Update from Ron Maranto Dated 25 April 2003

History teacher Debbie Kuykendall

Today was a very rewarding day.  Barbara, Amy and I went to the ship to help as a tour guides for a field trip of 108 6th grade well-behaved students from "Bernice Causey" Middle School, along with their history teacher, Debbie Kuykendall. 

Some of the students (about 10) were with Christy Deupreu, school of deaf teacher.

Tour guides were 6 Blue Crew: Stacey Jackson, Ralph Bryant, Larry Johnson, Claude Amos,  Kenny Adams, Chuck Frawley, and 2 Gold Crew: Gary Lyon and me, Ron Maranto.

The students were divided into groups of about 13 each.

The tour went very well and the kids showed a great interest.  We took them through the radio room, the chart room, wheel house, then below deck to the crew's mess and sleeping quarters.  Then we took them to the tank deck. 

Then we ended up in the wardroom where they purchased souvenirs, mostly crew and ship pictures. 

When the tours were over, they spread their towels on the main deck on which to sit and have their lunch which they had brought with them. 

They all seemed to enoy their visit, and we in return were delighted to have them aboard. 

This was four history classes, 6A per Mrs. Kuykendall.

I can truly say that with a group of kids like these, I feel comfortable with knowing that the future of this country will be in their hands.

Debbie Kuykendall has been a supporter of the LST 325 from the time we left Greece until we arrived in Mobile and that has not been the end of her contributions.  As a history teacher, she made our voyage an assignment for her 6th grade class, and when we arrived in Mobile, each of the 325 crew received a booklet of information of our voyage, which consisted of information from the association web site, newspapers, TV and anywhere else they could get the information. 

As they disembarked on the 23rd of April, 2003, we presented them with the signal flags from the ship which they were very surpised and delighted to receive.  Mrs. Kuykendall plans to exhibit them in their new gym when it is completed.

The crew of the 325 thanks you, Mrs. Kuykendall.

     ~ Ron Maranto
 

Update from  James Edwards Dated 24 April 2003     Shown at right: James Edwards laying cable for the communications system

This is just a short note on the communications system.

Bill Staffan and his wife Wyiona, Virgil Siefker and Tom Kelly, with some help from the Blue Crew, have 99.9% of the cable run and equipment mounted.  We pulled about 15,000 feet of cable.  We had to break for Easter, but will return in May to complete the job.

The system will fulfill all our needs for the ship.  It even has a backup power supply, as well as a 5-CD disc player and WWII music.

Bill put on a fish boil for us and it was good.

     ~ James Edwards
 
 

Bill & Wyiona Staffan

Ken & Anna Adams

(posting delayed awaiting arrival of pictures)

What a beautiful sight.  We were tied up at the new Mobile Landing, a spectacular new dock facility for the future Cruise Ships into Mobile.  This is a $20 million project to improve the port facility.  We were special guests to make to make the backdrop for the celebration of speeches by various dignitaries including Senator Shelby, who sponsored the project.  We had several hundred visitors to the ship and they gave much needed donations to help our ship.  The huge flag you see was furnished by Ken and Anna Adams of Covington, Ohio, to really catch your eye.  As cars would come around the curve on the freeway in front of us, they would blow their horns and wave.  The flag is 12 by 18 ft. and quite spectacular.  Ken and Anna always think of the ship at the right time.

It costs about $10,000 to move us from Chickasaw and back.  Three tug boat companies donated their services to move us.  Slade Hooks of Waterways Towing sent the William Lee, Seabrook Towing sent Mobile Power and Cooper Marine sent Scott Pride to gently move the ole girl down and back without a scratch.  Thank you all for your generosity as always to the LST 325. 

We have docked at Mr. Slade Hooks Terminal for 2 years.

Work this month has been outstanding with a constant arrival of volunteers from all over the country.  This is some of the work finished this month.

The new 400 amp AC generator is completed and tested and ready for use.  Both DC generators are ready.  The work on the crew's quarters is done.  We are all very proud of the final results.  Not quite like the deck above but real liveable.  The galley is ready.  I heard we have several gourmet cooks just waiting to fix nothing but first class meals.  Probably in the same class as Emeril.

The new sound system will be completed in a few days, with all kinds of rock and roll music and some WW2 music with a bugle for revelry at 0600 each morning.  We plan to install an emergency lighting system along the trip.  New retractable mast like the original.  The retractable part is to clear the bridges.  New fire pumps in each engine room.  We must have at least 80 lb. pressure at all times.  The sewage treatment system working properly.  We hoped to have the 5th LCVP on the dock ready by sailing time, running out of time.  It was going to be hoisted on the port side forward.  Hundreds of feet of rubber covered wire installed by the previous owner and replaced by armored coated wire just for a signal alarm in all tank spaces.  We have a siren system that wake up the dead if we have a leak.  All fresh water valves have been rebuilt and replaced.  The two rebuilt fresh water pumps will be reinstalled very soon.  Fuel and ballast tanks have been inspected and aired out before sealing up.  All starting batteries for the generators charged and ready.  We will use at least one and sometimes more generators at all times on the trip.  I don't know if each port of call has available 100 amps of 480 volts of 3 phase power for the ship.  If they don't the electrician will have to stand watch the entire trip.  Radio room and bridge AC power has been restored properly.  Electrical system now ready is for new navigational and radio requirements.  Unfortunately cannot report any additional work done on main engines since Christmas.  We have two new reduction gear lube oil cooler pumps ready to install, but can't at this time.  We still don't have air tanks for the main engine starting systems.  Red Lake and Chuck Frawley worked every day needle gunning the tank deck with air chisels and a large section looks like new.

At the end of last months report I told you about the latest arrivals.  This has been a terrific month of volunteers.  We've had Gold Crew folks all over the place.  Donald Lockas, Bruce Voges, Jim Edwards, Ron Maranto, John Calvin, Bob Jornlin, Jim Bartlett, Dewey Taylor and Hike Nedeff.  We are always lucky to have a constant supply of new and regular Blue Crew folks.  Here is a list of just this month.

Bill Arras, Mobile 
Frank and Pat Perrella, Albany NY
Collins Lawson, Mobile 
Matt Mattoon, Mobile
Ken and Anna Adams, Covington, OH 
Dan and Barbara Toole, Mobile
Ken and Betty Knight, Phoenix, AZ 
Don Lockas, Marseilles, IL
Pat Johnston   Phoenix, AZ 
Mary Lou Hatin, Phoenix, AZ
Tom Demster, MI 
Paul Holler, MI
Charles Clark, Met. IL. 
Chuck Frawley, Mobile
Adna Mumford, Stuart, FL 
June Phillips, New Milford, CT
Paul Hannie, Mobile 
Ray Rapport, Alloy, WV
Larry and Sue Johnson, Bay Minette, AL 
Roe Karstetter, Robertsdale, AL
Dave Phillips, Florence, SC 
Ron Maranto, Metarie, LA
Jim Bartlett, Austin, TX 
Dewey Taylor, W. Palm Beach, FL
Calvin and Pearl Ellison, Mobile 
John Hagaman, Fifty Lakes, MN
Claude Amos, Mobile 
John and Bobbye Lemaster, Miami, OK
Bruce Voges, Oakwood, IL 
Bob Jornlin, Earlville, IL
Park Page, Mobile 
Shawn Herholz, Mobile
Jeff and Kathy Kutz, Mobile 
Howard and Helen Buhl, Lakeland, FL
Jon Adams, Pique, Ohio 
Lee A. Adams, Pique, Ohio
Terry Leahy,  Beliot, WI 
Betty Blakeney, Mobile
Tyler Spalding, Mobile 
Mark Maynerch, Mobile
Barbara Shumake, Mobile 
Pat Arras, Mobile
Ann Adams, Greenville, OH 
Garth Adams, Covington, OH
Adam Natal, Mobile (active USN) 
Red Lake, Tamarac, FL
Stacy Jackson, San Antonio, TX 
Bill and Sally Thomas, Mobile
Bill and Wyiona Staffan, Leehan, OH 
Virgil Siefker, Swainsbro, GA
Tom Kelly, Cinncinnati, OH 
Wilber Lawson, Gardendale, AL
Ted and Nancy Hunter, Rio, IL 
Jim and Doris Edwards, Canton TX
Larry Jangula, Dunnellon, FL 
John Calvin, Dunnellon, FL
Earl Oaks, Coker Creek, TN

Howard Buhl from Lakeland FL. is a very generous Blue Crew member and he and his wife Helen have been working all month.  Mr. Buhl decided to purchase the ship a much needed Hewit Packard combination Fax-Copy-Printer-Scanner.  [Ed. note: Mr. Buhl has made SEVERAL significant donations to the ship!]  No more going to Staple's across town for printing, to neighbors to send a fax and finally not having to haul the printer from ship back to Brookely each time it was used.  Our ship's office is in the ship's store with all the records.  Howard previously helped purchase our deluxe Dell Computer system with all the best programs.  Thank you Howard.

Bill and Wyiona Staffan from Lebanon, OH, and Virgil Siefker of Swainsbro, GA, and Tom Kelly of Cinninate, OH, arrived last week with several hundred pounds of equipment, and with the expert help of Jim Edwards, started installing the most sosphiticated communication system a ship of any style has ever had.  I think some space shuttles will be jealous.  I think we should outlaw the famous words, "now hear this."  We all thank you very much.  These folks aren't even LST'ers or NAVY, just friends of Jim Edwards, but all highly qualified Blue Crew.

We now have 180 Blue Crew members listed as of today, and all of these people worked multiple days from a few days to 2 years.  Without them LST 325 would not exist.  The Gold Crew brought her here, but the Blue crew rebuilt her.  Just this list above represents several thousand hours.  Everyone worked at multiple jobs and it is impossible to list individuals for each job.  Pick out a job and they worked there.  My wife and I will remember them forever.  We have spent two 6 month
periods with them and have made wonderful friends.  It's time for us to head for home and get Gayle settled into the cabin way up north in Minnesota.  As long as she can fish each day and I'm on the ship going up the river, it doesn't get any better than that.  Maybe someday we can fire up those big engines and be real sailors again.  Thanks to all that worked so hard with us.

     ~ Gary Lyon

Dated 20 April 2003
 

I visited the LST on Friday and, as always, the ship was better than when I was last aboard.  The crew head and lavatories look to be about complete, right down to running water.  It’s a big difference from 2001.  Most of the decks on the starboard side crew’s quarters are also sporting new paint and some have new bunks welded into place.  The habitability of these spaces is a vast improvement over what it was during the voyage from Greece. 

Although the holiday weekend kept the volunteer crew to a minimum, the tours and work continued throughout the day.  Work centered on repairs to the doors and hinges of the reefer compartments.  These large wooden doors needed attention to their hinges, latches and a number of large splits.  Hinges were repaired with welding work and screws were placed to close the cracks in the wood.  There was also work going on in one of the compartments off of the tank deck.  Shelves were under construction to hold various supplies and equipment that are currently out in the open on the tank deck.  I also noticed components of the ship’s new public address system in various compartments.  Before long it looks like the ship will have a complete interior communications system. 

Throughout the day a steady stream of visitors came aboard to have a look at the ship.  I gave tours to two WWII LST veterans who both had not been aboard an LST since their military service.  A third tour was given to a gentleman that had been on an LST in the late forties.  Without a doubt, one of the most rewarding experiences is walking through the passages of the 325 with an LST sailor for the first time in 60 years. 

     ~ Michael Smith
 

Recently I was able to spend another great week aboard the 325 in Mobile!  It had been moved downtown just before I arrived, so I missed out on that fun.  I had already left for home when she was moved back to Chickasaw, so I missed that too!  Nonetheless, it was a great week, spent with nice people, working on a project with a purpose.

A lot of you may be wondering what you could possibly do to help out!  After all, "I don't have any electrical experience, don't have any marketing experience, can't count change very well, can't give tours because I didn't serve on an LST," etc. etc.  Guess what -- there is an outstanding chance you might be able to find something to do aboard the 325! 

Grab a broom and start sweeping!  Yes, almost everyone can do that!!  And you know what, you don't even have to be told by someone "in command" to start sweeping!!  I can guarantee you that no one will object if you just walk aboard on the day you said you'd be there, introduce yourself, walk to the fantail, pick up a broom (or mop), and get to work.  Great exercise!  And other folks will stop and introduce themselves to you.  There is a chance that the main deck will not need to be swept.  If that happens, you are not out of luck --- you can walk up or down one ladder and there will be other possibilities of finding spaces that need some attention.  If you like to work, tell a few stories, listen to some stories, work, eat, tell stories, work, listen to stories, this is the place for you! 

Now, if you served aboard an LST there are all kinds of other work possibilities!  Just check in, give a little of your background and how you might help, and away you go!  It's easy!!  A warning, though.  If someone like Gary Lyon comes up to you, like he did to me, and asks if you're an electrician, don't wing it!  My electrical career pretty much ended at about 4 years of age when I tried to insert my finger into an electrical outlet -- and it really hasn't improved much since then! Gary will understand!  And if Gayle Lyon asks if you can type and help out in the office, and you can only type 2-3 words a minute, don't be afraid to admit it, get back on the brooms and mops, and help out that way!! 

The point is this -- the ship needs help in a lot of various ways and almost anyone who is willing to help can assist in the effort!!

"Any fringe benefits," you ask?  Many, many of them.  However, they change from week to week, and month to month.  The week I was there I got to see the dedication of the new Mobile park next to where the ship was moored.  Senator Shelby was there for the dedication and ended up with an LST 325 ball cap as a gift!  Tours were being conducted daily and about 100 people came aboard for tours on the last day I was there.  They were from a reunion of the LST 1048 and a bank group from Central Illinois.  I haven't met a doodler on board for a tour yet -- they are all interested in what the crew did and is doing! 

"Any other fringe benefits?" you ask.  Let's say you've always wanted to know how to weld.  Just look up Kenny or Anna Adams.  They'll be the ones working on the most difficult jobs, and I bet they could help you learn how to weld. 

"Any others?"  Let's say you have 20 years of perfect attendance for Rotary and you really need to know where you can make up for Rotary.  Ask Don Lockas -- he'll probably go with you at no extra charge.

What's the downside of all of this?  "... After all, I'm VERY busy."  Yes, there is a downside.  It is this:  Unless you move to Mobile, at some point the fun aboard will end and you'll have to go home.  But you'll know you made a small contribution to a great cause --- bringing a World War II LST back to life so that younger generations can see what LSTs were all about!  You'd better get to Mobile soon so you can join in the fun!

     ~ Terry Leahy

LST 325 UPDATE From Capt. Bob Jornlin Dated 12 April 2003

The LST 325 had a special request to be the backdrop for the large dedication ceremony of the big and beautiful new City of Mobile Dock, just South of the Outlaw Convention Center in downtown Mobile.  Senator Shelby of Alabama did the honors, along with Mayor Dow of Mobile.  Way too many dignitaries were present to list here, not to mention the very famous ship LST 325!  She was big and beautiful, tied up to the brand new pier directly behind where the ceremony was held.  The LST was open to the public and they came in large numbers.  Some to see her for the first time, some to see her again and examine all the work that so many volunteers have accomplished.  Each of these exclaimed what a huge difference there was from when she first pulled into Mobile.  Gary and Gayle Lyon along with Bill Arras, the ship's work coordinator, have done a magnificent job.  Guided tours were given with full explanations of what LST's did in all the wars.  Everyone really enjoys having a guide to tell them everything you ever wanted to know about the "ships that won the war," and how they did it without pomp and fanfare.

This was the first time that we charged an admission fee, but afterwards all of us agree that this is the way to go.  I know that some of you feel that because you served on an LST you should be able go aboard free.  I wish that we had all kinds of money and we could do just that for all the veterans that served on these ships.  The fact is your guide and the people that keep the ship clean, painted and the lights on are all volunteers.  This does not pay for the parts, paint, electricity, docking fees, insurance and a host of other expenses needed on a daily basis to keep this ship afloat.  I might add, so that YOU can come and enjoy a ship like you served on in one of America's wars.  What about the mission of LST 325?  Its mission is to sail to the people, young and old.  To educate them on what you did and what LST's did to keep them free.  Is this not a good reason for you to pay a small admission price?

Your LST was open and tours were given from the 24th of March to April 3, 2003.  Then she went back to Chickasaw to get ready for the river cruise.  Many people helped get us down to the Mobile dock and many helped to get us back.  Tugs were furnished; the pilot donated his time.  Gangways were furnished and put up and taken down.  Again, three individuals stand out: Captain Hal Pierce, Slade Hooks of Hook's Terminal, and Carl Black, who handled the lines and much more.  Thanks to all who helped, and to the City of Mobile for inviting us down.

The 2003 Historic River Trip continues to come together.  We have added three cities and removed one.  Paducah, KY, Greenville, MS, and Cape Girardeau, MO, have been added.  Baton Rough, LA, I am sorry to say, has been dropped.  Pier spaces and lack of parking, among other reasons, are to blame.  Please check the Revised Itinerary on the 2003 Voyage page for dates, times, and cities.  I suggest checking this web site regularly as the time gets closer.  Many exciting events, including some LST reunions, are being planned in these cities, and publicity will be put out in advance of the ship's arrival.  Hope to see each and every one of you at one these stops. 

By the way, I have been asked to speak on April 27 in Myrtle Beach to the Carolina LST Chapter's reunion, and I will be in Marshalltown, IA, on May 2 to talk to the Iowa LST Chapter reunion.  Lois and I are really looking forward to meeting all of these LST'ers.  Also, a big wedding is being planned for crewmember Ernest Andrus and Susan Fordyce on May 10, 2003, on board the LST 325.  I am not talking about Ernest's age either!

     ~ Bob Jornlin, Capt. LST 325

To Walk These Decks Again ... by Pat Johnston Dated 03 April 03   Shown at right: Pat Johnston with Betty & Ken Knight Photo by Mary-Lou Hatin

Ken and Betty Knight, Mary-Lou Hatin, and I arrived to help out on the 325 on the 11th of March.  The flight from Phoenix to New Orleans was uneventful; three hours of smooth, turbulence-free flying.  We arrived in New Orleans, fresh and ready to complete the formalities of renting a car and driving the last 135 miles to Mobile.

The day was mild and the humidity from the close proximity of the sea felt good.  Ken, Betty, and the new 'boot' Mary-Lou Hatin (daughter of WWII Seabee Rosario Amato), and I were heading back to work again on the LST 325.

The first day on the ship was typical: we all returned to our accommodations at the Brookley Center with sore muscles, feeling pleasantly tired from a good day's work.  That day, about seventy visitors had toured the ship, keeping the tour guides busy and the gift shop humming.

Work ... work ... no shortage of things to get stuck into!  Cleaning, painting, replacing, repairing.  Ahhh ... at last lunch and some split-pea soup prepared by Betty Knight in the fully functioning galley.

Progress on the heads came to fruition when the head in the Captain's cabin became operational.  It was reserved for the lady volunteers, but everyone was excited, and living onboard now became more practicable.

Volunteers continue to come and go, each contributing invaluably to the restoration of the ol' gal.  Some staying for only a week or two, others staying for months.

Saturday night, and all the Brookley group went out to dinner at Nan Seas, meeting Bill Arras and his wife Pat there.  The Brookley crew consisted of Gary and Gayle Lyon, Ken and Betty Knight, Don Lockas, Bruce Voges, Mary-Lou Hatin and me.  Most of us had the fried shrimp dinner, dipped in the small cups of seafood sauce.  It went down accompanied by a cold beer or white zinfandel wine.  (The French Silk Pie was patriotically declined.)

Volunteering for a week or two on the 325 is not all work.  Unless something urgent needs to be done, Sundays are always off and there are numerous things to do in and around Mobile.  Mobile, named for the Maubille Indian Tribe that lived in the area when the first French settlers arrived in 1705, still proudly displays its lovingly restored early homes and other attractions, such as Fort Conde' and the battleship USS Alabama.  A short drive out of town takes you to Dauphine Island and Fort Gaines.  Another short drive takes you to Bellingrath Gardens, 65 acres of flowers and exotic plant life.

Monday, we were back on board and working those tired muscles again following the day off.  I won't go into the details of the jobs accomplished, as the work goes on and it is shared by many willing hands.

Old friends and fellow shipmates dropped by to say hello; Pearl and Cal Ellison and many other familiar faces appeared, reporting aboard for regular work assignments.

The continuing challenge to bring the gallant old lady back to life requires super-human effort by some, but small and steady efforts by many others. 

A visit to share in the restoration is not all hard work, as I have pointed out -- there are many and varied other things to entertain and amaze.  Mobile and its attractions are a must visit ... but, the greatest reward is still the sweat equity that you put into the volunteer work ... aboard a battle-tested and gallant warship with years of life still left in her. 

     ~ Pat Johnston

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!

Legend: 

Archives:

Archive for March 2003:

• 23 MAR 03 - LST 325 Steering Committee Report from Anna Koepp
• 22 MAR 03 - Progress Report from Gary Lyon
• 22 MAR 03 - LST 325 Update from Capt. Bob Jornlin
• 21 MAR 03 - Urgent Message from the WebSkipper
• 09 MAR 03 - Progress Report from Michael Smith

• 23 FEB 03 - February Work Report from Gary Lyon
• 07 FEB 03 - Captain's Update
• 07 FEB 03 - My First Visit to LST 325, from Bob Willard

• 31 JAN 03 - Progress Report for January 2003 from Gary Lyon
• 28 JAN 03 - Answering the Bos'n's Call
• 28 JAN 03 - Newly-Revised LST 325 Slide Show Now Available
• 18 JAN 03 - A Million-Dollar Donation!
• 12 JAN 03 - In Memoriam, Harvey Blakeney
• 10 JAN 03 - Special Request from the Bos'n
• 10 JAN 03 - CQ, CQ, CQ from Bob Wilder
• 06 JAN 03 - Update from Michael Smith

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