Luncheon Lecture

September 14, 2023 11:00 AM

The Historical Society of Topsail Island is proud to present Morton Blanchard, Topsail Beach Commissioner, who will speak about his father’s PT Boat experiences in the South Pacific during WWII.

About our speaker…

Morton Blanchard has been a resident of Topsail Beach since 2004. His family bought property on Humphrey Avenue in 1956 and they have been coming to Topsail all his life. Blanchard and his wife, Patricia, both grew up in Wallace, North Carolina. They lived in Rose Hill N.C. for 31 years where they raised their two boys, Joe, and Benjamin. There, he served 12 years as a Town Commissioner and was Chairman of the Rose Hill Chamber of Commerce for three years.

He is currently a Commissioner and Mayor Pro Tem for the Town of Topsail Beach and operates Blanchard Refrigeration.

Blanchard’s father, LTJG Oscar C. Blanchard, Jr. served in the US Navy during World War II.
In 1944, he was Captain of PT 341 in the South Pacific particularly around New Guinea. Their mission was to hunt Japanese supply barges at night and intercept them from supplying the troops on the islands. Since his father’s passing in 1975, Blanchard has taken a real interest in the PT boats’ role in the war and their accomplishments.

Save the date, September 14, 2023.

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