World War II Honoree

Randolph Nagel Witt

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Gonzales, Texas

Honored By

C.J. Willis

Relationship

MTB RON 19 Mate

ENTERED ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE AND SERVED IN THE AMERICAN AREA AT THE NAVAL TRAINING CENTER AT SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA FOR BOOT CAMP TRAINING. UPON COMPLETION OF 12 WEEKS OF TRAINING, PROMOTED TO SEAMAN SECOND CLASS ON APRIL 20, 1943 AND ENTERED ELEMENTARY TORPEDO SCHOOL AT KEYPORT, WASHINGTON ON PUGET SOUND ON MAY 14, 1943. GRADUATED ON AUGUST 7, 1943, WAS PROMOTED TO SEAMAN FIRST CLASS, AND ASSIGNED TO THE RECEIVING STATION AT TREASURE ISLAND, CALIFORNIA NEAR SAN FRANCISCO. BOARDED A DUTCH FREIGHTER AND SHIPPED OVERSEAS ON AUGUST 25, 1943 FOR NOUMEA, NEW CALEDONIA, ARRIVING AFTER SOME 31 DAYS AT SEA. REMAINED THERE FOR 2-3 WEEKS UNTIL ASSIGNED TO MOTOR TORPEDO BOAT (MTB) SQUADRONS SOUTH PACIFIC. SAILED ABOARD THE PATROL CRAFT TENDER USS JAMESTOWN (AGP-3) TO GUADALCANAL IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS. THERE, FURTHER ASSIGNED TO MOTOR TORPEDO BOAT SQUADRON 19 (RON 19), BASED ON VELLA LAVELLA ISLAND IN THE SOLOMONS, WHERE HE JOINED PATROL TORPEDO BOAT PT-235 ABOUT NOVEMBER 7, 1943. SERVED AS A SEAMAN FIRST CLASS AND TORPEDOMAN’S MATE OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC AREA IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC ABOARD PT-235, NICKNAMED 'REBEL.' PARTICIPATED IN THE BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO, AND TREASURY-BOUGAINVILLE OPERATIONS. FROM BASES AT VELLA LAVELLA AND TREASURY ISLAND IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS, PATROLLED THE COASTS OF BOUGAINVILLE AND CHOISEUL TO INTERDICT ENEMY RESUPPLY VESSELS, ATTACK ENEMY SHORE POSITIONS, SEARCH FOR DOWNED PILOTS, AND PERFORM GUARD AND SPECIAL PATROL MISSIONS. MOVED TO A NEW FORWARD BASE ON GREEN ISLAND, BETWEEN BOUGAINVILLE IN THE SOLOMONS AND NEW IRELAND IN THE BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO, ON MARCH 10, 1944. FROM THEIR BASE ON GREEN ISLAND, HIS BOAT PATROLLED NORTHERN BOUGAINVILLE, AND BUKA IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS; AND NEW BRITAIN AND NEW IRELAND IN THE BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO, TO INTERDICT ENEMY SHIPPING, GATHER INTELLIGENCE, AND HARASS JAPANESE FORCES ASHORE WITH WEAPONS FIRE. PATROLS OFF NEW BRITAIN POSED THE CONTINUAL THREAT OF ENEMY AIR ATTACK. ABOUT MAY 15, 1944, HIS BOAT WAS REASSIGNED TO MTB SQUADRON 20, ALSO LOCATED ON GREEN ISLAND. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RATE OF TORPEDOMAN’S MATE THIRD CLASS AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.