The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Deland Tugboats Served Country in World War II-- Part 1

From the Dec. 25, 2012, Daytona Beach (Fl) News-Journal by Anthony De Feo.

Marshall McLaughlin and Ed Johnson, both 83, built tugboats as teenagers in the 1940s at the Beresford Boatworks which were used in World War II overseas operations.  They and others were at the West Valusia Historical Society's monthly meeting where a presentation was made on the subject.

More than 300 tugs were built for the war between 1943 and 1945 by the American Machine Corporation, one of only a handful of companies building these essential little boats.

McLaughlin was just out of high school and was a pipefitter's helper.  The company built 36 tugs.

They were shown a plaque from one of their tugs which read "U.S. Army S.T. 679, Built By American Machinery Corp., Beresford, Florida."

Which Way to Tug?  --GreGen

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