PT Boat Odyssey

During America’s epic naval confrontation against Imperial Japan, Francis Gelzheiser and Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 16A, sojourned from New Orleans to Panama then north to Seattle and then Attu Island in the Aleutians. After their return voyage the tiny vessels journeyed to New Guinea and then faced the Japanese Kamikaze force during the battle for the Philippine Island of Mindoro. The battle for Alaska and the campaigns for New Guinea and the Philippines are examined and then the role played by PT Boat Squadron 16 in these actions is explored. The epic battle for Manila and the horror that the author’s father encountered when he journeyed into the city is described. Finally, the author attempts to understand how his father was impacted by his experiences in WWII. Like many warriors, Francis Gelzheiser hid his war from everyone, and it was not until late in life that he shared his experiences and attempted to come to terms with killing and the horrors he had witnessed.

The history, construction, armament and tactics used by PT boats, and the development of the Japanese Kamikaze force and the role it played in the War are explored. The author also examines the American production juggernaut and why, despite America’s overwhelming production advantage, the Japanese believed that if their people possessed the proper will, they could still win the War.