This little story mixes one of my six sisters with World War II.
Too Young
My second-youngest sister, Virginia, was born on March 12, 1927.
The man involved, John Irby, who was to become Virginia’s husband was born on September 28, 1926.
At the time this story starts, 1943, my family lived in Huntington, West Virginia, and Johnny’s family lived two houses up on the same street.
In brief, Virginia, age 16, and Johnny, age 17, fell in love.
Doing the right thing, Johnny asked Daddy for permission to marry his daughter.
Daddy liked Johnny but he looked at Johnny and said, “Son, ask me when you are a man.”
On February 16, 1944, World War II was raging and John Irby, age 17, enlisted in the United States Navy and enjoyed his eighteenth birthday on a Patrol Torpedo (PT) boat, PT-190.
World War II
On February 19, 1943, newly commissioned boat PT-190, nicknamed “Jack O’ Diamonds”, was assigned to Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Twelve.
John Irby became a crew member of PT-190 sometime in early 1944.
PT-190 earned the Presidential Unit Citation for action in the New Guinea area during October 1943 to March 1944.
On June 12, 1944, PT-190 and others rendered aid to a damaged destroyer. That night, PT-190 and PT-146 sank three Japanese barges and captured a Japanese sailor.
During late October 1944, PT-190 participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
On October 25, 1944, PT-190 participated in the Battle of Surigao Strait.
On May 13-14, 1945, PT-190 with PT-192 towed two 60′ fishing boats loaded with 200 Filipino guerrillas to another area.
John Irby was awarded an Honorable Discharge on May 18, 1946.
When Johnny returned home from the War, he approached Daddy and asked, “Am I a man now?”
Daddy smiled and said, “Yes.”
On February 15, 1947, Virginia Ingles became Mrs. John Irby.
It was a perfect match. In my entire life, I have never seen a more perfect marriage. They remained in love. They had two beautiful daughters and the girls were raised well.
Oh, yes, Johnny had signed up for Navy Reserves and was called back into active service for the Korean Conflict.
Lest I forget, Virginia was a beautiful woman.
John Irby was a hard worker and he raised his family from almost nothing to a very respectable working-class family. Johnny retired as a jet engine maintenance foreman at Eastern Airlines.
I always liked and respected Johnny.
On March 9, 1990, Johnny died much too young, he was age 63.
For the remainder of her life, Virginia lived either alone or with one of her daughters, thinking of no man other than her husband.
My sister, Virginia, died on September 21, 2016, she was age 89.
