California State Military
Museum Foundation
- The California
State Military Museum
- Preserving California's
Military Heritage
- A Personal Tribute of One's Military
Service
A Permanent Remembrance
Military Heritage Gallery
-
- R
- ROBINSON, Theodore M.
-
- Lieutenant Commander, USNR (Ret) Served
for four years (1/42-1/46) as Officer in the US Navy in WWII.
Included two years as PT Boat Skipper or Executive Officer of
PT Boat 115 or 118 in Ron 6 of which 13 months was in very heavy
combat in the Solomons Campaign from Guadalcanal to Munda. During
that time we shot down a Zero, rescued an American pilot, destroyed
countless enemy barges and troops and made several commando raids
on enemy bases. Several of my crew were killed and wounded and
all but two of out twelve boats, including mine, were destroyed.
(I participated in all actions where my first CO was killed,
another received the Silver Star and our Ron Commander received
the Navy Cross). The last year of WWII served as captain of LST
1062 during the Okinawa Campaign and the invasion of Japan. We
landed at D Day +1 and had the unique experience of being the
first US ship to go into drydock at Yokuska Naval Base at the
end of the war. While in PT Boats I was the Radar Officer on
PT 159, the lead boat in the attack, on August 1, 1943 when PT
109 was rammed by a Japanese destroyer and later volunteered
to go in on the 157 boat to rescue JFK and his crew. On September
7, 1943 we lost PT 118 in combat and I became his tentmate. (Because
of this it has been my privilege to give over one thousand speeches
to prestigious groups and appear on TV, radio, newspapers and
magazines throughout the country). After the war I remained in
the Naval Reserve for twenty three years and retired a LCdr
- RUIZ, Daniel P
- Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Navy
(Ret)
-
- Family of thirteen (11) Children, eight
(8) boys, three (3) girls, The migrant family worked, May in
Arkansas (chop cotton); June in Ohio (green beans) July in Michigan
(cherries) August in Indiana (tomatoes), and August through December
in Arkansas picking cotton, Florida picked Okra, Arizona picked
cotton. (December through May) San Antonio Tex. Attend school
only to the eight grade. Military service: Spent his 19th birthday
at boot camp Ft. Knox, Ky. May 1959 Texas National Guard (36th
Infantry Division), Regular U.S. Army May 1960 (1960-1962, Germany,
24th Infantry Division), California National Guard, Stockton
(Sgt.-E5). Joined Regular U.S. Navy on March 13, 1962; Stockton,
CA. 1962 Boot Camp, San Diego, Naval Station, Subic Bay, Philippines
Islands 5/64-4/66 Hull Maintenance School (SFM2-ES) April 1966.
Decommissioned U.S.S, Chase Country, LST 532 Sasebo Japan, 11/66-4/67
-
- Commissioned U.S.S. Samuel Gomper AD 37,
Bremerton Washington 4/67-3/71 (SF1-E6) Shore Duty San Diego
N.S. DATC. Weld shop 7/71-3/74, U.S.S. Fanning FF 1076 (Chief
E7) 3/74-4/76 U.S.S. Hector AR 7,4/76-3/78 San Diego navy instructor
school class A78029, 5/78 N1TC Treasure Island instructor fire
fighting school. Retired June 30, 1981.DELTA college Law Enforcement
Stockton Ca, June 1981-August 1983 Calif. Youth Authority correctional
officer 1983- 2000 (Retired, 17 yrs) Department of Defense (DLA)
Police August 26, 2002
- Visit
the California State Military Museum's Website
- [WELCOME] [LOCATION AND HOURS]
[CURRENT EXHIBITS] [MG WALTER P. STORY LIBRARY] [SATELLITE AND PARTNER MUSEUMS]
- [HOW CAN I HELP?] [WHAT'S NEW?] [UPCOMING EVENTS] [CALIFORNIA
MILITARY HISTORY] [ONLINE
BOOKSTORE]
- [CALIFORNIA
CENTER FOR MILITARY HISTORY]
[LINKS]
FastCounter by LinkExchange
Questions and comments concerning this site should
be directed to the Webmaster