ELSIE Item NEWS LETTER #25 USS LCI NATIONAL ASSOCIATION INC.

Roh£RT V. WEissn, PRES, JUNE 1998 WALTER F. KopAcz 1'4 UNCASTER AVE. Fax (717) 684-7653 1 �n MAiN STREET ColuMhiA, PA. 1n12 PORT MoNMOUTk, NJ. on"iB

ll Low Con This picture was sent into the association by Duncan Francey From. Inverness, Scotland

Ducan is an honorary m.em.her of the LCX National Association

This is the best ! From the Desk of the President gambling tovm forsix years but the town itself is at least 100 vears old and going broke. as a last chance they turnedit into a gambling town with all the original old buildings and the bus ride to get their Colorado Springs, Colorado, Our th reunion \vhich was a good adventure and h'Teatfor sightseeing. It was by far the best yet. l want to thank all our LC l had curves like a drunken co-wboy, riding a drunken Veterans & familiesthat attended this rrreatreunion. horse laid it out. All of vou fellO\vs that couldn't make the st11 Saturday, our business meeting went well and reunion, well we all missed you and were thinking the minutes are in this newsletter. r�fyou. At our memorial service. that was held in the Now for our famousbanquet well to start with, Main Chapel at the US Air Force Academy, it was This reunion held at Colorado Springs with 750 very moving and a prayer was offered for all our attending made up of all heroes and their wives veterans,the ones present and those unable to attend enjoyedthe presence of two sets of color guards, We held our wreath ceremony to honor all our The State Police Color Guard and the Military members we lost since our last reunion at Cherry Color Guard, very impressive. a poem "Uur Flag .. HilL NJ. I hate to announce that we lost 75 was read by Howard Clarkson and he did a great members. All friends of our association and many job. Guest speaker was Gene Jannuzi. skipper of the very personal friends. Our chaplains, The Rev. Earl LCI 41 & 530. He also did a great job. The food. as Henshaw and Rev. David Cox expressed the usual was a typical banquet meal. associations feelings and the prayer was very Pictures were taken during the cocktail hour. so appropriate and military. The color Guard fromthe everyone had a chance to be represented in the academy was excellent. Everyone that attended, Mernorv Book that will sell for $15.00. The band which by the way was 7 busloads of members and played our kind of music and quite a fewtook families.In my opinion enjoyed it very much. advantage of this and filled the dance floor_ I mn,t After the service we had lunch at the enlisted men's say we have quite a few that can still ..cut a rug-­ hall, only thing that was missing was the chow line, A good time was had by all. We had a lot of 1st The tables were all preset, which was another grand timers,but I'm sure this will not be their last. Our idea. The tours were all sold out. And having taken next reunion will be Louieville. KY. the Pikes Peak and Flying W tours, I can personally tell you that everyone enjoyed these tours and were At this time I would like to have the pleasure of very pleased with the way Armed Forces Reunion thanking everyone that helped to make this Inc. handled this reunion. Donna & Trisha done a reunion so great. Harry Robeson & wife \vho wonderful job, like any reunion there are many received the cups and stored them, Dir. William foul-upsthat only those in charge know we had Edger & wife, who ordered our beautiful \\Teath for a fewbut like I said before Donna & Trisha handled memorial service, Barney Cardwell & wife. who evervthing verv well. What did VOU thinkor: about that took a great video of our reunion, ail the members 11 vie,� in the ho�pitality room? When I was toid the & ,vives of the EB and Armed Forces Reunion th hospitality room was on the 4 floor, I was very up­ Inc.And last but not lest all you members for set. Then Heather (hotel rep.) accompanied me to attending. You are the th the 4 floorand as soon as I entered the room and USS LCI National Association. Thank You saw the view of the mountainsand the city I could President Robert Weisser. do nothing but agree that it was a picture perfect view. The great weather was even on our side. The PS For members who would like to purchase a great Sheraton Colorado Springs was laid out in 5 wings, video of the reunion Barney will be selling the I guess with all that land, most hotels build out and video for $15. 00, well worth the price, ifs at least 1 not up. hour long. And covers a lot of our events. Address; For the people that wanted to invest in the Colorado Barney Cardwell deadline 7/15/98 region, we had Cripple Creek: Now, this is a town 144 Old Bridge Lake about a I-hour drive from the Springs, strictly Houston. TX.77069 pH. 281-444-9257 devoted to your gambling pleasure. The whole I Fax 281-895-7713 town is nothing but casinos, it's only been a I . E-mail [email protected]

2 the Treasurer's report. Motion carried The annual business meetingBusiness of the LCI Meeting Report National Association was called to order at Roy Age, auditor gave a report on the 0900 hours by Director Shelby Smith. The condition of the treasurer's books and "· meeting was held at the Sheraton Colorado reports. He commended "Tiny " forthe in Colorado Springs, Co.There were 390 excellent job of book-keeping and stated members registered with a total attendance that all financialaffairs are in good order. of 741. JerryLane LCI 1010 then questioned how Officerspresent were : President, Robert the last hundred members were to be Weisser; Vice President, James Talbert; contacted when the membership became Treasurer, Howard Clarkson; Secretary, that low. The response was made that they Robert McLain; Chaplains, David Cox and would probably be contacted by "Elsie Earl Henshaw; Directors, Sam Rizzo, Item". Shelby Smith, J. E. McCarthy and Don McGranahan.Overseer, Roy age was also present. President Robert Weisser reported that the newsleter would be printed by himself and The Invocation was given by chaplain Earl Walter Kopacz until the time that a Henshaw. permanent newsletter Editor can be found. At this time, an urgent appeal was made for President Robert Weisser gave the someone to volunteer to become the Editor welcoming address. He strongly urged that so that the President could be relieved of everyone have their picture taken for the this responsibility. He also requested that memory book. He also requested that the Walter Kopacz be sent cards because of his LCI National Association be represented at health. the funeralof Admiral Morrill. Director Sam Rizzo gave a report on the LCI The minutes of the 1997 Convention were models and where they have been placed so read by Secretary, Robert McLain.An far. He also requested that all persons amendment was made by Jim Talbert to capable of making these models meet with amend the minutes which was seconded. him right after the business meeting so that I I The minutes were approved as amended the models can be placed quicker so long as the quality of the model is not lost. There is Treasurer Howard Clarkson presented quite a lot of interest from Naval Museums awards to H. Robison and Bill Edger for formodels and other bases that have Naval their dedication to the LCI National interests Association. Director Sam Rizzo asked that the Treasurer Howard Clarkson read the membership give a Vote of Appreciation to Treasurer's report which is made a part of Robert Kirsch for his years of service to the this record. The report indicated that the LCI National Association as Secretary and total net worth of the Association on Editor of the Newsletter. Bill Ringle LCI December 31, 1997 to be $41,321.74. A 968 introduced a resolution to this end. The motion was made and seconded to approve members approved unanimously

3 read a report on the placement and quality . Director Jim McCarthy, LCI 685 reported of the model program on the Amphib base at Coronado, CA and the museum being started there. He Donna Lee fromArmed Forces Reunions requested the possibility of a model being Services gave a final report on the placed there and also anyone having usable Convention City for1999. The Galt House Naval memorabilia to contact him. He will in Louisville, KY will be the Headquarters ascertain ifthe items are needed and useful. Hotel. The dates are May 12-16,1999. The museum is expected to open in the fall Room rate is $85.00/day or a Suite for of 1998. $89.00/day. Tax rate is 12.3%. Parking is free for over-night guests. Article XII, Section 1 - A second reading was given by Jim Talbert. A motion was She also gave the finalregistration figures made and seconded to approve the change. showing 390 members with a total Motion carried by acclamation. registration of 741.

Second reading of the amendment to Article The information for the year 2000 was given V, Section 3 - explained by Howard as follows: Norfolk, VA, Washington, DC Clarkson.Motion carried by acclamation. and Buffalo,NYwere the places considered. Norfolk received 20 votes; Washington, DC Director, Jim Talbert made a plea for more receiver 64 votes and Buffalo, NY received aggressive recruiting. H. Robison LCI 1012 121 votes. The convention hotel in Buffalo requested that the names of the State will be the Adams Mark Downtown. Room Directors be read so that the members rate is $89.00, Convention dates are May would know whom to contact. He was 18-21, 2000, parking is $5.25 /day. informed that the names were printed in "Elsie Item " and the list would be updated The Nominating Committee nominated in the next issue. John Dimm, LCI 399 Robert Weisser for the Officeof President. asked forthe duties of a State director. Jim The motion was seconded by Ruxlow LCI Talbert responded by reading a paper on the 710. The members voted in the affirmative I I duties which he had prepared by acclamation.

Jerry Lane LCI 1010, a writer for several The Nominating Committee nominated Californianewspapers has stated that he has James Talbert for Vice President and the been publishing articles in several members approved by acclamation newspapers about LCI' s. Copies are available to anyone who requests them from him. He also released copyrights to anyone who uses his articles to further the cause of the LCI National Association At this time, President Robert Weisser accepted the position as President and made Ned Hedger LCI 614 came to the mike and the following appointments: Howard

4 I Clarkson, treasurer; Robert McLain, Solomons: The Cradle of Invasion secretary; Sam Rizzo and Walter Kopacz as Directors. The members approved by acclamation August 7th to August 9th 1998 Under Good of the Order, the follov,:ing comments were made. Our LC! National Association has just received word from Karen Stone (program coordmator J for the Calvert Marine Museum P.O. Box 97 Bill Robison LCI 669 welcomed all Solomons MD 20688 Ph 410-326-2042 members to Colorado. V•./e the LC! Association members are invned attend this program commemorating the US Al Chess LC1 405 reported viewing a to movie about LCI' s. This was disputed Nam! Amphibious Training Base at Solomons. MD during World War II. saying the movies was about a PT Boat The prima�,· purpose of this event is to highlight :A representative from LCI 455 reported that this time period in the area·s history and the USS Missouri was being towed to commemorate the veterans that trained here for Hawaii eventual duty in both the Pacific and European Theatres. Areas will he set up near the Calvert Marine Museum at the US Nan Recreation .Jack Crocker LCI 618 Stated that he was a Center and aboard the SS John Brown. a musician and requested that all LCI' ers who restored and fullyoperational Liberty Ship. play an instrument should bring their The re-creation of an amphibious assault instrument to the Convention so the could training landing will highlight the weekend·s play together activities on both Sat. & Sun. A combined platoon of US Marines and Army infantry \\ili debark from the SS John Brown, climbing down Bill DuBois LCI 968 Mentioned that the LCI landing nets into waiting US Navy landing rreunion was not mentioned in any of the crafts. Approximately 75 specially trained service magazines. This will be looked into historians, using vintage unifonns, \ ehicles and equipment will present a look at the acti\ities of Several members mentioned the the Na\ al Training 111 the 19.:J.(fs I I modification of the LCI to an LCS. Our association will set up a display showing the LCI and ifs use during the WWII years. Meeting adjourned at 1130 hours At this time \\e \\Ould like to knO\\ if any or vou- members would trv- to attend this �great outing·) Submitted by Four years ago. a fev, of us attended a celebration at the Calvert Museum and : -·..... '; ·, ,.,:_ -/.�· I I '',:, - "" presented our LC! Model A fine time was had . R;-b�rt£ McLain. se·cretary ! bY all For more info call Karen 4 I 0-326-2042

5 IN MEMORIUM

DECEASED LCI CREW MEMBERS ASSOCIATION OFFI CERS r ******************** MULREAN , Francis H.------67 KETO , Edward S. ------71 Pres.Robert Weisser POPE , Donald T. ------82 134 Lancaster Ave. DOUGLAS , William ------84 Columbia, PA 17512 TRE INEN , Raymond ------84 DORBY , Joseph ------88 V.Pres. James Talbert DALEY, Joseph ------88 147 Col burn Dr . EINENKAL , William ------214 Debary, FL 32713 MC CLAVE, Emerald ------215 STREET , Walter N. ------331 Sec. Robert Mc Lain BOYD , Harold R. ------343 1829 Hemlock Rd . BUCZYNSKI , Edward W. ----- 343 Lancaster, PA 17603 ROCCA , Joseph ------355 JERN IGAN , T. H. ------355 Treas . Howard Clarkson BRI CKEY , Qu inten ------362 73 Grange Road YINGLING, Donald E.------372 Troy , NY 12180 ZUNIC, Joseph F. ------396 KNUDSON , Ervin C. ------445 Chaplain, Earl Henshaw BEUCKMAN , Henry J. ------449 PO Box 781 TRACEY, John P. ------456 Bainbr idge, GA 31717 BEESON , Wildor J. ------463 HUBSCH , Harold L. ------506 Ass t. Chaplain, Dav id Cox KENNEDY , Gerald ------508 13 Tup i lo Way MARR, Donald R. ------552 Birmingham , AL 35215 WELCH , Gordon ------561 CRAWFORD , John ------568 DIRECTORS RUDMANN, Frank J. ------575 Walter Kopacz BROWN , Robert ------596 155 Main Street RIDENHOUR , Garnett ------638 Port Monmouth, NJ 07758 BRADANA, Leo ------648 MARKS , Robert E. ------651 Shelby Smi th BACHMAN , Louis J. ------651 1009 Winthrop BUNCH , Jack M. ------651 Muncie, IN 47304 CARNEY , Willard ------652 GANG , John ------652 Sam Rizzo ST CYR , Leon ------677 1700 Vernier Rd II WARD , Hebert S. ------683 Grosse Point Wood , MI 48236 PORTMAN, Harry ------710 READER , Donald ------726 James Mc ear thy SCOTT , Chuck------769 349 ldlewi ld Lane MC CORMICK, Robert ------814 Oceans ide , CA 92054 GOLDEN , Joe ------814 HOCK , Richard ------814 Donald Mc Granahan STRONG , Avery ------814 670 S Centre Ct . SW #102 BRYAN , Char les ------1020 Vero Beach, FL 32962 PH ILLIPS, Robert ------1052 OVERSEER Roy E. Age 606 Jul ie Lane Brandon , FL 33511

6 LCI Day at US Washington Navy Memorial

D -Day + 54 years President R. Weisser and Tracey Lord then presented to Adm.Henry C. McKinney, Dedication Day at Washington, DC. June 6, President of the Navy Memorial Foundation, 1944 may have been D-Day in Europe, but a model of the LCI 438 along with a Flag this date in 1998 was the dedication of an from thes hip and the Commissioning LCI model at the Naval Heritage Museum in Pennant These will become a part of the the Capital.. permanent display inside the building. Adm. McKinney then spoke on his background in A Memorial Service was held and over 50 the submarine service and the difference in people sat in the audience and took part in the type of rockets launched by LCI's and the Dedication. today's submarines.

The program started by the Posting of the Colors by an Honor Guard-of Sailors. The Chaplain David Cox then read the names of National Anthem was then played, followed the 74 members of the USS National LCI by the Invocation given by our own Association who were known to have died Chaplain, David Cox. during the past year. The bell was tolled once for each member by Walter Wright, a The welcoming speech was given by our member from New Jersey.. President , Robert Weisser, who recognized the members of the executive board that At this time, Adm. McKinney , President, R. were present: Donald McGranahan, Director Weisser, Director, Don McGranahan and and Robert McLain, Secretary. He then Secretary, Robert McLain placed a wreath in spoke on the mission of the LCI' s. frontof the Statue ofthe Lone Sailor. The audience was asked to stand for the playing President Weisser then introduced Tracey of Taps and the Benediction given by Lord who was a crew member of the LCI Chaplain D. Cox 438. Tracey then introduced the three members of the 438 who were present The Ceremony then concluded and thanks including the skipper Dr. BerniePower s. were given to all who attended. Dr. Powers then thanked the LCI National Association for the presentation ceremony v--tt? _qL.'Jd4< � ' being held today. i_�fcterb y Robert McLain I I Commander J anuzzi was then introduced and he recalled his ship's position on D-Day in Europe.

Another LCI Skipper, CDR Gerald ( Jerry ) Marder told how his ship helped to re­ establish the Y angtse River Patrol and if anyone would like to see his old ship, it is in service as Circle line # 10 around New York City.

7 r "GATOR" Museum Opened on land dredged from SanDiego Bay andwas Commissioned on June 15, 1944.

You can bomb from theair, you can bombard from thesea, HELP" Needed but if you can'tget troops on the ground, the war won't be won. Getting troops onto the beach is the task of theamphi bious, We are lookingfor the LCI's that were involved in pickingup or "GATOR" Navy. Gators take their boats, oftenthrough survivors. DD 559 theUSS Longshaw was aground on OSE hostile fire,to land Marines and other troops on the beach. reef at Okinawawhen the Japaneseshore batteriesdestroyed Their contributionsto U.S. military efforts date to WorldWar us. I was picked up by an LCM andthen transferredto an LCJ II, and after55 years theGators have their own musewn at the thatran agrow1d rightafter I got aboard. It managed to get Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California. loose prettyquick but it sure scared the hell out oi me. Some Inceremonies Satur�y,SEALS Commander RearAdmiral of our people were on another LCl that had anexplosion on Thomas Richards and Expeditionary Warfare Training Group board finishingsome off of our people along with some of Commander CaptainTI1omas M. Hays cut the ribbon in front theirs. The USS Arikara, ATF 98 was also involved in the of the museum's door and welcomed the firstvisito rs. rescue operations. lamtrying to find out forDonna "I don't understandwhy it took 55 years to understand the Kaszewski, AlbertDryova ge's daughter. if anyone knowswho contributions of the Gators." Richards said. "Without iron picked her fathers body up and where did they take it. J wrote men in some of these ironships we would nothave had the a story about my time abroad the DD 559 that was put on the successfuloperations in battles in the Pacific, and in Europe." internetunedited and 1 made a statement that there were Displays included models oflanding craft,photos of bodies in the wreckage when a Battleship finishedDD 559 off. landing ships operating during WW Il and thebell and battle Donna ran across the storyand since her dad was listed as flag fromthe USS Mayrant (DD402), commissioned in 1939. missing she thinks the casket that came back to Detroit in th;.; Items on exhibitwere borrowedirom units around the base 50's may have been empty. I think that Alben was dead, and fromthe USS LCI (Landing CraftInfantry) Na tional sittmg upright by the starboarddepth charg es and was Association. Alsoon display were many of the floats removed by people from one of theships mentioned, J have sponsored by NAB units for the Cornado Fourthof July sent requeststo the Tin Can Sailor and NAITS for the same:: parade. Bosn's Mate ChiefVinc ent Herzel said all the units on information. If you can help it will be greatly appreciated. 1 NAB had cooperated with the committee's efforts to create the think he and another friendwere listed asmissing by mistake. museum . I was not listed at all and was in limbo for over a month. My LCI Associations California Director Jim Mc Carthy of dad foundout about the DD 559 in the Kansas City Star and Spring Valley recalled how he and :�uow crewmembers picked contacted congressmen and navy people to find out what up LCI 685 in Boston during WWII. They sailed down the happened to me. He found out when I calledhim from San Atlantic coast and throughthe Panam a Canal, then they went Francisco. "Island - hopping" in the Pacific. the casual nicknamegiven to Please Respond to: vrnnam Eaton the fierce battles formultitude of PacificIslands occupied by 3133 I eranimar Drivt> Japan. Mc Carthy ticked his boat's battles offNe w Guinea. Anaheim, CA 92804 The Philippines, Okinawa (714) 828-5901 'fhe war ended, but Mc Carthy and the LCI685 crew had E-Mail - [email protected] �other heavy date with history - they were sent to mainland China, thistime to pick up Nationalist troops andtake them to exile on Taiwan as theCommunist Armytook control of the mainland. Washington, DC Navy Yard The museum is housed in a World War II Quonset hut, one of only fourleft at NAB. Theother three are slated to be torn down to make room for new buildings. Last year, a member of the 108th Civil Engineer Squadron a All who plan to visitWashington. DC this Summer should AirNa tionalGuard unit at Mc Guire Air force Base, N.J. make it a point to visit the Navy Yard, it is the Navy's oldest calledthe base and askedif NAB had anypro jects theGuard shore establishment, it is over 200 years o!J. Thishistori� members could complete during their two week of active duty. complex has become the ceremonial "Quarterdeck of the The base civil engineerstaff sugg ested a museum, and t0 Navy." The Navy Museum whichopened in 1963 is located in save money thebase's tacticalair controi squadrons gave up the Navy Yard, it is housed in the former 600 foot long Breech the Quonset hut they were using for storage. Guard members Mechanism Shop of the old Naval Gun Factory. (Building dismantledthe hut and moved it the cunent locationsite. Self #76). Exhibits offera look at the traditions and contribuuons help efforts by base personnelfinis hed the re-hab withpaint of the Navy throughout American History. They have a carpet and tile. sectionon WW II .'\mphibious Forces. It is well worth a TheQuonset hut willbe a permanent reminder of the days visit TI1ereare entrance's to ihe Yardon 9th Street or 11Ui when NAB was a new base. The Base was established in 1943 Street You can get a Burger & Fries at a MC Donald's which is located inside the Yard. There is plenty of free Parking. 8 BELOW IS A NEW LIST BY SHIP NUMBER ANV STATE OF MEMBERS THAT HAVE A E-MAIL ADDRESS PLEASE ADD TO THE LIST IN NEWS LETTER #24

E-MAIL SH----IP#-- 1 LAST------NAME ------FIRST NA----ME STATE 0041 STERN KENNETH L. CA bob��[email protected] 0222 COOPER CECIL C. NY [email protected] 0223 CARDWELL BARNEY B. TX ze.,a..cfs 4a.@pJLodLgy .com 0351 HEGRE NESS ARTHUR J. OH [email protected] 0420· BESSE STEVE OR bw�[email protected] . o�� -

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9 BIRTH OP LCI (ROC�BT ), LCI (GUN), The following is in response to the Newsletter f23, Page 17, article paragraph , "Birth of the LCI ( Gunboat )". The statement that only "Two LCI 'S were outfitted with rockets & used for the first time at the Kwajalein Island Operation". I know of two Groups of five(S) LCI 'S, LCI (L)365 was with a Group that made the first wave assault at Kwajalein Is., at the same time Enubuj (Carlson)Is. across the channel from Kwajalein, Group8 LCI(L) 'S 366( which r.i.was on at the time) & five(S) other LCI (L) 'S made the first wave assault of Enubuj Is. There were also other Marshall Is. operations wh:e.lr eLCI (L) 'S made first wave assaults ! The above "Two LCI 'S", etc. has apeared in previous Newsletters & LCI History Book, VolumeI , another Newsletter statement, "First LCI(G)'S converted was Group 7", both above statements are not accurate statements . The LCI(L) 'S were not designated Gunboats LCI(G) 'S until prior to the Saipan/Guam Campaigns . LCI (G) Groupe LCI(G)365, 366,437, 439,440, 442,474&475 were designated LCI (G) June1 , 1944 (as per 366 "War Diary" Log "May 1st 1944 to May 31st 1944"). The Kwaj alein campaign took place January 31 , 1944; Saipan DUne 15, 1944; Guam, July 21 , 1944. I would like to present the following brief"History of the USS LCI (G)366" article to be published in the LCI Newsletter. The information was extract­ ed from my "Personnel" & "Medical Records" and ships "War Diary" . The USS LCI (L)366 was Commissioned August 17, 1943 at the George Lawley & Sons Shipyard, Neponset, Ma . The ships crew three (3) Officers & twenty four(24) crewmen, another Officer came aboard two months later . The ships Armament five(S) 20mm Oerliken cannon with Mark 14 Sights, & Small Arms ; 30-06 Rifles , .45 caliber Thompson Sub-Machine Guns , & .45 caliber Pistols . The 366 was on shakedown cruise up & down east coast 8-24 thru 10-10-43 it got underway for Panama Canal & west coast, arriving San Diego 11-4-43 . 11-29 to 12-8-43 with crew of four(4) Officers & twenty seven(27) crewmen was at Fort Mason, San Francisco , US Army Maj or General Wilson with Staff & 160 Troops came aboard 366, practiced beaching , troops ashore/aboard, retracting, etc.,etc., tried beaching Humboldt Bay with 10' breakers, lost three (3) GI cans , anchor with 30 fathoms cable, on way back to SD rough seas could not keep ship on course within 35° (155 ° -120° ). The 366 underway from SD to Pearl Harbor 12-14-43 arriving PH 12-22-43. From 12-28-43 thru 1-1 0-44 extensive :;.rmament & crew changes . 12-28-43 five(S) 20mm guns removed at PH Graving Dock #4, two(2) new 20mm mounted Gun Deck aft of Con. 1-2 to 5-44 366 crews received 40mm & 20mm gunnery training at the Aiea & Wainai Gunnery Schools(Note: I was on Gun Crew of 40mm Battery 426, & Gunnery Instructor training Marine & Naval officers , & Enlisted men at Aiea & Wainai. Many of the LCI gun crews were trained 11 by our Battery 426 crew . Later we all went aboard the LCI 'S as 40mm Gun Captains , I went aboard 366 1-7-44 as Gun captain No . 5 40mm) . Three(3) Army BOFOR 40mm Mobile Anti-Aircraft Gun Carriages were mounted on bow & Gun Decks ; five(S) .SO Caliber Machine Guns mounted on �ell Deck; rocket proj ectors aboard . 1-8-44 PH GD#4 completed all repairs & replace­ ments . New Armament now consists of following: three (3) 40mm guns ; two(2) 20mm guns ; five(S) .50 cal . guns ; six(6) 4.5" Rocket Proj ectors ; two(2) Mouse Trap Racks with Ready Boxes & Mounts . #1 & #4 Holds const­ ructed for ammunition magazines ; #3 Hold fitted for additional crews now fifty six(56) crewmen ; #2 Hold used for auxiliary storeroom ; two(2) additional Life Rafts mounted ; �; Hull painted to conform to Amphib cam­ ouflage orders . LCI (L)365 Officers Hoctor & Fortson , & Crewmen ; Farenger, Mabbea , Gareson , Wilkson, Roberson, Smith, Alexander , Hall, Allen, & Hare came aboard to observe 366 gunnery practice.

23 I LCI's 62 - 63 - 328 - 333 - 334 - 335 - 357 - 358 - 359 - 360 - 43 3 - 434 - 435 - 436 - 444 - 445 - 446 - werev•-1ne11111ese 518 - 519 - 614 - 615 - 616 - 617 - 618 - 619 - 688 - 689 - 690 - 776 - 777 - 985 - 986 - 987 - 1032 - 1033 LCrs, ISllisisllllllVIII' SIDIV.

RlliHa22 was fannedin August1944. lrtln lhe At 0540 anti-aircraft onto a reef. None of the we had a change of l'tlBllantSII RIUlla 5, firewasDEHEGIL observed L\coning LCls could get any closer, Command and Whichwas disbanded. from shore installations so we were orderedto Commander MJvl. B�Td on the unload anyway. Here you assumed command of the PENNISSl'L.\ and smoke have to use your Flotilla. We also received was seen rising from the imagination as to what a number of new ships. For the first month of are.a of firing. happened. The 985, 98G, 987, GBB, operation we were As the LCls passed \\11ilc the troops were m614, 615. 616, 617,618 assigned to transporting Lelween Millila.Is la.ml Leing unloaded, we and 619. The Flag 11 as troops and supplies for and \.IititaIsland and The received a radio message transferred to the 618. It reinforcement in and Dehegila Peninsula, thein from the Beachmaster as was a new ship just out around central Nc,v USS PC 1133 assumed to why we were not from the states and it had Guinea. However on sla.liun as escurl, and unloading al Lhe "NEW all lhe lalesl gear. The September lGth , we got reply to a radio message \\1IITE BEACil". At this months of October, our first taste of what it received as to where the point, needless to say November and December was all auuul, wilh Lhe LC!s were lo Leach,said tu Comdr.. i\kD. Smith, were spen l doing odd juus reinforcement and Command "FoJJow me to FloiiJJa Commander was of supplying troops and invasion ofMorotai Island White Be.ach". Fanning a fit to be tied, and general supplies to the just west of i\ew Guinea. column behind the F1ag remarked that the differentareas. The LC! unil of Task Ship, we reached Lhe Beachmasler was nul up On Chrislmas Day 1944 Group 77.4, comprised approach Jane at OG42 to date as to what was we left lloJJandia and I f Under a lot of pressure going on. joined a convoy of several ufLC!s433(F1ag),435,360,44 from enemy planes and The 519 and 444 were hundred ships, al . ..\I.I.ape G.519,334,445,444,359,357, our o,vn, nearby fighting, stranded on the reefs and New Guinea. We aJJ knew 443,63, 328,333,436,335,447. we proceeded to \\'HITE had to remain behind. this was the big one. We 420,364,344 and 62. BEACH, however we were The 357 was ordered to wereMore going next to the AL 0532 when lhe Task inslrucled Ly lhe slay Lehind with Lhe lwo Philippines. Group had reached a point Beachmaster of RED stranded ships and render Newsletter!!!! just south of the southern BEACH to await an offic-er any assistanceit could, l.ip of I'\forolaiIsland, Lu show us the way, as and return later with orders were received by \\'HITE BEACH was not another convoy. With the radio from the Task marked. This Officer permission of Commander Group Cummamler in l1SS never did show up so we Task Force 77. i\icholas(DD-449), were luld lu "du the Lest The nexl fe w munlhs directing the LC!s to leave you can" were spentin the the convoy and proceed We got about 50yds Hollandia New Guinea independently . from the Beach and ran area. In late September /Page l

11 STATE DIRECTORS and CO-DIRECTORS

ARIZONA - DIR, FLORIDA - DIR. NEW YORK - CO-DIR, NtW YORK - CO-DIR. LAWRENCE SMITH DONALD C. MC GRANAHAN DONALD IJUBRUL HAROLD R, RONSON 1047 SIMMONS 670 S CENTRE CT SW 11 BOBOLINK LN 303 E 57TH ST TUCSON, AZ85704 VERO BEACH , FL 32967 LEVITTOWN , NY 11756 NEW YORK, NY 10022 COLORADO - DIR, IDAHO - DIR OHIO - CO-DIR. OH IO - DIR. WILLIAM EGER .RODERICK SCURLOCK JACK V. HIGGINS ROBERT J. ZUDELL 14159 W CENTER DR 4445 MUSTANG DR 964 RICHLAND TERR 25796 MELIBEE DR LAKEWOOD, CO 90228 BOISE, ID 83709 IUR.ION , OH 43302 WESTLAKE, OH 44145

COLORADO - CO DIR. IOWA - DIR. OKLAHOMA - DIR. OREGON - DIR, HARRY J. ROBINSON WAYNE 0. BRYANT JOE E. BLACK HAROLD J. BLEYHL 2712 HEARTHWOOD LN 24973 MAHOGANY RD 6421 AVONDALE, SUITE 2 5515 SW WINDSOR CT COLORADO SPRINGS, ·co 80917 UNDERWOOD, IA 51576 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73166 PORTLAND, OR 97225

CALIFORN IA CO - DIR. INDIANA - DIR. PENNSYLVANIA - DIR. SOUTH CAROLNIA - DIR. ERN IE GRESSMAN PETER ST.Ell DOMNICK J. CERRA ARTHUR BENNETT 13421 DANBURY LN #135 10 CATALPA WAY 221 !'JlOSPECT ST 104 PINE BLUFF ST SEAL BEACH , CA 90740 COLUMBUS, IN 47201 DUNMORE, PA 18512 VANCE, SC 29163 CALIFORNIA - DIR. LOUISIANA - DIR, WASHINGTON - DIR. WISCONSIN - CO-DIR. JAMES E. MC CARTHY CALVIN A. GALIANO WILLIAM HEDGER A, R. GROVER 34 9 IDLEWI LD LN 526 AVENUE F 54 E MINDY LN 10315 PLUMTREE CIR # OCEANSIDE, CA 92054 WESTWEGO, LA 70094 SEQU IM, WA 98382 HOLES CORNER, WI 53130 CONNECTICUT - DIR. r.tICHIGAN - DIR. WISCONSIN - !HR. MONTANA - DIR. JACK CONLIN FLOYD E. VAN HORN CLEON J. EGAN ROBERT D. GWALTNEY 790 FRAMINGTON AVE 7 03 S !BLEY ST 209 HAYES ST 1 SUNSHINE RD NEW BRITAIN, CT 06053 BAY CITY, r.tl 48706 KAUKAUNA, WI 54130 PHILIPSBURG, MT 59858 MINNESOTA - CO DIR. MINNESOTA - DIR. TEXAS - DIR. RUEBEN A. OLSEN BRUCE K. COTTINGTON W. THURMAN WITT HENRY LEVINE. LCI #606 RR#3 BOX 132 BOX 919 113 FIREBIRD CV 67 JEAN STREET N. Y. MILLS, MN 56567 LITCHFIELD, MN 55355 LAKEWAY, TX 78734 LAKEWOOD, NJ 08701 732-262-9720 MISSOURI - DIR. NORTH DAKOTA - DIR. TEXAS - CO-DIR. FRANK E. RUXL0\11 WM . MONTY STREHLOW WALTER AUTRY These gentleman volunteered 1195 JERE LN 232 10TH AVE BOX 927 RT#4 BOX 1106 to be your directors and they ARNOLD, MO 6301!.\ CASSELTON , ND 53C12 LIVINGSTON , TX are doing a fine job ! Let them N'HBRASKA - DIR. NEW HAMPSHIRE - DIR. TEXAS - CO-DIR. know if you can be ofany FRANK C. DOUGLAS G. BYRON CHAMPLIN LEWIS "CHICK" MASON help,The idea to find every 1523 W 4TH ST PO BOX 30 10033 PACK SADDLE TRAIL sailor that was on anLCI HASTINGS , NE 68901 CORNISH FLAT, NH 03 746 FORT WORTH, TX 76108 sounds fantastic ! ! ! NEBRASKA - CO-DIR. NEWME XICO - DIR. TEXAS - CO-DIR. BOBBY DEAN LIVINSTON MICK GREENBANK BARNEY CARDWELL 1315 "A" ST 3311 TAOS COURT 144 OLD BRIDGE LAKE If your interested in being a LINCOLN, NE 68502 DEMING, NM 88030 HOUSTON, TX 77069 director from vour state and as youcan see , we still need NEVADA - DIR. NEW YORK - DIR. TEXAS - CO-DIR. more please write to Jim ROBERT O. JOHNS EDWARD RIDDETT BILL PAULSON 1062 BUCK MOUNTAIN RD 512 SIR CHARLES WAY 1402 LINDELL CT Talbert , Chairman of the RENO, NV &9506 ALBANY, NY 12203 SAN ANGELO, TX 76901 state directors and Vice Pres. of the association.

12 I LCI (L) 85 (PART TWO) Bomhofttol d me L' lat his ship hadlanded at Washington Times Associate EditorCoit I 0a.m. and unloadedtroops without being hit, Hendley, as commanding officerof the LCI (L) possiblybecause he went into an area where 85, landed troopson Omaha Beach during D­ several ships were burningand the heavy Day. He earnedthe Silver Star and the French smoke provided cover. Croix de Guerre for his role there. Here he He went out to the transport area and got vividly recalls the battle thatleft him reported another load of soldiers. This time he ran into trouble. When he was on the beach, 16 men ·1 dead. fromLCL 487 came aboard afterthe soldiers were off. The 487 was burninga shortdi stance Submitted by Ray Gilmore, LCI #26 & #73 away. Lt. Bomhoftsaid the men running up the ramps must have attracted shore batteries. The We backed away fromthe Chase and a guns found the range and 10 direct hits later, salvage tug (AT 89) came along side to help us. one man was killed and eleven wounded. They We tried to pump the compartments but the abandoned the 93 and she burnedon the beach. water was coming in too fast. She slowly Oxleyju mped offthe stem, once again, and settled by the bowand began turningover on was picked up by a small boat from the her side. We scrambled up on the tug. Destroyer Doyle, which was close in firingat The ship floated fora shortwhile with just the beach defenses. her stem showing. The tug sent over a small We all made it back to a survivorscamp in boat with demolition chargesto finishher off. Plymouth within a few days, including Oxley. That was the end of the LCI (L) 85. I caught a train and went to see Sylvia, my *** English girl friend who was in the British Navy. The crew huddled together in one place on She and her mother were home when I knocked the deck of the tug. I sat down away from on the door. The two of them burst into tears them. I found myself crying and a great feeling when they saw me. It was then I realized that of guilt came over me. I feltthat I was to blame somehow I had been reported killed. She was forthe deaths and wounding of all those men. assigned to a communication unit and could It was several years beforethose feelings faded. track my ship and the erroneous reportwas Gene Oxley, the seaman who hadtaken the filed that when my ship went down, all hands matt rope down the ramp, was lefton the beach were lost. My father back in South Carolina was at a �hen we backed offthe second time. He dug mto the sandfor a while and then climed movie and saw a newsreel of my ship sinking aboard an LCT which had unloaded and was and the announcer also said all hands were lost. backing out. My father was stunned and spent a week trying Asthe LCT got clear of the beach, one of to get information fromthe Coast Guard her gunners turned his 20 mm gun on a pillbox headquarters. up the slope a shortdis tance. This pillbox I worked forthe Washington Starbefore the came right back at him and in three minutes the war, and sent them an eye-witness report about LCT was sinking. D-Day immediately afterthe landings. When Oxley jumped over the stem and waspicked my storyarrived in Washington, the managing up by a small boat that delivered him to the LCI editor Herb Com called my fatherto tell him I (L) 93, another ship in the Coast Guard Flotilla was safe. commanded by Lt. (jg)Budd B. Bornhoft. 13 I -:.--: . ------'-' -..... � }' ' ' .·. -...... --­ --- -'-' --:------

~: ..-� -...... J '-'-- :.--: --�- -� &·> -...... - +& \!:'� } � �-- &,t£l ,, ,, ��t ":r ;< • ' .�:�,· ' ''*'' �\\' , \' �' §\½ � � :. f -& :.--: _?f.: �';-';> ;, w.1�� :�,, � ' :�':\�: �§,.;;��;, . - --�-\i_,;_s;,,� ��'f � ';., :.•..• ,. ,. .... ·'::"'.• w ' =.i., , -'-' ,�f: �i ��� �,,, ,;, � � :�·\i. ---...... I '-' �: )f :' > -- - � ,, �iii�:.. : ' ,; ·Jf� - - "' �.-- --:-- - --� - I -t r ..__ --- (:_'.: '-' :-- -...-- ...... X :-. - '-' ::~·-::-. -- r·.:j :· ...... -- v r. ~ . I :~.'.{ � "'"" ·*~' J (-i :;, •:: . -- ....._'-' ' i -- -....._ '- I .•- t,~f ,_-- '"'- -?v··�' $_�� ' ¥ � ",1: :-:,, ·r· · - �'� ,, : ''§;�"..�' f' ' - ...... �� � .;.:.· ":- ,S-''*',1:t ��- •'si' .... � �\�� �' �, -�i �� . ' ;,,�� \'. ·.· �.'.·.'·,�. . : .. -� ~f �<,,,~· -��~ � --..... ·-..-- '-' ..... - r ""'- ---,_ v - -:.--: . �- -... ----,-- ...... '-'.,_ r ·-----�. v·--- ,,-,"~ -:.--: ~ 1 . -- ,-,l iJ~] -...--- :%;., ~~:::' - \ i '-' ' ~' ,, .'"'· ',, ~,, Lr--, :...-: •· I"\. ~ ~\f: ~,J ::,,-. '-i ---- ·-- :�.. ._.; '-- ...... -- -.. . '-' 'II' '-,....__ \._), ...... -- 14 LCl's RETURN To y ARD OF Yesterday afternoona handful of their officers -­ no one couldcall them green now, whatwith their BIRTH FOR REPAIR OF Purple Hearts and their Silver Stars and their campaign ribbons and battle stars -- sat around the conference BATTLE WOUNDS room in the Navy Public Relations office here and told newspapermen something about theselittle sea-going Submittedby Ted Federko, LCI # 686 Cinderella's. Among these officers were those who had taken out some of the first built LCI's, who had taken Boston, Jan. 28, 1945 -- They laughed and called them across the Atlantic, who had pushed their blunt them "Boundin Bedpans" when theLCI, s began rolling snouts ashore on disputed beachheads in four invasions offthe assembly line at Lawley's early in 1943. And as to pour out troops and supplies and ammunition, who for their crews -- what could the brass hats do other than had brought them back to Lawley,s to have their steel shrug their shoulders when they encountered officers sides patched up. who didn'tknow enough to salute anAdmiral and In forRepairs enlisted men who thoughtin terms of feetinstead of fathoms. This was thefirst group of LCI officersreturning "Strawberry Boxes" from overseas and theybrought back the first flotilla of LCI's for battle repairs. The majority of the craft What could you expect anyway fromvesse ls that returned to Lawley's some going up to Portsmouth. looked like strawberry boxes 'With ends on hinges In the group of young officers were Lt. Comdr. manned by officers fresh out of fraternities and men Daniel B. Clark of Darien, CT.; Lt. Comdr. John W. yanked out from behind soda fountains ! Send those Detwiler of Detroit 1\11.; Lt. Comdr.. Edward A. things across the Atlantic in wartime ? They'd be lucky Cogley of Oak Park. IL.; Lt. Le'Wis M. Browning, Jr. of if they rode out thefirst summer squall, much less reach Belmont, NY.; Lt. Sidney M. Ruffin of Philadelphia, the Mediterranean and take part in an invasion of enemy PA.; Lt. Eugene F. Junnuzi of Bever Falls, PA.; Lt. - held beaches ! George A. Lyons of 666 Colwnbia Rd. Dorchester, And then came Sicily, and Salemo, and Anizo, and MA.; and Chief BoatswainEdward J. Schmenan of Normandy, magicnames that willgo doMIin American Detroit, MI. all are Reserve officers. historyon the same pages with Bunker Hill and Practically all of them went through the invasions of Gettysburg. Sicily, Anzio and Salemo, Lyons and Januzziwere off These odd - appearing craftpoured tr oops and the Normandy Beach at D-minus-five hours on June 6, ammunition and supplies ashore on beaches that couldn't 1944. Some of them took part in the invasion of be taken, but were, in face of murderous enemy fire that SouthernFra nce. They sat across a long table at the couldn't be withstood, but was. Navy offices yesterday afternoon and,prodded by a public relations officertold some of the things the LCI's

I I "Little Darlings" have done in the war. They emphasizedfirst the deeds of theirlittle ships; second, the deeds of their crews, and And then thetune changed. no longer were they the third, what parts they themselvespla yed. Bounding Bedpans, but now they were the Little Let's listen to one of the seniors of the group, Lt. Darlings of the Navy. Comdr. Detwiler, who commandedLCI 220. One of That in so many words, is the history of the LCI, the firstturned out at Lawley's. He won the Silver Star Landing CraftInfan try, of which George Lawley and at Sicily. He told at some length about the incident and Son, Inc., of Neponset, is the chief progenitor. They then disclosed, at the instance of public relations, that were built largely by brawn and the sweat of Quincy and this episode brought him the medal. South Shore ship-builders in a race against time and "But four others in mycrew got Silver Starsalso and D-Day. eight got Purple Hearts," he added quickly. "Salemo A little flotilla of these LCI's, bearing unhealed was considered the worst invasion," he said. but for me wounds of war in their steel sides, is back at Lawley's there will never be another Sicily. It was my first and, of now. Veterans of Sicily, and Salemo and Normandy course, I was pretty jittery. I was commanding the LCI- and Anzio, they are back fr om whence theywere 220, one of the earlierones builtat Lawley's. With three launched less than two years ago after having played officers and 21 men were carrying soldiers and Important roies in historic invasions. ammunition and supplies. 15 Itwas pretty toughgoing in. what with all the did not fare so happily. He told of seeing directa hit on searchlights playing on us from the shore andthe enemy one of the craft and a big bulldozer aboard that craft shellingus, andthe shells droping allaround. vanishingin thin air. An incident of a different character I was prettyjittery, as Itold you. was related by Lt. Comdr. Detwiler. The shells were droppingpretty close but they hadn't We were on our way from Salemoto Naples with a hit us. Suddenly I feltspr ay on myface, and I held out · load of Italian refugees aboard when mypharm acist's my hand. mate came to me and said, Sir, we are about to have a Hell, I said, that'sthe first timeI've feltrain in four baby born aboard, I said No! and he said Yes. months. Just then thespray turnedinto a cascade of Well, he and I got together with that big red book on water and then I knew that a shell had structnearby. medicine they give you in the Navy, we searched it from Lights Blind Crew cover to cover and not one thing did it say about having a baby. With searchlights blinding us, we couldn't see much, I turnedthe job overto the young pharmacist's mate, and so we piled the 220 up on a bar. I sounded and and he delivered theba by shipshape in Bristol fashion. found nine feet of water aft. We let go a stem anchor to he and one other youngster with not much experience. pull us off, andfinally succeeded in backing off. He was Anthony Savarese of Gloversville, NY. The As we were getting up the anchorsomething doctor said, when we got to port, thatthe little baby and happened that wouldn't happen again once in a million mother were doing greatthanks to Savarese. The proud · es. We got a direct hit on our anchor cable. It cut parents made me sign a statement saying thatthe baby a e wire , and ofcourse, cost us our anchor. boy was bornon an AmericanShip, however that would We got under way again, circled around and hit the make an American Citizen of him. baragain, but thistime we were going so fast we jwnped The gangaboard took up a collection forthe baby . ear across it and were in deep water again before we Two of my non-commissioned officers made thebiggest D• ew it. contributions, so the baby was christenedwith the name Well, continuedLt. Comdr. Detwiler, ourjob was to of each of them. ICl d those soldiersand supplies on the beach, and so we Although a Detroiter, Lt. Comdr. DetwJer was an �t straightened out again weand hit thebeach so hard experienced Cape Cod and LongIsland Sound t the engineerofficer said, "MyGod, what areyou yachtsman beforehe joined theNavy. Manyof the cyingto do, starta one maninv asion ? officers andcrew of the LCI fleet, he explainedwere We wentup thebeach so farthat we couldwalk all formeryachtsmen, andthe yachting experience gave und the 220 with merely gettingour feet wet up to them a big edge, he said in handling the craft when they ankles. We landed our troops and supplies allright. firstwent afloat in Navy uniforms. And there we were, high anddry, andthere we Normandy Invasion miained for two whole days before we finally got off Lt. Jannuzi, one of the first officerspresent who beach. Duringthose two days, the officialNavy participatedin the historic Normandyinvasion told about rf)Ort claimed that we underwent 200 airraids. his experiences on that fa teful June 6, 1944. 11 Take OfTWounded We had been prepared for trouble, he said, but for 17 hours sailingin broad daylight, it seemed like a pleasure Anyway, at theend of two days we were finally cruise going across the English channel. The Enemy at andby thistime there wasn't much happening planes never did getthro� the shore shelling was und. There was a cruiser and a destroyer. The ineffective. Our losses were largely due to underwater · er came alongside andthe captain came down from nun.es. bridge andasked me if he could help me in anyway . Myship the LCI 530. In our group was theUSS · d no, outside of takingmy off wounded. And for Quincy the big Navadathe Tuscaloosaand 10 e reason all throughthe night the cruiser and Destroyers and many big Transports. oyer circled ourLCI afterthey had taken offour We were offthe Normandy beach at D-minus five ded. I neverdid find out why. A young officer hours. It was quiet offthe beach at dawn. Then our ed and said, maybe they were afr aid they'd get lost paratroops startedflying over. I think that fleet ofplanes eyleft us there, they u.c;; ed us as spara buoy to mark 'must have reached all theway back to England. They location. kept coming and coming. Lt. Lyons and Lt. Jannuzi was a week later beforethe 220 got out of that bay. both of whom were in the Normandy invasion were both ughthe 220 escaped destruction. theofficer told us decorated for their deeds at Salemo. o other craftthat was anchored close to him who 16 I Update about LSM Now is the time for all who pledged money, to honor the pledge. I know that manv members were waiting until the project was ,�ore than a J'o all Hands dream before making donations. The dream is now reality, and we need everyone" support. Donations are tax deductible. We are a non­ Now hear this, Now hear this, 18 May profitunder Internal Revenue Code 50 I©( J 9) I 998, The state department approved Pa 15068. Our intentions are to have donors' the third party transfer procedure. names on a plaque aboard the 445. Those who have donated $ 1,000 or more will be in the The lpopliarchos Grigoroulos, (L-161) Admiral's' Club, $500 to $999, Captains Club, formerUSS LSJ\il 45, is officially $ 100 to $499, Chiefs Cluib' under $ I 00 ' cleared by the Greek and U.S. Seaman's Club. Governments for towing to Freedom Park, Omaha NB. Jack and Judy Held (LSM 174) have recentlv from the Maritime Service and moved from · According to bureau of Ships, Ship's Data U.S. Kwajalein to Omaha. They volunteered to be Naval Vessels, April; I 5th, 1945, a total of full�time project leaders forrefur bishing of the 4,392LSV,LSD, LST, LSM, LCI, LCS (L) and 45 which is a big plus. To date, more than 200 LCT's were built for World War II. LSM 45 have volunteered to work on the 45. will be the first and maybe only one of any of Smooth Sailing these major amphibious ships to be on display. Dick Schatz, President

Our next tasks are to prepare her forto eing, The Chaplain's Corner negotiate with towing companies and purchasing insurance forthe tow. The 45 will The word is Volunteer have to be rigged fortowi ng. Such things as securing the propellers, rudders, anchors and Quite often someone stops to talk and greets me bow doors, welding the hatches, rigging a by asking, "What 's the good word, Fasfor'l " I towing bridle, and other items as required. often reply, I know God loves }'OU and me Towing speed is usually 6 knots, which means both. " The answer is usually;."/ know that 's 30 days to tow the ship to New Orleans. We are right. God help me i/he didn 't. " currently trying to get some TV coverage of this historic event. Once we have a schedule of all The good word I want to leave with you today is the tasks involved, it will be in the Alligator volunteer. For the past five years, my wife ti Alley. Iftiming forthe Alligator Allev is bad Helen, and I have served lower income families we will have another specialmailing t� all of our town by filing their income taxes free It hands. is a program sponsored by the combined efforts The ship is in relatively good shape. Rolf Illsley of IRS and AARP. Literally thousands of has been aboard her and taken videos. (See rear persons volunteer one, two. or more davs a page of Alligator Alley) Among other item, he week to give this service lo those less t�rtunate noted that there was very little water in the than themselves. It is a deeply appreciated bilges, which is a good sign. effort, and it affords one the opportunity to meet nev,' friends and get acquainted with them. You We don't have all the figures, but it looks like may not want to fi le taxes, hoivever if you look we will need at least $300,000.00. The balance around your community, it \viii not be ·hard to in the LSM4US special account as of April 30 is find a need you can fill. May I suggest \Ve all - get busy and find others we can help? $1 19,203.51 which was contributed bv 519 ! members, 19% of the paid-up membe�s. To C'/wplain, /Vl,·ar1 Henshaw date, nothing has been spent from this account.

1 7 I r

LCI Day At Washington DC "Amphibious Landings in the Pacific 1944 ". Good photos of LCls during these invasions: Video Green is,Wadke is, Biak ls Saipan and Guam, William (Bill) Brinkley Sansapor, Peleliu, Morotai and Leyte in the Philippines. Also included is films footageof the"United News", A news service used during WWII by the government to send to the Bill is a veteran, served aboard the USS Nevada Theaters combat films of the invasion. Time and is also a member of the LC! Association. At 11/2 hours Cost $20.00 + $3.00 S & 11. this time, I want to Thank Bill for all the time .... and devotion that he has given to our association. For the many hours he spent at the ' lJSS Nevada BB-36 ". Combat cameramen Archives looking and finding footageof LCI s produced all the footage in this tape on board and producing Three fine films forour the Nevada. The invasion at lwo-Jima and association. Bill also covered all our reunions Okinawa, see the Jap suicide plane before it hits except one. Bill was gracious enough to cover t the Nevada off Hawaii in 1948. Time I Hr. & the great event in Washington DC on June 6 h 45 Min. Cost $20.00 + $3.00 S& 1-1 LCI Day at the lJS Navy Memorial. And a filmwill be available for anyone who wishes to see just what went on that day. We were lucky th " LSM during \\'\VII ". This tape shows the enough to draw the 6 of June and we had a first invasion by a LSM in the Philippines and good showing. The Washington filmwil l be continues through the war and then the LSM 60 $ I 0. 00 plus $3. 00 S & H and can be ordered by participating in the Bikini Bomb Test in 1946. calling Bill at 704-279-2191 Or Box 247 Time 1 hour & 30 min. Cost $20.00 + $3.00 Granite Quarry NC 28072. S & H Total &23.00 Other films available are:

"D-Day amphibious Landings at Normandy" Shows practice landings at Slaptons Sands, Operation "Tiger ", and Then King George VI ofEngland inspecting the US Fleet. The loading of equipment and troops on LSTs, LCls and LCTs and then unload and put ashore the troops Wall of Honor under fire at the Normandy beaches. Time l A" Wall of Honor" is in the planning stage hour and 30 min. cost $20.00 +$3.00 S&H. honoring those Navy Veterans who took their " Boot " training at USNTS Sampson, NY and II ''LCI (L) During \V\V II " Made from combat subsequently lost their lives in the line of duty. films at Guam,Peleliu,lwo-Jima and Okinawa. In order to complete this " Wall of Honor " Burial at sea forthe men of LCI-441, who lost project, we are looking for anyone who has a their lives at Iwo-Jima on Feb. 17, 1945. Most computer and can volunteer to input data. This of the film footage was made on LC Is. Cost "Wall of Honor ", when completed will be $20.00 + 3.00 S & 1-1 placed in the Sampson WWII Navy Veterans Museum located on the site of the old USNTS, " Training Films fo r LCI (L). The Navy Sampson, NY. If you can volunteer a fe w hours produced this film in 1944for the men who a week, call Jake Rillimg at 609-983-0048 or E­ could be serving on board the LC ls. It is in mail:[email protected] or SalDiMilla at 978- three parts: LCI L) Description & Employment, 687-7039 or E-mail [email protected] Docking and coming alongside and LC! ( L) towing. This tape is l hour long Cost $20.0J) +$3.00 S & H

18 Part I of III Part II will be in newsletter #26 Thishas been copied verbatim from a handwritten 1/20/44, Not much doingtoday. Got our log thatthen F3/c George Kernkept during a period destinationof attack this morning. We areheaded while servingon the USS LCI (G) 450. Hisfirst for theMarshall Islands andwe are expecting· it to entry wasdated 1/19/44 and hisnarrative ends theat bea battle. conclusion ofthe 450 's Iwo fmm champagne. This 1/21/44 - Did not get to finishnight last becausewe log wasentered into a 4.25"x6. 75" linedno tebook- were calledto GQ. One of those dam Jap subs. George was originalships companyand plank owner Don't worry, he won't bother another convoy. Last ashis nameis on theMuster log dated 9/26/43 & night they gave us ourorders of attack and seemsit ratedas a F3/c. Georgecopied his notebookand that we picked one of the hottest spots. As you can ..--.. ' sent it to meafter we baddiscussed enclosing some see on the map, islands are shaped in sort of a of themore pertinent bitsof info rmationinto future backwardshape 7 with adot in the middle towards '450' newsletters. When Georgecopied his log, he the point. We and sixother LCI's are to bewhere had to bend it open so it would copy, butin doing the dot is with the rest of the fleet aroundthe so, someof the left side of the leftpage isn't visible. outside. All, or most of the actionwill take place in When transcribingthese excerpts, I mighthave to theV partof the islands. We do not knowjust guess& placea( ?) infront of the word or leave whenthe zero hour willbe but most likely in about blank ( ? ) for what word George could or might IO days. The boys are beginning to get a little have written. George's log is probably a more nervousnow but their spirits are stillhigh . Tonight accurate accounting than our memories might be they are upall in the messand hall one of the fellows that are 54 years old. Heh-heh. Wi th that said, is playing his accordion. that andthe Victrola are lets get with it. ! the only means of amusements we have. We are "l/19/44 - DearFollcs, - I'm writing this letter in a expecting to have visitorsin the next few days bookform of daily happenings on this trip. We have (enemy aircraft) so I willhave more to tell you then, been on one of the Hawaiian islands for the past four so untilthen, say a prayer forall the boys in this days getting supplies, fuel, annnunition and other battle & lets hope we all get back alive. Love, things thatare necessary. At3:30 PM we got word George to leave at3:45 & left. Just before we sailed, we 1/22/44 - Therewas little or noexcitement today. got some of ourback mail. Igot your box &Pat Enemy aircraft wasdetected early this afternoonbut Roys & Clara's box and opened themas soon aswe itwas several miles awayand did notbother us. We were underway. Just like having Christmasall over got word that they bombed the islands three times again& boyis itsw ell. Besidesyour box I got a today & are doing a pretty good job on it. This has nice boxof candy fromClara and boy youshould been avery pleasanttrip so fur. weather The is very seethe swell box I got from ( ? ). Everythingyou warm and we have not had any heavy seas. See you could thinkof isin it. As faryour box, well there tomorrow. Love, George couldbe no better. I ameating some of the candy& 1/25/44 - I have notwritten for the last twodays {1 smoking) the tobacco & theyare both swell. It because of nothing to write about. There is just wasreally worth it to wait all this timefor these about thatmuc h today too. Do you remember what boxes. I told you we were under way so you are happenedjust one year ago today. I went probably wondering where we aregoing. Well, the downtownand said 'I do', not to some blond but to Japs have had possessionthe of Marshall islands Uncle Sam & left Detroit one year ago tomorrow. Jong enoughso it ouris tum to takethem for awhile If anybody would havetold methen that in one year so somebody has to go and get them& I guess we I would beon my wayto the Marshall islands , I are as good asanybody so we aregoing with the would have toldthem theywere crazy,but who ,: help of a fewothers. Scared?no, not ye t. I think it knowswhat will be happeningin a year inadvan ce. will belot a of funwatching those little yellow men Sometimewithin nextthe ten days we will know full. It's a big job but we can handle it. Oh yes, I · what life is allabout. Some of us know we might went to Confession, Mass andCo mmunion the day not make the returntrip but there is not much said before I left SanDiego and I thinkthat willhelp too. ' about it. Everybody is tryingto behappy and gay I willbe ableto tell you more about it lateruntil so but the difference is very noticeable in the way they then, so long & love, George. - have itall written down on paper. It comes as

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going us. big 214144 though allwe haveto do isgo in and land but itis boys thatare inwith Love, George too a baseto give up thateasily. I � the - DearFolks. "We have fought the enemy onlyway to seebow hard itto is take, isto wait for and beours" is The battle Islandsof theMarshall is the timeto come, sountil then, keep the home fires all overexcept for the wiping up. I willtryandgive burning &we'll behome before long. Love, George you anaccount ofjust what happened.you As l /28/44 - DearFoJks, we passediotemational the know, on themorning laidofJan 3 I we wentin. We date line last night sotherewasno'27th' in this laidoff the beach of the firstabout island one halfa month. About 10:00 we bad a gotGQ & our first mile & theforce air theireggs allwere over the lookat aJap airplane. Theydid not comevery close island. You could thesee machineguns bitting and & havenot comeback yet andis it about 7: PM blowingthings the in air. After they finished now. We are startatnow GQ & someof the boys are we went in to about 100 yardsoff the beach & letgo singing over the battle phones. theyare stillwillhappy with ourrockets the andall our guns. Theretwo was even thoughwe the invasionin about � other LCI's thatwewent inwith us. We could see days, ifexciting anything happenstonight, I tell them mll on beach aswe opened fire & itis you about ittomorrow night, sountilthen begood. something that will never forget. Afterabout ( ? Love, George ) of firefrom our ships the airwere force back came and 1/30/44 - BestI had tellbetter you aboutour started strafingwith thebeach their .50 calmachine trouble. Last night9:00 about wehad a GQ letand gunssman andthey got what japs mleft. m Then we were told there were severalto subslaying our( ? ) openedup againthen & after another fewminutes, & followingus. After an ofhour waiting, they us the boatstook the marines & 1ess than go back to bed. haveWe not heard more any about halfan hour they raisedlaid flag alargeAmerican over themso I guessthey are gone. Asyou knowtoday the island. Allthe timebefore the boatssmall went is Sunday so wewent to clnll'cb& theboys really in, the Battleships& Destroyers off about two prayed for the safeofus return all You donot or three putmiles & 16" shells all overthe island. know it but ourAir Forcehas been bombing HELL Tins was the first of the islands to fall into our out oftlieMarshall today. Is1andsyesterday& We hands. After the marineslanded we backed out & were listening to the messages coming from the started the same overthing all again onaoother pilots& theyreally sounded good. Somebody is island. These �lands are only about 1200 yd. sq. but catching hellend it is notthe yanks. Oh yes, I there are a lot of them. As you know each island is almost forgot to tell you. I willnot be able to write given a code name so I will usethe code name tomorrowor the next the& maybe nextday. Not becausenot Ido know the real namesthem. of we The thatthere won't beanything to writeabout but you nameof this island�J was acob'' & there was a know how it is. We are goingto stop infor a short channel betweenthis & the next island that were visitto the MarshallIslands tomorrowmorning to go through and attack theother side. toDue �bout 7 o'clock. They saythe people don't there damagedone in theattack first on our steering gear 11lik e visitorsbut don'tI think thereis muchthey can went bad weand runagrmmd onwer� a coral reef& do about it. Well Folks. until we get ridof a few · were stuck betweenright was our own and the fireby from (quite a few)of these little ????t, I willsay so long the still occupied islands. Shells landing 611 & hope to be ableto finishletter this atsome future aroundus & there nothingcould we do. Just date. Love, George plain luck noneof themhit us. This happenedabout PS -You know, I stilldon't feelthe least bit scared. 12 o'clocknoon & about l :30 three small boat loads Maybe it'sbecause have we so much to look of marinesover turned in the surf. We happened to forwardtoo. love,George beclose enough to pickthem up. We threwthem a 1/31/44 - Just a word before we go in. It is nowjust line& finally52 brought (oneof themwas dead) of 4 AM andeverybody is up. Therockets & guns are themaboard. About ( ? ) of themwere not able to all manned,ready loaded& foraction. Lastlight night & makethe trip or else got caughtbut under their boats& thismorning you could see theis shellslarge the & the werefire killed. was We stayed thereThe in the middlewasof this bombs goingwish offin the islams.prayer Theyreallythe up messfor two & a half maindays thelast daythe cross the placejust likeday time. This all time I just aboutended. seoondday the have so us luck &say a forall day theytook thetwo islands. About 9 20 o'clock in themorning the re wasone of the biggest day & a halfnow & nothing bashappened. So long. explosions I have everseen or ever expectto see. PS I havea fewthings to sendhome. Also(?) (Just to showyou howcrazy the Japs are) (?)On 'Neens' Christmaspresent butdo not know howto Burls islandthere used to be asub & aircraft base get themthere. How would you like some Jap andthey had largea ammunition dump75 feet money, knives, bayonets & otherthings.? Love, belowground full highof explosives. As I said George about 9 o 'clock8planes passed over us with their 4/18/44 - Hi Folks,We llhere we areagain started ,.e loadof eggs andjust as they gotover the dumpthe on another adventure. We don't knowjust where \ iaps blew it up t& heexplosion was so great thatit we aregoing yet but isit somewherebelow the .! blew all eightof theplane s to pieces, These planes equator. Mostlikely G uadalcanal. We willknow were aboutflying a mile in the airand we could see forsure in a fewdays. We left Pearl Harborthis themjust fallapart . We were abouttwo milesaway morning at 8 o'clock. I think allthe boys hada & the concussionwas sobad it just about knocked prettygood time forthemselves inHonolulu. Well usover. Thiswill. behard to beli�ve but we got a bytomorrow we willknow more bout this trip& picture of it toprove it. Dirt andof pieces steel willbe able to tell you wherewe areheaded so until landed on ourship those & standing(everybody) then, Be good. Ge�rge.V outside were covered withburnt powder& dirt from it. ( Editors note - During thissame interval. there This article was sent in by was one occasionwhen 5 dive bombers went in at a Vaughn Hampton LCI 450 bombing angle andthe lead plane droppedhis load which struckwhat seemed like a gas dumpbecause theexplosion and fire rose up and engulfed him and Reluctant Hero thefollowing planes destroying all5 of them, being Sad to say, but time has erased the names of stuck on the reef; hadwe certainly a frontrow seat these participants, but the story is true. to observea lot of action) There were very few Kamikaze is the name given to the typhoon prisoners taken butthere were about 5000 killed on winds that miraculously swamped the ships of (?) Buries islandalone. Ourboys do nothave the an invasion army, and spared ancient Japan time to stop anddig a hole for that many Japs so from a Chinese conquest. their cremating(burning) them Thereis a large fire During the invasion of Sicily the allied forces on the island now. I willfinish this letter later as I'm were met with rare hurricane winds in the goingto bed forfe a w hours. Mediterranean Sea, and while the winds haJ 2/15/44 - I have notbeen sleeping all thisti meb ut diminished by "H" hour, the pounding surf it justnever got backto writing againI guess. I have had produced raise havoc with the landing craft told you whatduring happened thebattle andnow ferrying the troops onto the beaches.. So much forafterwar ds. Everything wentjust (?quite) after so, Many were like beached whales, and laid the battle forabout 10 days andthen on Feb 10, helplessly in easy range of the defendingri fle about2� the Japs made an attackaerial on the fire. Because rumors had it that the enemv islands. There were only four planesand they did snipers preferred to target officers. Office�s on not do much damage. Oh yes,we have a swimming these stranded vessels either removed or partyevery afternoon. We put a ladder over theside covered up their bars, and this particular Ensign & swimoff the ship. It is nice. I have beengoing on the #220 went one better by picking out this especially large deck hand, and as the big sailor fishing every nightand havingam timethe of my moved about trying to assist in the ship's rescue. life. I do notknow what kindof fishI catch but itis This deck officer managed to keep this sailor fun anyway. I catch about 8 or 10 every night. The between him and the in-coming _pfle fire. onlykind of fishthat I knowwhat it was ,wasa Finally, the white hat caught wind to what the smalltuna and the rest of themare tropical fish. The brass was up to, and turned on him and said boys on the destroyer in frontof us caught a large "Sir, there is a damn good chance that I'm going shark yesterday. Yesterday morningat 8o' clock we to get my butt shot off, But I'll be damned if I got underway forPearl Harbor. Believeor it not we want to become a hero savings yours, Okay? -­ are being towedall the way. We have beenout a Sent in by Ray Rapier Rdm 2/c LCl(L) 221 & 19 21 Plaque For Battle Of Iwo Jima State Director needs your Help Veterans Planned at Frank Ruxlow, State Director for Missouri, Fredericksburg is trying to organize an LCI group to participate in the presentation of an LCI Plansare being made to place a large plaque Model to the State of �lissouri for display at the Adimiral Nimitz Museum of the in either the Capital Building or the attached PacificWar in Fredericksburg with the Museum in Jefferson City, and to consider veterans' names from Comanche County the possibility of having future get-togethers who were involved in the Battle of lwo Jima in various locations. These could include in Febuary 1945. familvand friends of both current and deceased members in Missouri and near-by If a veteran's name was not included in the surrounding areas. and be one or several 1946 Comanche County Veterans Book of days .... Come and participate in the World War It or a veteran did not indicate planning! This would enable those who involvement in the Battle of lwo Jima, this cannot attend the National Reunions to still informationis important and is needed. have contact with other LCI sailors. Our Please send this informationto Alfred next planning meeting forthe trip to W.Evans, 527 Cicero, and San Antonio, TX Jefferson Citv will be in the ST. Louis area 78218 or call Mrs. Thelma Martin in approximately the third week of July. If you Comanche County at 254-842-5832. are interested in attending, please notify.

This request includes veteransof all Frank Ruxlow 1195 Jere Lane Armold, services, including Merchant Marines, MO 63010; E-mail firuxlowjr,a:;uno.com or pH USMC, USN, Coast Guard, and US Army. (31 4-296-9348).

Anyone born inComanche County and ************************************ entered the service from another county or state is asked to include his or her name and branch of service. Donations or memorials

1 fllay be made to the Adimiral Nimitz Museum Foundation, c/o Comanche CountyPlaque, P.O. Box 777,and Fredericksburg, TX 78624.

Anyone visiting Fredericksburg may stop at the Admiral Nimitz Museum and see the large Comanche County plaque for Dec. 7 /8 1941, on the Memorial Wall...... ••...... •...... •......

Libertv,I in New York 22 I BIRTH OP LCI (ROC�BT ), LCI (GUN) , The following is in response to the Newsletter 123, Page 17, article paragraph, "Birth of the LCI ( Gunboat )". The statement that only "Two LCI 'S were outfitted with rockets & used for the first time at the Kwaj alein Island Operation". I know of two Groups of five(S) LCI 'S, LCI (L)365 was with a Group that made the first wave assault at Kwajalein Is., at the same time Enubuj (Carlson)Is. across the channel from Kwaj alein, Group8 LCI(L) 'S 366(which r..was on at the time ) & five(5) other LCI(L) 'S made the first wave assault of Enubuj Is. There were also other Marshall Is. operations whe.reLCI (L) 'S made first wave assaults ! The above "Two LCI 'S", etc. has apeared in previous Newsletters & LCI History Book , Volume!, another Newsletter statement, "First LCI(G) 'S converted was Group 7", both above statements are not accurate statements. The LCI(L) 'S were not designated Gunboats LCI(G) 'S until prior to the Saipan/Guam Campaigns . LCI (G) Group8 LCI(G)365,366,437, 439,440,442,474&475 were designated LCI (G) June1 , 1944 (as per 366 "War Diary" Log "May 1st 1944 to May 31st 1944"). The Kwaj alein campaign took place January 31 , 1944; Saipan D'Une 15, 1944; Guam , July 21 , 1944. I would like to present the following brief"History of the USS LCI (G)366" article to be published in the LCI Newsletter. The information was extract­ ed from my "Personnel" & "Medical Records" and ships "War Diary". The USS LCI (L)366 was Commissioned August 17, 1943 at the George Lawley & Sons Shipyard, Neponset, Ma . The ships crew three (3) Officers & twenty four(24) crewmen, another Officer came aboard two months later. The ships Armament five(S) 20mm Oerliken Cannon with Mark 14 Sights, & Small Arms ; 30-06 Rifles, .45 caliber Thompson Sub-Machine Guns , & .45 caliber Pistols. The 366 was on shakedown cruise up & down east coast 8-24 thru 10-10-43 it got underway for Panama Canal & west coast, arriving San Diego 11-4-43 . 11-29 to 12-8-43 with crew of four(4) Officers & twenty seven(27) crewmen was at Fort Mason, San Francisco, US Army Maj or General Wilson with Staff & 160 Troops came aboard 366, practiced beaching , troops ashore/aboard, retracting, etc.,etc., tried beaching Humboldt Bay with 10' breakers, lost three()) GI cans, anchor with 30 fathoms cable, on way back to SD rough seas could not keep ship on course within 35° (155 ° -120° ). The 366 underway from SD to Pearl Harbor 12-14-43 arriving PH 12-22-43. From 12-28-43 thru 1-1 0-44 extensive ., ... rmament & crew changes. 12-28-43 five(S) 20mm guns removed at PH Graving Dock f4, two(2) new 20mm mounted Gun Deck aft of Con. 1-2 to 5-44 366 crews received 40mm & 20mm gunnery training at the Aiea & Wainai Gunnery Schools(Note : I was on Gun Crew of 40mm Battery 426, & Gunnery Instructor training Marine & Naval Officers , & Enlisted men at Aiea & Wainai. Many of the LCI gun crews were trained 11 by our Battery 426 crew. Later we all went aboard the LCI 'S as 40mm Gun Captains , I went aboard 366 1-7-44 as Gun captain No. 5 40mm) . Three(3) Army BOFOR 40mm bilMo e Anti-Aircraft Gun Carriages were mounted on bow & Gun Decks; five(S) .SO Caliber Machine Guns mounted on �ell Deck; rocket proj ectors aboard. 1-8-44 PH GO#4 completed all repairs & replace­ ments . New Armament now consists of following: three (3) 40mm guns ; two(2) 20mm guns ; five(S) .so cal . guns ; six(6) 4.5" Rocket Proj ectors; two(2) Mouse Trap Racks with Ready Boxes & Mounts. #1 & #4 Holds const­ ructed for ammunition magazines ; #3 Hold fitted for additional crews now fifty six(56) crewmen ; #2 Hold used for auxiliary storeroom ; two(2) additional Life Rafts mounted ; f Hull painted to conform to Amphib cam­ ouflage orders . LCI (L)365 Officers Hoctor & Fortson, & Crewmen ; Farenger, Mabbea , Gareson, Wilkson, Roberson, Smith , Alexander , Hall, Allen, & Hare came aboard to observe 366 gunnery practice.

23 1-1 9-44 underway to Marshall Is., arrived 1-31-44 off Enubuj (Carlson) Is., Kwaj alein Atoll. "H" Hour 0910 Group 8 LCI (L)366, 437, 77, & three(3) other LCI (L) 'S made First Wave Assault of Carlson Beach, 366 had 7th Army Radio Unit aboard to direct artillery fire from Enubuj to Kwaj alein Is. LCI (L)437 said we had Machine Gun bullet holes amidship port side near waterline . LCI 'S were hit by our Navy off shore guns , nearly sinking 365 at Kwaj alein. 2-4-44 Major Bjork USA & Staff 2nd Battalion , 17th Infantry, "Murderous" 7th Division came aboard 366. The 366 & LST272 carrying 7th Div. Troops & Tanks captured six(6) islands in the Kwaj alein Atoll Chain( Ashberry, August,Barney,St.Augustine , Cohen & Bascombe Islands ). 4-5 to 9-44 366 back to PH Navy Yard removed five(5) .50 ca . guns & old Rocket Launchers ; mounted two(2) 20mm guns on Well Deck below 40mm guns . 4-19-44 underway , arrived 5-6-44 at Tulagi Is., Solomon Is . 5-18-44 moored to Carter City Pier, Naval Ammunition Depot , carter City, workmen rem­ oved port & starboard ramps & put ashore. Fourty two (42) new C.I.T. Type MK VII Rocket Launchers mounted along port & starboard ramp decks , each held twelve(12) rounds, for total 504 rounds at one loading . 366 Armament now; three(3) 40mm & four(4) 20mm guns & fourty two (42) 4.5" Rocket Launchers . 5-31-44 underway to Marshall Is., 6-1-44 USS LCI (L)366 reclassified as "Gunboat" USS LCI(G)366. Crew four(4) Officers, fifty six(56) crewmen . 6-6-44 enter Kwajalein Atoll Lagoon . 6-9-44 underway thru Gea Pass, 366 joined convoy ; USS Black (DD666) Convoy Flagship; sixteen(16) LST'S carry­ ing First Wave Invasion Force, "Carlsons Raiders" 1st Provisional Marine Brigade to land at Agat Beach, Guam Is., Marianas Is.; eight (8) LCI(G) 'S 365,366, 437,439,440, 442, 474 & 475; Sub-Chaser(SC1 326); & Auxiliary Patrol Craft (APC46). 6-1 5-44(Saipan D-Day) to 6-27-44 our convoy was "Aircraft Screen" for Saipan Invasion receiving star on Campaign Ribbon . 6-1 5 convoy attacked by three(3) Jap torpedo planes, one was shot down landing off our starboard beam. 6-1 7(my 19th Birthday ) four Jap planes attacked Tractor Group 3 Invasion Force for Agana Beach ten miles ahead, one plane seen in flames . 6-18 this was to be our "W-Day" for Guam but postponed indefinitely because of Saipan Operation . 6-19-44 forever known as the "Marianas Turkey Shoot" , Admiral Mitschers Task Force 58, & our convoys downed 402 aircraft , 14 jap ships were sunk . 6-1 9 reversed course from Saipan arrive Eniwetok 7-5-44. 7-1 5-44 underway to Guam, 7-21-44 laying to off southern Guam, LST'S proceeding on . Group 8, LCI(G) 'S 365, 1 366,437,439,440, 442,474 & 475 in position at "Line of Departure", 0808 fired 40mm & 20mm &rocket assault , no remains of Agat left . 7-21 to 7-24-44 on Patrol Duty between Neye Is. & Pelagi Rock. Early AM watched as unit of Marines in Amphib vehicles were destroyed, 366 prepared for straffing beach between Neye Is. & Pelagi Rock . This would be a "suicide" operation, 366 was in single file behind 439, 439 mast was blown off with Ensign still attached landing in water . The water all around us was covered by exploding Jap mortar rounds , a mortar round exploded near No .4 40mm gun kno.cking out both NO . 4 & 5 4 0mm guns crews ; Skipper & Exec . ; four crewmen inside pilot house; five(5) killed; eleven(11) wounded ; two (2) died later a�oaro USS William P. Bi?dle(APA8 ).The LCI (G)366 went on to the Leyte L1ngayen & Okinawa Campaigns . Adolph E. Brusig, LCI (G)366, Battery 426, LCT300, AATC/Dutch Harbor, USS Curb(ARS21). o�Sincerely,e�

24

J:Tnn\.a.1.1.'5' It ...,.W-t:,*'"''" __, / I Memories But anyway. we anchored out in tare --LWestlock. Then. we were neutered. The Navy. in all of it's greatest \Visdom. took awa\ LC I 41 started out as a regular square -conn l to all of our guns and ammo and sent us west. We 350 class LCL We left the Philadelphia never stopped . .. Guam,Okinawa, Wakavama shipbuildinu site went to the Norfolkarea and . Japan. and the Bav of Nagoya. Thin!!s�han!.!ed then across the Atlantic to North Africa. We did - ..... - - -- again .... We became a floatinghotel. forthe Sicily and Saienno as a troop carrier, and then l Japanese harbor pilots. glad to take the US ships joined the ship in late NO\ 1943 at into port. Nothing much more happened to us. A.A.T.B.Bizerte. In early Dec. 1943. we were The war was long gone. All the experienced assigned the job of going into German held people on the ship had vanished. We finallv f:!Ot Cape Gaeta. We kept going m until the shore USS LCl / G) 41 back to San Dieuo one ,va�· ;r batteries kept firingat us. Once our off- shore another. only to probably sufferit · s last destroyers could see the German gun flashes. conversion fromJim Mc Carthy·s cutting torch. they proceeded to knock them out That was our first conversion .. . An LC! target ship. Then Our finalgasp ,vas scrap metal. But LCI 4 I after Anzio. ,ve stayed in the area as a lives again ...by picture. Evef\· dav. when communications ship with all sorts of radio uear 1 drive my wife to local stores and parking lot. ! and radiomen aboard. That was in the spring of eagerly await people to ask me. What is LC! 41 '1 1944. On Auu. 15. l 944. we went into Southern ! 'm still ,;·u11mg France with the first \vave of LCVP·s as a salvage and fire fighting ship. We had \V ritten by. Ken Stern C.O. of LCI -' 1 boatswains and riggers all over the place alon!.! 1 with handy billy (remember those little pump; ) It was our job to keep the beach clear of wounded LCVP. s After Southern France. we became a troop earner again and then went back to the States to be overhauled in Portsmouth. New Hampshire at the sub-base. As we were proceeding into the Portsmouth dockin!.!area very early in the morning, the people o� \Vatch thought from our silhouette we were W.W. l. submarines. But no ... Just a regular LCI. We moved do,vn the East Coast through the canal and up to San Diego. Then ,, e received orders to go to the Terminal Island dr\' dock in Lon!.! I I Beach, Ca. To be converted to.a gun boat fo(the ____l].--· invasion of Japan. We were in a tremendous dry dock with a small carrier. a destroyer and a dozen or so other LCI"s. We finally g·o t all of \,.... our guns and ammo and more people to run the ~ ....-.~ \. "" ship and we set sail from Terminal Island to San Diego, a full-fledged USS LC I ( G) 41. Between Terminal Island and San Diego, the Japanese surrendered. but no one would chan2:eou r sailinu- orders to -uo from San Die!.!-o to Pearl Horse Meat ?'???? Harbor. We arrived in Pearl and I reported to the Port Director who said in the worst possible tone You can think of --what are You doin!.! Again!! here0 .. All I could do is reply. "I.don't - know.sir"

25 There was no reversing reduction gear-only a reversible The Write Lane shiftblade. Ir took a lot of skill to dock an LCJ. Too often. some speedball captain onlv a fe w vears older than By Jerry Lane most of his crew misjudged his speed and (while waiting forthe engine reversal that he had tardily called for) tore Many ofour military veterans are now retired fromthe up a few hundred feet of dock pulled up rope cleats and .. work force and even more are thinking of--hanging it up damaged several ships Oh. the air was blue with in the near future. When these fellows clean out that desk maledictions and threats when this happened. The LCI and walk out the door. they loose a lot of the collegial was designed to cam· about 2:-0men from a troop ship to support and encouragement the:-, took from their the beach or from an island to a new assault area. We . workplace friendships Veterans . organizations are a were told that it could go 16 knots (lfo I 6 mph = 2506 great place to rekindle old friendships and en_joy meeting mph). but nobodv believed it l doubt that anv1hing more people who share similar experiences and can talk about than 12 knots w�re achieved Afterthe invasion of the same things. Tarawa. where the first three waves of landing troops were caught in the open by murderous crossfire. a new Each branch of the service has its own groups battleship method of support for these men was sousz.ht. Prior to an reunions. battalion gatherings. and unit conferences­ assault landinu.- island defenseswere bo�barded b\·. what have you. We all know the two largest veteran planes. battleships and heayy naval gunfire. All suppon groups the VFW and the American Legion Although the fire had to stop three minutes before the landing to amid American Legion accepts members who served in the hitting our own troops. Durinu that three minutes. enemy military and has been honorabl�· discharged, the Veterans fire from deep underground b�nkers inflicted heavy of Foreign Wars welcomes onlv those veterans who have damage to our landing troops The flatbo ttom LC! was fought on foreign battlefields. Although I have belonged converted into gunboats (G). rocket boats(R) and monar to both organizations in the past. I now have life boats (M). all of which were to ac.companvthe first three memberships in two others whose rosters of active ,vaves and commence firing when the large naval support members are decreasing daily I am a proud member of ships stopped firing. It was very successfuland. vou can the Veterans of Underage l\1ilitary Service (VUMS). This ,veil imagine. a complete surprise to the enemy is an exclusive organization-in spite of the fact that they marksmen. Once the beach was secured. the LC l have accepted me as a member. It is open too only those supported the troops with rockets. mortars and gunfire. who served in any branch of the service while they were LC! dut\· \\ as dangerous rvledals fe ll like rainfall with under the legal age to do so. Thev had to take me. l fit each assault There ,, ere presidential citations and that description. I v.as only sixteen years old when I medals of honor to award the survivors. but there were enlisted during World War II. Like thousands of other too manv men and vessels lost. r ve heard it said that the fellows. I couldn't wait until I was seventeen to do mv life expectancv of an LC! battle was ten minutes That part. There wasn·t much ofa background check in those might be true. Some were sunk. some were burned. but days. No computers to spit out all that personal all performedas long as they could float Of the thousand information that you believe to be private. And our that were built. there is only one left totes tify to the country needed enthusiastic young volunteers We in a horrors that it saw today It \\ as brouuht down fromits --winner Takes all"' conflict There would be no home in Eureka fora r�cent gathering-in San Diego. l consolation prizes forsecond best Thousands of was amazed at how small it was. It looked so biu when I youngsters grew mustaches. wore glasses and affected a was I 7 vears old Like VUMS. the LCI Association has a somber demeanor, trying to pass for seventeen. There are dwindling membership But the memories are still fresh no new members coming into the organization We go to and the friendships are precious. We 're like a bunch of our annual conventions. hash over old battles. repeat tall old war buddies who bought that of expensive brand\· and I/ tales of mischief and camaraderie. With each retellin�. made a pact among them that the last survivor would the pranks have gotten funnier and the battles more drink it There are fewer of us at each meeting and I dramatic.but we do have fun believe more than one ofus wonders "\\"ho" will be the last to remember it all The other organization I belong to is the U.SS LCJ National Organization. This. too, is a closed group-open to only those sailors who served on an LCI. An LCJ is a This column was published in the flat bottom craft that was born of necessity during World War II. It was158-1C fe et long and 23 feet wide Its News_Press, Leader Newspaper and bottom was as flatas humans and machinery could make L.A.Times in Feb. 1998 it It only drew three feetof water at the bow and five feet at the stem. Lt \Vas powered by two quadunits (four engines each) of General Motors diesel engines. each And proudly in our LC! National engine rated 225 hp- the same engine that powers a Greyhound bus-eight of them for the main propulsion Association Newsletter June 1998 plant Thank you Jerry.

26 History of LCI (M ) 596 news of the A_bomb attacks and Japanese surrender on 14 Aug. 1945 came through. The world was Sent by Joe Ott finally at peace again, From then on, stripped of Her 4.2 mortar guns, LCI (m) 596 was assigned to a She was built by the New Jersey Shipbuilding myriad of tasks, from running supplies in the Corporation at Barber, N.J. Uust north of Perth Hawaiian Islands, transporting Marines to Guam, Amboy ) early in 1944.Her busy career ended in moving mail and supplies from Okinawa to various .. Charleston, SC. ports in Japan, general duty fors everal months in Tokyo Bay (Yokosuka), to aiding V.l.P.s get to .., But in between, that career could be said to have their assignments. After4 months of occupation been a checkered one. For she crossed both the duty, LCI (M) 596 was ordered back to Pearl and to Atlantic and the Pacific, touched, fourcon tinents, the States, with a stop at Eniwetok Atoll. Back in performed domestic duties on the Mississippi and San Diego, there were many farewells as Illinois Rivers, was decommissioned, then later put crewmembers headed back to civilian life. But LCI back into active service. (M) 596 was off again. This time, back throuQh the Canal with her destination New Orleans.La. Sh e LCI 596 started as a run-of-the�mill LCI, but after was officially decommissioned on 18 Sept. 1946 taking part in the Southern France invasion and and placed in "Caretaker Status" at New Orleans making it's way back to the U.S. and then through ******The end? The Canal, she glamorized herself and sleeked­ But wait: This sleek, gallant, never-say-dje ship was down to an LCI Mortar Ship. A faceliftrid her of not through. On 20 Sept. 1946 She was placed on the high bow, the Landing ladders, smoothed and "In service status"', reclassifiedt o LSIM-596 and filled-out her sides and made her "the slickest rig sailed up the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers to you've ever seen". Underway She was as trim Peoriay, IL. where she served until Feb. 1949. At looking as a submarine. Her crew even added last She was designated for" Inactivation", sailed to Flying Bridges, giving her, her own uniqueness. Charleston SC Naval Base and retired l feb.1950. The rest is sad, foron lJune 1950 She was deemed Afterher final"fi tting" at pier 42 in Manhattan, She ''Unfit for further service" and on 20 Mar. 1951 was was commissioned on 20 April I 944, assigned to sold to the highest bidder for $12,009. Here we lose Flotilla 14,Gr 42, Div.83, And soon headed to her trail but assume she was scrapped. Thus, this Norfolk on her shakedo¼n, Norfolk to Bizerte, small, yet hardy craft,ha s had a busv career in Her Tunisia convoy. It was made up of 10 lanes of 12 short seven years, and had done, ably, all that was ships each (Transports, Cargo and Naval ) with an demanded of Her. She had plowed many seas, seen LCI at the end of each lane to provide air defense. Africa, Europe, and Asia, had anchored in many a port and had gotten her home whole and safe. Small wonder that She still lives in the hearts and minds of ,�rom Bizerte it was on to Palermo, Sicily, and Pozzuoli, Italy (near Naples) transporting 189 all whom served on and with Her. We miss you Sengslais troops of the Re2:iment De Tirailleurs and 596. then 204 Brazian troops. On 15 Aug. 1944 LCI (L) 596 landed U.S. infantry nearMar seille in Story written by Joe A.Ott Springfeild,Or. establishing a second front in the underbelly of France. In that engagement She also laid ****************************************** smokescreening for the cruiser Augusta in addition to aiding LCVP minesweepers. Soon after, It was /;. back to the States, headed for the War in the Pacific. Having been refitted rearmed and reclassifiedt o

LC19M0 mortar ship in San Diego durino0 May and June 1945, it was offt o Pearl Harbor where She was berthed at the bombed-out hull of the USS Oklahoma. It was at nearby Kaolawee Island, in the middle of artillery maneuvers that the momentous

27 N co • • i ('.·· �

r. ."- ,,.,.,...,. .:: :a. 11.,.

..\ '' '· ". -· .�..:...... , ...... ,,,..�.. •, ,,r, ... -;,.- � ...-�, !'-

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---- ·· 4 -.- ·-·:a.. - ·-. �--·------�=- .-,;;:. ... . ·- .. .__,;,-:::::fr' a:,:•'.ii!!" ;: .. __,,? - - ••, ...... -.!"-.las - &::: ,:.:.. �� .�....------· - -- -· -- ...;;· ., �-� ,.4 - - --�-"� ....- ----�------;::. --· ------�­ - --...:'f ... '<"'!~.. ,. .. - ...... ,.· -...... L c: / - . - This garden is like a church - enter and think good thoughts!

BE CAREFUL! Hazards exist in the garden area. The pathway is rough and uneven. Use caution while walk­ ing.

This garden is a gift from the people of Japan to the people of America, a symbol of peace and friendship. Craftsmen came from Japan and built it, using money raised in Japan by popular subscription. These are things to look for:

THE Many objects in the garden have special meanings. As you enter you will see water dripping from a bamboo pipe. The Japanese say that here you may purify yourself -wash your hands, "soiledBAMBOO in worldly SPRING: activities," rinse your mouth, which may have spoken ill of others, and cleanse your mind, which may have had evil thoughts. This symbolic purification will lead you to a deeper appreciation of the garden and what its meaning symbolizes.

This small house is an exact replica of the study of Admiral Togo, of whom Admi­ ral Nimitz called himself a disciple. It was built in Japan, brought here and erected by the same craftsmen. It THEis a fine JAP exampleANESE of HOUSE: their art in working with wood. Japanese historians say that the three greatest admirals in the world were Britain's Lord Nelson, Japan's Togo and America's Nimitz.

The pool was copied from onebeside the Togo study in Japan. It is in the shape of the characters meaning "one heart" or "loyalty". The stream of life symbolizes the raindrop which findsTHE POOL its way AND to the THE sea. STREAM:

Ta ke a moment to "visit with the stones" as the Japanese express it. Benches beside the trail are for your comfort and we invite you to rest as you read the following philosophy of the Garden of PeacePAUSE written AND byRE ST:its designer, Mr. Taketora Saita, of Tokyo.

"By the beauty of this garden, the Japanese and Americans who worked together to build it hope to transform the spiritual attachment between Admiral Chester Nimitz and Heihachiro THETo go, PURPOSE their friendship OF THE and GARDEN: respect for one another into a friendly relationship betweer� the people of Japan ,and the United States. The wishes of the two working committees have turned into success as you see the , I beautiful garden, a living memorial to this friendship."

"The garden's two units have distinctive characteristics. The first is traditional Japanese, with a waterfall, pond and trees arranged three-dimensionally in a small space. It displays the TWOdelicate STYLES beauty BLENDED:of the Japanese garden. The concept is based on the Ishin-no-Ike (Pond of One-heart) in the garden of the official residence used by Admiral To go at Maizuru City, Japan. The second unit is a stone garden, reminding one of the Pacific Ocean. It gives rhythm, tempo and harmony by aligning stones against bright greens in the background. Along the walls are benches where we invite you to sit and quietly visit the stones, (in contrast to the first unit) which emphasizes tranquility by careful placement of the large rocks on a sea of white pebbles."

29 r -

"The trees and pl�nts of the garden, while Japanese in style, are American-grown. There are dwarf maples, a few live oaks, flowering apricots, corkscrew willows, magnolias, and some fine TREEScrape myrtles AND PLANTS:donated by citizens of Fredericksburg. The lower story is mainly azaleas, camellias iris, some planted by local school children. The plants along the west wall are photinia. Because the garden is small, cherry trees are not used as they soon grow out of scale. The focal point of the garden are three Japaneseand pines, bonsai shaped."

"We were fortunate to find in the fields and farms around Fredericksburg stones and rocks for the stone garden, the quality and beauty of which would have been difficult to find in Japan. A countless number ofSTONES: these are scattered throughout the land and as they have been exposed to the weather since the primitive ages they are covered with sun moss (lichen). It is difficult to describe the satisfaction I felt as I carefully selected and placed each stone in the garden - I felt as if I were picking up diamonds!"

"By letting water flow from the upper courses of the small stream which separates the walk from the stone garden, we create a mountain torrent flowing to the [shin-no-Ike pond. If as a designer I suc­ cessfullyTHE WA TER:convey the philosophy of life to be found in a drop of rain water which grows into a stream, then a river, then a larger river and finally an ocean, nothing could please me more."

"The Togo study was copied from one used by the late Admiral Togo when he lived in Maizuru, Japan. You will see that it has shoji screens for walls and woven tatami mats on the floor. The square THEdesign TO andGO gable STUDY: roof emphasize the simplicity, beauty and dignity of a typical Japanese house of the Taisho Era (1912-1925).

Neither the garden nor thestudy play up the Japanismwhich is often overdone in America. Careful attention has been given to making you feel an Oriental mood by presenting genuine objects refined by the unique Japanese traditions. It is my hope that as the Admiral Nimitz Park is visited by people from all parts of the world, it will be praised as a small oasis of cool, green beauty in Texas. The prayers of many people, those who gave money as well as those who had a part in building the garden, are directed to this objective.

has worked hard despite pressures of their respective busi­ nesses to collect the necessary funds from thousands of Japanese, and it is due to their efforts that the garden THEhas become JAPAN a COORDINA reality. The membersTING COMMITIEE of the committee included Mr. Naka Funada, a senior member of the House of Representatives, Admiral Zenshiro Hoshina, former member of the House of Representatives, Am­ bassador Nobuhiko Ushiba, former ambassador to the U.S., Admiral Nobuo Fukuchi, Director of the Memo­ rial Ship Mikasa, Mr. Te ruo Hachiya, Admiral Saburo Orita, Admiral Mitsugu Ihara,Admiral Kazutoshi Kuhara, Admiral Norito Ikeda, Admiral Gora Matsueda, and Mr. Ichiro Masuoka. The contracting firm in Japan was Meiji Seisakusho, Ltd. of which Mr. Masakichi Mita is President and Mr. Ta ketora Saita is Vice-President.

The people of Fredericksburg extended a warm, helping hand so our I I work was made easier. When we walked the streets the people raised their hands and spoke to us, so we knew THANKSthat they appreciated TO FREDERICKS what weBURG: were doing. Now as we return to our homes in Japan, we leave four thoughts: peace, repayment of Admiral Nimitz's kindnesses, gratitude, and cooperation, in memory of the work we have done together to make Fredericksburg a more beautiful place."

In his last message to the Japanese people, Admiral Nimitz said: "The damage received by both sides was great, but with the passage of years, the wounds of war have healed, and today our two countries join their hands in cooperation. This fact is of great pleasure to me, and it is my fervent hope that we may continue thus forever."

-.,,,-.-- --

PWD LF P4507·130C (11/94) Dispersal of this publicationconforms wrth Texas State Documents DepositoryLaw, and it is available at Texas State PublicationsClearinghouse and'or Te xas DepositoryLibraries.

30 REUNION NOTICES *********************************** National Assoclanof USS LCS (L) 1-130 USS BARY, DD 933 SheratonTara Hotel.Framington. MA Norfolk, VA. AUGUST 12-15, 1998 October39- Nov. 1, 1998 Contact "JEFF" Jeffers Contact: LarryLoss POBox 9087 268 W Dryden#116 Waukegan, IL 60079 Glendale, CA 91202 Pb: (847) 623-7450 Ph: (818) 549-9439

USS CORBESIER DE 438 USS GWIN, DM 33 RAMADA INN,. Mobie�Alabama Ft. Mitchell, NY. October 15-18, 1998 October 8-13, 1998 Contact: R.L. Jones Contact: Larry Loss 3211 7th Street 268 W Dryden #116 Louisville, KY 40216. Glendale, CA 91202 Ph: (502) 634-0694 Ph: (818) 549-9437

LCI (L) 814 USS Wm. C. LAWE, DD 763 Plantation Inn. Chicopee,MA Cincinnati, OIL August 23-26, 1998 October 16-19, 1998 Contact: Paul Klym Concact: Owen O. Turner 309 Otawa Ave N. 14 Gordon Terr. Golden Valley, MN 55416 Newton. MA 02158 (612) 374-1800 Ph: (617) 969-8328

LSM-LSMR ASSOCIATION USS Wm. Selverllng DE 441 NEW ORLEANS, LA. Governor's Inn SEPT. 2 tbru 6, 1998 Sacramento, CA Contact: Richard Schatz October 1-4, 1998 66 Summer St. Contact: Jbn May Greenfield, MA. 01301 8310 Rothesay PL (413) 774-2307 Stockton, CA 95209 Pb: (209) 478-6451 MICHIGAN STATE LCI REUNION COMFORT INN - ALMA, MI. 1 I National Chief Petty OfficersAssoc. SEPTEMBER , 15th & 16 th, 1998 QualityHotel & Convention Center Contact: Floyd Van Hom Metalrle, LA 703 SibleySt. October 14-18, 1998 Bay City, MI 48706 Contact:W. A. "Bill" Williams (517) 684-0151 106 Waring-Welfare Rd Boerne,TX 78006 Pb: (830) 537-4899 TEXAS STATE LCI REUNION HILTON HOTEL - AUSTON, TX. . th September 11 --- 13th , 1998 USS NORRIS, DD 859 Contact: Thurman Witt Pensecota.FL. 113 Flreblrd �-. October2-4, 1998 Lakeway, TX 78734 Contact: Edward Mehl (512) 261-3949 1404 LangfordRd Baltbnore, MD 21207 Pb: (410) 744-5189

31 I RBUNION 1999 SNOW BIRDS The Reunion will be held at THE GALT HOUSE in Louisville, Your JUNE and SEPTEMBER News Kentucky the Dates are May 12th Letter will be mailed to your - 16th 1999. More information SUMMER address , and your DECEMBER and MARCH Letter will mailed to will be forthcoming in the next your WINTER address . News Letter . ADDRESS CHANGES DID YOU PAY YOUR DUES ???? PLEASE Send any changes to your address or area codes to : Your 1998 Dues became due on June Walter Kop!!!acz , 155 Main Street - 1, 1998 . Look at your mailing Port Monmouth , NJ 07758. label on this News Letter . On the top line if there is a "NO" INTERNET after 1998 dues , your dues are . now due . Dues are $10 .00 per Our Associat ion 1s. 1n the process year , June 1st thru May 31st. Or of having a WEB SITE designed for $100 .00 for life Membership. us , it will consist of a home Make your payment check or money page with a picture of an LCI , a order out to "LCI National form where interested veterans Association" and Send your dues can make inqui ries, and a page payment to our Treasurer - Howard with links to other veterans Clarkson , 73 GRANGE ROAD - TROY , sites . More on this in the next NY 12180 - Ph . 518-279-3846 News Letter .

USSLCI NATIONALASSOCIA TION, INC. NOlf.flROF1T r...,...._,.. ;I :lsAn Naf'IIII... .,. BUI.I(RATE y._� U.S. POSTAGE -· Robert V. Weisser, Pres. l'MI PelMITN0.4 134i.natter Avenae CAUERY, PA Cola111bia, Pa. 17!12 16024 PB.(717) "4-C71S D ,,. Fu (717)614- 76S3 PleueFOtward Address CorrectionRequested

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