Update from Ron Maranto

Dated 28 MAY 2002

I stayed a week in Mobile with John Calvin last week, and once again had a lot of fun giving tours.  The LST 202 had their reunion in Mobile.  Chief Fret made all the arrangments for the group.  There were about 20 altogether, including their wives.  John and I were invited to have dinner with them.  They had their Memorial Service on the USS Alabama, but mentioned regret of not having it on the 325.  All was not lost, because after they had their wreath ceremony on the USS Alabama, they came to the 325 and had a Memorial, but without the wreath.  Needless to say, it was very enjoyable. 

I would like to invite any group having their reunion in Mobile to hold their Memorial on the 325.  We would be honored to have you. 

     ~ Ron Maranto
 

This should be the last of the radios.  Edward Zeranski met me at the Holiday Inn in San Diego on May 18 and showed one of the radios he is sending to the LST 325.  It looks almost new, especially since it is a 1942 vintage.  I wish I could thank all the guys that gave us the great radio equipment.  We will always be indebted to them.  In the picture, I am the one with the least hair. 

     ~ James Edwards
 

I have followed your website since its inception with great interest.  Looking at the last progress report, I was very surprised to see a picture of a very old and dear friend of mine, BMC John Kinney.  I served under him for several years in Special Boat Unit 22 until I was commissioned in 1998.  I just wanted to let you know that the chief is a multiple-tour Vietnam Veteran of the army, and has served his country's navy with great distinction for many years.  I spent a lot of time with him in the field and he is truly a great sailor and person; almost like a father to me.  He is one of those rare individuals that the term "NAVY CHIEF" seems to have been made for.  Well, I just thought I'd give the old guy a plug.  Keep up the good work!

     ~ Steven V. Madona
 

Call for Volunteers from Bob Jornlin and Bruce Voges

Bruce Voges will be in charge of the ship for the month of June.  His focus will be upon repainting the main deck with deck gray.  We're therefore issuing a call for volunteers to help out with this special project.  No technical skills or previous experience are necessary here -- all who care to help out will be welcomed.  So please come join our "Deck Party!"

If you're able to take part in this project, please call the ship at 251-452-3255 to schedule and make arrangements. 

We'll be hoping to see you there!

     ~ Bob Jornlin and Bruce Voges
 

Special Donation Thanks from Joe Milakovich

On Tuesday, April 30th, while serving as caretaker on the LST 325, I received a phone call from a limo driver asking directions to the 325, and I responded.  A short time later a limo arrived at the ship.  The group came aboard for a tour.  After introductions all around, Mr John F. Miller III, former Executive Officer on LST 792, presented the 325 with a donation of $5,000.  Many thanks were given to him.  After completing a lengthy tour of the ship, and as Mr. Miller began to descend the gangplank, Blue Crew member Calvin Ellison piped him off with the bosun's pipe.  It was a very emotional event for all of us.

     ~ Joe Milakovich
 

The limo arrives at the ship.

Mr. & Mrs. John F. Miller III (at center) following their tour.

Pictures from BU2 Fred Conklin I am new to the ARGIMA unit at the N&MCRC Mobile so I'm afraid that I don't know all the names and rates here.  But I wanted to share these pictures of the people that I was working with on Sat., May 18th.  They were PO2 Day, PO1 Burch and Chief Kinney.  PO1 Burch did most of the hot work as far as welding and burning.  Unfortunately, I was only able to get these three shots before my wife's camera ran out of juice.  I'll take some more the next drill weekend that we work on LST 325.  Hopefully, my wife will have calmed down about me messing up her camera by then!      ~ BU2 Fred Conklin

Chief Kinney takes a turn at the welding.

 
Petty Officers Day and Burch constructing a new ladder.

Update from Michael Smith

Dated 19 MAY 2002

On Friday I traveled over Chickasaw and visited the LST 325.  Mr. John Calvin and Mr. Jim Bartlett were aboard and both took time to speak with me about the latest progress aboard the ship.  NES Rentals has loaned the ship a large gas-powered air compressor.  With this compressor the needle guns work much better.  A long section of bulkhead on the main deck has been stripped down and will soon be repainted.  The first two LCVP engines that were being rebuilt by the students in the Alma Bryant High School marine technology classes have been returned.  The engines will be kept covered and lubricated until further restoration work is started on the LCVP’s. 

Two more naval reservists have been aboard for the past two weeks.  AT2 William Conner and MS2 Jerrail Ramsey have been great assets aboard the ship.  They have assisted with chipping paint, helping Mr. Arras move motors on and off the ship and also doing some work on the bearing caps in the shaft alleys.  Both have enjoyed the time aboard the LST 325.  They commented that everything aboard the LST was heavy and that the equipment in today’s Navy is much lighter.  I guess they don’t build things they way they used to! 

Today Mr. Arras returned some newly reconditioned motors to the ship.  Later in the summer they will be installed down below in the engine room.  Not only is Mr. Arras a knowledgeable and dedicated volunteer, but he tells some great stories.  If you are helping him with a project you are sure to learn, sweat and laugh all at the same time. 

Mr. Chuck Frawley has now moved to the exterior of the ship in his work restoring the compartment labels and brass signs.  If anyone knows of a company that could make some of these compartment labels, please drop us a line.  Some have seen much abuse over the years and must be replaced.  It would be greatly appreciated.

Martin Hanrath was also working aboard the ship on Friday.  He was making some measurements for further improvements to the ships gangway.  Matt Mattoon was aboard as well.  He was cleaning out the evaporator compartment.  It’s hard to believe that it has been over a year and there is still so much clean-up work to do.  It seems that when the Hellenic Navy was retiring the LST 325, the crew used this compartment as sort of a trash dump.  Mr. Mattoon found many pounds of waste that included: various home electronics (a TV and a stereo), a complete filing cabinet, empty shipping containers, hoses, pipes, and a complete LCVP rudder assembly!  Remember that the only way into or out of this compartment is up a vertical ladder.

I am looking forward to seeing some new volunteers this summer, so pack up the family and head down to the Gulf Coast.  There are always plenty of different projects and activities to be involved with; chipping, painting, clean-up, repairs, guiding tours, and much more. 

  ~ Michael Smith

Scat Recycling donated practically 80 percent of the materials used, and gave me unlimited access to whatever I needed.  Hooks Terminal (a VERY generous Slade Hooks) donated much of the use of the welder, electricity, oxygen, steel, weldwire, and the TOTAL use of his fabrication shop for over 25 days, use of the big crane to load the deck crane on board, front-end loader to use as a construction aid, no telling how much diesel fuel, and only asked to be reimbursed for 5 days use of the shop.

Morris Manufacturing supplied the steel for the legs and the stabilizers, and even cut it for us.  O'Neil Steel was instrumental in helping me find this resource.  Marine Industrial Supply sold me hardware at the "brother-in-law" price, and was very generous with the shipping.  Marine Rigging was likewise helpful with an "at cost" price for hardware, and I couldn't have done it without all of these people's help.  I think Mr. Slade Hooks and Ray over at Scat deserve to have a free lunch at Chuck's for the HUGE amount of contribution on both of these men's parts. 

And last but not least, William Arras helped a lot with valuable insight as to the functions a good lifting device needs, as related to the specific functions needed on board the 325.  All this was mixed together to build a functional unit.  I just thought they all deserve some kudos for their parts. 

Thanks, 

     ~ Vincent Collier

We will be visiting LST 325 on the morning of Wed., June 5.  I would like to ask everyone to give me a donation check for LST 325 by June 4, so that we can take these donations to the ship on June 5.  Checks should be made out to "The USS LST Ship Memorial, Inc."

This will be our 15th reunion.  In charge of this reunion are Nell & Maxwell Gantt of Titus, AL, assisted by Elsie & Jack Cohen of Baltimore, MD.

We'll be looking forward to seeing you there!

Thank you,

     ~ Jack Cohen

Also, Michael Smith was aboard again yesterday, and sends along a couple of more pictures, shown below . . .

     ~ Your WebSkipper
 

Progress Report from Joe Milakovich Dated 04 MAY 2002

Ready to put in a good day's work are: Joe & Drucilla Milakovich with Maxine & Harold Slemmons.

This report will cover the activities conducted by Joe & Drucilla Milakovich and Harold & Maxine Slemmons.  We all arrived in Mobile on April 2nd to take over the duties of ship's caretaker for the month of April, and to get acquainted with the work started by Gary & Gayle Lyon.  It was a tremendous task to follow Gary.

We've had a steady number of visitors daily.  The phone keeps busy with people asking directions to the ship.  School teacher Debbie Kuykendall brought 80 seventh-grade students to tour the ship.  Twelve dedicated Blue Crew members and Gold Crew member Ron Maranto assisted in conducting tours.  A sizeable donation was accepted from the students.  Many volunteers continue on the many projects started in the refurbishment of the ship.

Gold Crew member Don Chapman spent a week helping.  He accepted the donation of a pickup truck for ship's use.  A very needed item.

After a few phone calls to Bell South, they came out and installed the land phone terminal near the ship.  The following day several Blue Crew members installed the interior wiring on the ship, with phones in the Captain's cabin, in the wardroom and an outlet in the computer room.  This should take a load off our cellphone.

One of the highlights of the month was watching -- and sometimes helping -- Vince Collier design and build the portable deck crane.  Vince is a very talented person.  He designed and built this crane using mostly recycled material and many donated hours of work.  The crane is a helpful item making it easier to bring items from the dock to the ship, either the main deck or the tank deck.  It sure beats carrying things by hand up the gangway or contracting for crane service.

Harold Slemmons and I delivered some needed parts to Mr. Ed Robertson, instructor at the Alma Bryant High School.  The school is in the process of repairing two of our small boat engines (i.e., the LCVP's).  Both engines were running, and with some final adjustments they will be ready to be brought back to the ship.

A sign of Southern Hospitality:  While Harold, Maxine, Drucilla and I were eating breakfast at a well-known restaurant, our waitress informed us that a person had paid for our meals.  Harold and I thanked him as he was leaving the restaurant.  He said that he just wanted to express his gratitude for what we did in bringing the 325 to Mobile.  Just one more reason why we probably picked the best possible port to come to.  The waitress gave us his name, Dewight Tunner.  We sure owe him many thanks ... and not just for the meal.

John Calvin from Florida has now taken over duties for the month of May.  Jim Bartlett will be back soon.

Along with Harold & Maxine Slemmons, my wife and I are thankful for the opportunity to serve as caretakers for the 325.  We are grateful for the help Calvin and Pearl Ellison have given us.  We hope to be back again.

     ~ Joe Milakovich

Update  from Ron Maranto Dated 03 MAY 2002

John Calvinis welcomed aboard by Ron Maranto.

I went to Mobile yesterday to see Joe Milakovich before he left his duty aboard the ship.  He couldn't believe that his month had gone by so fast.  I met Joe, Ed Strobel, Harold Slemmons, and their wives at the Royal Cafe for breakfast and we had a few laughs. 

I arrived aboard ship at 8:30 and found William Arras at the gangplank, and Merton Lake putting a needle-gun to work chipping paint.   I wasn't there too long before materials for the new stairs arrived.   We got them aboard and then had a visit from former Captain C. Huntley and his wife who are from CA. 

I took them on a tour and afterwards we sat in the wardroom and made conversation before they left.  They made a nice contribution and his wife bought a brass bolt engraved with "LST 325" as a souvenir. 

Later on after lunch, our good shipmate, John Calvin, arrived to assume duties aboard for the month of May when Joe and his wife leave this coming Monday. 

After a short visit with John, I left for home.  I'm sure sorry I couldn't have stayed longer, but I'll be back. 

     ~ Ron Maranto 
 

Joe Milakovich has been in charge of the LST 325 during the month of April after Gary & Gayle Lyon left.  John Calvin will be coming to the ship for the month of May.  Many thanks to Joe who has done a great job.  We also thank Pearl and Calvin Ellison who have done a wonderful job with the day to day paperwork and activities.  They are a remarkable couple who have been so generous in giving their time since January of 2001!  Michael Smith (who is now Dr. Smith!) has done a fantastic job getting reports and pictures to our webmaster, Jim Anderson.

Back in the Midwest, I have been to Evansville, IN, to meet with Mike Whicker and his committee twice in the last month.  We met with Congressman John Hastettler and with Russell Lloyd, Jr., mayor of Evansville, who are both supportive of getting the LST 325 to Evansville for a visit.  This entire committee which includes historians, members of the propeller club, tourism and marine specialists, etc., are working hard to get the LST 325 up the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers in 2003 for visits to their city and others.  I am in the process of setting up an itinerary for such a trip for the summer of 2003.  We cannot possibly make both the Ohio and Illinois Rivers in one summer allowing time for stops along the way.  This trip alone is 4000 miles.  The bridges on the Ohio are higher and would not require cutting off the conn but we would have to hinge the mast.  The Illinois River bridges are much shorter getting to Seneca.  We will have to delay that trip until another year - probably 2005 as we hope to go to the East Coast in 2004.  Normandy for the 60th Anniversary of D-Day is still also being considered in 2004.  I know this schedule will make some people unhappy and I'm sorry about that, but a lot of factors have to be considered.  Removing the conn before going into the Atlantic again is not an option we wish to take. 

The board voted to send either Honorary Crew Certificates or Certificates of Appreciation to those that were instrumental in getting the ship returned to the United States and/or continue to help us.  We hope we have not missed any deserving person (there have been so many) as we greatly appreciate the help given us.  The list would be endless!  This will be a continuing process.

Anna Koepp has been doing an outstanding job with memberships, etc.  She will have a report in our next newsletter.  She has worked with VFW in IL and they are taking us on as a project of the year 2002-3.  We are again very grateful.  Anna also was instrumental in obtaining the donation of the emergency generator and the equipment in CA.  She has set up a database and is working on fundraising.

Mr. Terry Leahy of Beloit, WI, has compiled a list of all the manufacturers of equipment on the LST's, locating some 60 plus companies still in business.  He is planning to contact these businesses for equipment and/or support.  Thank you Terry. 

I have been giving several talks since returning home from the last ship visit in March.  It is amazing the interest and support we experience along the way.  One of the great joys is the people we meet.  I look forward to attending the Ohio State LST Convention on May 17-18 in Columbus.  There are many things happening on a daily basis that I have not covered, but I hope I have at least hit the high spots. 

 Back in the Midwest, I have been to Evansville, IN, to meet with Mike Whicker and his committee twice in the last month.  We met with Congressman John Hastettler and with Russell Lloyd, Jr., mayor of Evansville, who are both supportive of getting the LST 325 to Evansville for a visit.  This entire committee which includes historians, members of the propeller club, tourism and marine specialists, etc., are working hard to get the LST 325 up the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers in 2003 for visits to their city and others.  I am in the process of setting up an itinerary for such a trip for the summer of 2003.  We cannot possibly make both the Ohio and Illinois Rivers in one summer allowing time for stops along the way.  This trip alone is 4000 miles.  The bridges on the Ohio are higher and would not require cutting off the conn but we would have to hinge the mast.  The Illinois River bridges are much shorter getting to Seneca.  We will have to delay that trip until another year - probably 2005 as we hope to go to the East Coast in 2004.  Normandy for the 60th Anniversary of D-Day is still also being considered in 2004.  I know this schedule will make some people unhappy and I'm sorry about that, but a lot of factors have to be considered.  Removing the conn before going into the Atlantic again is not an option we wish to take. 

The board voted to send either Honorary Crew Certificates or Certificates of Appreciation to those that were instrumental in getting the ship returned to the United States and/or continue to help us.  We hope we have not missed any deserving person (there have been so many) as we greatly appreciate the help given us.  The list would be endless!  This will be a continuing process.

Anna Koepp has been doing an outstanding job with memberships, etc.  She will have a report in our next newsletter.  She has worked with VFW in IL and they are taking us on as a project of the year 2002-3.  We are again very grateful.  Anna also was instrumental in obtaining the donation of the emergency generator and the equipment in CA.  She has set up a database and is working on fundraising.

Mr. Terry Leahy of Beloit, WI, has compiled a list of all the manufacturers of equipment on the LST's, locating some 60 plus companies still in business.  He is planning to contact these businesses for equipment and/or support.  Thank you Terry. 

I have been giving several talks since returning home from the last ship visit in March.  It is amazing the interest and support we experience along the way.  One of the great joys is the people we meet.  I look forward to attending the Ohio State LST Convention on May 17-18 in Columbus.  There are many things happening on a daily basis that I have not covered, but I hope I have at least hit the high spots. 

     ~ Bob Jornlin

We traveled over to the LST 325 last Saturday to pick up some pictures and notes from Joe Milakovich, who is currently handling the ship's affairs.  Since we met Joe on a Saturday, the ship was very quiet, with all the volunteers away enjoying their weekend.  We did manage to snap a few pictures of our own.  I am sure everyone has read about the ship’s new landline telephone.  The phone, pictured here, was recently installed and retired Chief Bill Norris helped to obtain the phone number with the 325 sequence.  [Ed. note:  The ship's new telephone number is 251-452-3255.]

Joe also told us that he and Harold Slemmons were recently honored at a Military Affairs meeting at the Commerce Center.  The Milakovich’s and the Slemmons’s have both been aboard the ship for the past month. 

Also pictured with this report are some of the pumps Mr. Arras has been servicing.  After disassembly, inspection and cleaning, Mr. Arras has been painting the pumps in preparation for installation in the engine room.

Plans are also in the works for adding more new stairs in various locations throughout the ship.  The new wide stairs on the tank deck are much appreciated by visitors and volunteers alike. 

     ~ Michael Smith  & Naomi Friedman

Update from Gayle Lyon
Dated 01 MAY 2002

I, along with all those who use a keyboard for the work of LST 325, wish to give a GIGANTIC THANK YOU to Jerry Ebel and Howard Buhl !!!

These gentlemen learned from the LST 325 Progress Reports that we (Dianne Hill and I) were doing all our computer work at the local libraries in Mobile while working at the ship.  They so generously donated money for the purchase of new computer equipment for the ship.

V.P. James Edwards volunteered to do the research for us and determine what would be the best for the long-term use for the ship.  He ordered a Dell Dimension 4400 -- l5" digital flat-panel display -- color printer -- flatbed scanner and an Inspiron 4200 laptop.  James has had a real nightmare getting the equipment ordered, shipped, and then paid for "tax free."  It has been shipped to James and he will then forward the equipment to the ship in Mobile.

ET2 Michael Harrison, from the Mobile Naval Reserve base, has volunteered to install the equipment when it arrives at the ship.  He worked  for Hewlett Packard after his release from the Navy and is most qualified to install the equipment.

I get almost "giddy" just thinking about actually having a computer for our daily use.  The arrangement will relieve a great deal of stress for those involved with the recordkeeping of the 325.  Much work must be done in the evenings (too few hours in a working day and too many other tasks).  The information needed at home was on the ship and vice versa.  That will no longer be a problem.  Finally, communication will now be possible throughout the Ship Memorial network once the equipment is installed and an E-Mail address is assigned.

Thank you gentlemen.  There is no way I can begin to adequately convey my thanks to you.  Others who follow me will certainly appreciate the computers, but not as much as I, who began without them.  It is through the generosity of our supporters around the country that the dreams for the LST 325 will be realized.

     ~ Gayle Lyon

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 (click here for complete index to archives) :

Archive for April 2002:

• 26 APR 02 - Progress Report from CTR1 (SW) Raymond J. Trendle, Jr.
• 26 APR 02 - Update from Walt McBride
• 17 APR 02 - Progress Report from Michael Smith
• 13 APR 02 - Update from Bob Wilder
• 12 APR 02 - Update from Jim Bartlett
• 12 APR 02 - Update from Earl Stone
• 12 APR 02 - Reunion Announcement from Frank Owsley
• 07 APR 02 - Progress Report from Michael Smith & Naomi Friedman
• 07 APR 02 - LST 1084 Reunion Annoucement from Bruce Newman
• 05 APR 02 - Progress Report from Gary Lyon

• 22 MAR 02 - Progress Report from Capt. Jornlin
• 08 MAR 02 - Progress Report from Michael Smith & Naomi Friedman
• 04 MAR 02 - Progress Report from Gary Lyon
• 02 MAR 02 - Our Loss of Howard K. Smith (1914-2002)
• 02 MAR 02 - Report from Terry Leahy
• 02 MAR 02 - Report from Don & Ruth Beach
• 02 MAR 02 - Two New Books of Particular Interest

• 22 FEB 02 - Progress Report from the LST 325 Steering Committee
• 16 FEB 02 - Progress Report from Michael Smith
• 15 FEB 02 - Update from Arnold Ness
• 02 FEB 02 - Reports from Ann and Will Adams
• 02 FEB 02 - Report from Frank Owsley
• 01 FEB 02 - Donation from Letterkraft Printers
• 01 FEB 02 - Updates from Ron Maranto and Gary Lyon