US Flag Flies Gallantly Flies Over Historic Sites-- Part 2: USS Arizona and USS Missouri

Harry T. Parker, his son, began wondering what he was going to do with this old 48-star flag that at least one of his father's ships had flown.    Since that ship was historic, he started thinking about other historic sites it might fly over.

He wrote a letter to the White House asking if it could fly there and President Obama was very encouraging.

Since 2015, that flag has flown over more than twenty historical sites, including Fort McHenry in Baltimore, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier,  and the USS Wisconsin during a sailor's reenlistment. It has also flown over the only operable LST remaining in the world, the LST-325 (home ported in Evansville, Indiana).

The LST-466's ensign was notably flown over the submerged wreck of the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor on the 75th anniversary of the infamous December 7, 1941, attack.  And even more historical, it was flown at 7:45 am, the exact time the attack began in 1941.

In addition, the flag flew over the USS Missouri, where the Japanese signed the papers officially ending World War II on September 2, 1945, that same day.  That was bookending the war for the United States.

--GreGen

LST-325-- Part 6: We Visited It in Dubuque, Iowa

I have been on the 325 in Evansville, but was excited to see that it was going to be nearer to home, and would be there while my wife Liz and I were on our 45th wedding anniversary in nearby Galena.  We got a room in Dubuque, Iowa, by where the ship was docked and enjoyed talking with the crew that night after it closed to visitors.

And, they had really long lines waiting to board on both the Saturday we arrived and on Sunday.  Something I was happy to see.  There were quite a few veterans and even some World War II ones who were given VIP treatment.

Tours were held from 11 am to 6 pm Thursday to Monday, August 27.  Tickets cost $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6 to 17.  Children 5 and younger and World War II veterans get in free.

Well Worth the Experience.  --GreGen

LST-325-- Part 5: Lousy Gas Mileage

One drawback of LSTs however is that they are not fuel-efficient.  The diesel powered ship burns through more than six gallons of gas for every mile it travels.

Every penny earned by the nonprofit group running the ship from ticket sales and sales from the gift shop is used to keep the tanks full and engine running.

But, it's time and money well spent.

"We've been doing this since 2004," according to John Tallent.  "We've served over 450,000 visitors in that time frame.  Typically, we're underway going on a tour of cities three or four weeks a year.  In that time span, we'll see on average 33,000 visitors."

The ship is home-based in Evansville, Indiana, on the Ohio River when not on tour.

--GreGen

LST-325 Visits Dubuque-- Part 3: Training and His Ship

As he walked through the LST-325, he recalled his days on the identical LST-806.

"We slid down those stairs," he said of a steep set of stairs leading down to the ship's living quarters,.  "Sometimes the seas were so rough the deck with ripple."

Roger Klauer entered Navy service on May 11, 1944.  His LST crew was assembled  shortly after that in Libertyville, Illinois.  "from there, we trained at Navy Pier (Chicago), then we were sent to Evansville, Indiana."

The Navy launched Klauer's LST-806 from the shipyards in Evansville (which is the LST-325's home port).  With him and the rest of the crew of 123 on board,  the USS LST-806 traveled down the Ohio River to Cairo, Illinois, where it went into the Mississippi River and eventually to New Orleans.

--GreGen

LST-157

Gerald "Jerry" Barbosa, who just recently died and I wrote about in the last two posts, served on this ship.

One site had the nickname of the ship as the USS Ivory Soap -- It Floats.

It was built by the Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company at Evansville, Indiana.  Laid down 25 June 1942, launched 31 October 1942 and commissioned 10 February 1943  It ended service 9 December 1944 and was transferred to the Royal Navy and returned to the Navy 13 April 1946 and sold 5 September 1946.

It served in the European Theater:

Sicilian Occupation July 1943

Salerno Landing  September 1943

Invasion of Normandy  June 1944

During its service, it earned three Battle Stars.

--GreGen

World War II Vet, 90, Running Across the U.S. for LST-325-- Part 2

One hundred and sixty-seven LSTs were built at Evansville, the most of any shipyard.  The LST-325, however, wasn't one of them.

Many of the LSTs were built in so-called "Cornfield Shipyards" like at Evansville, Jeffersonville and Seneca, Illinois.    These  places had never built ships of this size before and never did again.  More than 1,000 LSTs were built.  The only remaining LST in running condition is LST-325.

It also is the only ship from D-Day and Normandy still steaming under its own power.

--GreLSTGen.

World War II Vet, 90, Running Across United States for LST- 325-- Part 1

From the June 12, 2014, WBIW (Indiana) "90-Year-Old WWII Vet Running Across the U.S.."

Ernie Andrus, 90, started his trek across the United states last October at the Pacific Ocean and is currently in Arizona.  He says he averages 17 1/2 miles a week and sometimes is running by himself and other times with supporters.  He is doing this for the LST-325, homeport in Evansville, Indiana.

LST stands for Landing Ship Tank in Navy speak.  These flat-bottomed ships were designed during World War II with the purpose of landing troops, tanks and heavy equipment to enemy beaches and were particularly apparent at D-Day and the follow-up Normandy operation as well as in the Pacific against the Japanese.  

--GreGen