Robert Edgar Rettgers (1923-2014)


Timeline

28 Jul 1923Born to Ithamar Benedict Rettgers and Laura Tyson Hartenstine
9 Sep 1923Baptised at Central United Methodist Church, Reading, PA
1930 Census128 West Pike St, Reading, PA
24 Feb 1937Father passes away from complications of chemical warfare exposure in WWI
1940 Census128 West Pike St, Reading, PA
13 Jun 1941Graduates from Reading Senior High School
27 Aug 1941Enlisted in the Navy at Philadelphia, PA
28 Dec 1945Married to Marjorie Ethel Fett in Berks County, PA
28 Aug 1946Honorable Discharge from the US Navy
1947Started at Metropolitan Edison as a meter tester, laboratory tester, field tester
1950 Census606 Kutztown Rd, Laureldale, PA
1948-1967Three Daughters were born to Robert and Marjorie
Jun 1954Graduated from Pennsylvania State University Extension School with a degree in Industrial Electricity
1969-1994Seven Grandchildren were born
1985Retired from Metropolitan Edison (GPU) as District Manager for Dillsburg
9 Jul 2014Died in Holy Spirit Hospital, Camp Hill, PA
15 Jul 2014Buried in Dillsburg Cemetery, Dillsburg, PA

Service

27 Aug 1941Enlisted in the Navy at Philadelphia, PA
28 Aug 1941Arrived at Boot Camp, NTS Newport
23 Oct 1941Graduated from Boot Camp, NTS Newport, 40th Co
28 Oct 1941Report to US NTS San Diego, CA
7 Dec 1941Pearl Harbor is attacked by the Japanese Imperial Navy
19 Feb 1942Completed Group I (A) School, NTS San Diego, CA
3 Mar 1942Seaman 2nd class (Sea2c) Rettgers arrives onboard USS Helena (CL-50) a St. Louis class light cruiser which was an upgraded Brooklyn class cruiser
1 May 1942Sea2c Rettgers promoted to Seaman 1st class (Sea1c)
23 May 1942Sea1c Rettgers transferred to US Naval Hospital Mare Island, CA for treatment. Sea2c Rettgers had fallen down a hatch and damaged his kidney. On his 1946 Draft Registration paperwork, the scar is noted as "Incision mark on right abdomen."
12 Aug 1942Reports to R.S. San Francisco
25 Aug 1942Reports to R.S. New York, New York
1 Sep 1942Sea1c Rettgers reports on board USS Saufley (DD-465)
1 Nov 1942Sea1c Rettgers promoted to Fire Controlman Third Class (FC3c)
1 May 1943FC3c Rettgers promoted to Fire Controlman Second Class (FC2c)
1 Apr 1944FC2c Rettgers promoted to Fire Controlman First Class (FC1c)
6 Jun 1944D-Day landings at Normandy, France
8 May 1945VE Day (victory in Europe) and formal surrender of Germany
22 Jun 1945FC1c Rettgers is released from the Saufley to Advanced Fire Control School, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.
6 Aug 1945Little Boy Atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima
9 Aug 1945Fat Man Atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki
9 Aug 1945Reports to Advanced Fire Control School, Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.
14 Aug 1945VJ Day (victory over Japan)
15 Aug 1945Promoted to Warrant Gunner
2 Sep 1945Japan formally surrenders
31 Jan 1946Completed NTS Fire Control - Advanced, Washington, D.C.
19 Feb 1946Arrives on USS Boston (CA-69)
28 Aug 1946Honorable Discharge from the US Navy

Awards

For the Asiatic-Pacific Area Ribbon, Robert was onboard for the following engagements:

  • P9 - Capture and Defense of Guadalcanal - 10 Aug 42 - 8 Feb 43
  • P19 - Consolidation of Solomon Islands - 8 Feb 43 - 15 Mar 45
  • P21 - New Georgia Group operation - 20 Jun - 16 Oct 43
  • P22 - P22 - Bismarck Archipelago operation - 25 Jun 43 - 1 May 44
  • P001 - Anti-Submarine Warfare - 15 Sep 43
  • P24 - Treasury-Bougainville operation - 27 Oct - 15 Dec 43
  • P29 - Marianas operation - 10 Jun - 27 Aug 44
  • P32 - Luzon operation - 12 Dec 44 - 1 Apr 45
  • P003 - Anti-Submarine Warfare - 6 Apr 44
  • P38 - Tinian capture and occupation - 24 Jul - 1 Aug 44
  • P002 - Anti-Submarine Warfare - 27 Nov 44
  • P39 - Consolidation of the Southern Philippines - 28 Feb - 20 Jul 45
  • P41 - Manila Bay-Bicol operations - 29 Jan - 16 Apr 45

Reunions

Robert ("Bob") attended many Saufley reunions, and hosted one. He "learned about the SAUFLEY Reunions from a shipmate and first attended a meeting in 1965. He found it was a great experience to get together with shipmates and their families." (Uncommon Crew pg 286)

  • 1965 Alton Bay, NH
  • 1970 Bethlehem, PA
  • 1971 Wolcott, CT
  • 1973 Newport, RI
  • 1974 Chester, PA
  • 1977 Fleetwood, PA
  • 1979 Rumford, RI
  • 1981 Dallas, TX
  • 1985 Independence, MO
  • 1986 Lynchburg, VA
  • 1987 Struthers, OH
  • 1988 Daytona Shores, FL
  • 1989 Philadelphia, PA
  • 1990 New London, CT
  • 1991 Bloomington, MN
  • 1992 Fairfax City, VA
  • 1993 Daytona Shores, FL
  • 1994 Harrisburg, PA (Hosted by Robert and Marjorie Rettgers)
  • 1995 Daytona Shores, FL
  • 1996 Colorado Spring, CO
  • 1999 Reno, NE
  • 2000 Minneapolis, MN
  • 2001 Middletown, RI
  • 2002 Daytona Shores, FL
  • 2004 Pittsburg, PA
  • 2005 Virginia Beach, VA