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 |
OCTOBER
16, 2000
THE LST-325
WENT OUT THIS MORNING
ON SEA TRIALS AND
PASSED WITH FLYING
COLORS. MR. JORNLIN
CALLED THIS AFTERNOON
AND SAID THEY WERE
OUT FOR 5 HRS. HAD
THE SHIP AT FULL
TILT FOR A LITTLE
BIT AND TOOK IT BACK
TO STANDARD OPERATION.
NO PROBLEMS. HE SAID
IT FELT GOOD HAVING
THE SALT AIR IN HIS
FACE AND THE CREW
WERE HAVING THE TIME
OF THEIR LIVES. ALL
SYSTEMS ARE A GO.
NOW
IS THE TIME
TO SEND IN YOUR DONATIONS
FOR FUEL. THEY WILL
BE GOING TO ATHENS
AT THE END OF THE
WEEK. THEY ARE INSTALLING
THE 3RD GENERATOR
TOMORROW OR THE DAY
AFTER. MR. JORNLIN
STATED THAT FOR A
50+ VESSEL, IT RUNS
LIKE NEW.
I WILL UPDATE
AS SOON AS I GET
ANY
MORE NEWS. THEY HAVE
ACCOMPLISHED WHAT
OTHERS THOUGHT THEY
COULDN'T.
LINDA GUNJAK
GOOD
LUCK GUYS
October 14, 2000
Spoke to
Mr. Jornlin this
morning and
he said that they
did not go out on
Sea Trials. They
did dock side testing.
Fixed a couple of
problems and are
going out on Monday
morning. This will
be weather permitting
and all docksides
tests are completed.
At this time he is
still planning to
go to Athens next
week. The morale
of the men is great.
They want to be home
before Thanksgiving.
Let's dig in your
pockets and help.
I
am not harping on
this subject but
if you are planning
on donating to the
return of the LST-325
please help now.
The cost of fuel
has increased and
it is taking more
money than was previously
budgeted for. Get
the checks in ASAP
please. They must
pay for the fuel
before they leave
Greece. Let's get
them back now. The
fuel is what is holding
them up. I will update
as soon as I hear
anything. Use the
form on this web
site or just send
your donation and
your name and address
to USS LST SHIP MEMORIAL
64 PONDEROSA DR.
OREGON, OH. 43616-2221
Linda
October 10,
2000 From Linda Gunjak
Talked
to Mr. Jornlin this
morning and
he sounded very upbeat.
Two men have left
for home. But they
are being replaced.
The crew are in the
process of chipping
paint and making
ship like new. They
are working on the
starboard side right
now. Getting ready
to select foods for
the return trip.
He is still trying
to secure the fuel
and lube oil on a
donation basis. But
no luck so far. If
any of you people
out there have any
connections with
any of the oil companies
please have them
connect the ship.
They are going out
for sea trials on
Friday. He said a
tug will have to
get them out of area
where they are docked
but he said they
are coming back under
their own power.
The tugs are there
to help just in case.
He said one new LST's
that the Greek Navy
is testing has had
to be towed back
three times because
of misfunctioning
equipment. Like backing
over a anchor chain
of the stern anchor
they had dropped.
The controls were
not operating properly.
I think there was
a movie that happened
in. Losing all electrical
power and other malfunctions.
One
nice thing happened
yesterday. 2 US Navy
sailors requested
to take their re
enlistment oath on
board the LST-325.
This was quite a
honor for the crew
of the M/V LST Ship
Memorial. It shows
the men are well
liked and the young
sailors have respect
for what they are
trying to accomplish.
Good job guys.
Mr.
Dave Williams who
has been such
a help during the
time he was on board
has returned home.
He was a very important
person to the crew.
Thanks Dave for your
help.
They are still
in need of Engineers
and underway watch
officers. Please
call the ship if
you are interested.
This
report is from Jackson
Carter:
Things are
going well,we still
have
much work to do.
We will replace the
No. 3 Generator and
do some other electrical
repair jobs. We will
do sea trials this
Friday with a little
luck. Its clear that
we will be out of
here by the end of
the month.
OCTOBER
8, 2000 FROM JACKSON
CARTER:
Report from
LST 325, Soudas,
Crete,
7 Oct 2000
Yesterday
we passed a very
big milestone.
We conducted dock
trials, in which
we operated the starboard
engine, driving the
starboard propeller.
The ship was held
in place by the mooring
lines. The test was
a huge success. It
was a great sight
to see propeller
thrust astern, large
volumes of white
water. This was satisfying
display of the power
that will soon thrust
our ship forward
and drive it across
the Atlantic Ocean.
On Monday we will
test the port engine
in the same manner.
More things are falling
into place. The emergency
power supply for
the gyro compass
has been installed
and has passed the
test. We have purchased
our life rafts. We
are negotiating with
2 local suppliers
offering to sell
us fuel oil. The
Greek Naval Base
has committed to
replace our defective
No. 3 Generator.
Among the recent
crewmen to arrive,
were 3 very good
electricians, one
of whom solved a
long-standing motor
control problem the
day after he arrived.
Although our crew
now numbers 37, we
are losing 2 due
to medical problems
on Monday.
We are
increasingly convinced
that we
will leave Greece
before 1 Nov. The
weather remains pleasant
and good for working.
Our plan is to take
the most direct course
possible for our
return to the US.
One factor driving
our wish to depart
soon, because many
of our most valuable
crewmen must leave
the ship early in
November. We hope
to reach Spain before
they must leave.
Our support from
the Greek Naval has
been excellent and
we have made many
friends among the
Base Staff. We will
have sea trials the
week of the 16th.
The Greek Naval
Base differs from
US bases in one unusual
way. There are about
40 dogs, which coexist
with the Navy here.
Ships adopt some,
some adopt ships,
some roam about,
some form groups
and stakeout their
own territory. They
all go about their
own business of finding
food and reproducing,
while the Navy goes
about its. A small
white short hair
female dog with brown
ears has adopted
our ship. She is
now sitting on the
pier near our gangway,
watching the ship
and hoping for some
of human attention
or something to eat.
It’s a "Dogs
Life".
The box
score today; 3000
gallons of diesel
fuel, 0 gallons of
Lube. oil.
Help Wanted:
Healthy Enginemen
and Machinist
Mates, go to sea
and make history,
contact the LST Ass’n.
OCTOBER
6, 2000
IT IS TIME
TO SEND IN YOUR DONATIONS
FOR THE RETURN OF
THE LST-325. WE NEED
YOUR HELP TO GET
VESSEL HOME NOW.
FUEL AND LUBE OIL
IS NEEDED AND MONEY
IS NEEDED TO BUY
THIS ITEM. BUT YOU
NEED TO SEND IN YOUR
DONATION TODAY.
THEY ARE READY TO
LEAVE TO COME HOME
AND THE SAILING DATE
IS SET FOR OCTOBER
13, 2000. PLEASE
USE THE DONATION
FORM ON THE HOME
PAGE. THANKS AND
PLEASE REMEMBER THIS
IS FOR ALL FORMER
LST PERSONEL. THE
CREW HAS WORKED HARD
AND LONG TO GET THE
LST-325 READY FOR
SAILING. IT IS READY
TO COME HOME!!!!!!!!!!
OCTOBER
3,2000 FROM JACKSON
CARTER
Report from
LST 325, Soudas,
Crete,
2 Oct 2000
From day
to day things do
not seem
to be changing, however
we are making steady
progress. A few days
ago we ran the main
engines for an hour
and a half. They
made beautiful music
to our ears. Two
days ago the numbers
1 and 2 generators
were both running
at maximum voltage.
The PA system is
working. One of the
two MG sets, which
generate our 110V
AC, is running. We
hope to have the
other one up soon.The
gyro compass and
radar are running
fine. All our deck
machinery is working.
We are planning to
conduct some dockside
trials on Friday
and sea trials a
week later. Our crew
count is up to 37
and 2 more are expected
this week, but 2
fellows on the binnacle
list are expected
to depart soon. We
are hoping they can
make the voyage to
Athens with us before
going home, so they
will have sailed
on the LST 325.
Our Cook the,
Ketchikan Kid, is
continuing to amaze
us with his great
menus. Yesterday
about 28 of us were
treated to find day
in the old Venetian
Harbor section of
Chania, pronounced
Hania. The weather
was perfect for strolling
around the shops
near the harbor and
delightful lunch
at a harbor front
café. The
group was in great
spirits and all are
optimistic about
the future voyage.
Our favorite Master
Chief and his wife
hosted the whole
event. Please don't
get the wwrong idea,
the name of the game
here is still work
and its rare for
us to get away from
the ship to see any
of Crete. The wweather
has moderated, its
fall here now and
the working conditions
are much more tolerable.
We are told the rainy
season is coming,
we hope to be gone
by then.
It seems
apparent that we
will be leaving
Crete for Athens
by the end of the
month.
We have to
go there to pickup
our small
boats (LCVPs). The
press of time is
forcing us to consider
making a straight
run from Gibraltar
to Florida for the
home voyage. Also
the North Atlantic
in winter is a bit
intimidating. Not
going to Normandy
will be a disappointment,
but the most important
thing is to get the
LST 325 back to the
US. The remaining
big hurdle to cross
wwill be getting
our fuel and lub.
oil for our homeward
voyage.
The box score
today; 16 engine-starting
batteries, 3000 gallons
of diesel fuel.
Help
Wanted: Healthy Enginemen
and Machinist
Mates, go to sea
and make history,
contact the LST Assn.
Updated
9-27-2000
Regarding
the status of the
Ship, the
remaining items are
the checkout of the
Main Engines and
the N0s 1 & 2
Auxiliaries, repacking
the inner stern tubes,
obtain submersible
pumps and P-250 pump,
educators, magnetic
compass, Life rafts
and preservers. We
had set a departure
date for 1 Oct; it
appears we will have
some slip. We received
most of our batteries
today.
The box score
today; 14 engine-starting
batteries, 3000 gallons
of diesel fuel.
Subject:
LST Update From Dave
Williams
Date: Tuesday, September
19, 2000 6:02 AM
Ahoy
Mates,
Things are
progressing on the
LST 325. I
have been working
on charts to Athens,
Engine Order Telegraph,
Radar, Navigation
Lights, gyro system,
and stringing up
halyards for signal
flags, union jack,
and ensign.
Our checklist
for getting underway
is getting shorter
every day. The radar
needs a new card
to fix the range
strobe. The gyro
system needs batteries.
The gimbals have
been replaced and
the oil has been
changed. The after
steering repeater
was remounted and
all repeaters have
been checked to make
sure they track the
master. Also the
radar was checked
for tracking with
the master. The Engine
Order Telegraph needs
some fine tuning
and oil in the sprockets.
I'll need some help
on that after I made
six trips between
the bridge and the
engine room the other
day. I slept like
a baby that night.
The aircraft warning
light and the masthead
light are the only
lights that still
need some work.
The
charts to Athens
are all laid out
for review. It looks
like it will take
us about 22.5 hrs.
to get there. We
are shooting for
a 1 Oct. sail date.
Well
I need to get back
to work. More
later.
Dave Williams
September
21, 2000
Just received
this picture from
Dave
Williams of the crew
as of September 21,
Hope you can pick
out a crew member
you know.
Linda
Here's some
pictures from the
ship. I
will update the web
page tomorrow. I
got the pictures
from the Long Voyage
Home LST 325. Check
out the links on
the main web page
of the LST Association.
Click on the link
for the LST-325 and
see more pictures.
Courtesy of Jackson
Carter. I don't have
the slightest idea
who the men are.
I'm hoping the next
bunch will have names
so the men's families
will see how they
are doing. Bear with
me I will catch up
after the backlog
from the reunion.
Linda
September 12,
2000 Message from
Dave
Williams
Ambassador
R. Nicholas Burns
came on board
today, along with
representatives from
the Greek Navy, NAS
Souda and Souda Greek
Naval Shipyard. Shortly
after his arrival,
he donned a pair
of coveralls and
inspected the ship.
After the inspection,
he spoke to members
of the crew on an
individual basis.
He went from the
bottom to the top
of the ship. I think
he was surprised
at how we have been
able to survive.
The
Chief selectees from
Naval Air Station
Souda Bay provided
chicken, hot dogs,
and hamburgers. Chief
selectees are 1st
Class Petty Officers
(E-6) scheduled to
be advanced to Chief
Petty Officer (E-7)
this Friday. They
do community service
as part of their
initiation process.
After
some good eating
and fellowship
among crew and guests,
Ambassador Burns
addressed the whole
crew as to what services
his department could
and would do for
us. Following his
speech, a Greek Commodore
spoke on behalf of
the Greek Navy, as
to their commitment
to us. A toast was
shared by all followed
by exchange of gifts.
As far as getting
underway goes I have
been working on the
Gyro system the last
few days. I been
assisted by three
Greek Gyro shipyard
workers. They have
completely over hauled
the system, fixed
all the light bulbs
in repeaters and
repaired repeater
in after-steering,
changed oil in master
Gyro, hooked up backup
battery. The gyro
has actually came
up three day in a
row.
Well I have to
get back to my Gyro
testing.
It takes 40 minutes
to swing each way
during this test
and my first 40 minutes
are up. More to follow
later.
Dave
This is two messages
we have received.
September
9, 2000 Message from
Dave
Williams
What a day!!!
Everything is coming
together.
Wonderful support
from NAS Souda Bay,
USS Ashland and USS
Austin. You know
we were one in W.W.II,
Korea, Viet Nam,
Persian Gulf, and
peace time and we
are still one. We
are the "Haze
Grey That Will Get
Underway." People
can give the United
States Navy all the
bad press they want
to, but we of USS
LST Ship Memorial
know better. What
a credit these young
men and women are
to our country. Today,
as in our day they
uphold the true traditions
of the United States
Navy. Our country
has to be proud of
the dedication that
these fine people
have. They not only
gave up their liberty
time today but, they
want to come back
for more punishment
tomorrow. They will
also give us transportation
to see their ships.
September 8, 2000
Message from Dave
Williams
We are still
working hard. We
have 50
more Navy people
coming over tomorrow.
They are from the
USS Ashland and the
USS Austin, both
are LPD's. Fired
up the radar today,
it needs some tuning.
Also fired up gyro
and will try to calibrate
tomorrow. A lot of
very important people
will be coming on
September 12, they
will include Greek
and American.
Sept
7, 2000
We are back
from the reunion
and all
went well. Mike was
on the phone with
Bob Jornlin x-o of
the LST 325 and he
said the moral of
the men is very high
and attitudes have
improved 100 %. They
have had help from
the Navy and the
Greeks to move things
and help to repair
them also. He told
us that 3 men are
coming over in the
next 2 weeks to help.
C.W. Nickerson, D.
Perruso, and J. Mc
Candrew. Two of these
men went home and
are returning to
help in the return
of the ship. A few
of the men have returned
home from Greece
because of health
problems and we are
sorry they had to
do that.
Mr. Jornlin
was very concerned
that
the reduction gear
in the port engine
was damaged and could
not be repaired but
it was not the case.
They have gotten
a couple of thousand
gallons of fuel but
are looking for more.
The batteries are
still be sought.
The food is now being
cooked on the board
the vessel and the
guys are at least
getting two meals
a day. The men are
still working very
hard to get the vessel
ready to sail. Bob
does believe that
it is finally beginning
to turn around in
the right direction.
As we get more information
I will post it. Mr.
Dave Williams is
e-mail me updates
frequently.
One other
thing that has happened
is Cdr. Melcher has
resigned and will
be coming home also.
I really don't have
any details but he
felt it was for the
good of the crew
and vessel at this
time. We have not
spoken to Cdr. Melcher
since the 1st of
August. He has put
many hours and time
in this project and
he deserves a big
thanks. If it was
not for his hard
work this project
would never have
gotten off the ground.
I believe it was
a struggle on his
part of how the ship
was being run that
was involved in his
decision to resign
and come home. We
will try to contact
Cdr. Melcher and
talk to him. I will
update you as soon
as we know anything.
Linda
August 28, 2000
Dave Williams
Hi LSTers" Greetings
from Crete. The weather
has finely gotten
better. Three days
in a row we have
not hit 100. We are
anticipating the
arrival of more crew
tomorrow. We are
also awaiting the
arrival of the USS
Saipan for some technical
assistance. I will
be spending the day
working on the voyage
plan from Souda Bay,
Crete to Athens.
Yesterday, we lowered
the bow ramp. I have
to admit, we were
not fast but it went
down and came back
up.
The high point
was 2 guys, Ed Whitman
and John Calvin had
our inaugural swim
call off the ramp.
The last time I saw
that was in 1969
in the South China
Sea off of Bangkok.
The Iredell Cty.
LST-839 was a day
early for a R & R
port call and was
not allowed in, so
the Captain opened
the bow doors, lowered
the ramp, and called
swim call. The scary
part of that swim
call was not the
sharks, but the two
gunners mates that
were poised on the
bow to shoot the
sharks.
I had a bad
day Sunday morning
after
a great beer drinking
bout Saturday night.
I raised our Don't
Tread on Me flag
upside down. It flew
that way all day.
I have been named
the beer drinking
king by the Greek
cafe owner we frequent.
He has never seen
anyone drink 10,000
drachma of beer in
one night. By the
way I popped a keg
that night and showed
him I knew how to
install a new keg.
August
27,2000
Message from
Dave Williams:
Ahoy
Bob & Gang,
Thank you for your
support. It is today
as years ago, we
need the support
from the people back
home. I hope you
all have been visiting
the paloverdes url
page. Many great
true stories there.
We are making progress
in getting ready
for the rest of the
crew. The base commander
and the Command Master
Chief Petty Officer
from Souda Bay Navy
Support paid us a
visit yesterday to
offer their support.
They even sent five
young strong Sea
Bees over to lift
some heavy refrigs
from one ship to
the other. A few
of us went over to
the base to wash
clothes, go to the
bank and shop at
the Exchange. They
have opened the base
to us with all privileges.
I have to go back
on Monday to get
a ration car. They
only allow you to
buy 6 cartons of
cigarettes a month
and you have to have
a ration card. They
also ration gas on
the base. You get
40 liters of gas
for $53.00 . You
think gas is expensive
state side, just
look at this cost.
Cars here get 40
miles to the gallon.
Stroble developed
a new Norton Bomb
sight to improve
low level bombing
in the head. The
weather is still
hot. Yesterday we
knocked off ships
work when the temp
reached 104 degrees
at 1:30 pm. Spirits
are hi though. With
more crew coming
and all the help
from the US Navy,
things are looking
up. Speaking of looking
up, I heard the biggest
under statement for
Cdr. Melcher yesterday.
As the Master Chief
was leaving he told
Mr. Melcher to lookup
as the sun was shining
brighter. Mr. Melcher's
reply went like " I
don't want to lookup
and have the eagle
s--- in my face." Well
I must get back to
work. I have to check
the ships whistle
and start laying
out charts.
Dave
Williams
August 18, 2000
Just
a few words from
the ship. Cdr.
Melcher's wedding
anniversary was today
so his wonderful
wife called the ship
to wish him a happy
anniversary. When
he asked what day
this was he was surprised
to hear he had forgotten
what today was. No
problem because Mrs.
Melcher knows how
all days run into
each other for him.
At least he wished
her a happy anniversary.
He did give a little
more information
for the crew. Try
to bring some tools
with you. Like crescent
wrenches, pliers,
flashlights and batteries,
also good gloves.
One thing that will
be of help when you
take a shower are
those rubber thongs
you walk to the beach
in. The deck is hot
and will these protect
your feet. He did
get to go to the
warehouse and low
and behold there
was the missing things
that were removed
from the LST-325
all stacked neatly
on shelves with the
name of the ship
lettered below the
shelf. He told here
that tomorrow he
and some of the crew
are going to remove
the old toilets and
replace them with
new ones with seats.
That should be more
comfortable. It is
still very hot so
it takes a toll on
the men. They are
still plugging away
to make it livable
for the next bunch
when they arrive
in 10 days. If any
of the crew has questions
after they receive
my letter please
call R. Jornlin XO.
We will be talking
soon.
August 20, 2000
courtesy of Jack
Carter
After a morning
of compartment cleaning
and returning the
port side troop space
to their original
configuration, we
received some interesting
news. It has been
over a month since
the first members
of the advanced crew
arrived to begin
the reactivation
of the LST-325. During
this period the role
of our DOS , which
exercises control
of the ship has been
somewhere between
disinterest and stonewalling.
They have always
been opposed to the
project for many
years.
We really have
made very little
progress
in making the ship
seaworthy. This is
because the Greek
Navy has been very
slow in giving us
any support and we
can't even get the
DOS to ship the materials
that we shipped to
Athens from the US.
Today we heard that
the US Ambassador
to Greece will send
a representative
to Crete to evaluate
progress and report
to Amb. Burns weekly.
Amb. Burns will visit
the ship early Sept.
Also the US Navy
found some Boric
Acid real quick and
gave it to us today.
I wonder how that
happened. We offer
our profound thanks
to all of you who
have been reading
this web site and
who have decided
to write to US government
officials and express
your displeasure
with cognizant US
government officials
who chose to ignore
the will of the US
Congress
