LST-325 Added to Historic Register

[Quarks]

LST-325, currently "home-ported" in Evansville, IN, has been added to the National Historic Register.

http://www.indystar.com/article/2009...toric+register

Information

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[Quarks]

Here are some links:

USS LST-325 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(yeah, I know it's Wiki, but still . . .)

The USS LST Ship Memorial (USS LST 325)

http://www.lstmemorial.org/history/default.htm

[Dave]

I worked with a guy who was salilor on an LST. 325 was sailed back from Greece by a vollenteer group of original WW11 crewman of LST's. He boarded at New Orleans and came up the Miss. river on 325. LST's were given away by the US after the war, to various countries. This one was as close to original as they (LST Vets group) could find. They had a deal for one in China but it fell thru. Imagine all those old farts bringing it back across the Atlantic!

[Quarks]

I worked with a guy who was salilor on an LST. 325 was sailed back from Greece by a vollenteer group of original WW11 crewman of LST's. He boarded at New Orleans and came up the Miss. river on 325. LST's were given away by the US after the war, to various countries. This one was as close to original as they (LST Vets group) could find. They had a deal for one in China but it fell thru. Imagine all those old farts bringing it back across the Atlantic!

The Coast Guard was very, very displeased with them for doing that.

[Dave]

Well, I don't think the coast guard has world wide authority and by the time they got back here "the deed was done"! I do remember reading that, tho.

A funny story about the building of these ships. They were built at several places, one was in Ill., a small town along what is now Rt. 80, west of Joliet, on the Ill. River. Chicago Bridge and Iron had the contract. (They build oil storage tanks for refineries, among other things). They put the ways (proper word?) at 90degree angle to river, two sets so they could work on 2 ships at once. So the ships were constructed parrallel with the river. Now the day came when they annouced the first one completed would be launched, in all the local papers. On the day hundreds of locals gathered on the river shore opposite the ship yard.
The ship came down the ways, side ways, and created a wave you could have surfed on. The people back stepping on the other side but not fast enough. Many were swept off their feet and all got muddy but no injuries. Needless to say, if any launch was watched again, it was from a more distant location!

[John Kepler]

If it's got a US flag hanging on it, is being driven by a Skipper with a US-issued license, or has a manifested cargo destined for a US port and/or owned by a US entity....then the US Coast Guard has jurisdiction ANYWHERE in the friggin' world!

The Cap of the LST knew he was risking his Ticket, but didn't really give a damn. What the Coasties had their panties most in a wad over was the age and lack of current sea experience in the crew, and that they were, IIRC, attempting to sail without a licensed Chief Engineer. The general fitness of a US-licensed crew is also the Coast Guard's responsibility.

Keep in mind....regardless of what you see on "Deadliest Catch", the Coasties are basically highly bureaucratized cops, not soldiers or sailors, and just LOVE sticking their noses into other peoples' business looking for revenue-generating "rule-breaking" that they can then write-up to justify their phony-baloney jobs...whether it makes a lick of sense or not!

[Youngblood]

LST-325, currently "home-ported" in Evansville, IN, has been added to the National Historic Register.

Excellent news, thanks for that.

I had an uncle who served on LST-625.

[John Kepler]

Excellent news, thanks for that.

I had an uncle who served on LST-625.

And my Grandpa built/bought his boat! LST-625 was built at CB&I's Seneca, IL shipyard, and my Grandpa was the US Navy BuShips Acceptance Inspector there!

[HoosierDaddy]

I get down to the river a few times a year to visit the ole gal. The 325 was made in Philly. They built several here in Evansville though. Right now they are in a bit of a tough spot. The capt. that brought the ship back is in a ****ing match with the local volunteers. The local guys walked off after they got in a tiff. Hope they can work through the mess. Now there are two factions. The locals(mostly ex Navy) and the Board of directors that is made up of folks not local. They just had the hull "pinged" by the Coast Guard and it passed. Come on down and visit her during the National Military Vehicle Preservation Association's convention during Aug.

[limpetmine]

Hooser D, you going to make KC this fall?
My (deceased) father in law was a sailor on the LSM-100, was in the SoPac from '43 to '45. I got a few stories out of him.