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This page was last updated: 29 SEP 01, 2215Z |
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This page was last updated: 29 SEP 01, 2215Z |
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Our primary contact for the ship is Mr. Earl Stone at 251-604-5492 (M-F, 8 am-4 pm CDT only ... please!). The ship's general telephone number is 251-402-1225, which can take messages when unattended. Please limit your calls to normal business hours, and please don't call to chew the rag or to ask how things are going. Our Blue Crew are working very hard on board, and frivolous calls can only divert them from that work. It's certainly appropriate to call for visits or to volunteer for work. |
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from Robert L. ("Stoney") Burke [Ed. note: Through
the miracles of modern technology,
On August 7, 2001, I was privileged to take my wife Margaret, my daughter and son-in-law Linda and Roger Lamm, 15 year old grandson Bobby Myers and friend Sam Mendenhall from Daphane, AL on a tour of LST 325. I served for 3 years in the Pacific during WWII on LST 736. So I can really appreciate what a feat this journey was for the members of the Gold Crew. We want to thank Earl Stone and Calvin Ellison for their time to give us a tour. We also met Calvin's wife Pearl. She was hard at work. We met Capt. Hal Pierce of Mobile. He has been influential and helpful in many areas. It is so extraordinary what the Blue Crew are doing to restore LST 325. There are definite changes made by the Greek Navy, plus the years of neglect. I wish my health would permit my joining the Blue Crew. Since I can't I have mailed my donation to the USS LST Ship Memorial. The day before we toured the LST 325, we toured the USS ALABAMA. We enjoyed the tour. It will take a lot of time, hard work and fund raising to realize anything like that for LST 325. It is amazing how much has been accomplished. We will not be able to attend the LST Convention in Sept., so this was a very special family trip. ~ Robert L. Burke, LST 736 |
Aug. 7, 2001 LST 325 - Tank Deck
Robert L. Burke and grandson Bobby Myers
photos by Margret Burke |
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From Ron
Maranto Dated 28 SEP 01 I'm not sure where to start. There were so many people involved in working endlessly to make the money needed to further improve the condition of the 325. To name them all would not be possible without the fear I'd miss someone. The Gold Crew, their wives and kids, the Blue Crew and their wives. The Blue Crew worked the ship's tour, and the Gold Crew worked the dock. Both crews' wives put in long hours. What a thrill it was to stand next to the original crew and side by side with the Blue Crew. I was not able to take pictures of the commissioning ceremony since I was involved in it, but Debby Kuykendall was kind enough to do the job for me. The day was hot, but other than that it was clear and sunny. At
the banquet the original crew was given a plaque, all 32 of them, and was
given an award for having the largest attendance. Then the Blue Crew
I was able to show my video once a day and was happy to have sold about 25 of them. By the way, you could add the video to the sale items. It starts Aug. 1st 2000, in Souda Bay, Crete, and ends Jan. 10, 2001, in Mobile, and is about 3 hours long. It has been professionally edited. [Ed. note: Mr. Maranto can be emailed at ronmaranto@yahoo.com for further information on ordering this video.] Well, we were all tired, but sorry to part company. So we have a year to get enough money to maybe sail the 325 to our next reunion. |
LST 325's original crew
Gold and Blue Crews
Capt. Hal Pierce presiding |
Gold Crew wives |
The Voges Clan |
Barbara Maranto |
Katie, Phyllis and Gail keep
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Ace Reporter
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from Jerry Howe Dated 28 SEP 01
Slade & Patricia Hooks with the magnificent
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The raffle sales went "really good," but I don't know exactly how much
was raised.
They had a squirrel cage about thirty inches long and fourteen inches in diameter. And I could honestly say it was almost half full. I was the one that drew out the winning number. It was Joe Gallinger (no address, but a Florida telephone number). I tried calling, but was on a answer machine; left a message and will call back later. The model went to auction and Mike Gunjak handled it very well. I think it finally went for $900.00 or a $1000.00; can't remember. The people that bought it at auction were so happy to get it. I believe they own the pier where they are going to dock the 325 later (not sure). Their names are Slade & Patricia Hooks from Mobile AL. I'm including a picture here. I hope to send a few more pictures later after I sort through them all. ~ Jerry Howe |
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from Capt. Hal Pierce Dated 28 SEP 01 |
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Well, this is kind of a summary of status. I've got some materials for the website that I'll be sending in the mail. The ship has had a pile of visitors every day. The USS Alabama announced yesterday that they have had over 300,000 visitors this year, the highest in a long time, and that they welcomed their eleven millionth person since they opened. I think the visit of the 325 to the convention center and the national reunion combined to make a major event for both Mobile and LST freaks. Y'all let me know anything you need. Looking for Veterans Day, let me give you some preliminary for that for the web. We really begin at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday the 11th with a concert in the Civic Theater downtown by the Marine Corps Band (the President's Band from Washington). These concerts are a life's experience so this will be great. The Gold Crew and families will be seated up front in rotten seats so they can be introduced at the intermission. The next event is back down at the Brookley Officers Club for a very nice dinner for the crew and lots of people. We call it the "Elephant Dinner" (after high ranking naval officers coincidently) at 7:00 p.m. The Alvers production on LST 325 will show so they are exploring a big-screen setup and that will be the program. This is a dress-up but fun dinner so all should enjoy. The next day, Monday the 12th, is the big day, Veterans Day. Patriotic parade through downtown at 10:00 a.m. To accommodate the crew they have procured a double decker bus that they can decorate for the day. The wives will join me at the reviewing stand in front of the Chamber of Commerce and I think the plan is to dump the crew off there in the middle of the parade. Next is the Honors Luncheon at the Convention Center. Big, big attendance. The speaker will be Bob Jornlin and the presentations for the LST guys and Mobile Veteran of the Year take place at that luncheon. Next, at 3:00 p.m. is a program for children at the Battleship Pavilion. The crew will be the centerpiece and be introduced, but the program is basic Veterans Day with a different speaker. The kids are the key. After that we will bus across the grounds where John Word at the Captain's Table will be having a reception and provide a place to relax a while. Then back over to the Pavilion where the Mobile Symphonic Pops will play a salute to the crew and anything else red, white and blue and introduce the crew. Then we bus back to the room and quit. Tuesday morning the Commission is planning breakfast for everyone and transportation out to the ship wherever it is for a seance on the ship. This plan is as of here and now. My very best to everyone and thank you all for you patience, spirit and enthusiasm in Mobile. I think we had a hell of a show. ~ Capt. Hal Pierce
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from Michael
Smith Dated 23 SEP 01 |
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from Earl
Stone Dated 22 SEP 01 |
| Sorry about the void in news from LST-325 (this message is being sent
at 5:00 am). The crowds have been large and a long waiting time for
some of the visitors but they say it is worth it.
The recommissioning of LST-325 was a wonderful experience and was enjoyed
by all. Bruce Voges Sunday, the last day of the National LST Association convention, a memorial service will be held at 10 AM. A wreath will be thrown from the deck of LST-325 into the water of the Mobile River. LST-325 will remain at the Mobile Convention Center until October 1st
and will then be moved back to our Homeport, Hooks Terminal, Chickasaw,
Alabama.
NOTE: Beginning October 1st our new operating hours will be
~ Earl
Stone |
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from Capt. Jornlin Dated 16 SEP 01 |
It was earlier announced that the ship would be closed to the public
today (Sat., 16 SEP). We will, however, be opening the ship for visitors
at 1:00 p.m. this afternoon. The morning has been spent cleaning
up sand left over from the sandblasting, and washing decks and surfaces.
It appears that we are right on course with the Coast Guard, and that they're pleased with our progress. We will be running a drill on Monday, and at that time we believe we will receive certification as an Attraction Ship. ~ Capt. Bob Jornlin |
LST 325 is now in position at
Bruce Voges
Ed Strobel |
from Ron
Maranto Dated 15 SEP 01 I arrived Thursday at the Brookley Center, got a room, went to the ship
and was happy to see Capt. Bob Jornlin Got up at 5:30 to make ready to take the ship out of drydock. We were supposed to leave around 7:00 AM, but because a container was occupying part of the dock, that we were going to use, we had to wait for it to finish loading and move. Around 9:00 AM they started to lower the dock but had to raise it again due to finding a leak in the main engine room bilge. It seems that an angle iron support to the deck in the engine room was resting on one of the dry dock blocks and punctured a hole in the bottom. So they had to raise the ship again to weld a plate on it from the bottom. I guess it was close to 1:00 PM before we got that fixed and lower the ship into the water to check again for leaks. The second try was successful. In the meantime we turned to painting and made ready the lines to tie to the dock. On the way to the Convention Center we passed a USN cruiser and as we did the crew came to attention and saluted us as we passed by. That was very moving for us. We got to the dock at about 2:30, at which time the gangway was installed, and no sooner was it secured, people came charging aboard. There's still a lot of work to be done to make ready for the 17th. More painting, hosing down the deck and a lot of sand all over the place to be removed. I left about 4:PM for home, looking forward to Tuesday. I would like to mention that Devoe Paint donated 40 gallons of paint
and it was delivered to the ship a while back by Charlie and Jean Marking |
All hands help out
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The cloverleaves get their trim paint from
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Roy Rosen of Webster Groves, MO,
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Hard at work scraping paint is
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Virgene Lockas,
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Mes Strobel,
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Pearl Ellison |
Michelle Lawhead gets a hug from her
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from Capt. Hal Pierce
Capt. Hal Pierce getting
Another shot of LST 325
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Yesterday we struggled all day getting the ship out of drydock and
into a secure berth at the Convention Center. We finally succeeded.
She is right out there in plain sight, with easy and safe access, plenty
of room, many safety provisions, and pretty as a picture. We are
now making plans to show the ship, advertise the ship, raise many dollars,
provide spectacular mementos and souvenirs -- there were so many arrangements
to make, things to set up, people to inform, assistants to direct.
Literally thousands of things have happened to this ship in the last month,
most of them good. She is now positioned for an absolutely great
two weeks of showing off.
We are also planning two great ceremonies, the Recommissioning Friday at 1400 and the Memorial Ceremony Sunday the 23rd at 1000. As you can well imagine, a purely patriotic project such as this is now taking on a new dimension because of the shocking events of the last few days. We intend to add these events to our memorial recognition of our LST veterans in the Sunday ceremony. I am going to work on demonstrating a sensitivity to that scene wherever I can. In any case, the ship is in place, there were dozens of people waiting
to come aboard to see it when we pulled in, and we made a good start today.
WE ARE COOKING!
~ Capt. Hal Pierce |
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! Click here for directions to the ship. |
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Legend: 
with pictures
Gold
Crew 
Blue Crew
Archives (click here for complete index to archives) : Archive for September 2001 (first half):
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All contents of this website are Copyright © 2001 by The
USS LST Ship Memorial, Inc.
All Rights Reserved. Please email the WebSkipper
with comments, corrections or suggestions.
