USS LST Ship Memorial - Progress Report

This page was last updated 28 FEB 05, 1930Z

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PLEASE NOTE: LST 325 is currently at Hook's
Terminal in Chickasaw, AL. Visiting hours are Monday
through Friday, from 10 am until 3 pm. Help is STILL
very much needed. Please call if you can give a hand.

Adults $10, Children K-12 $5, Children under 5 free.

USS LST 325

91 Hardwood Lane
Chickasaw, AL 36611

251-452-3255

Mosier's Raiders: The Story of LST-325 by Dave Bronson	Discount accommodations for volunteers and visitors	An Inside Look: Landing Ship Tank by Michael Smith
Voyage 2005 information	Directions to the ship	Radio Room Project

REPORT ON THE SEA TRIALS
FROM KENNY & ANNA ADAMS

Posted 23 February 2005

As seen from the fantail by Anna and the main engine room by Kenny (Black Gang)

With all systems up and running at 0500, dropping the gangway and all lines and with the crew and Coast Guard aboard at 0800, LST 325 left Hook's Terminal. Tug boats assisted the passage through the railroad bridge and our ship was set free at 0930.

Full speed ahead came across the telegraph and the 325 cut a path across the Bay. By high noon, every system was tested and tested again. From full ahead to full astern, Right full rudder, secure port engine, secure starboard engine and restart port. Man aft steering, shaft alley report on the bearing temperatures. Ballast starboard for a 3° list, then level her again. Switch from generator #4 to generator #1, man forward port and starboard fire lines, check fire pump pressure.

Like a wild mustang running across the plains, kicking up her heels and swinging her head, the 325 turned and twisted from starboard to port like she was just let out of the barn after a long winter storm.

Nightfall was upon us as she slipped back into her barn with a crew that was truly proud of themselves and their ship.

A lot of thanks go out to all those who were aboard in spirit and soul, and who made this day possible.

~ Kenny & Anna Adams

Click on any of the images for enlargements

LST 325 passes the Convention
Center under her own power

Capt. Colpus & Capt. Jornlin toast success

One extremely happy crew!

SEA TRIALS REPORT FROM RON MARANTO
Posted 19 February 2005

I arrived on the 7th of February and all kinds of things were going on: chipping, painting, welding, etc.

Gary Lyon arrived the next day. Our first job was to get the anchor light working, which Gary assigned to Arnold Ness and me. The closest AC power was about forty feet away so we ran the wire to accommodate the anchor light.

Captain Ron Colpus had us check the engine order telegraph. Arnold and I were assigned to that project. We worked two days on that with the help of Cliff Dunaway. It wasn't until Marty Reynolds suggested that we reverse the power that our problems were solved. Gary had it working perfectly, but it seems someone else must have fooled with it. [Ed. note: Gary thinks it was Jonathan. He could be right. C'mon now, Buddy! Cut us some slack, would ya?]

It's kind of hard to explain all the work that had to be done to get the ship ready for the trial run, but there were about 40 of us using our expertise to get things ready.

February 13th, Gary started the #4 generator, and shifted power from shore to ship.

February 14, reveille was called at 0500. Breakfast was served by Bill Rockey and Ralph Bryant: eggs and bacon to order.
Then muster was called at 0615 and all hands turned to. At 0630 we lit up the #3 AC and #2 DC generators. At 0645 the starboard engine was started and the port engine followed. Deck apes turned to sweeping the deck, tending the lines and standing by for word to cast off.

Pilot Tom Reager came aboard. Engineer Pete Retzko, and Lauren Whiting were standing by in the engine room.

In the aux. engine room Will Adams, Gary Lyon and Ad Mumford were discussing the operations of generators. Checking the batteries were John Paul Adams, Kenny Adams and Gary Lyon.

0737, sea trial was set by Capt. Jornlin upon the arrival of the Coast Guardsmen. 0835, the gangway was removed.

On the way to the radio room, I saw Ad talking with some of the Adams family: Ann, Anna, and Ann's daughter, Holli. Upon my arrival, I found Perry Ballinger, Tom Pendarvis and Bob Wilder attending the radios.

At 0845, we pulled away from the dock. After our disappointment on the 12th, we couldn't believe we finally got underway.

The Coast Guardsmen were inspecting all the vents and hatches. They went down to inspect the engine room and also the aux. engine room. They could find nothing wrong. The engines were purring like a couple of kittens.

We made good time getting to the RR bridge with the assistance of two tugs: The "William Lee" and the "Missy."

At 1020 the two tugs cast off and the order came "Engines One-Third Ahead," and we were now under our own power. A minor problem arose between the engine room and the bridge. First Mate Ed Crowe was at the controls. Ralph Bryant was at the wheel. While the engine tachometer was registering in the engine room, it was not functioning in the wheelhouse. It wasn't too long before that problem was solved by Lee Boudreaux, who was representing MSI.

Carl Black was on board assisting us in any way he could. He came down to the aux. engine room and insisted on taking my picture while on duty, so I gave my best pose.

Just before we changed over to ship power, Pilot Tom Reager was relieved by the second Pilot, Capt. Pat Wilson.

As I went back to the wheelhouse, Capt. Bob Jornlin was at the controls and Don Lockas was at the helm. At 1300, we turned around in Mobile Bay at the famous lighthouse. I went to see what was going on in the shaft alley and found Gary Hendrickson and Kenny Adams doing their duty, inspecting the shaft bearings.

I went down to the main engine room again and C.G. Leroy McMillan was inspecting the engine room. I took some shots of Lee Adams, Pete Retzko, and John Paul at work. By 1334, we were going through the RR bridge. At the time I didn't know what rating the CG had given us, but if we were judged by the operation of the equipment, we should have no problems getting everything approved.

At 1721 we arrived at the berth and the gangway was secured.

~ Ron Maranto

Ron Maranto in the aux engine room

Will, Michael, Garth and Jim

Ad Mumford and Will Adams

Ann Adams and Holli Grove

Bruce Voges, Cliff Dunaway and Bill Rockey

John Paul Adams

Bill Rockey, Stacy Jackson,
and Chip Lanham

**Click on any of the images for enlargements**
Frank Perrella and Ralph Bryant	Bill, Jeff, Judy, Frank Ralph and Pat	Pete Retzko and Lauren Whiting
Gary Lyon and Ad Mumford	Capt. Jornlin, Parris Stratton, Lee Roy McMillin, Capt. Colpus & Capt. Pierce	John Paul Adams
Don Lockas, Ralph Bryant, and "First Mate" Ed Crowe	Pilot Tom Reagor	Perry Ballinger, Tom Pendarvis and Bob Wilder, our radio crew
Anna Adams, Judy Spencer, Lois Jornlin	Leaving Chickasaw	Going through the RR bridge
Ralph Bryant, Don Lockas & Ed Crowe	First time in four years!	John, Paul and Lee Boudreaux
Carl Black	Pilot Pat Williams	Capt. Ron Colpus
Don Lockas and Capt. Jornlin	Lois Jornlin and the lighthouse	Judy Spencer and Jim Threlkeld
Marty, Michael and Bill	Ron Maranto and Bruce Voges	Gary Hendrickson and Kenny Adams
Lee Roy McMillan	Lee Adams	Pete Retzko
Lee Roy McMillan and Parris Stratton	Returning through RR bridge	Those lines are mighty heavy!
Restoring the gangway	Capt. Jornlin giving the CG report	The Adams Family

PROGRESS REPORT FOR JANUARY 28
THROUGH FEBRUARY 13, 2005
From Bill Spencer

Posted 18 February 2005

Shown at right:
Bill Spencer checking
the ship's plans

**Click on any of the images for enlargements**
The ship remained at Chickasaw for the period. Volunteer work changed to emphasize sea trial preparation, and no general chipping and painting was scheduled. All of the ship’s wool blankets were “dryer-fluffed” and any bunk sheets washed. Loose paint was scraped off through starboard crews’ quarters and the forward tank deck to the machine shop. The main engine room and aux engine room tank deck patches were cleaned, painted and reinstalled. Main engines and generators were run to assure control response and output; and a number of adjustments were made. MSI/Harvey LA, Electro-Motive’s service, was represented and helped the crew and licensed engineer. The pneumatic engine control was tested. Navigation lighting was tested, repaired and completed. Steering was operated, checked and adjusted. The gyro was brought on line and checked; and repeaters on the 04 wings reinstalled. About one-third of the port tank deck area was cleaned and repainted; the 04 signal and antenna area was cleaned and repainted. 4 to 5 main-deck escape hatch/scuttles were cleaned, repaired and repainted. Two 25-man inflatable life rafts were obtained and installed on the deck; and the trial crew was issued life jackets and mustered. Kenny Adams’ ambulance and half-track were moved to the main deck and secured. The crew work party stayed aboard after February 3; they had security watches and ate from the galley. The port LCVP was exercised in the Mobile River on Sunday, February 13. Plumbers repaired sinks in the licensed officer staterooms, and those rooms were prepared for Captain Colpus, Captain Crowe, and Engineer Pete Retzko when they came aboard on February 9. The crew was invited to the Saraland VFW for a steak and catfish dinner on February 10, and about 25 attended. A replacement LCVP was brought to the ship from Kenny Adams’ farm, to replace the starboard craft, which had been storm damaged. It has a 671-Gray-Marine installed; and it will be hoisted later this month. The ship’s fire main, fresh water, and AC generation was shifted from the dock without incident on Saturday. We used the #4 Generator (“emergency”) for AC and made any needed DC with the static converter on the tank deck. While others joined for the sea-trial, I listed the following participating in this period: Captain and Lois Jornlin, Bill Arras, Kenny and Anna Adams, Lawson Collins, Ben and Marilyn Butler, Frank and Pat Perrella, Chip Lanham, Jim Threlkeld, Guy Rudrud, Ralph Bryant, Bruce Voges, Don Lockas, Bob and Rosemary Ostrander, John Currie, Cliff Dunaway, Chuck Frawley, John Murdock, Stacey Jackson, Ad Mumford, Gary Lyon, Ron Maranto, Hike Nedeff, Park Paige, Paul Holler, Tom Dempster, Earl Oaks, Bill Rockey, Arnie Ness, Ann Adams, Holly Grove, Lee, Will, Jon, and Michael (each are Adams) and Jim Beam, and Bill and Judy Spencer. Perry Ballinger, Ellis DeLay, Walt Dibeler, Gary Hendrickson, Jeff Kurtz, Tom Pendarvis, Marty Reynolds, and Loren Whiting joined the group before the trials. Hal Pierce, Bob Wilder and Carl Black from Mobile came before the trial. Slade Hook helped with crane-power. The schedule for the sea-trial was changed Friday afternoon from Saturday to Monday to meet USCG schedule needs, and Ron Maranto will report on this trip separately. I may be able to add some pictures later, but I wanted to get this posted as quickly as possible. It was a really invigorating period, the men and women worked well together, and even the tour visitors noticed the great energy being invested. ~ Bill Spencer	"Bill 5" (Bill Spencer's son), Cliff Dunaway and Gary Hendrickson Capt. Colpus in the LCVP Taking a ride in the LCVP Jon Adams and Bruce Voges Holli Grove

Bill 5 and Gary installing PVC lines	Ann Adams, Lee Roy McMillan (USCG) and Kenny Adams	Ellis DeLay as cox'n
The lines squared away	Embarkation net	Gangway back in place

SHIP PREPARATION PICTURES FROM CHIP LANHAM
Posted 17 February 2005

Chip Lanham has sent along a number of pictures of the crew getting the ship ready for sea trials.

Capt. Ron Colpus (our Master) writes, "To Crew, LST 325: Thanks for having me aboard for the sea trial. It was my pleasure. See you all in May. Capt. Ron." It was our pleasure have you aboard, Captain! And our sincere thanks for all your help.

Coming soon will be reports from Ron Maranto and Kenny Adams about the sea trials, and Bill Spencer will be sending along a general report for February.

**Click on any of the images for enlargements**
A beehive of activity	Capt. Jornlin and Capt. Colpus	Ralph Bryant caught red-handed
Ron Maranto makes a phone call	Gary Lyon asks, "What mops?"	Hike Nedeff working on the lines
Checking out the anchor	Washing down the anchor	Ann Adams hard at work
All ready for sea trials	Bill Arras and Capt. Jornlin	Cliff Dunaway in the LCVP
Bill Rockey	Stacy Jackson	Checking the anchor winch
Frank Perrella working his magic	Earl Oaks	Bruce Voges operates the anchor

WORK PARTY PICTURES FROM PAT PERRELLA
Posted 13 February 2005

These pictures are being posted without a written report because everyone's been super-busy getting the ship ready for her sea trials. Those trials did not take place as planned on Feb. 12, due to a scheduling problem with the Coast Guard. They have been rescheduled for tomorrow, Feb. 14. We will be posting a report following completion of those trials (hopefully by the end of the week).

In the meanwhile, Pat's pictures will give a good look at our merry crew at work. There are over two dozen of them altogether!

**Click on any of the images for enlargements**
Bill Spencer checking the deck plans	"Boats" likes a tidy deck!	Anna and Ken Adams are a perfect welding team
Hike Nedeff in the machine shop	Cliff Dunaway checking with Lois Jornlin about the gyro specs	Judy Spencer and Lois Jornlin
Lee Adams with the air horn ready to be reinstalled	Arnie Ness and Ron Maranto checking out the conn panel	Ann and Holli Adams make sure the half-track is secure
Lauren Whiting checking water pressure	Frank Perrella, Perry Ballinger and Marty Reynolds during a drill	Will and Lee Adams on the tank deck
Don Lockas and Ellis DeLay	Checking out one of the hatches	New lights on the mast
The Adams Family, one heckuva work gang!	Capt. Jornlin checking out the raft	Lee and Garth Adams reinstalling the air horn
Chuck Frawley and Rosemary Ostrander working on administrative tasks	Ralph Bryant making sure things are secured on the tank deck	Getting the Jacob's Ladder all ready for use
Recruiting a new Seaman Apprentice	A little relaxation at the end of the day	Vance Barnes (r.) giving a tour
Lois Jornlin preparing the billet list	Tom Pendarvis and Perry Ballinger reporting that they're ready for radio ops	Marty Reynolds checking the radios
Cliff Dunaway secures an LCVP	Jeff Kurtz, Frank Perrella, John Murdock and Ralph Bryant gather in the galley	Work conference on the fantail

LST 325's ribbons: American Theater, European Theater with two battle stars, and World War II Victory

IN MEMORIAM: WILLIAM BLISS
Posted 01 February 2005

I just got a letter last night from Tom Sarbaugh (son of one of LST-325's wartime officers) informing me that William Bliss passed away on Christmas Day. Mr. Bliss was a Plankowner and served throughout the war on the 325 as a Quartermaster. His wife Virginia passed away in 1995, and they had no children, but Bill was lovingly taken care of by his niece in the final years of his life.

Bill was one of the contributors to "Mosier's Raiders."

I didn't have a current photo of Bill, but I did have this one taken during the war.

~ Dave Bronson

Bill Bliss

PLEASE SEND US YOUR SUBMISSIONS!

A personal note from the WebSkipper: I'd like to encourage absolutely anybody and everybody to provide material for this page. By no means are submissions here restricted to just certain individuals. The whole purpose of this website (and especially this particular page) is to share information about our LST Memorial with the entire community. Sitting here 2,000 miles away, I personally don't have a clue what's happening aboard the ship unless somebody tells me. To date, I've posted absolutely every single tidbit of information that's come my way. If you have any news to share at all, please just send me an email: WebSkipper@LSTMemorial.Org -- all of us would be very appreciative, and we all want to know what's going on!

Mosier's Raiders:
The Story of LST-325

by Dave Bronson

Directions to the ship

Discount accommodations
for volunteers and visitors

Radio Room Project

An Inside Look:
Landing Ship Tank

by Michael Smith

indicates that the article has pictures

Archives:

Archive for January 2005:

31 JAN 05 - LST-325 Welcomes Aboard Its Newest Pollywog
30 JAN 05 - January Progress Report from Bill Spencer
14 JAN 05 - Captain's Update
13 JAN 05 - We Mourn the Loss of a Terrific Friend
07 JAN 05 - You're Invited to Our February Work Party!
06 JAN 05 - Expressing Thanks to Macromedia


Archive for December 2004	Archive for November 2004
Archive for October 2004	Archive for September 2004
Archive for August 2004	Archive for July 2004

Archives for current year

Situation Reports from XO Jackson Carter
for the period: 17 JUL 00 - 09 JAN 01 *(see below)*
Complete index of archives, 2004	Complete index of archives, 2003
Complete index of archives, 2002	Complete index of archives, 2001

CDR Jackson Carter was LST-325's Executive Officer before and during the voyage back from Greece. In addition to his normal duties, he was an avid ham radio operator and enjoyed communicating during his down-time with other hams all over the world. He also maintained a website for LST-325 which included all of his situation reports, as well as many photographs showing the hard work done in Greece getting the ship seaworthy – that site is a must-see for anyone who hopes to understand what it took to bring this ship home. Most importantly, Mr. Carter was one of the finest human beings one could ever hope to meet. He passed away just five weeks after finally realizing his dream. This website now carries on the work – and the dream – where he left off, and in his memory. Thanks, Jack ... for being you.

Fair winds!

In Memoriam
Jackson Carter