pistolpackinmama.net

Welcome to Pistol Packin'Mama.net!

I started putting the site together in September 2007 after I went through my grandfather's World War II photo album and saw the hundreds of pictures and documents he saved over the years. As a kid growing up, I thought I knew a lot about Jim Stanton (or Pop, as we grandkids called him) and his Naval service, but I was wrong. I had gotten the highlights or funny anecdotes but I didn't have the whole picture.

This is a work-in-progress; most of the sections have been filled in with content but I'm still running into new documents, sailors or next-of-kin who had a family member with a similar Navy experience. Check back periodically!

Why do this?

I turned to books and the internet for information to help frame those photos and other items in their original context, but I only had moderate success. So, I decided to gather what I had and put it on the web myself, so others could contribute what they know and those just starting out could possibly benefit from what I've already learned.

The namesake of this website are the two Patrol Torpedo (PT) Boats Stanton served on: PT 209 and PT 243. Those two boats carried him on dangerous missions in the Mediterranean and Pacific Theaters and brought him back safely each time; I thought it was appropriate that this vessel of history bear the same name.

Before the site "officially" launched, I had my first on-the-net visitor, who turned out to be the son of a 209'r! Douglas Brokaw signed the guestbook 11/04/07; his father Loren Brokaw served on the 209 in late 1944. I've traded emails with family members and added some information to the site. Loren was a Motor Machinist's Mate who also served as a loader on the 40mm cannon during combat.

This site wouldn't be what it is without the help of PT 209 sailor Henry Beazley. I had the pleasure of meeting Beazley in September after finding his information in Pop's records. I recorded an interview and got his take on pictures and documents. I returned in October and brought my entire desktop computer setup to his house so I could scan some of the PT pictures he had in his collection. It was another great visit! "Hen" had a lot to add and answered a lot of my questions about PT operations and specifically talked to me about the 209 and his time at Base 17. I'm still processing everything I came away and will be adding it to the site as I go along.

Jim's story is mainly of interest to me and my family, which is the target audience for the site. However, it is typical of what so many American youth went through during the 1940's, so hopefully this information and photographs from Jim's time on PT's can help others looking for more on those fighting men and machines. Thanks for visiting! The site will continued to be updated for most of this Fall, so continue to check back in. If you have anything to share or need to contact me, email me at stanton@sutv.zzn.com.