USNAVY LST 639 a WAR and MORE 1944 - 2004 ^Ttt-Aujy/Dytzotoy August 28, 2010
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%: /A' USNAVY LST 639 A WAR and MORE 1944 - 2004 ^TTt-aujy/dytZOtOy August 28, 2010 Donated to the archives of LST-325 In memory of the crew of LST-639 Naomi Sams 1275 South 21st Street Sebring, Ohio 44672 Ph. 330-938-2449 US NAVY LST 639 US NAVY LST 639 A WAR and MORE 1944 - 2004 •^—r .- Friends, This is submitted to you in friendship. I have tried to make it as nearly complete and accurate as possible. If you detect any Inaccuracies, or feel that something Is omitted that you feel is important, I hope you will be kind enough to overlook them. If you should happen to like this and wish to thank anyone, please thank my grandson Jason Rice. He asked the question that caused this to be compiled. His address is: c/o Janet Rice, 44 East Ely Street, Alliance, Ohio 44601 I'm sure lt would make him happy to receive a note from you. I would like to thank all those who helped with submissions of Information, pictures, memories, phone calls, and letters of support. Your assistance is greatly appreciated. Jncui/ Jiooy THE COST OF FREEDOM IS ALWAYS HIGH, BUT AMERICANS HAVE ALWAYS PAID IT, AND ONE PATH WE SHALL NEVER CHOOSE IS THE PATH OF STJRRENDER, OR SUBMISSION. JOHN F.KENNEDY This booklet is dedicated to all those who have sacrificed their time, endured hardships and faced danger in their efforts to protect our freedom. It is especially dedicated to all the officers and crewmen who served aboard USS LST 639. You have my sincere and deep appreciation. Information used was obtained from records prepared by Riley Hammond, details from the diary kept by John Branch, information submitted by former officers George Brown, John Carlson, Chester Mai ins, official records from the National Archives and from many of the former crew members. I offer a special thanks to Riley Hammond for all his input, co-operation and patience in Instructing me In "Navy talk", to Chester Mallns for his letters and many contributions, Cecil Hoyle, Edmund Rogala, Frank Calauttl, Fred DeVinney, Louis Strlckler and Russell Kntz for their lists of names of former crew members. Every effort was made to make this record as nearly complete as possible. However, it is impossible to declare it truly complete for the reason that all memories cannot be expressed in print, but will remain forever with the men who experienced this memorable journey and in doing so unknowingly lntwlned their lives forever. Perhaps the best example of the depths of their feelings for each other was to happen 34 years after they left the ship when the crew held their first reunion. They gathered, and, one by one, by a glint In an eye, the tilt of a head, they recognized one another, and the years rolled away. Through tears, hand shakes, hugs and slaps on the back the old comraderie returned. The stories began to be told, the teasing started. They fell into old remembered ways of talking to each other. In small and large groups the phrase "do you remember?" was heard again and again. And they DID remember. The greatest display of group respect I have ever seen occurred when, as "Bobble" Brown and I stood to one side, hesitantly, George Brown entered that huge meeting room. As the men realised he was in the room, and as if drawn by some unseen giant magnet, the gravitation towards him began. Unplanned, they formed a large circle. Alter a while George Brown began to relax. Later he explained that he was afraid there would be resentment carried over the years because of his orders on the ship. There was NONE. The crew had all come to realize he had carried out his orders well and to the benefit of them ail. lfM*P Mm#'i.iiii^«Slt > THE SHIP It began when the keel of the USS LST-639 was laid down on May 26,1944. It was one of 1051 LST's built from June 10,1942 to August of 1945. 50 Feet wide, 328 feet long and with a minimum draft of 3 feet 9 1/2 Inches, lt was relatively small for an oceangoing ship. Small, but mighty her crew would say. Though she weighed only 2000 tons she was capable of carrying her own weight plus another ton of troops, cargo and equipment. A real "work horse" of the Navy. One of the 157 built in Seneca, Illinois by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Works, she was completed and launched on August 28,1944. Following an invocation by Rev. F. Ball, she was Jolted to life with a christening bottle of champagne by Isabel C. Christofferson, wife of DeWane Christofferson, Supervisor of Launchings. A sideways launch into the waters of the Illinois River was how her journey began. A journey that would take her a long way from Seneca, Illinois to places with names difficult to pronounce, but years later still clear in the memories of the crew for which she was to become "home" for two long and dangerous years. The bow doors opened 14 feet wide, enough to allow most of the military vehicles in use at that time to enter and exit easily. Armed with a defense system that consisted of 2 - twin 40 MMaa guns, 4 - single 40 MMaa guns, 12 - 20 MMaa guns, numerous machine guns and small arms, she and others like her served until the end of the war. LSTs were first used in the Solomon Islands in June, 1943 and saw action in all invasions of the war. 26 of them would be lost to enemy action during those two years. Although she suffered some bruises, she carried out her duties honorably and survived to serve beyond the time of conflict in a more humanitarian capacity. Officially Commissioned September 14,1944, the ship left the USA October 19 of that year to fulfill her mission. Following the Japanese Surrender on August 15, 1945 she continued to serve until the official Decommissioning on June 1,1946. Sold to the Bosey Company in the Philippines, the ship was struck from the U.S. Navy list December 5,1946. A more detailed account of her travels is included in this booklet. She was to taste the peaceful waters of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers, the Gulf of Mexico, the Panama Canal, the great expanse of the Pacific Ocean, and the turbulent waters of the Coral Sea, the Philippine and Sulu Seas near the Philippine Islands, the Celebes Sea near Borneo and the China Seas before her days of service for her country would end and her "crew family" would return to their families and homes. It was a long way to travel for a little ship with a maximum speed of approximately 11.5 knots. Although her story is late coming, it deserves to be told. The LST-639 existed as a United States Navy vessel for the short span of 22 months, but the memories made and the friendships formed during that time have lasted all their lives for the members of her crew. Faces have changed and names are sometimes difficult to recall, but the shared experience of their days as a crew have formed a permanent bond for these men. They willingly left their homes and families to serve their country, and, by the Grace of God, they all returned home safely. No casualties and no serious injuries are known to have happened to any of them though they went through some of the fiercest Invasions of the war. As each man was Inducted Into the Navy he was required to take the following; OATH OF ALLEGIANCE From Recruiting Station, Cleveland, Ohio I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Unites States of America, and that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies whomsoever, and that I will obey the orders of the President of the Unites States and the orders of the Officers appointed over me, according to the rules and articles for the government of the Navy. And I do further swear (or affirm) that all statements made by me, as now given In this record are correct. THE OFiaCERS AND CREW The crew was assembled from all over the country. From tiny hamlets in Kentucky and Tennessee where everyone knew everyone else, cities and small towns in America's heartland states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, the lake states of Michigan and Minnesota. From the bayous of Louisiana, from Florida, New York, and from Maine to California. The ship became a melting pot. Enlisting or dratted to serve their country were young college students, farm boys, some just out of high school, a young attorney from Brooklyn, New York who could have had an officers comm ission, but chose to serve as an ordinary seaman. Some had families, most were young, single and away from home for the first time In their lives. There was one thing they had In common. They were willing and eager to do whatever would be their part to defend the country to which they grew up pledging their all legance. The time they were to spend on the 639 together would change them forever in many ways. The young ones were forced to mature. The older ones were to set a good example for them. None would return home unchanged. It was a time they would always look back on with a far away look in their eyes as the memories rush Into their minds.