Empathy List Archives

R

ReidGantt@aol.com

Wed, Dec 13, 2000 4:57 AM

Not sure of the propriety of mentioning this on our trawler net but thought I
would risk it. I just thought it showed some real spunk for doing it at
their age. I'm not so sure doing it with no safety equipment is smart,
however.

This is about the 29 American WWII and Korean war veterans, with average age
72, who took off today from Gibraltar in a 58 year old WWII landing craft
(LST-325), heading to Alabama, a distance of 4,350 miles. The LST
reportedly has shaky steering and no safety equipment. They plan to put the
LST in a museum display.

Reid Gantt
30' Atlantic
"Vouivre"

Listmeister's note: This item is somewhat off-topic but fascinating
nevertheless, starting with the fact that LSTs did steam at trawler speeds.
Here's an excerpt from an LST site at http://www.abiz4me.com/lstp2.html:

<<One of the least known and least appreciated type of the fighting ships
of the war were the LSTs. While the letters stood for Landing Ship Tank,
they were generally referred to by those in the amphibious branch of the
navy as Large Slow Targets. With a top speed of 11 knots they had no
ability to dodge the incoming fire whether it be from torpedoes, aerial
bombardment, or shore batteries. However, this was no deterrent to the
crews of the LSTs. Their mission was to bring tanks, trucks, and military
personnel right up to the invasion beaches and to sit there while their
precious cargo was unloaded. From the European theater to the Japanese
coastline, LSTs were a vital part of almost every invasion made by the US
(and allied) armed forces.>>

Info on the LST museum ship and its voyage across the Atlantic is at
http://www.palosverdes.com/lst887/lst325.html.

Not sure of the propriety of mentioning this on our trawler net but thought I would risk it. I just thought it showed some real spunk for doing it at their age. I'm not so sure doing it with no safety equipment is smart, however. This is about the 29 American WWII and Korean war veterans, with average age 72, who took off today from Gibraltar in a 58 year old WWII landing craft (LST-325), heading to Alabama, a distance of 4,350 miles. The LST reportedly has shaky steering and no safety equipment. They plan to put the LST in a museum display. Reid Gantt 30' Atlantic "Vouivre" Listmeister's note: This item is somewhat off-topic but fascinating nevertheless, starting with the fact that LSTs did steam at trawler speeds. Here's an excerpt from an LST site at <http://www.abiz4me.com/lstp2.html>: <<One of the least known and least appreciated type of the fighting ships of the war were the LSTs. While the letters stood for Landing Ship Tank, they were generally referred to by those in the amphibious branch of the navy as Large Slow Targets. With a top speed of 11 knots they had no ability to dodge the incoming fire whether it be from torpedoes, aerial bombardment, or shore batteries. However, this was no deterrent to the crews of the LSTs. Their mission was to bring tanks, trucks, and military personnel right up to the invasion beaches and to sit there while their precious cargo was unloaded. From the European theater to the Japanese coastline, LSTs were a vital part of almost every invasion made by the US (and allied) armed forces.>> Info on the LST museum ship and its voyage across the Atlantic is at <http://www.palosverdes.com/lst887/lst325.html>.

V

veyron@ibm.net

Wed, Dec 13, 2000 2:59 PM

Reid,

Thanks for the report on LSTs. I read almost every line. Please keep us
inform if possible.

Bernard

PS : Only 25 boats lost dut to enemy action on 1051 built? That does not
sound like a Large Slow Target... What was the percentage of planes and
submarines lost during WWII ?

they were generally referred to by those in the amphibious branch of the
navy as Large Slow Targets. With a top speed of 11 knots they had no
ability to dodge the incoming fire whether it be from torpedoes, aerial
bombardment, or shore batteries. However, this was no deterrent to the
crews of the LSTs. Their mission was to bring tanks, trucks, and military
personnel right up to the invasion beaches and to sit there while their
precious cargo was unloaded. From the European theater to the Japanese
coastline, LSTs were a vital part of almost every invasion made by the US
(and allied) armed forces.>>

Info on the LST museum ship and its voyage across the Atlantic is at
http://www.palosverdes.com/lst887/lst325.html.

Reid, Thanks for the report on LSTs. I read almost every line. Please keep us inform if possible. Bernard PS : Only 25 boats lost dut to enemy action on 1051 built? That does not sound like a Large Slow Target... What was the percentage of planes and submarines lost during WWII ? > they were generally referred to by those in the amphibious branch of the > navy as Large Slow Targets. With a top speed of 11 knots they had no > ability to dodge the incoming fire whether it be from torpedoes, aerial > bombardment, or shore batteries. However, this was no deterrent to the > crews of the LSTs. Their mission was to bring tanks, trucks, and military > personnel right up to the invasion beaches and to sit there while their > precious cargo was unloaded. From the European theater to the Japanese > coastline, LSTs were a vital part of almost every invasion made by the US > (and allied) armed forces.>> > > Info on the LST museum ship and its voyage across the Atlantic is at > <http://www.palosverdes.com/lst887/lst325.html>. >

S

scaramouche@tvo.org

Wed, Dec 13, 2000 3:32 PM

ReidGantt@aol.com writes:

This is about the 29 American WWII and Korean war veterans, with
average age
72, who took off today from Gibraltar in a 58 year old WWII landing
craft

My vote is that this is fascinating reading and I hope you'll keep
updating the list with the story.
We actually have a Canadian LST in our marina. She was build at the
end of WWII and never saw service. Now she is used by her owners as
tug, barge and general beast of burden. Last year the skipper took me
for a spin and let me drive her for a bit - fascinating.

George of Scaramouche -frozen in on Lake Ontario....

ReidGantt@aol.com writes: > This is about the 29 American WWII and Korean war veterans, with >average age >72, who took off today from Gibraltar in a 58 year old WWII landing >craft My vote is that this is fascinating reading and I hope you'll keep updating the list with the story. We actually have a Canadian LST in our marina. She was build at the end of WWII and never saw service. Now she is used by her owners as tug, barge and general beast of burden. Last year the skipper took me for a spin and let me drive her for a bit - fascinating. George of Scaramouche -frozen in on Lake Ontario....

N

normrose@earthlink.net

Fri, Dec 15, 2000 2:36 AM

There is a very good article in this months Ocean Navigator about
Higgins' Boats, officially known as LCVP's (Landing Craft Vehicle.
Personnel) and LCVM's (Landing Craft Vehicle, Mechanical). The LCVP's
were for troop landings and general supplies, and were wood craft. The
LCVM's were steel equivalents for transporting Tanks and other
heavy-duty implements of persuasion. They just built a brand new one to
the original specs, and put it into a new WWII museum in the Big Easy.
1900 of these things hit the beaches on D-Day. Shallow draft, 12 knts
tops.
Boy, 29 old Grunts in a open boat for 4300 miles....yeah, it'll be war.
Good luck to'em.
Norm

There is a very good article in this months Ocean Navigator about Higgins' Boats, officially known as LCVP's (Landing Craft Vehicle. Personnel) and LCVM's (Landing Craft Vehicle, Mechanical). The LCVP's were for troop landings and general supplies, and were wood craft. The LCVM's were steel equivalents for transporting Tanks and other heavy-duty implements of persuasion. They just built a brand new one to the original specs, and put it into a new WWII museum in the Big Easy. 1900 of these things hit the beaches on D-Day. Shallow draft, 12 knts tops. Boy, 29 old Grunts in a open boat for 4300 miles....yeah, it'll be war. Good luck to'em. Norm

V

veyron@ibm.net

Wed, Jan 17, 2001 1:41 AM

Anybody knows what happened to the war veterans who crossed the ocean in the
LST-325? Did the Coast Guard arrested them as an illegal, non registered
vessel?

Their web site stops on jan 9, 1 day before schedule arrival.

Bernard

This is about the 29 American WWII and Korean war veterans, with average age
72, who took off today from Gibraltar in a 58 year old WWII landing craft
(LST-325), heading to Alabama, a distance of 4,350 miles. The LST
reportedly has shaky steering and no safety equipment. They plan to put the
LST in a museum display.

Info on its voyage across the Atlantic is at
http://www.palosverdes.com/lst887/lst325.html.

Anybody knows what happened to the war veterans who crossed the ocean in the LST-325? Did the Coast Guard arrested them as an illegal, non registered vessel? Their web site stops on jan 9, 1 day before schedule arrival. Bernard >This is about the 29 American WWII and Korean war veterans, with average age > 72, who took off today from Gibraltar in a 58 year old WWII landing craft > (LST-325), heading to Alabama, a distance of 4,350 miles. The LST > reportedly has shaky steering and no safety equipment. They plan to put the > LST in a museum display. > > > Info on its voyage across the Atlantic is at > <http://www.palosverdes.com/lst887/lst325.html>. >

M

mknott@bcpl.net

Wed, Jan 17, 2001 2:51 AM

I'm pretty sure they made it safely to Alabama(?), Bernard.

Mel Knott

"b. veyron" wrote:

Anybody knows what happened to the war veterans who crossed the ocean in the
LST-325? Did the Coast Guard arrested them as an illegal, non registered
vessel?

Their web site stops on jan 9, 1 day before schedule arrival.

Bernard

This is about the 29 American WWII and Korean war veterans, with average age
72, who took off today from Gibraltar in a 58 year old WWII landing craft
(LST-325), heading to Alabama, a distance of 4,350 miles. The LST
reportedly has shaky steering and no safety equipment. They plan to put the
LST in a museum display.

Info on its voyage across the Atlantic is at
http://www.palosverdes.com/lst887/lst325.html.

I'm pretty sure they made it safely to Alabama(?), Bernard. Mel Knott "b. veyron" wrote: > > Anybody knows what happened to the war veterans who crossed the ocean in the > LST-325? Did the Coast Guard arrested them as an illegal, non registered > vessel? > > Their web site stops on jan 9, 1 day before schedule arrival. > > Bernard > > >This is about the 29 American WWII and Korean war veterans, with average age > > 72, who took off today from Gibraltar in a 58 year old WWII landing craft > > (LST-325), heading to Alabama, a distance of 4,350 miles. The LST > > reportedly has shaky steering and no safety equipment. They plan to put the > > LST in a museum display. > > > > > > > Info on its voyage across the Atlantic is at > > <http://www.palosverdes.com/lst887/lst325.html>. > >

Z

zeekstah@ktc.com

Wed, Jan 17, 2001 12:34 PM

Anybody knows what happened to the war veterans who crossed the ocean in

the

LST-325? Did the Coast Guard arrested them as an illegal, non registered
vessel?

They came into port last weekend. CNN covered it live.

Zeke

> Anybody knows what happened to the war veterans who crossed the ocean in the > LST-325? Did the Coast Guard arrested them as an illegal, non registered > vessel? They came into port last weekend. CNN covered it live. Zeke

S

samakijoe@mediaone.net

Wed, Jan 17, 2001 2:37 PM

Info on its voyage across the Atlantic is at
http://www.palosverdes.com/lst887/lst325.html.

all: Does anyone know why the USCG "May" arrest them when they get into
port? Or is it that they (USCG) are just pissed because they sailed
without "permission" ?? (read the note dated 7 DEC 2000 at the above
address) I hope they have live TV coverage when they hit Mobile. jd
Joe DellaFera / Margaret Murray
36' Prairie DC "SAMAKI"
Pompano Beach, Fl.

> > >> > Info on its voyage across the Atlantic is at >> > <http://www.palosverdes.com/lst887/lst325.html>. >> > > > all: Does anyone know why the USCG "May" arrest them when they get into port? Or is it that they (USCG) are just pissed because they sailed without "permission" ?? (read the note dated 7 DEC 2000 at the above address) I hope they have live TV coverage when they hit Mobile. jd Joe DellaFera / Margaret Murray 36' Prairie DC "SAMAKI" Pompano Beach, Fl.

M

mulatfl@pcola.gulf.net

Wed, Jan 17, 2001 2:43 PM

That is correct. They made port in Mobile, alabama. The average age of the
crew was in the 70's.

Zeke Anderson wrote:

Anybody knows what happened to the war veterans who crossed the ocean in

the

--
Nick Meloy
mulatfl@pcola.gulf.net
(850) 994-6165

That is correct. They made port in Mobile, alabama. The average age of the crew was in the 70's. Zeke Anderson wrote: > > Anybody knows what happened to the war veterans who crossed the ocean in > the -- Nick Meloy mulatfl@pcola.gulf.net (850) 994-6165

R

rcrogers@annapolis.net

Wed, Jan 17, 2001 4:29 PM

They made it safely! It was widely covered with special attention from Tom
Borkaw on NBC News.

I doubt that any mature, USCG person in a position of authority ever intends
to arrest the ship which is going to become a museum.

With an average age of 72, these men are an inspiration and reminder of what
our Fathers achieved in WWII.

They made it safely! It was widely covered with special attention from Tom Borkaw on NBC News. I doubt that any mature, USCG person in a position of authority ever intends to arrest the ship which is going to become a museum. With an average age of 72, these men are an inspiration and reminder of what our Fathers achieved in WWII.

trawlers@lists.trawlering.com

TWL: WWII Vets to Sail LST Across Atlantic