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Uncle killed by kamikaze 1945

Posted by Daniel Colbert on August 25, 2011, 1:15 pm

My uncle was killed in 1945 by a kamikaze while serving on a mine sweeper (DD/DMS). I think that he was killed during the fighting for Okinawa. I am trying to find out the name of the ship and the date he was killed. I don't know if the ship was sunk or not. His name was Virgil Ranft. I was nine years old at the time, and unfortunately all who would remember, are long gone. Would appreciate any help.

Re: Uncle killed by kamikaze 1945

Posted by Barbbara (Ranft) Casey on May 5, 2012, 3:07 pm, in reply to "Uncle killed by kamikaze 1945"

Daniel Colbert,
Your uncle, Virgil Ranft, was my father. I was only 3 1/2 in May of 1945 and never knew my father. For a full description of that night in 1945 go to for an interesting scrapbook, which includes a picture of Virgil taken, we think, in San Francisco before she sailed for The south pacific. The USS Terror sight has a lot of personal anecdotes posted which you may find interesting.

Barbara Ranft Casey

Re: Uncle killed by kamikaze 1945

Posted by Dan Ranft on May 7, 2012, 5:39 pm, in reply to "Re: Uncle killed by kamikaze 1945"

I remember as a boy when my dad received the news of his brothers death in the war. I knew Virgil from out trips to Tilden and St. Louis. What ever happened to Mary Louise and Tommy?
Dan

Re: Uncle killed by kamikaze 1945

Posted by Barbara Ranft Casey on July 22, 2012, 12:02 pm, in reply to "Re: Uncle killed by kamikaze 1945"

Dan,
Just found your message on the Terror site.
I was very young during WWII and didn't really know my father. Iam just now learning more about his life. You inquired about Mary and Tommy.
Mary Is 80 Years and lives in St. Louis, Tom is 75 years and lives in Chicago area. I am 70 years and live in Central Florida.
I was glad to hear from from the Ranft side of the family.

Re: Uncle killed by kamikaze 1945

Posted by Barbara Casey on July 29, 2012, 9:18 am, in reply to "Re: Uncle killed by kamikaze 1945"

I would like to hear from relatives of Virgil Ranft.

Re: Uncle killed by kamikaze 1945

Posted by Dan Ranft on May 5, 2012, 11:41 pm, in reply to "Re: Uncle killed by kamikaze 1945"

Virgil was my Dad's brother and I remember him and when he was killed in the war. He had two or three children. I think one was named Mary and the boy was named Tommy. I lost touch with them years ago. Nick Colbert is my cousin. It's a small world .
Dan

Re: Uncle killed by kamikaze 1945

Posted by Daniel Colbert on May 5, 2012, 5:47 pm, in reply to "Re: Uncle killed by kamikaze 1945"

Barbbara, Thank you for this information. I about fell out of my chair when I read your email. I will check this out and will forward this on to my cousin Dan Ranft.

Re: Uncle killed by kamikaze 1945

Posted by Jim on August 26, 2011, 9:41 am, in reply to "Uncle killed by kamikaze 1945"

check out this web site www.ringleib.com/terror/USSTerror-AnAlbum-Ryan.pdf
It is the History of the USS Terror CM-5, a WWII Mine layer. It tells the story of a Kamikaze attack off Okinawa on 1 May 1945. The ship was not sunk but lost 42 of of her crew with anouther 120 wounded. It also shows a picture of a SC1c Virgil R. Ranft. Hope this Helps.

Re: Uncle killed by kamikaze 1945

Posted by Francis Kent on August 26, 2011, 10:27 pm, in reply to "Re: Uncle killed by kamikaze 1945"

It's a small world. When I left the Armed Guard, I was sent to the fleet and wound up my enlistment (a skivvie hitch) with the flag allowance of the commander minecraft Pacific, who flew his flag in the Terror, which by that time of course had been repaired and was entirely seaworthy. A happy ship. The crew's pet was a large dog that was of course named "Error of the Terror." He drank heavily creamed coffee from a soup bowl.
-- Fran

Re: Uncle killed by kamikaze 1945

Posted by Daniel Colbert on August 26, 2011, 2:17 pm, in reply to "Re: Uncle killed by kamikaze 1945"

Jim, I can't tell you how much I appreciate your message and information. I have forwarded this to my cousin that is six years older than me. I was real young when Virgil went into the Navy and so I sent this information to my cousin. He was six years older and would remember what Virgil looked like. The picture of the ship looks like the picture that I remember seeing that the family received after Virgil was killed. Saying thank you just doesn't cover my gratitude for your help. Reading and seeing the pictures is like seeing a long lost relative that you have not seen in seventy years. I remember well the feeling of the family when they were notified of Virgil's death. But at the age of nine you don't have a full appreciation of what had happened. Now, all these years later, I have a much better appreciation. Thanks again.

Re: Uncle killed by kamikaze 1945

Posted by Jim on August 26, 2011, 9:55 am, in reply to "Re: Uncle killed by kamikaze 1945"

www.ringleib.com/terror/

List all Causualties and wounded from the Attack.

Re: Uncle killed by kamikaze 1945

Posted by Francis Kent on August 25, 2011, 5:23 pm, in reply to "Uncle killed by kamikaze 1945"

Daniel: The only minecraft lost at Okinawa, so far as I can tell, was the Swallow (AMS65) and there is a good bit about her on the web. Just Google USS Swallow.

Re: Uncle killed by kamikaze 1945

Posted by Daniel Colbert on August 25, 2011, 9:59 pm, in reply to "Re: Uncle killed by kamikaze 1945"

Thanks for the reply. I found out that the following destroyer/mine sweepers were sunk in 1945:Emmons DD-457/DMS-22, Hovey DD-208/DMS-11, Long DD209/DMS-12, Palmer DD-161/DMS-5. The Emmons was sunk at Okinawa, the other three at Lingayen Gulf. The mine sweepers Swallow AM-65, and Skylark AM-63 were sunk at Okinawa, and the Salute AM-294 was sunk at Brunei Bay Borneo. The Salute and Skylark were sunk by a mine, all the others were sunk under kamikaze attack. Tried to get Navy listing of Sailors killed in 1945, but have not been able to find the site. I was in the Marine Corps in Korea. Picked up a Russian burp gun that had a persons name and a 1950 date carved on the stock. Took me over fifty years, but I was able to find information on him. Unfortunately he was listed as MIA, but I was able to contact his family and we had some meaningful conversations. So I hope I can find the same government site that I used to find him. Unfortunately at my age, I don't remember things as well as I used to, but I will keep plugging away. If you come up with any other possibilities I would appreciate hearing from you. Thanks again. Also thanks to you guys for getting me to Korea and bring me back. Great chow on the APA-195 Lenawee.

Re: Uncle killed by kamikaze 1945

Posted by jimmy hardy on June 7, 2013, 2:48 am, in reply to "Re: Uncle killed by kamikaze 1945"

My dad served on Hovey. He survived the morning of January 7, 1945. In September of 1944, in the Palau islands, Hovey became the first minesweeper in military history to sweep 50 mines in one day.
When McArthur "returned", old Hovey was the first ship to enter Leyte Gulf, steaming in at the head of a column of 5 destroyer-minesweepers. Lingayen Gulf was hell. 24 ships were sunk, and 67 were badly damaged either by bombs, torpedoes, or crashed into by the kamikaze.

Re: Uncle killed by kamikaze 1945

Posted by Francis Kent on August 25, 2011, 7:24 pm, in reply to "Re: Uncle killed by kamikaze 1945"

Further search turns up a destroyer minesweeper, Emmons DMS-22, that like the Swallow was sunk by a kamikaze at Okinawa. DMS is the designation for a class of older destroyers that were converted and became minesweepers. Google will lead you to a good bit about the Emmons.
-- Fran

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