men aboard. Waiting for replacements.

June 3 Departed for San Diego.

June 5-6 Re-fueling in San Diego; no liberty

June 12-13 Acapulco, Mexico. Liberty! Left Bill Carty in a hospital due an appendicitis attack.

June 18-19 Passed through the Panama Canal. Quite an experience.

June 19-22 Liberty in Colon, Panama.

June 27-29 Miami to refuel. Liberty!

July 2-6 Staten Island, N. Y. Captain Ivey gave me leave to go home. Received a wire telling me to meet the ship at the South Boston
 Naval Annex, because the ship had orders to leave before I was scheduled to return.

July 7 Arrived Boston via the Cape Cod Canal, to prepare the ship for decommissioning. Captain Ivey gave me liberty every evening to go home I was a commuter.

July 19 YMS 425 decommissioned.

July 21 Discharged into the inactive Naval Reserve
 

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Last updated June 1999