2008 Year in Review

WW II US Navy LST-325 ship docks in Clinton

Ship Deck

Con Tower

Ship Galley

The ship is officially named LST-325 and was specifically built during World War II as a landing craft capable of carrying heavy equipment such as tanks. Thus the letters, L.S.T. are short for Landing Ship Tank.

The ship arrived in Clinton on September 3 and from Thursday, September 4 thru Monday, September 8 guided 45 minute tours are available to the public from 9am until 5pm.The ship is docked at the Mississippi River landing dock close to the North marina and where the casino boat had been moored.

On Thursday, September 4, 2008 the writer had the good fortune of taking a tour of this proud ship and meet some of the crew who maintains and show the craft at public events.Attending were two Morrison residents, Fred and Ann Groharing. Fred is seen in many of the photos as he and Ann toured the ship on this rainy day.Fred is a World War II veteran who spent much of his time in the Navy on a very similar ship called an LCI-586. The difference in the two ships is primarily function as the LST-325 is a little larger and was used to ferry up to 20 Sherman tanks while the LCI-586 was used to ferry about 150 infantrymen to shore. Fred enjoyed his time on LST-325 probably a little more this day than 65 years ago, in fact we had a hard time keeping him from sliding down the steep ship's ladders rather than using the steps. Some Navy guys just can't resist using their sea legs!

Our tour guide was an ex-Navy guy who lives in Normal, Illinois and volunteers on the LST-325 for public events around the US. He informed us of the total 1,050 LST's built during World War II only 40 were destroyed and most were turned into lend-lease programs for governments who had helped the US during World War II. Interestingly, he mentioned that the LST's were so slow thru the water that sailors had nicknamed them L-arge, S-low, T-arget!

The LST-325 was saved from a Crete, Greece scapyard in the Summer of 2000 by a group of Navy veterans and LST enthusiasts. After repairs and a harrowing journey thru the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean the LST made it home to the US on January 10, 2001. Home is now Evansville, Indiana where it just so happened to have been built.

The tour was much enjoyed and the crew couldn't have been more informative. If you have never been on a Naval military ship or you know a World War II veteran or maybe you just have a curiosity about ships this is a great opportunity to see up close a ship that performed admirably for your country over 60 years ago.

You can also log onto the group's permanent website at www.lstmemorial.org for continuing and expanded information.

For more photos see L.S.T. 325

by  Editor, theCity1.com
September 4, 2008