Return
of the LST-325
Articles
about
the ship
posted
before
Feb.
2001
- For
articles
after
this
date
visit
lstmemorial.org
By
United
States
LST Association |
Jan 6,
2001
I had a message this
morning from the aid
to Vice Adm. John Sklor,
he told me that the
Coast Guard has stated
they will not do anything
to the crew of the
LST-325. It was rumored
that the Captain would
be arrested when they
arrived in Mobile.
This is not true and
never was. Please do
not call the Coast
Guard with your fears,
no one will do anything
to him or the crew.
Thanks for your help.
They are being very
helpful and doing their
job. Thanks again
.
The
ship will be in Mobile
on Jan 10, 2001
between 10:00 am and
11:00 see you there.
This is the last report
until we return from
Mobile.
Thanks, Mike
and Linda Gunjak
Comments
Ffrom Bob Madden LST-708
My wife and I returned
home a couple of hours
ago from a visit to
Nassau, Bahamas, where
we had the honor to
step aboard the 325
while it was in port
to pick up lube oil
and some other supplies.
The ship looked great
for its age and so
did the crew members.
They're all excited
about being so close
to home now. When I
saw it coming close
to the dock, my first
comment was: "It's
BEAUTIFUL," even
if it was a bit rusty
in spots. Quite a few
people were at the
dock in Nassau looking
at the ship and it
was great to explain
to them the history
of the ship and its
incredible voyage from
Greece. The U.S. Ambassador
to the Bahamas came
to the pier and he,
an assistant and several
other embassy staff
people climbed the
Jacob's ladder to reach
the main deck. The
crew welcomed all visitors
and at the same time
were busy taking on
the oil drums and foodstuffs
which included fish,
chicken, lettuce, a
giant squash some other
fresh vegetables and
loaves of bread. Looks
like they'll be eating
well the next several
days as they make their
way to Mobile. The
ship was in port only
about four hours and
was out of Nassau harbor
at about 1730 hours.
You cannot imagine
the emotion I felt
when I went on board
and the memories it
brought back to me.
I remembered all the
men on my ship, the
LST 708, in the South
Pacific. I knew many
of the 325 crew members
personally. I joined
the group in 1995 but
had to drop out last
year because of vision
problems. The camaraderie
that was so evident
today when I visited
the 325 was such that
I know I would be honored
to serve with all of
these men anytime.
Jan.
6, 2001 from the Captain's
wife Lois
Hi to all!
Bob called this evening
and informed
me all going well.
Today
the seas were calmer.
They are headed to
the Keys and should
arrive there
early AM Saturday and
perhaps past the Keys
by evening Saturday.
Then its on
to the gulf and up
to Mobile!! He sounded
good and upbeat. Bob
said some of the guys
want to wear their
uniforms - I think
they should wear whatever
they want to
after what they've
been through!! The
ship is expected to
arrive about
10:00am on the 10th
with a ceremony at
11:00am (approx. 30
min. long)
according to Ms. Thompson.
We will be provided
with transportation
to the
dock. Bob noted that
people will probably
be able to board the
ship that
afternoon or perhaps
the next day. All the
news media will be
there
according to all the
phone calls I've gotten.
This is so exciting
that we
can finally see the
light at the end of
the tunnel!!
I am leaving
Sunday to drive to
Mobile.
Will arrive Monday
afternoon
hopefully if all goes well. So looking forward to meeting all of you. Feels
like you are family
already. Wishing you
a safe trip to Mobile
and the crew
God speed.
Lois
Jan 5, 2001
We want to let everyone
know the souvenir HATS,
LOGO PATCHES, SWEATSHIRTS
AND T-SHIRTS WILL BE
AVAILABLE TO BUY IN
MOBILE. Prices will
be reasonable.
ALSO
A COMPANY MY DAUGHTER, LAURA WORKS
FOR HAS DONATED 150
LCVP'S PLASTIC MODELS,.{
THEY NEED TO BE PUT
TOGETHER.} THEY ARE
TO BE SOLD AND PROCEEDS
WILL GO TO THE M/V
LST MEMORIAL. THEY
WILL BE HANDLING LST'S
SHIP MODELS IN A FEW
WEEKS. WE WILL HAVE
CATALOGS AND ORDER
FORMS IN MOBILE TO
PURCHASE THEM, WHEN
THEY ARE AVAILABLE
ABOUT JAN. 15TH. I
WILL PLACE A ORDER
FORM ON THE WEB SITE
AND IN THE SCUTTLEBUTT
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT
WANT TO PURCHASE ONE
AND CAN'T BE IN MOBILE
. THIS WILL ALSO INCLUDE
THE OTHER ITEMS ABOVE.
We
are ready for them
to come home. After
I put the information
on the web site for
the day, I got a call
from Captain Jornlin.
He was very tired he
had been up since 3:00am
getting the ship ready
along with the crew,
to come into Nassau.
They had to have a
pilot and tugs to bring
the ship into the harbor.
They were taken to
the Customs docks.
They arrived about
1:00 pm on Jan 4, 2001.
Took on the filters
for the engines, bread,pop,
and the 10 drums of
Lube oil. The Ambassador
to the Bahamas and
the Governor with the
news media came and
welcomed them to the
country. Everyone is
doing well and are
anxious to return to
the United States.
They left about 7:00
pm for home. He told
me that during the
evening they were having
heavy head winds but
progressing toward
the Gulf Stream. They
will be making the
turn toward Miami and
then to the Keys later
in the week. Looks
as if they may be near
the Keys late Saturday
evening. This is not
for sure, but it looks
like the plan of the
day. He told me he
will call us again
on Saturday. We will
be leaving for Mobile
on Sunday so I won't
be updating past there.
I believe the map will
be updated. Please
check the Log of the
LST-325 for further
news.
Mike and Linda
Gunjak.
Date: Thu, 4
Jan 2001 19:31:00 -0000
(GMT)
Cc
1. Position N25-05,
W077-20.5
2. Ships systems: No.2
Gen., gyro-compass
3. 24,500 gal fuel.
4. Moored starboard
side to pier in Nassau
5. Ship's Company,
29, all healthy.
6. Departure ASAP.
Attn: Mobile, We're
Alabama Bound!!!
J.R.
Carter, CDR, USNR (Ret.)
XO, M/V LST Memorial
Date:
Thu, 4 Jan 2001 20:07:00
-0000
(GMT)
item 10
Hi-This is
Dominick R
. Perruso
from Palmer
Township,
PA. I have been aboard
the LST
325 since July. I want
to tell my wife Dottie
that I love her and
miss her, also Mingy,
our little Jack Russell
terrier also all my
relatives. I want to
say hello to all my
friends in Palmer Township
Wilson Boro West Easton
and Easton, PA. I want
to thank everyone that
helped to make this
voyage possible. I
am proud and honored
to be a member of this
crew. (An extremely
long and detailed list
of ship's work done
by Mr. Perruso was
deleted to allow radio
transmission of this
message.) I am looking
forward to arriving
in Mobile, AL, that
will be one great day
for the whole crew.
Happy New Year.
January
4, 2001
We have been
hearing that someone
has
been saying the ship
is going to Fort
Lauderdale. Fl. That
is not true!!!!!!!
The ship is going
Mobile, Al. It will
be there on January
10, 2001. About 10:00
am. Please listen
to what we are saying.
When the group asked
for a place to place
the ship the only
place that agree
was MOBILE, AL.
I
hope this puts this
subject to bed. Thanks
for your understanding
sometimes rumors get
started. It might have
been mentioned on the
LST-325 log web site
when they were looking
for a spot.
The ship was to dock
in Nassau at 1:00 pm
this afternoon they
will be leaving at
5:00 pm. I just spoke
to the person that
is helping them in
Nassau, Tom Basden,
he is a friend of Don
Chapman's son Mike
and he said the ship
was ready to leave
for Mobile. More information
as soon as I get it.
They will be in on
TIME. See you soon.
Phone is working again.
Linda
Date: Wed, 3 Jan
2001 18:02:00 -0000
(GMT)
1. Position N26-30,
W073-16.
2. Ships systems: No.2
Gen., gyro-compass
3. 26,000 gal fuel.
4. Track 256, steering
280 mag., SOA 8.5 kt,
Sea state 2 to 4, Wind
force 3, Swell direction
330, wind dir. 330,
cloud cover 40% scattered,
vsby 20nm.
5. Ship's Company,
29, all healthy. 6.
ETA Nassau, 1700Z,
4 Jan 2000, departure
ASAP.
J.R. Carter, CDR, USNR
(Ret.)
XO, M/V LST Memorial
Date:
Tue, 2 Jan 2001 13:38:00
-0000 (GMT)
1. Position N27-16,
W069-38.
2. Ships systems: No.2
Gen., gyro-compass
3. 27,500 gal fuel.
4. Track 258, steering
275 mag., SOA 8 kt,
Sea state 2 to 4, Wind
force 3, Swell direction
330, wind dir. 330,
cloud cover 80% scattered,
vsby 20nm.
5. Ship's Company,
29, all healthy. J.R.
Carter, CDR, USNR(Ret.)
XO, M/V LST Memorial
J.R.
Carter, CDR, USNR (Ret.)
XO, M/V LST Memorial
Date:
Wed, 3 Jan 2001 18:51:00
-0000 (GMT)
Item 8
I would like
to express my feelings
on being
able to make this trip
by saying it has been
an emotional experience
to relive old times,
meet different people
of the world. Being
physically able at
age 74,to accomplish
this is something I
am very proud of. My
family's support in
helping me do this
is very important to
me. To me it is a once
in a lifetime event.
Harold Slemmons, Mayor
of Lone Oak, Texas
Item
9
Hello-I'm Bailey
Wrinkle from Tennessee
on board as an electrician,
crewmember of the LST
325 from Crete-Greece
to Mobile, Alabama.
I am extremely proud
to be a member of this
crew and to represent
the great state of
Tennessee and the town
of McKenzie. I have
acquired a good bunch
of new friends with
the crew and am totally
amazed at what they
can repair and put
together when the chips
are down with so little
to work with. This
was supposed to be
a trip of 50 days.
As of this week I will
have some 130 days
and some even longer,
but Mobile is getting
closer. My best to
Bobby, Paul, Joel and
all my friends. Without
their help this would
never have happened.
Christine with broken
foot, tell all our
friends, Thanks for
their interest and
support. To Mark and
Amy and the grandchildren
- Matthew, Kyle, Abby
and Luke, that Pop-Pop
has lots to tell you.
They said it could
not have been done.
No Way - To bring a
WWII 60 year old Naval
Vessel, LST 325 out
of the graveyard -
Bring it back to the
US from Crete, Greece
- No Way, it could
be done. (But we did
it).
Best Wishes, Bailey
M.
Date: Tue, 2 Jan
2001 14:32:00 -0000
(GMT)
Message
Item 6
Happy New Year
from Joe Sadlier, to
my
loved ones and friends,
from the LST325. We're
still cooking and having
a blast.
Item 7
Hello-Albert
White here: We are
cruising
in the Atlantic on
our WW2 LST, heading
west about 3 or 4 days
from Nassau. We sill
stop briefly for some
supplies, then sail
for Mobile, Ala. We
plan to arrive about
the 12th of Jan. At
this time I want to
wish everyone back
home a very very happy
new year. this will
include my very wonderful
and understanding wife,
Gloria; all the kids
- Nancy, Bonnie, Albert,
Edwin, John, Wendy,
Mat, Mark, and Jan
plus all the grandkids
and great grandkids.
Check the TV news for
any news of our trip.
You will be hearing
from me again about
the 10th of Jan. May
God bless our ship
and our crew and may
He bless and keep all
you healthy and safe
in the New Year.
NEW
INFORMATION AS OF 1:00
PM TODAY:
MESSAGE IS
AS FOLLOWS:
THE SHIP
WILL BE IN
NASSAU AT 1:00 PM.
AND WILL BE LEAVING
ABOUT 6:00 PM. ON JAN.
4, 2000.
THE SHIP IS
SCHEDULED TO BE IN
MOBILE, AL.,
ON THE MORNING OF JANUARY
10, 2001. ANY OF YOU
THAT WHAT TO SEE THE
SHIP IT WILL BE AT
THE STATE DOCKS ABOUT
11:00 - NOON ON THE
10TH. PLEASE TRY TO
BE THERE AND GREET
THE "CRAZY OLD
MEN OF THE SEA" AS
THEY ARE CALLED. THE
CITY OF MOBILE HAVE
A BIG PARTY PLANNED.
THANKS AND GOD SPEED.
Linda
January 3, 2001
We have heard
that the ship is getting
to Nassau. The head
winds will not delay
the return date to
Mobile. As soon as
they get to Nassau
we hope to have a final
date of arrival in
Mobile. The men are
doing fine and the
spirits are getting
ready for the big day.
We hope they arrive
in Nassau today or
tomorrow. Hang in there
they will be home soon.
It has been like a
zoo around here in
Toledo. The phones
start ringing at 9:00
and don't stop until
6:00. You can't believe
the interest in the
return. We are so proud
of these men Mike and
I can't express our
thoughts to them. It
is like the celebration
of a return of heroes.
In our book they are.
I
have sent out a postcard
to the families
of the crew. If any
of you need to stay
a couple days past
the 14th. I have suggested
a couple of hotels.
I hope everyone understands
why the hotels are
full. The Senior Bowl
game is held every
year in Mobile and
the Adams Mark Mobile
is booked full after
the 14th because it
is the Headquarter
Hotel. Rooms are available
at the hotels I have
mentioned. So please
take advantage of the
information. I hope
all of the families
have booked your rooms
at the Adams Mark because
it will be much easier
to contact you with
the important information
about the progress
of the ship. Soon as
I hear anything I will
post it ASAP.
Thanks,
Linda
January 1, 2001
Heard
from the Captain I
will be posting to
this page for the next
10 days due to a problem
on the LST-325 message
board. Please look
for updates here.
Date:
Sun, 31 Dec 2000 08:16:35
-0800
1. Position N28-12,
W063-30.
2. Ships systems: No.2
Gen., gyro-compass,
Inmarsat Mini-M inop
3. 30,500 gal fuel.
4. Track 262, steering
290 mag., SOA 6.2 kt,
Sea state 6 to 8, Wind
force 4, Swell direction
230, wind dir. 230,
cloud cover 100% overcast,some
herring bone pattern
to south, vsby 15nm.
5. Ship's Company,
29, all healthy.
J.R.
Carter, CDR, USNR(Ret.)
XO, M/V LST Memorial
"Ship's
Company Speaks"
My name is
Joe Milakovich; I reside
with my wife
Drucilla in Wauwatosa,
WI. I am 74 years old.
This once in a lifetime
experience has been
rewarding. The camaraderie
amongst the crewmembers
is outstanding. We
enjoy some leisure
hours sitting on the
fantail; we call it
the sundeck, and also
enduring the rough
seas during bad weather
days. I'd like to thank
my wife and family
for the encouragement
they gave me to participate
in this voyage. I am
looking forward to
being reunited with
them in Mobile.
John
Calvin, Chief Motor
Machinist, USN (RET.)
I would like to take
this opportunity to
thank all the people
who were involved in
helping to get this
project off the ground,
the get this LST 325
back to the USA. I
also have met the finest
group of men who took
time out from their
lives to make this
historical trip happen.
Conditions were against
from the start, as
we began to prepare
for this voyage. My
wife, all my children
and family have the
backbone of the support
for me to make this
voyage. They supported
me in every way and
I love them from the
bottom of my heart
and they are proud
to have been part of
this historical operation.
From:
Bill(Rocky) Hill somewhere
in the
Atlantic. I wish
a Happy New Year
to all my LST 465
Shipmates, Arizona
LST Ass'n, Sunflower
Resort Friends, My
Family and my Kaiser
Aluminum fellow employees
in Spokane and especially
my wonderful wife,
Deanne. You too Mike
and Linda Gunjak.
From
Jim McCandrew To my
wife and our
families and all our
friends in Titusville,PA
and Sebastion, FL.
Wishing all a Happy
New Year, I am still
at sea bringing the
LST 325 back to the
good old USA.
To: Roger
and David Meyer 4200
Mohawk St,
Lincoln, NE Sorry I
couldn't reach you
Roger yesterday (12/29).
Had gale winds and
waves. Now trying to
make Mobile by Jan
12. Roger take my medication
to Liz, I am getting
low. Medication on
shelf by kitchen sink.
I am feeling fine,
ship running OK. Will
get to Nassau on about
1/5/011. See you soon.
Love,
Dad Richard Meyer
JANUARY
10TH IS THE DATE. THANKS
MIKE
AND LINDA GUNJAK
If
any one can get a Navy
Times from Dec.
18th issue please see
the story that Chris
Munsey has written.
All people are welcome
to come and see the
M/V LST Memorial (LST-325)
return from its adventures
across the seas. They
did something the world
has never seen before.
They said they couldn't
do it but they showed
them when you put your
mind to something you
can accomplish any
thing you want to.
