BEACHHEADNORMANDY

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ShatteredSword:TheUntoldStoryoftheBattleofMidwayJonathanParshallandAnthonyTully

WarintheBoats:MyWWIISubmarineBattlesWilliamJ.Ruhe

TOMCARTER

BEACHHEADNORMANDYANLCTSODYSSEY

Copyright2012byPotomacBooks,Inc.

PublishedintheUnitedStatesbyPotomacBooks,Inc.Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybereproducedinanymannerwhatsoeverwithoutwrittenpermissionfromthepublisher,exceptinthecaseofbriefquotationsembodiedincriticalarticlesandreviews.

LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData

Carter,Tom,1955

BeachheadNormandy:anLCTsodyssey/TomCarter.1sted.

p.cm.

Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.

ISBN978-1-59797-710-4(hardcover:alk.paper)

ISBN978-1-59797-797-5(electronic)

1.WorldWar,19391945CampaignsFranceNormandy.2.WorldWar,19391945Amphibiousoperations.3.WorldWar,19391945Tankwarfare.4.WorldWar,19391945Navaloperations,American.5.LandingcraftUnitedStatesHistory20thcentury.I.Title.

D756.5.N6C3782012

940.5421422dc23

2012018882

PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmericaonacid-freepaperthatmeetstheAmericanNationalStandardsInstituteZ39-48Standard.

PotomacBooks

22841QuicksilverDrive

Dulles,Virginia20166

FirstEdition

SinceIintendedthisbooktohonormydadandhisWorldWarIIshipmates,itseemsfittingthatitshouldbededicated

tothememoryofmymom,

AltaMaeBrantleyCarter19262009

Tennesseefarmgirl,ManhattanProjectsecurityclerk,OakRidge,19451946,

bookkeeper,mentor,pal

CONTENTS

Preface

Acknowledgments

1PearlHarbortoBootCamp

2LCTsEntertheWar

3SolomonsIsland

4Long,SlowTriptoWar

5TheNearShore

6OmahaBeach

7FrenzyandStorm

8CalmandOblivion

9ReturntoNearShore

10SloggingAcrossthePacific

11TheFarEast

12OdysseusinTennessee

Bibliography

Index

AbouttheAuthor

MapbyChadBlevins

MapbyChadBlevins

PREFACE

ThethreebrownandbrittlepagesofmyfathersD-DayDiaryandthestorybehindithavealwaysbeenamajorpartofmyfamilyshistory.Tomytwoolderbrothers,myyoungersister,andI,hisserviceasagunnersmateaboardalandingcraftatNormandywassomehowclearerthanhisjobasanaccountant.Atanearlyage,welearnedthesignificanceoftermslikeLCTandOmahaBeach.Wegrewupknowingthedifferencebetweena20mmandaquad40thewayotherkidsgrewupknowingthedifferencebetweenatricycleandabicycle.Atfirst,Dadsstorystayedinaboxatourgrandparentshouse,andonmanySundayafternoonswhiletheadultschattedovertheremainsofdinnerwewoulddigitoutoftheclosetandreaditoncemore.

Anotherboxathomecontainedhissmall,out-of-focusphotographsofmennamedPequigneyandCarlsonandJohnson,CromerandKellyandKleen,andwestudiedthemuntilwethoughtweknewthesemen.Dadshobbywaspainting,andofcourseourfavoritewashispaintingofthelittleshipLCT614hittingthebeach,gunsblazing,surroundedbydeadandwoundedsoldiersinthewater.Andhehadlotsoffunnystoriesabouthisshipmates,ofhowheliedabouthisagetojointhenavywhenhewasfifteen,ofgettingwoundedwhilesouvenirhunting,andofhowheendedhisnavyserviceasaquad40mountcaptainonthepre-commissioningcrewofthedestroyerUSSJosephP.Kennedy,Jr.(DD850).

Butaschildhoodintereststurnedintocareers,wereadhisstoryandlookedatthephotographslessandless.WedidntevennoticewhenDadgavethepaintingawaytoaveteransorganization.ThestoriesendedinSeptember1984whenDaddiedofcancer.ThatlastJune,Dadcloselyfollowedthetelevisioncoverageofthefortiethanniversaryoftheinvasion,andhementionedhowhewishedhehadhadthechancetoreturntoNormandy.Atthatpoint,mybrotherStevewasdeterminedtobeonOmahaBeachonJune6,1994.

In1992,mybrotherRobertdecidedtoaccompanySteve,andin1993agenerousgiftfrommymother-in-lawallowedmetogoalong.Aswebeganpreparingforthetripinearnest,weallrealizedhowlittlespecificdetailweknewaboutthe614.WhereinEnglanddiditdeploy?WhereonOmahaBeachdiditland?When?Whatarmyunitsdiditcarry?Whathappenedafterthatmorning?

AlthoughwehadgrownupreadingstoriesofD-Day,webeganrereadingtheclassicworksoftheinvasiontogetsomeideaofwhatDadexperienced.However,weweresurprisedtolearnthatlandingcraft,tanks(LCTs),weredisappointinglyabsentfrompopularhistory.BookswrittenfromthearmysperspectivementionLCTsonlyasthemengoashorefromthem.CorneliusRyansTheLongestDay,forinstance,orJosephBalkoskisBeyondtheBeachheadgiveLCTsone-sentencepassingreferences.

Evenbookschroniclingthenavysroleintheinvasion,likeSamuelEliotMorisonsHistoryoftheU.S.NavalOperationsinWorldWarII,giveonlythebriefestcommentsaboutthesecraft.TheonlyLCTexploitstogetmuchattentionatallwereLt.Dean

Rockwellsdecisionnottolaunchtheamphibious(DuplexDrive[DD])tanksintotheroughseabuttolandthemdirectlyontothebeachandLCT30sfatalchargethroughtheobstaclestolandhercargo.EdwardEllsbergsTheFarShorechronicledOperationMulberry,theconstructionanduseoftheartificialharborsthroughwhichtheinvadingarmieswerekeptsupplied,buthenevermentionsanyindividualLCTordescribestheirworkinanydetail.

Oddly,despitesuchskimpycoverageinthebooks,LCTsareaninescapablepresenceinthephotographsoftheinvasion.Flippingthroughseveralbooksabouttheinvasion,IcountedfullyathirdofthepicturesoftheinvasionfleetthateitherfeaturedanLCTprominentlyorcaughtonelurkinginthebackground.Thephotographsattestclearlytotheimportant,busy,ubiquitousroleofLCTsbothduringandaftertheinvasion,butthewritersforsomereasondonotgivethelittlecraftcommensuratecoverageintheirstories.Goingbythewrittenwordalone,areadercouldgettheimpressionthatLCTspopupoutofnowhere,depositmenandvehiclesonthebeach,andthenpromptlyreturntolimbo.

Attheheightofallthiscatch-uplearning,IwasfinishingworktowardaPhDinjournalismattheUniversityofTennessee.Havingbeeninthenavy(likeDad,Ilefttheserviceasathird-classgunnersmateaboardadestroyer)andanewspaperreporter,andnowasanewlytrainedacademicresearcher,Idecidedtoputmyexperienceandskillstoworktofillinthesegaps.Sincethesecondarysources(publishedhistories)hadpaintedonlybroadstrokes,Iknewwewouldhavetoturntoprimarysourcesnavyrecordsandfirst-personaccounts.

Thefirstplacetolookwasintheprimarysourceswealreadyhadathand.Dadsdiaryseemedtogiveusthemostdirectdetailabouthisexperienceduringtheinvasionitself.Ithasseveralobvioushistoricalerrors,suchasmentioningthebattleshipsOklahoma(sunkatPearlHarborandneverrepaired)andNevada(whichsupportedthelandingatUtahBeach,notOmaha).Theseerrorsindicatedwecouldnttakehisaccountascompletetruth,butitwasthefullestdescriptionwehadofanLCTinactiononD-Day.

Evenifitwereshortonfact,itwasperhapslongonleads,althoughtheywerequitesubtle.Forinstance,itdidnottelluswhicharmyunitthe614carriedashoreorwhere,butitdidsaythecraftcarriedbulldozersratherthantanks,indicatinganengineeringunit.DadwrotethatPequigneyrelievedhimatthewheelrightatH-Hour,thetimethefirstwaveofassaulttroopsbeganreachingshore,soweknewthatthe614wentashoreafterthefirstwavebutstillrelativelyearlyinthedayprobablyaround7a.m.Also,thementionofLCT590seemedtobeaninterestinglead.SinceDadmentionedthatshiplandedalongsidethe614,thereportofitslossmightprovidecircumstantialinformationaboutwhatwashappeningatthatparticularplaceandtime.OneofDadsphotographspicturedthemenofanLCTcrewandhadafullparagraphontheback:

LCT590received8directhitsD-Day.ThispicturewastakeninMay,44.AlltheboysinthispictureexceptthreewerekilledD-Day.Thelivingonesaremarkedwitharrows.Theyare:

HughAlsworth,Minn.

JamesHolland,Penn.

theSkipper.

Ithoughtthisnotewouldleadtogoodinformation.Certainlynavyrecordswouldincludereportsoncasualtiesandthelossofaship.

WealsohadsomeinformationfromDadsseparationpapers,outlininghisstintsatbootcampandgunnersmateschoolinBainbridge,Maryland;amphibioustrainingatSolomonsIsland,Maryland,andCampBradford,Virginia;dutyaboardUSSLST291andUSSLCT(6)FlotillaTwelveandthenstatesideserviceuntilhisdischargeinDecember1945.Withthenamesoftheseunitsandthedatesofhisservicewiththem,Iwasfairlysuregettinglogbooksandotherofficialnavyrecordswouldbeasimplematterofmakingafewphonecallsandwritingafewletters.Havingbeeninthenavymyself,Iknewsomethingabouttheextentanddetailofmilitaryrecordkeeping,andIthoughtIknewwheretolookandwhomtoasktogetofficialnavyrecords.

Asitturnedout,thenavyandNationalArchivesthatIthoughtwouldprovidespecificdetails,endedupyieldinghelpfulbutcircumstantialinformation.Apparently,thenavythoughtsolittleofthetiny,ubiquitousLCTsthatveryfewrecordsconcerningthemstillexist,iftheywerekeptatall.ThemostimportantandinformativeearlyacquisitionfromthearchiveswasthelogbookoftheLST291,theshipthatcarriedtheLCT614anditscrewtoEngland.ThelogbookprovidedalistofthecrewandanoutlineoftheiradventuresfromNewOrleanstoPlymouth,includingaquarantineinHalifaxthatalmostmadethemmisstheinvasion.Muchoftheinformationthatmakesupchapter4comesdirectlyfromit.

ThenavyarchivesyieldedtwoactionreportsthatconcernedcraftfromFlotillaTwelve.ThefirstreportIreceivedwaswrittenbyWilliamLeide,whowascommanderofFlotillaTwelveandinchargeofallLCTsinAssaultGroupO-2(thewesternhalfofOmahaBeach).TheactionreportdoesnotmentionLCT614directly,butitdoesdescribeeventsgoingonaroundDadscraft,especiallytheconfusionthatensuedafterthefirstfewwaves.Italsodeepenedamystery.ItplacedLCT590amongLieutenantRockwellscraftcarryingtheDDtanks.The590wasindeedhitbutsufferedthreedeadratherthanallbutthreedead,asDadsdiaryandphotocaptionsaid.ThismysterycontinueswiththeotheractionreportDeanRockwellsaccountofLCTGroupThirty-five,whichcarriedtheDDtankstotheO-2sectorofOmahaBeach.ItincludesahandwrittenreportbytheskipperofLCT590,butnoneofthenamesofcasualtiesmentionedinitarenamesonthebackofDadsphotographofthesupposedLCT590crew.WenowhadnoideawhichcraftDadhadmisidentifiedasthe590.

Otherdocumentssuppliedbythenavyhelpsketchinthebigpicture,buttheydidnotprovidethespecificdetailsIhadwanted.TheoperationorderfortheinvasiondescribeshowLieutenantCommanderLeidewassupposedtotakechargeofthecraftinFlotillasTwelveandTwenty-sixwhiletheyoperatedintheBritishsector.Mostimportantforus,ittoldusthatLCT614wasscheduledtolandintheDogRedsectorofOmahaBeachintheH+60wave(onehourintothelandings)andthatitcarriedsixty-fivemenandfourteenvehiclesfromthreearmyunits:the149thCombatEngineerBattalion,theThirdBattalionofthe116thInfantryRegimentoftheTwenty-ninthDivision,andthe3565thOrdnanceCompany(welaterlearneditwasanautomotivesalvageunit).Thenavyregistrycardforthe614tolditsultimatefate.ButdespitetheapparentprominentroleFlotillaTwelveplayedinOperationNeptune(theassault)andthesubsequentOperationMulberry(the

supplyeffort),thenavyhadnofurtherrecordsofitsactivitiesnologbook,nowardiary,nocasualtyreports,nothingelse.

WebegantorealizewhyLCTsfiguredsolittleinthehistoriesofD-Daytheyleftnorecords.Well,notexactlynorecords,butnotthewealthofinformationleftbybiggerships.ReasonsforthisarethatLCTswerenotcommissionedwarships,andtheydidnothavecommandingofficers.Instead,LCTsweresimplyplacedinservicewithanofficerincharge.DadsservicerecordhintedatthiswhenitlistedhimasacrewmembernotofLCT614butofLCTFlotillaTwelve.Butevenasthecommissionedunit,theflotilladidnotalwayskeepfullrecords.WhenthecommandingofficerofFlotillaTwelve,LieutenantCommanderLeide,filedhisactionreport,hedidnotdoascommanderofFlotillaTwelvebutascommanderofLCTs,AssaultGroupO-2.

IlaterlearnedthatIwasnotthefirstresearchertoencounterthislackofarchivalevidenceforLCTs.InhisTheAmphibiansCametoConquer,ViceAdm.GeorgeC.Dyerwrites:

Theyhadinsufficientpersonneltokeepashipslog,muchlessawardiary,andbyandlargetheypassedinandoutoftheirserviceintheNavyleavingnoindividualrecord,exceptinthememoriesofthosewhoservedinthemorhadsomeserviceperformedbythem.Presumably,theLCTFlotillaandLCTGroupCommanderskeptalogandawardiary,butiftheydidso,byandlargetheyhavenotsurvivedtoreachthenormalrepositoriesofsuchdocuments.1

MyonlyconsolationinthispassagewasthatmyinabilitytofindthedocumentsIwantedwasnotacommentaryonmyskillasaresearcherorreporter.

Ultimately,Dadsphotographsprovedtobethemostfruitfulleadtoinformation.Dadsshortnotesonthebackofsomeofthemwereusuallyjustalastnameorworse(Tex,fromTexas),butotherswereabitmorehelpful:FrankPequigney,TheBronx,orFrancisKelly,Chicago.Istartedworkingwiththenotesthatprovidednamesandcities.These,coupledwiththelibrarysphoneficheandsomegoodluck,soonyieldedcontactswithseveralofDadsshipmates.IstartedwithFrankPequigney,sincehehadthemostunusualname.TheManhattanphonebooklistedonlyonePequigney,whohappenedtobehisdistantrelativeandhadtheaddressofFrankPequigneysson.Iwassoonincontactwithhim,andhesentotherphotographs,namesandaddressesofcrewmembers,andplentyofotherinformation.RobertandIwerealsoabletovisithim,thefirstofDadsshipmateswemet.

EachinstanceoffindinganotherofDadsshipmateswasunique.Averyhelpfultelephoneoperatorprovidedthecontactwiththeskipperofthe614,DonIrwin.Ihadhis1944hometown,butthecurrentphonebookdidnotlisthim.IcalledinformationforthatareacodeandwasaskingforDonIrwinsinseveralofthelargecitiesaround,andfinallytheoperatorsaid,IhaveonlyoneDonIrwinlistedinthisareacode.Icangiveyouthatnumber.ItwastherightDonIrwin.Heprovidedusveryearlywithatwelve-pageversionofhisD-DayDiary,whichhehadwrittenupafterheprovidedanoralhistoryforStephenAmbrosesEisenhowerCenter.

Othercontactscamethroughthementhemselves.ItrackeddownRoyCarlson,theanchorwinchoperatorwhospentmuchofthetimeduringtheinvasioninDadsguntub,

simplybyfindinghisnamelistedinthephonebook.HelivedinthesameOregontownthathedidfiftyyearsago.HeknewthatDadsloader,WalterStefanowicz,haddiedandthatJohnJarvis,theonememberofthecrewtobewoundedduringtheinvasion,waslivinginMinnesota.ItalsoturnedoutthatCarlsonssonwasmarryingawomanwhohadgraduatedfromthecollegeinGeorgiawhereIwasteaching,andwhenhecametoGeorgiafortheweddinghemadeaspecialefforttodropbymymothershousetochatwithme.Mr.PequigneyprovidedinformationthatledtocontactswithRichardGudgerandWilliamCromer.Mr.Irwinknewsomethingofthebackgroundoftheshipssecondofficer,GeorgePillmore,andsoonIwasintouchwithhim.

Withinafewmonths,wehadaccountedforalmosthalfofthe614screw.ThesemenhaveprovidedplentyofstoriesthatpickedupwhereDadshadleftoff.Indeed,theirstoriesquicklycorrectedmanyoftheembellishmentsDadhadputintohiswrittenaccount;welearnedthediaryhadmorethanoffhandhistoricalerrors.Caseinpoint:Dadsdiarydescribesshootingupamachinegunnest.Allhisshipmatesagree,however,thatheneverfiredonD-Day.Infact,theshipwasunderstrictordersnottoshootexceptunderspecificguidelines.

Moreimportant,someofthemenwereabletogetbackintouchwithoneanother.OnhiswaytoGeorgia,Mr.CarlsonvisitedMr.IrwininIowaandtapedsomeoftheirconversationsforme.AlthoughJohnJarvisshealthpreventedhimfromparticipatinginthereconstructionofthisstory,findinghimmeantthatMr.IrwincouldcompletesomeunfinishedbusinessandgetMr.JarvisthePurpleHearthehadbeenduesince1944.ThatalonewasworththetimeandtheeffortthatIhadputintotheresearch.

AboutthetimethatwebeganfindingDadsshipmates,twonewbooksabouttheNormandyinvasionappeared,basedlargelyonfirst-personaccounts,thatgaveLCTsslightlymoreattentionthanpreviousbookshad.PaulStillwellsAssaultonNormandy:First-PersonAccountsfromtheSeaServicesprovidesanaccountfromRockwellandafewotherisolatedanecdotesaboutcrewmenaboardLCTs.StephenAmbrosesD-Day,June6,1944:TheClimacticBattleofWorldWarII,probablythemostthoroughaccountoftheinvasion,treatsLCTsasamostlybackgroundpresenceinthebook.However,hementionsmoreofthemindividuallythananypreviousbookabouttheinvasion.OurbiggestandmostpleasantsurprisecamewhenwelearnedthatAmbrosegaveLCT614almosttwofullpagesofattention,drawnfromIrwinsoralhistory.

SowehadafairlygoodideaofwhathappenedtoLCT614duringtheNormandyinvasionandafterwardwhenwewenttoEnglandandFranceinMayandJune1994.WespentafewdaysinsouthernEngland,includingadayatWey-mouthandPortland,andwewereabletostandonthehardwhereLCT614likelytookonitsload.WetraveledtoFrancebyferrytosimulateDadsseabornecrossing.OursecondlongestdayonJune6startedwithapredawntriptobeonDogGreenatH-Hour(wecouldntbeatDogRedbecauseitwassealedofffortheinternationalceremonythatincludedheadsofstate),alunchofmilitarymealsreadytoeat(MREs)atthechurchwallinVierville(wewonderedhowmanyGIssatunderthatsamewallonD-DaytowolfdowntheirCorKrations),andanafternoonattheU.S.cemeteryinColleville.Onehighlightofthetripoccurredthenextday,whenwehappenedtomeetDeanRockwellonthebeach.ThetripresultedinaprofoundreconnectionwithourDad,thensometenyearsdead.

Uponourreturn,wevisitedwithseveralofDadsshipmateswhohadprovidedinformation.Weshowedthemourpicturesofthetrip(Robertbecameinfamousforclickinghisshuttereveryfifteenseconds)andthankedthemfortheinvaluablehelptheyhadgivenus.Withoutthem,thetripwouldnothavebeennearlyassuccessful.ItwasthenthatIrealizedanLCTbookneededtobewritten.

Ultimately,theheartofthisbookisthememoryofthesemen.AsIvementioned,mybackgroundisinjournalism,nothistory.Asaresult,Ihavebeenmoreinterestedinthestorythantryingtonaildownspecificfactualdetails.Ihaveespeciallynotbothered(toomuch)tochasetheimpossiblewildgooseofchronology.Thatdoesntmean,ofcourse,thatIhavebeencavalierwiththefacts.Severalmembersofthecrewhavereadthesechaptersandcorrectedthemoreegregiouserrors.Butafterfiftyyears,memoriesarenotaccurate,andrememberingpickyfactualdetailsorexactlywhensomethinghappenedissimplynotpossible.Whentwoormoreofthemenhadsimilarmemories,Itriedtoconflatethemintoasingleevent.Wherememorieshaveconflicted,IhavetriedtofitinasmuchofbothversionsasIcould.Thatmeansthatperhapsthesameeventappearsinthisbookmorethanonceinslightlydifferentguiseor,conversely,thattwoormoreeventsmayappearhereasone.

Acoupleofquickexamples:Duringtheinvasionitself,allthemenrememberedhavingtroublegettingoffthebeach.Dadwroteaboutenginesburningout,Mr.Carlsonremembersalargeminefloatingofftheirfantail,Mr.Irwinrememberstheanchorgettingstuckonasunkenlandingcraft,vehicleandpersonnel(LCVP),andMr.Pillmoreremembersthecablehangingupontheanchorwinch.SincenoonebutDadmentionedengines,Ihaveleftthatoutofthemainstory;haditoccurred,lossofengineswouldhavemadeanimpressionontheothersaswell.However,Ihaveincludedthemine,theLCVP,andthewinchbecausetheyreneithercontradictorynortoosimilar,andtheyrethekindsofthingsthatanindividualwouldnotice.Meanwhile,thepossibilityremainsthat,asdifferentastheyare,theyareconceivablydifferingmemoriesofthesameevent.Similarly,Dadrememberedlosingthecounter-recoilspringoffoneofthe20mmguns,andCromerrememberedsnitchingpartsfrombeachedLCTs.Quitelikely,thesememoriescomefromseparateincidents,buttheyresosimilarIhavemadeonestoryfromthem.

ThemainpointhereisthatIhavetriedtotellacohesivestoryofmenundercombatandstress.Ihavetriedtoavoidstringingalongfactafterfactoranecdoteafteranecdote.MypurposeistorecordsomethingofthecontributionLCTsailorsmadetothewareffortandwhatthatcontributioncosttheseparticularmen.

Andonelastnoteaboutasensitiveissue:Althoughmostlythemengotalongwell,naturallyseveralofthecrewmemberswerelesspopularthanotherswere.Insuchcases,Ihaveusedthemansnameinneutralorfavorablecontexts,butthemansratinginunfavorablesettings.TousemyDadasanexample,IwouldsaythatCarterkeptyellingattheskipper,askingforpermissiontoshootbackattheGermans,andIwouldsaythatitwastheshipsgunnersmatewhowasbadtoplaypracticaljokesonhisshipmates.InthelattercaseIwouldnotidentifyCarterasthegunnersmate.

Finally,thisbookisnotintendedtobethedefinitivehistoryofLCTs.Infact,itsnotsomuchthehistoryofasingleshipasitisthestoryofthemenwhokepthergoingthrough

often-impossibleconditions.Throughtheexperiencesofthesemen,Ihope,readerswillbeabletoseethattheselittleships,mentionedsoobliquelybythehistoriansoftheNormandyinvasion,playedanimportantroleinwinningthewar,arolethatinnowayendedwiththeinitialassault.Inthatsense,LCT614shistoryprovidesaglimpseintotheoverallhistoryofthesecraft.TheNormandyinvasion,certainlytheclimaxoftheircombatservice,culminatedalongandillustriouscombatrecordaccumulatedbythesecraft.The614sexperienceatOmahaBeachprovidessomeunderstandingoftheLCTsuseintheEuropeantheaterofoperations,wherethecraftparticipatedintheassaultphaseofaninvasionandthensubsequentlyinasupportrole.The614sexperienceinChinaconveyssomethingofthedifferentwaythecraftwereusedinthePacific.Mainlybecauseofthelongdistancesinvolved,LCTsrarelylandedintheinitialassaultsontheislands,buttheywereinactionsoonafterwardduringthesupportandbuildupphaseoftheinvasions.Certainly,LCTsailorsinthePacificsawtheirshareofcombat,usuallyagainstJapaneseaircraft.WarcorrespondentIraWolfertreportedthatonePacificLCTskipperclaimedtohavedestroyedaJapanesemidgetsubmarinebybuttingitwithhisbowramp,andatleastoneLCTengagedinasurfaceactionagainstaJapanesecraft.The614sexperienceinthePacificcapturessomeoftheusesofthesecraftinthattheaternocombatassault,butsomeexperiencewithairraidsandkeepingthefast-movingmarinessupplied.

ButasitwasforLCTsingeneral,D-DayandoperationsinNormandyconstitutetherealclimaxofthisbook.Duringhisvisitwithhisformerskipper,RoyCarlsonmentionedtoDonIrwinhowtrickymemorywasafterfiftyyears.Buttheresonethingwellneverforget,hesaid.Wellneverforgetthatwewerethere.Thedangerisnotthatthemenwhoweretherewouldforgetbutthateveryoneelsewill.Generationsfromnow,someonemightreadAmbrosesorRyansbooksandwonderaboutthosecraftcalledLCTs.Navyrecordswouldtellthemsomethingoftheirnumbersandsizesandshapes,butshipsaremorethanmachines;theytakeandgiveofthelivesofthemenwhorunthemandfightthemandpaintthemandscrapethepaintoffandpaintthemagain.Withoutknowledgeofthesemenandwhattheydid,therecanbenotrueknowledgeoftheLCT.That,finally,iswhyIwrotethisbook.IfthestoryoftheLCTistobetoldatall,itneedstobetoldwhilethemenwhooperatedthemarestillalivewhiletheexploitsofthelittleshipsarestillinlivingmemory.

WarcorrespondentErniePyleputitbestinhisfirstdispatchfromOmahaBeach:Iwanttotellyouwhattheopeningofthesecondfrontinthatonesectorentailed,sothatyoucanknowandappreciateandforeverbehumblygratefultothosebothdeadandalivewhodiditforyou.2

Thisisthestoryofsomeofthosemen.

Beforebeginning,somereadersmayneedafewwordsofexplanationabouttheconfusingarrayoflettersandnumbersinthisstory.Beginningin1920,theU.S.NavygaveeachofitsshipsahullnumbermadeupoftypedesignationlettersCVforaircraftcarriers,BBforbattleships,DDfordestroyers,etc.andthenanumber.Thesystemallowedmostvesselstobeidentifiedbynameandhullnumberformorespecificidentification,evenwhenshipscarrythesamename.Forexample,WorldWarIIsfamousUSSEnterprise(CV6)caneasilybedistinguishedfromtheColdWarsfamousUSSEnterprise(CVN

65).Forsmallervessels,however,especiallytheamphibiousassaultforces,thenavygavethemonlyhullnumbers.Sothestorythatfollowscontainsanembarrassing,andunfortunatelyinescapable,alpha-numericjumble.

Aswillbetoldinmoredetailinchapter2,theLCTwasasmallcraftofabout140tonsand120feetlong.AmericanLCTswereoftwovarietiestheMark5andtheMark6.ThedesignationwasoftenincludedinparenthesesaftertheLCT.Thus,thisisthestoryoftheUSSLCT(6)614.

Othertypesoflandingcraftarementionedearly:the160-footLCI(L),orlandingcraft,infantry(large);the50-footLCM,orlandingcraft,mechanized;andthe36-footLCVP.ThemuchlargerLST(landingship,tank)wassome330feetlongwithadisplacementofaboutsixteenhundredtonscomparableinsizetoasmalldestroyer.LSTs,byfarthelargestamphibiousvesselsofthewar,oftencarriedLCTs,LCMs,andLCVPstodestinationsbeyondtherangeofthesmallercraft.Chapter4tellsthestoryoftheUSSLST291carryingtheUSSLCT(6)614fromNewOrleanstoPlymouth,England.

Readerswhocanfollowthatlastsentencemaynowbeginthestory.

1.Dyer,TheAmphibiansCametoConquer,464.

2.Pyle,OntheRoadtoBerlin,BraveMen,247.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ThebiggestchunkofmythanksfortheinformationthatmakesupthisbookmustgototheofficersandmenoftheLCT614whopatientlyansweredmymanyquestions.Severalofthemlookedoverearlydraftsofthesechapters,providedcorrections,andaddeddetails.Withthesethanksmustalsocomeapologiesforanyerrorsthatremainthroughmyownobstinacy.IknowIowemorethanoneofthemanapologyforreawakeningoldnightmares.IalsoregretthatItooksolongbringingthisprojecttocompletionthatfartoomanyofthemdidnotlivetoseetheirstoryinprint.

Thefollowingpeoplestayedincontactwithmeoverseveralyears,providingrichdetailsaboutlifeonLCT614:FrankPequigney,DonIrwin,RoyCarlson,andGeorgePillmore.

Thesemengavemevaluabledetailsandinsights,butforvariousreasonsIlostcontactwiththemafteralltooshortawhile:JohnJarvis,RichardGudger,FredKleen,WilliamCromer,andNickAndinoftheAtlanticcrew;andJackBanks,FrancisCoffas,GlennDunnegan,andPaulDiMarzioofthePacificcrew.ImustalsomentionhereBusterShaeffoftheLST291screw.

Anothermajorportionofmythanksgoestomyfamily:mymother-in-law,RuthYarbrough,forhelpingfundmytriptoNormandy;mysiblings,Robert,Steve,andBetsy,foraidingmyresearchandgoadingmetocompletethisbook;myauntJerryCarterforherdescriptionsoflifeamongtheCartersinEtowah;andmostlytomywife,Catherine,anddaughter,Julia,forputtingupwithmytoomanyhourswritingandrevising.

Thisbookwouldbemuchthinner(innumberofwordsandqualityofdetail)withouttheableassistanceofanentirecrewofresearchersandarchivistsattheNationalArchivesandRecordsAdministration,theOperationalArchivesBranchandtheShipsHistoryBranchoftheU.S.NavyHistoryandHeritageCommand,andtheNationalPersonnelRecordsCenter.

And,ofcourse,manythankstoDr.ElizabethDemersandthemanypeopleatPotomacBookswhobroughtthismanuscripttolife.

1PEARLHARBORTOBOOTCAMP

LutherLukeCarterTheBoyScoutswaseverythingtofourteen-year-oldLukeCarter.HischildhoodinDepression-eraeastTennesseeofferednoparticularhardships;everyonewasalreadypoorbeforetheDepressionhitbutitseemedtooffernoimmediateopportunityforadventureorexcitement.TheBoyScoutsfilledvoidsinCarterslifethattheyoungsterprobablydidntrealizewerethere.

WhenLutherLukeEldonCarterwasbornonSeptember29,1927,hisparentshadburiedtheirfirstson,Winfrey,justthreemonthsearlier.Theirfirstchild,RubyLee,wasaliveandhealthy,butLukesarrivalsosoonafterWinfreysdeathseemedablessingtothereligious,andimprobablynamed,NoahandDoveCarter.Ayoungersister,Jerry,followedLukein1930.Twoyearslater,anothersonarrivednamedDanny.ButDannydiedin1935,likeWinfrey,barelyshortofhisthirdbirthday.HisdeathleftLuketheonlyson,cherishedandguarded,betweentwosisters.

HomelifefortheCartersfollowedtheratherstrictnormsoftheirSouthernBaptisttraditions.Lukeandhissistershadtohideundertheporchsotheywouldntgetcaughtreadingtheircomicbooks.Breachesofdisciplineresultedinspankings,usuallywithaswitchcutfromahickorytreeintheyard.Inthemostmemorableincident,Lukepleadedwithhisdadtoplayballwithhim,butNoahwassittingonthefence,chattingwithaneighbor.Infrustration,Lukebashedhisdadinthelegswithhisbat.Noahcameoffthefence,pulledupasaplingbytheroots,andadministeredthelesson.

NoahsjobwiththeLouisvilleandNashvilleRailroadprovidedasteadyincome,butitalsokepthimmovingquiteoften.Notwoofhischildrenwereborninthesametown.AttheheightoftheDepressionhefoundhisworkslowed;therailroadswerestillacrucialformofcommunication,buttheslowdowninordersandproductionmeantlessfreighttoship.Tokeepthefamilylardersfilled,NoahandDovewouldplantandtendavegetablegarden.Inthefall,Noahwouldhuntforsquirrel,rabbit,andturkey(thestoryinthefamilywasthatduringtheDepression,hewouldworkthreedaysandhunttwo).Infact,huntingbecameatraditionthatpersistedtotheendofNoahslife.Allthroughthe1960sand1970s,theThanksgivingturkeyontheCarterstablehidaliberalpepperingofNo.6shot(notfuntobiteonto),andeachfallduringhuntingseason,squirrelwasastaplemeat.Friedsquirrelwasfine,sincemostoftheflavorwasintheseasoninganyway.DoveCarterssquirrelanddumplings,though,hidasometimesnastysurprise:NoahCarterlikedtoeatthebrains(hesaidithelpedhimthinklikeasquirrel),soitwasnotuncommontodipintheladleandcomeupwithagravy-coveredsquirrelshead.Itwasskinnedandeyelessandhadnomeattospeakof,butNoahwouldcrackopentheskullforthedelicacyinside.ThatparticulareatingcustomdidnotsurviveintolatergenerationsofCarters.

AlthoughlifeforLukeandhisfamilywasdifficult,italsohaditsshareofhospitalityandhumor.Throughhuntingandgardening,theCartersalwayshadplentytoeatandenoughtoshare.Becausethefamilyalwayslivedneartherailroad,hobosconstantlyshowedupaskingforleftovers;thefamilylaterfoundoutthatthehoboshadmarkedtheirhouseasaplacewheretheycouldbeassuredofgettingfood.(ThehobosapparentlymadeanimpressionontheCartersaswell;inlaterdecades,oneofLukesfavoritesongstosingtohischildrenwastheoldhoboUtopianballadTheBigRockCandyMountain.)

Also,Noahwasaninveterateprankster.Inspectingthetracksoneday,Noahandacoworkerhappenedtoseearattlesnakeslitheroffthetracksandunderabush.Asthecoworkerpickedupabigrockandcautiouslyapproachedthebush,Noahpickedupatwig,workedaroundbehindtheman,andpokedhimintheankle.Hewasstartledsobadlythatheendedupjumpingintothebushwiththesnake.TheprankstergenecertainlywaspassedalongtoLuke,whohadplentyofstoriesofchildhooddeeds:knockingoverouthousesonHalloween,soapingrailsrightbeyondthedepotwherethelocomotiveneededtogaintraction,andotherdevilrythatsometimesborderedonthefelonious.

Apartfrompranks,NoahandLukealsosharedafondnessforguncollectingandtrading.NoahfavoredWinchesters,especiallythesmaller-caliberlever-actionriflesandthepump-actionshotgunsthatheusedinhunting.Thebackroomofhishousealwayscarriedthefaintwhiffofgunoil.Consequently,Lukegrewuparoundgunsandthoughtofthemasanaturalpartofeverydaylife.Luketendedtopreferrifles,especiallythe1903Springfield,oldpercussionmuzzle-loaders(theywerentincommonuse,butplentyofthemwerestillaround),andWestern-stylepistols,suchasColtsix-shooters.Inamixoffriendlycompetitionandcooperation,whenLukewouldfindafirearmlikeanoldSmith&Wessonrevolverchamberedfor.32-20,NoahwouldtradeforaWinchesterrifleofthesamecaliber.

NoahservedasLukesmainsourceofmalecompanionship,andalthoughtheirrelationshipwasstrong,itcertainlywasntchummybytodaysstandards.NoahkepttothestrictrolesoffatherhoodthattheeastTennesseecultureoftheearlytwentiethcenturyexpected.Lukealsotendedtobethetargetoftormentfromhisoldersister,Ruby,andyoungersister,Jerry,andhefoundithardtomakeanykindofalliancewithinthefamilydynamics.Probablyasaresultofthatseparateness,Lukedevelopedalifelongloveofreading.WithfellowTennesseanandWorldWarIheroAlvinYorkthenattheheightofhisfameandpopularity,Lukeparticularlylikedstoriesofthatwar,buthereadalmostanythingandeverythinghecouldfind.

Inthemid-1930s,NoahwaspromotedtotracksupervisorandtransferredtotherailroadtownofEtowah,Tennessee.ForthefirsttimesinceNoahandDoveweremarriedin1920,thefamilyhadsomethinglikeahometown.ItwasnearNoahshometownofBenton,Tennessee,andthereforeonesetofthechildrensgrandparentswasfairlyavailable.(TheothersetlivedjustacrossthenearbystatelineinMurrayCounty,Georgia,butfiftymileswasnotaninsignificantdistanceinthe1930sSouth.)Thechildrenwereabletokeepfriendsfromoneschoolyeartothenext,andNoahandDovefoundthemselvesbeingquicklyabsorbedintothefamilyoftheFirstBaptistChurch.ButthegreatestbenefittoLukewashismembershipwithBoyScoutTroop74.Now,withmanyotherboyshisageinhislife,Lukemadelotsoffriendsandfoundplentyofoutletsforhis

youthful,boyishenergy.

Thatenergyshowedinhowquicklyheadvanced.Hisfriendsfromschoolintroducedhimtothetroop,butitwashisshootingandoutdoorskills,coupledwithhisaffabilityandnaturalintelligence,thatsmoothedhissocializationintothegroup.Fittingly,hisfirsttwomeritbadgeswerePathfindingandReading,awardedinMay1941.Thatsummer,heimmersedhimselfinScoutingandattainedtherankofFirstClassScoutonAugust8,1941.Exactlythreemonthslater,heearnedStar,thefirstoftheseniorScoutranks.HelostnotimebeginningworktowardhisLiferank,andhehadnodoubtthathewouldearnthecovetedEagleScoutrankbythetimehewassixteen.Ofcourse,earningadvancementintheBoyScoutsmeantearningmeritbadges,andearningmeritbadgesmeantprovingtothetroopsScoutmasterthathehadqualifiedforthem.

JustamonthafterearningStarrank,LukewenttohisScoutmastershouseafterSundaydinnertosignoffontheSafetyandSurveyingmeritbadgestwoofthefivebadgeshewouldneedforadvancement.AsistypicalintheSoutheastduringlatefall,astrongfronthadpushedawayunseasonablywarmweatherandleftthedaysunnyandcrisp,soLukesatwithhisScoutmasteronthefrontporch,demonstratinghisnewknowledgeandskills.ItwaspleasantenoughforbothofthemuntiltheScoutmasterswifecametothedoorandsaidtheyshouldcomelistentotheradio.

TheJapanesehadbombedPearlHarbor.

TheyoungteenagedLukefollowedthewarnewsasifitwereabigfootballgame.Thatfirstwinterandspringthenewswasalmostallbad,butthenfortunesseemedtoturnduringthesummer.InearlyJunetheU.S.NavyhadstoppedtheJapaneseadvanceacrossthePacificatalittleislandcalledMidway.Duringthatfirstsummerofthewar,Lukefollowedthenewswhilecontinuingtorackupthemeritbadges.InAugust,LukewaspromotedtoLifeScout,thelaststoponthewaytoEagle.Butinthatsamemonth,theAmericanoffensivebegan.AmericasfirstamphibiousassaulttookplaceatGuadalcanal.IntheAtlantic,theU-boatcrisisseemedtohaveclimaxedwiththewaningoftheOperationDrumbeatoffensiveagainstAmericascoastalshipping.InNovember,theRussiansheldtheGermansatStalingrad,andtheAmericanlandingsinNorthAfricatrappedGermanfieldmarshalErwinRommelstroopsagainsttheBritishforcesinTunisia.

ByChristmas,bothJapanandGermanywereclearlyonthedefensiveonallfronts.Bythespringof1943,RommelwasallbutdefeatedinNorthAfricaandtheinvasionofsouthernEuropeloomedinthenearfuture.TheAmericanshadbegunadvancinguptheSolomons,andtheRussiancounteroffensivehadgainedmomentum.Lukebegantogrowanxious.Inonlyayear,theAllieshadturnedthewararoundandhadbegunwinning.HewouldnotbeseventeenuntilSeptember1944,andheworriedthatthewarcouldverywellbeoverbythen.

AweekorsoafterRommelescapedfromTunisiainMarch1943,Lukehadwaitedaslongashecouldstand.Althoughhehadnotquitefinishedhissophomoreyearinhighschool,heknewhisheightofalittlemorethansixfeettallandhisalreadyweatheredcomplexionwouldhelphimclaimanadditionalyearormoretohisage,despitehislankybuild.Pickingadaywhenheknewhisfatherwouldbeoutworkingonthetracks,Luke

skippedschoolandtookthetraintoChattanooga,Tennessee.

LukesfirststopwastheU.S.MarineRecruitingStation.Eitherbecauseofasteadysupplyofvolunteersorbecausethemarinerecruitersuspectedsomethingamiss,hetoldLukethemarinescouldnottakehimbecauseofhisteeth.Thatseemedabsurdtotheyoungster.Iwanttoshootthem,notbitethem,heprotestedtonoavail.Nextdoorwasthenavyrecruiter.Hepersuadedanotherfellowthere,EdWorthingtonofWatauga,Tennessee,tostandinashisguardianandtoldtherecruiterthathehadjustturnedseventeenandwaseagertogetintothewar.OnMay21,1943,withacompletelyfictitiousnextofkinandhometownlistedonhisrecord,fifteen-year-oldLutherEldonCarterbecameaswabbie.

WhenLukedidnotreturnhomefromschoolthatFriday,hisparentsdidntworryuntillateintheevening.Afterall,heoftenspentafter-schoolhourswithhistroopmembersworkingonmeritbadges,especiallyontheweekends,butasafternoonturnedintoeveningandonintonight,theyknewsomethingwasamiss.Earlythenextmorning,NoahCartercheckedwithhisfriendsattherailroadstationandfoundouthissonhadgonetoChattanooga.Hewenthometopackand,alongwithhiswife,wentinpursuitofhisson.Becauseitwastheweekend,theyfoundhimbeforeheshippedofftobootcampinBainbridge,Maryland,andtheytoldhimtheyfullyintendedtorevealhisfraudulentenlistmenttothenavy.NoahandDovehadalreadyburiedtwooftheirsons,andtheydidntwanttoseethelastoneriskinghislifeinwarunnecessarily.Buthereactedinawaytheydidnotanticipate:hecried.Histearsshowedthemhowsincerehewasaboutstayinginthenavy.Theywenthomewithouthimandhungupabluestarinthewindow.

WilliamCromerAbitfarthersouth,inThomaston,Georgia,WilliamE.CromergrewupinconditionsmuchdifferentthanCarterdid.Insteadofnobrothers,Cromergrewupimmersedinbrothersnotonlyhisown,butalsothoseofeveryoneelseintheneighborhood.TheCromerswerealarge,bustlingfamilythatwasfairlywellestablishedinthesmallcommunity.Theylivedontheedgeoftown,neartherailroadstation,andalthoughtheyhadplentyofmouthstofeed,theirfatherhadsteadyworkinthecottonmillintownworkthatmeantthattheCromersneverlackedforfoodthroughouttheDepression.SowhenthefriendsoftheCromerboyswenthungry,asfortunesfellasaresultoftheDepression,theyknewtheycouldalwaysfindfoodattheCromertable.Somanypeoplepassedthroughthatitwouldnothavebeenasurpriseifoccasionallyatotalstranger,somehoboridingtherailthroughtown,hadwanderedinandmadehimselfathome.True,theboysoftenhadtofixbreakfast,dinner,orsupperontheirown,butthatwasneverahardship.

ThereinthesmallGeorgiatown,surroundedbyfamilyandfriends,thewarseemeddistanttoCromer.Hecertainlyfeltnoneedtoescapetheconfinesofsmalltownlifethewaymanyothermendid.ForCromer,thewardidnotpresentanopportunitybutaduty.Cromerknewhehadtogotowarthewayhismotherknewshehadtofeedalltheboysathertable,herboysornot.

CromerwasonlyslightlyolderthanCarterwasinfact,prettymuchthesameagethatCarterclaimedtobe.Whenhevisitedthenavyrecruiter,hewastoldthatbecausehewas

seventeenhewouldhavetoenlistintheregularnavyratherthansignonfortheduration(astheevenyoungerCarterhaddoneinTennessee).Hefellforit.

FrankPequigneyMuchfarthernorth,intheBronx,NewYork,thewarwasalreadyquiterealtoFrankPequigney.Duringthewinterandspringof1942,hehadseentorpedoedshipsburningoffLongIsland.Thatsummer,heandtwofriendsspentaweekatabeachhouseontheJerseyshoreownedbythefatherofoneofthefriends.Theyhadlookedforwardtoaweekofswimmingandgirls,butoncethere,theyfoundthewatercoveredinafilmofoilandthesandcoatedinthestuff.Beingkids,theyswamanywayandfoundtheoilalmostimpossibletowashoff.

Attheendofthatschoolterm,Pequigneywasabouttoturneighteen.Heknewthedraftwouldsnatchhimupassoonashewasofage,soheandacoupleoffriendsboughtintotheadvertisingslogan:Ifyoudratherridethanwalk,jointheNavy.

RoyCarlsonIntheoppositecornerofthecountry,RoyCarlsonwasalreadynineteenandworkingintheloggingcampsoftheOregonwoodsnearAstoria.ThewarseemedquitedistanttohimandthePacificNorthwest,despitethefactthatJapanesesublaunchedballoonbombshadinfactlandedinOregon.LikePequigney,hebeganfeelingthedraftwaftinghisway,andafriendsuggestedtheyjoinup.Carlsonwentalongmostlyoutofcuriosity.Buthehadalreadydecidedthatifhehadtojoinup,hewasgoingintotheonlymilitaryservicehehadanyexperiencewiththeCoastGuard.Hegaveintothepeerpressure,talkedtotheCoastGuardrecruiter,andendedupattheinductioncenter.Afterhisgroupwasswornin,theofficersaid,Well,men,youreintheArmynow.Carlsonsnappedback,LikehellIam.ImintheCoastGuard.Someintensenegotiationsfollowed,withCarlsonthreateningtogobacktoAstoriaandtheofficerthreateningjailtime.Somehowtheyreachedacompromisethathewouldgointothenavy.Carlsonwascuriousaboutwhatthenavywasgoingtodowithalogger.

DonIrwinInthenationsmidsection,DonIrwinwaspreparingforacareerinadvertisingatCornellCollegeinMountVernon,Iowa.Despitehisdistasteformathclasses,hemajoredineconomicsandminoredinart,twodisciplineshethoughtwouldbolsterhispositioninthebusinessworld.Amemberofthevarsitybasketballteam,hewasworkinghiswaythroughcollegebywaitingtablesoncampus.TheMondayafterPearlHarbor,IrwincarriedhistrayintothekitchenintimetohearPresidentFranklinRooseveltswarmessagetoCongress.

Thetalkamongthemenoncampushadbutonetopicnotwhethertojoin,butwhichbranchofservicetojoin.MostofIrwinsfriendsleanedtowardthenavy,whichalwayshadasoft,drybedandhotfood.Thenoneweekend,afriendofIrwinswhohadgraduatedreturnedtoCornellfromthemidshipmensschoolatNorthwesternUniversity.Thenewensignsportedimmaculatedresswhites,andthesightofthatuniformmadeup

Irwinsmind.Knowingthatthedraftboardwasabouttocatchhim,heaskedaboutthenavysV-7program.Ifaccepted,hewouldbeallowedtograduatebeforereportingforactivedutyatthemidshipmensschoolatColumbiaUniversity.Thecatchwasthathewouldhavetochangehiscurriculumtoincludeeighthoursofmathcourses.Hepassedthemedicalandapplicationexaminations,andaftertakinganalyticalgeometryandtrigonometryinthesamesemester,plusasummerschoolsessionforhismajorrequirements,hewasin.OnAugust1,1943,IrwinreportedtotheReserveMidshipmensSchoolatColumbiaUniversityinNewYork.

TheAmphibsAllaroundthecountryduringthatturning-pointyearof1943,menfromallkindsofbackgroundsfoundtheirwaytothenavyrecruiterforvariousreasonssomewellthoughtoutandothersonawhim.RichardGudgercamefromasmallfarminNorthCarolinaandFrederickB.G.KleenfromanoldestablishedfamilyfarminNewJersey.WoodrowJohnsoncamefromtheBostonareaandJohnJarvisfromicyMinnesota.NickAndinandRobertClarkhailedfromupstateNewYork.JohnDowling,WalterStefanowicz,andRobertLongallcameoutofthenationsindustrialmidsection.Butonceinthenavy,forcesrangingfrompersonalpreferences,toworldpoliticsbeganknittingthelivesofthesementogether.

DuringhissevenweeksofbootcampatBainbridgeNavalTrainingStation,Carterdidwellenoughonthebatteryofaptitudeteststhathewasallowedtosignupforaspecialtyschool.Hehadgrownuparoundguns,andhavingmetAlvinYorkonceortwiceontheWorldWarIherospreachingtoursthroughTennessee,henaturallygravitatedtowardgunnersmateschool.TheadditionaltrainingkepthimattheBainbridgeNavalTrainingStationanotherfivemonths,muchlongerthanhewouldhaveliked,butthetrainingseemedtoguaranteethathewouldbepartofthefightingnavy.Ashenearedcompletionofhistraining,heandhisclassmatesfilledoutthepreferencecards;Carteraskedfordestroyers.Atfirst,thenavyseemedtogranthisrequest,assigninghimtoafour-piperdestroyerescortingconvoysacrosstheAtlantic.CarterwassoexcitedabouthisassignmentthatwhenhecamehomeonleavehewroteitintothefamilyBible.ButinearlyDecember1943,justashisgunschoolclassgraduated,themenweregathereduponelasttime.OK,men,thechiefsaid.YouguyswithnamesAthroughKaregoingtotheamphibs.Theneedsoftheservicehadbeendetermined.

By1943,theamphibiousforceshadalreadygainednotorietyinthenavy.WorldWarIIfortheAmericanshadturnedintoaseriesofseaborneassaultsinboththeaters,andthevarietyofthespecializedshipsandcraftthatdepositedmarinesonPacificislandsorsoldiersonMediterraneanshoreshadgainedsomepress.Despiteitsnovelty,CarterandtheotherssenttotheamphibsconsidereditthedreadedGatorNavyapartofthenavythatlackedtheglamourofbattleshipsandcarriers,thein-the-thick-of-itbattletraditionofcruisers,theexcitementofdestroyers,theintrigueofsubmarines,oreventheanonymityofthefleettrainofauxiliaryvessels.Inaway,theGatorNavywastheworstofallpossiblesea-goingworldsbecauseithadallthedangeroffront-linecombatwithnoneoftheoffsettingabilitytocatchheadlines.

Youngsailorsfoundtheirwaytotheamphibsthroughavarietyoffoul-upsorbadluck.

Pequigney,whosurprisedhimselfbydoingbetterthananyoneelseinhisbootcampcompanyonthebatteryoftests,gaveintothepressuresofhischieftosignupforquartermasterschool.Itseemedabitoddtohim;hecouldntdriveacar,andnowthenavywasgoingtoteachhimtodriveaship.Asitturnedout,hewasnotastellarstudentatquartermasterschoolanddidnotfulfillthepotentialofthosetestscores.Thenavydecidedtosendhimwheretheshiphewouldbedrivingwasintendedtorunaground.

Carlsonfoundoutwhatthenavydoeswithloggers.Afterbootcamp,hefoundhimselfbackintheNorthwest,maintaininganddrivingtrucksatthemotorpoolatthenavystrainingcenterinFarragut,Idaho.Carlsondidntknow,nordidanyoneelseforthatmatter,thatthemotorpoolunitwouldlaterformthenucleusofaconstructionbattalioncompany,orthefamedFightingSeabees,ofthePacifictheater.Forthatmoment,thewarthathadseemedsodistanttohiminAstoriawasevenfartheraway,eventhoughhewasnowactuallyinthenavy.ButwhilehewastherehemetJohnJarvis,anaffablefellowfromthenorthwoodsofMinnesota,andtheydevelopedafastfriendship.TothestraightforwardCarlson,thefriendshipseemedanacceptableconsolationforthenavysapparentdecisiontohavehimsitoutthewarinIdaho.

Cromerfoundthathisenlistmentintheregularnavybroughthimnobenefits.Ifanything,hewasevenmoresubjecttothedictatesoftheneedsoftheservicethanothermenwere.Afterbootcamp,insteadofaserviceschoolhewentsimplyfromonetemporarydutystationtoanother.Foranonratedenlistedman,temporarydutywasnotthenavysequivalentoflimbobutofabsolutehell.Afterweeksofpickinguptrash,cleaningheads(bathrooms),waxingfloors,anddoingothermenialjobs,hewasbeginningtowonderifhedevenseeaship.FinallyorderscameforhimtoreporttotheAmphibiousTrainingBaseonSolomonsIsland,Maryland.Hehadnoideawhattheamphibswereallabout,butatleastitwasnttemporaryduty.

ForIrwin,thingshappenedwaytooquickly.AsafarmboyinIowa,hehadneverseenabodyofwaterlargerthantheMississippiRiver,andthelargestvesselhedbeenonwasaduckboat.AtOfficerCandidateSchool(OCS),hespentfourmonthsbecominga90-daywonder(theteasing,sometimesderogatory,termdatesfromthedaysofthetwelve-weekOCSprogram),thinkinghewasgettingthefullfouryearsoftheAnnapoliscurriculumsqueezedintothattime.Morethanahundredmeninhisclassofnearlyathousandbilgedoutoftheschool,buthemadeitthroughtohiscommissionasensignonNovember24,1943.YoungEnsignIrwinfoundthatthegoldbraidonhiscapandshoulderboardsgavehimnomorebenefitsthanthetwoshortwhitestripesofaseamansecondclassonCromerssleeve.Someofthemenatthetopoftheclassgottochoosesubmarinesorpatroltorpedo(PT)boats,butalmostalltherestofthemensomeeighthundredormorefreshlymintedensignswentofftotheamphibs.

Inthespringof1943,thewordnavyhadconnotedtothesemenimagesofbattleships,carriers,cruisers,anddestroyers.Now,astheirlivesbegantointersectatalittleislandintheChesapeake,theybegantolearnofawholenewfleetwhoseshiptypeswerelettersandwhosenameswerenumbers.

2LCTsENTERTHEWAR

AtaboutthesametimethatCarterranofffromEtowahtoChattanoogatojointhenavy,ontheoppositesideofTennesseeworkershadalreadybeguntoassemblematerialforthevesselthatwoulddefineCartersnavyexperience.InMemphis,nestledagainstaninlettotheMississippiRiver,thequarter-mile-longassemblyplantatthePidgeon-ThomasIronCompanyhadgoneintofullproductionofsomethingcalledalandingcraft,tank(LCT).

Amphibiouswarfarewasreallynothingnewby1943.CertainlytheRomansandVikingshadmasteredtheartoftheseaborneraidandonafewoccasions(theRomaninvasionofNorthAfricaduringthewarswithCarthage,andtheVikingssettlementsonBritainandevenNorthAmerica)showedtheycouldsustainforcesonthefarshore.EnglandsfightagainsttheSpanishArmadawasperhapsthemostfamousdefeatofaninvasionforce.Afterafashion,thedecisivenavalbattleoftheAmericanRevolutionhaditsamphibiouselement,astheFrenchfleetunderAdmiralDeGrassepreventedtheBritishfleetfromreachingLordCornwallissarmybottledupontheYorktownpeninsula.Alittlemorethanacenturylater,themarineslandingatDaiquiri,Cuba,in1898vaguelyforeshadowedwhatthatbranchofthemilitarywouldfaceinthePacificinthe1940s.

Butasthedestructivenessandeffectiverangeofweaponsincreased,strategistsandtacticiansbegantobelievethatamphibiouswarfarehadcometoanend.MuchofthatlessoncamefromtheGallipoliCampaignofWorldWarI,whenarelativelysmallTurkisharmywasabletocontaintheAlliedinvaderswhiletheyslowlyunloadedfromthetransports.ManystrategistsarguedthatthelessontobelearnedfromGallipoliwasthatlarge-scaleamphibiousassaultswereimpracticalanddoomedtofailure,butthestrategicsituationofWorldWarIIdictatedthat,doomedornot,suchassaultswouldberequired.MilitaryplannersthentaskedthemselveswithfindingawaytoovercomethetacticalweaknessesthathadhobbledtheGallipoliCampaign.

Toalargeextent,geographyhadasimportantaroleindefeatingtheAlliedtroopsonGallipoliashadtheTurks.Theruggedpeninsulaprovidednaturalfortificationsforthedefendersandnoroomfortheinvaderstodeployoncetheyestablishedabeachhead.Inthefuture,planningforanamphibiousassaultwouldtakegeographyintomajorconsideration(butthelessonwasalmostforgottenatTarawaandAnzio).AnothermajortacticalweaknessatGallipoliwasthelackofmobility.Theinfantrycameashoreinthetransportslifeboats,andtheirvehicles,heavyweapons,andsupplieshadtobebroughtinonlighters.Theawkwardnessoftheship-to-shoremovementsslowedbuildupsandsignaledpreparationsforattemptedoffensives,preventingtheAlliesfromgaininganyelementofsurpriseormobilityovertheTurkishforces.Laterinthecampaign,theBritishdevisedaspeciallandingcraftcalledabeetle.Thefirstspeciallydesignedamphibiouscraft,thebeetlescouldcarryfivehundredmenorfortyhorses,whichcouldbeeasilylandedoverwidegangwaysextendedoverthebow.TheirarmoredsidesprovedinvaluableduringtheSuvlaBaylandingsinAugust1915.Unfortunately,thesecraftwere

eitherunpoweredorunderpowered,sotheyhadtobeeithertowedorshippedtothelandingsiteandthenloadedoverthesideaswithanyotherlighter.Theyofferednothinginthewayofsurpriseormobility.

Soasearlyas1940,Britainbegandesigningspecialwarshipsthatcouldavoidthecargo-handlingaspectofearlierassaultsbybringingbothmenandmatrieltotheenemysshoreinbattleorder.Themostcelebratedoftheseshipswere,inWinstonChurchillsnow-famousphrase,thosegod-damnedthingscalledLSTs(landingships,tank).Theywereconvertedfromshallow-drafttankersthathadbeendesignedforusearoundtheVenezuelanoilfieldsofLakeMaracaibo.ThisledtothespeciallybuiltMark1LSTs,whichfollowedthebasicdesignoftheconvertedtankersexceptfortheinclusionofsiderampsthatallowedloadingtolighterswhilesimultaneouslyunloadingacrossthebowrampdirectlyontothebeach.However,theselargeshipsatthirty-sixhundredtonsandfourhundredfeetlong,theywereaboutthesizeofasmallcruisertendedtobeachrelativelyfarfromtheshoreandrequiredasegmentedbowrampthatcouldextendtomorethanahundredfeet.

TheLST(1)sprovedsounsuccessfulthatonlythreewerebuilt.TheentireLSTideaalmostfounditselfscrapped.However,theBritishhadbeenbuildingsmaller,moreversatilecraftsince1940,andtheyhadfortunatelyproventheirvalueinsuchhit-and-runraidsastheoneonDieppe,France,inAugust1942.TheBritishdesignersthereforescaleddowntheLST(1)s,resultinginavesselthatdisplacedtwothousandtonslessbutwithnolossofcargocapacity.Theselightershipsofshallowerdraftcouldbeachhigherontotheenemyshoreandunloadmorequickly.Atslighlymorethan325feetlong,theywerestillsizableships(decreasingfromcruisertodestroyersize),andbythisstageofthewar,Britishshipbuildingfacilitieswerefullycontracted.TheBritishhandedthedesignovertotheU.S.Navy,andtheAmerican-builtLST(2)sbecamethewartimestandard.

BritishLCTsThesmallerlandingcraft,tank,actuallypre-datedtheLSTs.ThedesignoftheLCTdevelopedfromthelandingcraft,mechanized(LCM),theonlyprewarlandingcraftthatcouldlandatank.LCMswereversatilelittlecraft,basedvaguelyontheGallipolibeetles.Inthelate1930sLCMsweremuchsmallerthantheirancestorswere,butevenatfiftyfeettheywereabitlargeforothershipstocarryinnumberstoaninvasionsite.TheoptionswereeithertobuildorconvertshipsspecificallytoferryLCMstothefarshoreortobuildalargerbeachingcraftthatcouldcrossonitsownpower.Bothapproacheswereinfacttaken,butshortlythemorepracticalsolutionprovedtobethelargerbeachingvessel.

LCTsenteredservicewiththeBritishasearlyas1941,andsometwodozenoftheearlyLCTstookpartintheDiepperaid.Withonlytwodieselmotors,theirrelativelyhighfreeboard,andashallowdraft,theearlyLCTswerenotoriouslyhardtomaneuver(adesignproblemneverfullysolvedthroughallmarksofLCTs);oneBritishsourceevensuggestedthatcoursechangeswerebestappliedinmultiplesoftwenty-fivedegrees.Indeed,thislackofhandinesscontributedtothefailureoftheDiepperaid.SubsequentmarksoftheLCTswerelargerandpoweredbythreemotors,somewhatimprovingspeedandmaneuverability.ThewartimestandardfortheRoyalNavybecametheMark4,atwo-hundred-tonshipalmost190feetlongand39feetwidethatcouldcarrysixforty-ton

tanks,althoughtosimplifyproductiontheyhadonlytwodieselmotors.AllLCTsfeaturedacellularconstructionthatmadethemquiteresilienttodamage.OneLCT(4)struckamineandreturnedtoporttowingitsseveredanddemolishedbowsection.ThisstrengthmadetheLCToneofthemostindispensablecraftforamphibiousassaults.

AmericanLCTsWhentheUnitedStatesenteredthewar,thescopeofenvisionedamphibiousoperationsincreased,andanothertheateropenedupinthePacific.Consequently,theneedforLCTsbecameevengreater.ThedesignoftheLCT(4),however,posedmanyproblemsforboththeBritishandtheAmericans.Itssizemadeitimpossibletoreproducerapidlyinlargenumbers,andthenumberofcraftalreadycontractedhadfullyengagedeverypossiblerailroadmanufacturerandotherstructuralsteelfirms.LiketheLST,thelargenumbersofadditionalLCTsrequiredwouldhavetobebuiltintheUnitedStates.Thatnecessityposedotherproblems:theLCT(4)couldnotcrosstheAtlanticunderitsownpower,andalthoughitcouldbecarriedinsectionsasdeckcargo,oneLCT(4)wouldprettymuchmonopolizeafreighter.Inshort,LCT(4)scouldnotbeshippedacrosstheAtlanticinthenumbersneeded.

ThenextstepinLCTevolution,therefore,calledforasmallership:118feetlong,32feetwide,140tons,andhalfthecargocapacityoftheLCT(4).TheLCT(5)hadthreeGrayMarinedieselenginesinsteadofthetwolargerDaveyPaxmandieselsfoundintheMark4s.Thethreescrewsaddedacertainamountofdependabilityandperhapsatouchbettermaneuverabilityatslowspeeds,butthesesmallermotorsplusthebulkierbeam-to-lengthratiooftheMark5(3.6:1,asopposedto4.9:1)reducedthemaximumspeedofthecrafttoeightknots.LikethelargerLCTs,theMark5scouldbecarriedasdeckcargointhreesections,butthesmallercraftcouldbeboltedtogetherbythecraftsowncrewusinghandtools.Thecraftalsocarriedtwo20mmOerlikonguns.

ThedesignfortheLCT(5)developedconcurrentlywiththatoftheLST(2),whichledtoachickenortheeggkindoforigin.TheBritishplannersneitherdesignedtheLST(2)tocarrytheLCT(5)nordesignedtheLCT(5)tofitontothedeckoftheLST(2).Rather,thetwoevolvedtogetherasakindofbinaryvessel:theLSTwouldcarryitsloadtransoceanicdistances,andonceatthefarshoretheLSTwouldlaunchtheLCToffitsdecktoactasalighter.ThedesignersalsoenvisionedincorporatingtheLCTssectionalconstructionintoitsoperationaluse.AnLSTcouldcarryanLCTasdeckcargoeitherintactorinthreesections.ThissectionalfeaturegaverisetoaplantomarryanLCTtoanLSTbylaunchingthesectionsindependentlyandassemblingonlythetwoforwardsectionsthatconstitutedthetankdeck.TheincompleteforwardportionwouldthenbemooredtothemouthoftheLST.VehiclescouldthendriveoutoftheLSTontotheLCTsectionsand,fromthere,ontoacompleteLCTorotherlighterageforfurthertransfertothebeach.OncetheLSTwasunloaded,thetwowouldseparate,leavingtheLCTcrewtoboltthesternsectionoftheircraftontotheforwardsectionsandcontinuetheirinshoreworkwhiletheLSTreturnedtothenearshoretoreload.

ThisoriginalconceptoftheLCT(5)asaglorifiedshipsboatfortheLSTneverreallyworkedinpractice.BoltingLCTsectionstogetherunderfireappealedtonooneoutsideanavalarchitectsoffice.Apparently,amphibiousforcesintheMediterranean

attemptedthemarryingmaneuverinanoperationalsettingduringtheinvasionofSicily,butthebulky,unpoweredforwardsectionprovedjusttoounhandyinanopenseaway.NorwasitterriblypracticabletocarryanassembledLCTtothefarshoreonthedeckofanLST,becausetheLSThadtoshiftballasttoattaintheten-toeleven-degreelistrequiredtolaunchtheLCTamaneuverthatcouldnotbecarriedoutiftheLSTalsohadafullinternalload.Therefore,anLCTcarriedtoanassaultbeachaboardanLSTcouldnotbeavailablefortheinitialassaultoreventheinitialunloading.ThenatureofamphibiousoperationsinthePacificdictatedthisprocedure,butwheneverpossible,LCTswouldbeloadedatstagingareasonthenearshoreandeithersailundertheirownpowerorbetowedtothefarshore.Thereforeitcameabout,throughnecessityratherthandesign,thattheLCTsbecamethesmallestunitsofthefleetthatalsoservedastheircrewshome.PTboats,forcomparison,operatedfromforwardbasesorfromtendersthatprovidedthesleeping,feeding,bathing,andrecreationalneedsofthePTcrews.

During1942and1943,someonedozenU.S.barge,bridge,andotherstructuralsteelcompaniesbuiltalmostfivehundredLCT(5)s.Aboutathird(169)ofthemwenttotheBritishunderlend-leaseagreements.BecausetheBritishalreadyhadanLCTnumberingsysteminplace,theyaddedtwothousandtotheU.S.Navyhullnumber(thus,theUSSLCT2becametheHMSLCT2002,theUSSLCT500becameHMSLCT2500,etc.).Someofthesecraft,owingtomanpowershortages,foundthemselvesoperationalwithAmericancrews.ThisputthemintheratheroddpositionofbeingBritishdesigned,Americanbuilt,Britishowned,andAmericancrewed.

Asbattle-andseaworthyastheLCT(5)sproved,theU.S.Navylostlittletimetinkeringwiththedesign.ThefirstfivemarksofLCTsallsharedacommonbasicoutlinealargeopentankdeckthat,intheMark5,tookupasmuchas70percentofthelengthoftheship,andthedeckhouseandmachineryspacessitedrightaft.EvenbeforeOperationHuskyprovedthattheideaofmarryinganLCTtoanLSTdidntworkinanopenseaway,thenavyhaddecidedthatathrough-deckdesignmightbemorepractical.Arrangingthedeckhousesalongthesidesoftheshipwouldallowvehiclestodriveontotheshipfromthesternandnothavetobebackedonwithalltheslow,trickymaneuveringthatmoveentailed.Also,LCTscouldtakeonloadsfromLSTssimplybybackinguptotheLSTsramp.Nodoubt,too,someonehopedbeyondhopethatdistributingtheweightalongagreaterpercentageoftheshipslengthwouldimproveitshandling.Theresnoevidencethatanysuchmiracleoccurred.

ThewinningdesignfortheLCT(6)camefromtheManitowocShipbuildingCompany,Manitowoc,Wisconsin,inJuly1943.Itusedessentiallythesamehull(justslightlylongerat120feet)andmachineryastheLCT(5),butthesuperstructureconsistedoffourdeckhousesdistributedtwotoaside.ThissubsequentlybecamethewartimestandardforAmerican-builtLCTs.Afterbuildingtheleadshipintheclass,theLCT(6)501,ManitowocShipbuildingdroppedoutoftheLCTprogramasdidfourotherfirmsthathadbuiltMark5sleavingtheconstructionoftheother964LCT(6)stoeightfirmsscatteredaroundtheGreatLakesandalongtheMississippiRiver:BisonShipbuildinginNorthTonawanda,NewYork(301craft);MareIslandNavyYardinVallejo,California(166);Pidgeon-ThomasIronCompanyinMemphis,Tennessee(156);QuincyBargeBuildersinQuincy,Illinois(110);DarbySteelCorporationofKansasCity,Kansas(90);KansasCityStructuralSteelofKansasCity,Missouri(49);MountVernonBridge

CompanyinIronton,Ohio(46);andMissouriValleyBridgeandIronCompany,Leavenworth,Kansas(46).

ThesoundnessoftheLCT(6)designandconstructionisattestedbythefactthattwodozenormoreofthesewartimecraftsurvivedontheU.S.Navysinventoryintothe1980s.Re-designatedasutilitylandingships(LSUs)in1949,severalofthesecraftparticipatedinthelandingsatInchonin1951.InApril1952,thecraftwereagainre-designatedaslandingcraftutility(LCUs)andreferredtoasthe501classratherthantheMark6.AflotillaofsixteenofthemsawserviceinVietnam.Duringthe1960sand1970s,manyofthemwereconvertedtoyardcraft(derrickbarges,etc.),aroleinwhichsomeofthemmayyetsurvive.SubsequentdesignsofLCUsfollowedthebasicpatternsoftheWorldWarIIeracraft.The1466-classLCUs,builtintheearly1950s,wereslightlylargerandmoreaccommodatingLCT(5)sbuthadtheMark5strademarkdeckhouseacrossthestern,whilethe1610-classshipsofthelate1950sandthe1960s(andstillinserviceintheearlytwenty-firstcentury)followedthethrough-deckdesignoftheMark6s,exceptthatthedeckhouseswerealongthestarboardsideandthepilothousesitedforward.

LCTConstructionandLayoutThefirsttwofirmstogetLCT(6)contractswereBisonShipbuildinginNorthTonawanda(nearBuffalo),whichwastobuildLCTs502to573,andPidgeon-ThomasIronCompanyinMemphis,LCTs574to621.BothfirmshadbeeninvolvedintheLCT(5)program,andinfacttheyhadcompletedtheirorderswellenoughinadvancetoearnthearmy-navyproductionEaward.Astheearliernumbersindicate,thesetwofirmsremainedtheprincipaleasternU.S.buildersofLCT(6)sfortherestofthewar.Pidgeon-ThomasprefabricatedthecraftatitsplantonIowaandMainStreetsandthentransportedthepartstoanewfacility(dubbedthePidgeon-ThomasNavyYard)ontheWolfRiveratthefootofAuctionStreet.Theassemblylinehelduptotwelvecraftsidebyside,movingthroughthelinefromtheshorewardendofthefactorybuildingtothewaterend.Whencompleted,thecraftslidoutofthebuildingsidewaysintotheriver.Atitspeak,Pidgeon-ThomascouldlaunchanLCTeveryotherday.ThefirstLCT(6)rolledofftheproductionlineonJuly22,1943.

OneofthereasonsforthespeedofconstructionwasthefactthatanLCTislittlemorethananumberofhollowsteelblocksweldedtogether.Nineblocks,somethirty-threefeetlongbytwelvefeetwidebysixfeettall,madeupthehull.Mostofthesehullsectionswerefurtherdividedintovoidsthatweresealedclosedtoprovidereservebuoyancy.ThesecondsectionfromthesterncontainedthethreeGrayMarinedieselenginesanddiesel-poweredelectricgenerators.Thesectionjustforwardofthatcontainedfuelandlubricatingoil,andthenextsectionforwardcontainedthefreshwatertanks.Thevoidsinoneothersectionwereleftaccessibleforstowageofeverythingfromammunitiontofoodtothecrewssouvenirs.

Asmentioned,thethree-sectionhulldesignoftheLCTrequiredtheMark6tohavefourdeckhouses(twotoaside)ratherthantwo(oneoneachside);theseamthatjoinedthesternandmidshipssectionsranthroughafour-footgapbetweentheforwardandaftdeckhousesoneachside.Thetankdeckextendedaftthroughafourteen-footspace

betweenthesetsofdeckhouses.Thethreemaindeckhouseswereeachtwentyfeetlongbyninefeetwidebysevenfeettall.Theafterdeckhouseonthestarboardsidewasonlytwelvefeetlong.Removablecatwalksconnectedthetopsofthedeckhouses,allowingthementomovearoundtopsidewithouthavingtogodownontothetankdeckfromtheside.Allthedeckhouseshadwatertightdoorsalongtheforwardbulkheads;vehiclesorcargocouldeasilyblockthedoorsopeningontothetankdeckfromtheside.Thetwoberthingcompartments(forwarddeckhouses)alsohadwatertightdoorsintheafterbulkheads.

Theforwarddeckhouseontheportsideheldtheprincipalcrewsquarters,withfoursetsofthree-tieredbunksandcorrespondinglockers.Thesix-foot-longbunksweresuspendedfromthebulkheadwithchainsandcouldbetriceduptoprovidealittleadditionalshoulderroomforthetwelvemenwholivedthere.Theonlycreaturecomfortprovidedwasatwo-kilowattheaterforwardandaone-kilowattheateraft.

Thedeckhouseaftofthecrewsquartersheldthegalley.Asix-foot-longpicnictabledominatedalmostthewholeinboardforwardquarterofthisspace.Justaftofthetablewasthecoffeeurnmountedonacountertop,and,aftofthat,thesinkandmessgearlockerswerearrangedaboveandbelowthecountertoplikekitchencabinets.Ontheoutboardbulkheadaft,acrossfromthesink,sattheoil-firedgalleyrange,andforwardofthatwerethehotwaterheater,provisionslocker,alargerefrigerator,and,intheforwardoutboardcorner,ahatchintotheengineroom.Theoutboardbulkheadheldbracketsfortwelveloaded20mmmagazinesandasmalltankfortherangesfueloil.

Onthestarboardsideoftheship,thelargerdeckhousewasdividedbyacurtainwiththeforwardsectiondesignatedastheofficersquarters.Thisareacontainedtwobunksalongtheoutboardbulkheadandalogdesk,smallarmslockers,asafe,andthemedicalkitalongtheinboardbulkhead.Aftofthecurtainwereanothersixbunks,threetoaside.Theywereoriginallyconsideredpassengeraccommodationsforvehicledrivers,butasitturnedoutthecrewthinnedthemselvesoutbyclaimingthemforthemselves.Theofficerssectiongotthetwo-kilowattheater,andthecrewsectiongotthesmallerone.

Theshortdeckhouseonthestarboardsideaftcontainedthehead.Theoneshowertookuptheforwardinboardcorner,andthebulkheadaftofthatheldafoundationforaviseandsomeworkshopspace.Twowashbasinstookuptheafterbulkhead,andthetwotoiletssatalongtheafteroutboardbulkhead.Alsoinsidetheheadwasthebarberequipment,andintheoutboardforwardcornerwasanotherhatchtotheengineroom.Likethegalley,thebulkheadsintheheadheldbracketsfor20mmmagazines.Thetoiletsandtheshowerwerehandpumpedandsaltwaterfed,meaningnohotbathsforthecrewofanLCT.TheSpartanaccommodationsreflecttheoriginaldesignconceptthatLCTswouldalmostalwaysoperatewithLSTs,aconceptthatrarelymanifesteditselfinoperation.

Thepilothousestoodatopthehead.Thissix-by-eightstructurebarelyhadenoughroomforthreemen.Thequartermaster,orhelmsman,stoodonawoodengratingslightlyforwardandinboardofthecenterofthecompartment.Thethrottlesandotherenginecontrolswereonapanelintheoutboardforwardcorner,andtheinboardforwardcornerheldtheradioreceiverandrelatedequipment.Thechartboard(certainlynottobeconfusedwithacharttable)andcommunicationsgear,includingtheradioremotehandset,tookuptheafteroutboardcorner.Althoughdesignedforthreementhe

helmsman,throttleman,andnavigatorinpracticeonlythehelmsmanandthethrottlemanmaintainedstationsthere.Thepilothousealsoservedasthestationforthemanonwatchwhenthecraftwasnotunderway.

TheLCTspilothouseshouldnotbeconfusedasanalogouswiththebridgeofalargership.AsaholdoverfromthecraftsBritishorigin,theskippersconningposition,withabinnacleandvoicetubecommunicationstothepilothouse,wasatopthepilothouse,fullyexposedtoweatherandgunfire.Thearrangementwassimilartothatofasubmarinerunningonthesurface;infact,LCTskipperscalledthepilothousetheconningtower,thesametermusedforthesuperstructureofaWorldWarIIsubmarine.

TheonlyrealbelowspaceontheLCTwasthetiny,crampedengineroomthatspannedthewidthoftheshipbeneaththeheadandgalley.Headspaceintheengineroomwasonlyaboutfiveandahalffeet.Thethree225-horsepowerGrayMarinedieselstookupmostofthespacehere.Ateachoutboardendoftheengineroomwasaseparatecompartmentthatheldthediesel-poweredgeneratorsforelectricalpower.Thealreadycrampedspacealsocontainedpumpsthatprovidedsea-waterforenginecoolantandfirefighting,ruddercontrols,electricalswitchboards,andotherengineeringequipment.Likeinthepilothouse,threemenweresupposedtooccupythespace,butinpracticeonlytwomenstayedbelowtosupervisetheoperationofthemachinery.

Thecraftsarmamentconsistedoftwo20mmgunsintubsmadeofquarter-incharmorplateontheforwardendsoftheberthingdeckhouses.The20mmfiredaquarter-poundslug(LCT614carriedonlyhigh-explosiveincendiaryandtracerrounds)attherateofsome470roundsaminuteandwasfedfroma60-rounddrummagazinethatwastwiceaslargeasamanshead.Attachedtotheforwardendofeachguntubwasareadyservicelockerthathelduptotwentyloadedmagazines;adozenadditionalloadedmagazineswerestoredinbracketsinthegalleyandinthehead.Thisplacedalmostfourthousandrounds,abouthalfoftheshipsammoallotment,inreadyaccess.Onlargeships,suchasbattleshipsandcruisers,the20mmhadafour-mancrew.Thegunneraimedandfiredtheweapon,theloaderchangedmagazines,thetrunnionoperatorraisedorloweredthemounttohelpthegunneraimhighorlow,andaphonetalkerrelayedordersfromfirecontrolofficersviasound-poweredphones.OntheLCT,onlytwomenoperatedthemountthegunneraimedandfired,andtheloaderworethesound-poweredphonesandcrankedthetrunnionwheelasnecessary.

Justaftoftheportguntubwasanevenmoreimportantpieceofequipmenttheanchorwinch.Thegasolineenginewashousedinabiglockerimmediatelyaftofthegun,andthedrumwinchsataftofthat.Theanchorcablestretchedacrossthelengthofthegalleyrooftotheanchormountingbuiltontotheafterendofthegalley.Duringcombatlandings,theanchorwouldbedroppedasternahundredyardsbeforetheLCTgroundedatfullspeedinanefforttodrivetheshipashighontothebeachaspossible.Onceashore,theLCTwouldkeeppushingforwardwiththeenginesandmaintaintensionontheanchorcabletopreventthecraftfrombroaching,orturningsidewaysinthesurf.Thevehiclesrollingofftheshipwouldlightenitenoughsothatreelingintheanchorwouldpullthecraftoffthebeach.Inshort,iftheanchorwinchwereinoperable,theLCTsbeachingabilitywouldbegreatlyimpaired.Inroutinelandings,however,theanchorwasrarelyusedunlessweatherconditionsthreatenedthecraftwithbroachingorashallowbeach

gradientrequiredthecrewtoruntheLCTashoreatfullspeed.

TheonlyotherusablespacesontheLCT(besides,ofcourse,thetankdeck)werethetwolockersinthebowstructuressupportingtheramp.Theportlockerheldthegasolineenginethatpoweredthewinchthatraisedthetwelve-foot-widebyeleven-foot-longsteelramp.Loweringitwassimplyamatterofreleasingadogoneachsideoftherampandlettingitsplash.Duringanassaultlanding,thestarboarddogcouldbeloosedwhileheadingtothebeach,butsomeonehadtolieatoptheportlocker(withitsreadyaccesstothewinchroombeneath)andknockthelastdogloosenotapopularassignment.Thestarboardlockerheldmooringropes,wiretowingcable,paint,andalltheotherbasicnauticalnecessities.

TheUSSLCT(6)614,amongthefirstforty-eightLCT(6)sbuiltbyPidgeon-Thomas,slidoutoftheendoftheAuctionStreetassemblyplantinearlyJanuary1944.OnJanuary7,Lt.G.R.Faust,EnsignG.E.Grimshaw,andMachinistsMateL.L.GarretttookthecraftthroughtrialrunsintheMississippiRiveroffMemphis.Thecraftpassedthetrials,and,onJanuary9,thebuilderdeliveredthecrafttothenavy.Still,LCT614wasfarfrombeingacompletednavalvessel.Muchoftheeverydayequipmentnecessaryforrunningthevesseleverythingfromitstwo20mmgunstosparepartsfortheenginestoplates,cups,brooms,swabs,andpaintbrusheswaitedincrateslashedtothedeck.

OnJanuary10,thecraftwasreadytobetakendowntherivertoNewOrleans.Tomakemaximumuseofthefewmenavailable,aferrycrewwouldlashsixLCTstogether,threeabreastandtwodeep,forthetripdownriver,withtheaftmostcentervesselactingasapusherboat.Thearrangementmayhavemadeefficientuseofmanpower,butitgreatlydiminishedthecraftsalreadyminimalmaneuveringcharacteristics;therefore,theferrycrewoperatedthecraftonlyduringtheday.Soevenwiththehelpoftheriverscurrent,theLCTstookalmostaweektogetfromMemphistoNewOrleans.Andthere,likeeverythingelseinthenavy,itwaited.

TheLCTGoestoWarAsLCT614wasbeingdesigned,ordered,built,anddelivered,LCTswerealreadyinaction.ThefirstLCTlosttoenemyactionwastheLCT(5)21,whichwasstilldeckcargoaboardthefreighterSSArthurMiddletonwhenitwastorpedoedandsunkbytheU-73offOran,Algeria,onJanuary1,1943.TheLCTscrewofelevenmenwaskilledintheattack.Itwasaninauspiciousintroductiontocombat.

ApparentlythefirstfullyoperationalLCTunitinawarzonewasthePacifictheatersLCTFlotillaFiveunderthecommandofLt.EdgarM.Jaeger.ThesetwelvecraftLCTs58,60,62,63,156,158,159,181,322,323,367,and369supportedoperationsatthecloseoftheGuadalcanalcampaignandthentheleapfroggingoperationsasU.S.forcesmoveduptheSolomonschainandupthecoastofNewGuinea.ThefirstmentionofLCTsinanamphibiousoperationinTheOfficialChronologyoftheU.S.NavyinWorldWarIIisonFebruary1,1943,whenfiveLCTslandedanarmybattalionbehindJapanesepositionsonCapeEsperance,Guadalcanal.Thelandingsmetnooppositionfromshore,butlaterthatday,aircraftattackedandsanktheescortingdestroyerUSSDeHaven(DD469),whosesurvivorswereassistedbyLCTs63and181.

ElsewhereinthePacific,owingtothelargedistancesinvolvedandtheunfavorablebeachgradients,thenavyusedLCTsprincipallyinsupportofoperationsratherthaninassaults.TheyshowedupforbattlehelplesslychainedtothedecksofLSTsoringloriouslytowedbylargercraftandoftentookhoursorevendaystobecomefullyoperational.ThatdoesnotmeanthatLCTsshoweduponlyafterthemarinessecuredabeachhead.LCTsailorsinthePacificfacedtheirshareofshorebatteryfireandairraids,andseveralcrewssufferedcasualtiesoccasionallyeventhelossoftheentirecraftbeforetheycouldgettheLCTintothewater.

Ontheothersideoftheworld,LCTssawtheirfirstcombatintheEuropeantheaterinJuly1943duringOperationHusky,theinvasionofSicilystagedfromNorthAfrica.OfthethreeAmericanassaultforces,onlyRearAdm.RichardL.ConollysTaskForce(TF)Eighty-six(JossAttackForce)hadLCTsinanynumber.Ofthesixty-sixLCTsattachedtothetaskforce,allbuteightwereassignedtotheinitialassault(oftheothertwoattackforces,TFEighty-fivehadsixcraftandTFEighty-onehadnone;afollow-upreservegrouphadfive).ThesecrafttookontheirloadsinNorthAfricanports,battledthroughaMediterraneangaletogettothetarget,anddeliveredtheirloadsunderfirewithoutasingleloss.

HeretheAmericansexperiencedfirsthandwhattheBritishalreadyknew:asfrustratinglyimpossibleastheLCTwastomaneuver,itfullymadeupforthatshortcomingbyitsabilitytosurvivewitheringenemyfireandtolandasignificantnumberoftroopsandequipment.Inactionreportafteractionreport,U.S.commanderspraisedtheLCTsabilitytolandlargecargoesofeitherassaulttroopsorarmoredvehiclesorbulkcargo.Theshipsturtle-likespeeddrewconstantdismay,butnoneoftheotheramphibiouscraft,fromthestatelyLSTtothehumblelandingcraft,vehicleandpersonnel(LCVP),hadtheversatilityoftheLCT.ThecombatrecordamassedbyLCTsintheirearliestamphibiousassaultsledultimatelytotheplannersoftheNormandyinvasiondemandinglargenumbersoftheseindispensablecraft.

Thatversatilitycanbeseeninthefactthat,althoughthelittleshipsexcelledintheamphibiouswarfareforwhichtheyhadbeenbred,theyearnedthetitleofwarshipthroughtheircombatactionsinothermodesofnavalwarfare.Beforethetwentiethcentury,thetermnavalwarfaremeantprettymuchexclusivelyshipsoftheenemynationssluggingitoutwithoneanotherontheopenseaorprojectingforceontoanenemy-heldshoreinacombinationofsurfacewarfareandamphibiouswarfareintheirclassicalsenses.ByWorldWarII,naviesalsohadtobeadeptataerialwarfare(includingair-to-airandair-to-surfaceactions),antiaircraftwarfare,navalgunfiresupport(usingmajorseagoingwarshipstosupportamphibiousoperationsandforcesashore),antisubmarinewarfare,andsubmarinewarfare.TheLCTshadnoroleinaerialwarfareorsubmarinewarfare(althoughcertainlyatNormandy,andprobablyinotheractions,manyLCTsfulfilledtheirdutiesinasemi-submergedstate),buttheydidparticipateorfindthemselvesforcedintoalltheotherformsofnavalcombat.

GivingLCTstwo20mmgunswasprobablythenavalwarfareequivalentofgivinganarmyofficerorsergeanta.45sidearm;itsprincipalfunctionwasasabadgeofauthorityandonlysecondarilyservedasameansofpersonaldefense.The20mmsmarkedtheLCTsaswarships,buttheirshortrangeandlightprojectileswerenotgoingtodecidethe

tideofanybattle.Nevertheless,theLCTcrewsdecidedthenavyhadgiventhemthegunsforareason,andbyGodtheyweregoingtousethem.

Inboththeaters,LCTsfoundthemselvesoftenthrustintoantiaircraftactions.AirraidsoninvasionbeachesandonmarshalingareasgavetheLCTgunnersplentyofopportunitytopopoffafewdozen20mmrounds.Noaccuratenumbersarepossible,butofficialrecordsfromallareasofLCToperationscreditthelittlecraftwithdowningenemyaircraft.Inmanyinstances,theaircrafthadtargetedalargershipandignoredthesmallerbargesdottingtheareatolearnthatonlyafewroundsfroma20mmcanfatallydamagemostaircraft.Forexample,onApril20,1943,LCT33wascarryingcargoalongtheAlgeriancoastwhenaGermanJunkersJu88madeabombrunonit.Thefirstbombmissed,sotheplanecircledaroundtocorrectitserror.ThistimetheLCTgunnerswerereadyforit.Hitbyseveralrounds,theplanecrashedinflamesonthenearbycoast,providingarareconfirmedkillthatearnedLCT33acommendationfromViceAdm.H.KentHewitt,commanderoftheamphibiousforcesintheEuropeantheater.Later,duringoperationsoffSalerno,LCT33reportedthatintwenty-fiveairraidsbetweenSeptember10andSeptember29,itsgunnersexpendedathousandroundsof20mmammunition.LCT33sexperiencesarelikelynotunique,especiallyforoperationsintheMediterranean,wherethevastmajorityofLCTlossesoccurredbeforetheNormandyinvasion.However,thetruenumberofaircraftkillsbyLCTscanneverbedetermined.ItissuretobelessthanthehundredsthattheLCTcrewsclaimedandmayevenbelessthanthedozensofficiallycreditedbyformalactionreports,buttheindisputablefactisthatLCTsdidshootdowntheirshareofJapanese,German,andItalianaircraft(andquitepossiblyafewBritishandAmericanplanesinthemixaswell).

AnothermodeofnavalwarfarethattheLCTsassumedasanaturalextensionoftheamphibiousoperationswasnavalgunfiresupport.Partofthereasonforthecrafthaving20mmgunswastoprovidesomecoveringfireforthetroopsbeinglanded.However,whilethecraftsbroadbeammadeitashiphandlersnightmare,italsomadethecraftarelativelystablegunplatform.AsIwilldiscussinchapter5,manyLCTswereconvertedspecificallyforshorebombardment.SomeofthelargerBritishMark4craftevengotold4.7-inchgunsoffdamagedorused-updestroyers.ButnavalcommandersinalltheatersquicklylearnedthattanksandevenfieldgunscouldfirewithsomeaccuracyfromthedeckofanLCT.

CertainlybynostretchoftheimaginationdidanynavalofficerenvisiontheLCTasasurfacecombatant,andyetonmorethanoneoccasiontheLCTsfoundthemselvesinaclassicnavalbattleagainstenemyships.TheymostlyhappenedinthePacific,whenLCTstryingtogettroopsbehindJapaneselinesencounteredJapanesebargesattemptingtoreinforceorpulloutthetroopstheAmericansweretryingtoencircle.TheJapaneseDaihatsu-classlandingcraft,roughlythesizeofanAmericanLCMandarmedwith12.7mmmachineguns,werethestandardpreyofthePTboatsintheSolomons,buttheLCTsaccountedforseveralofthemaswell.Ononeoccasion,LCTs146and322foundthemselvesfacedwithseveralofthecraft.Theheavier20mmgunsandsteelhullsoftheLCTsoutmatchedthesmallergunsandwoodenhullsoftheDaihatsus,andwhenthebattlewasover,AmericanofficersestimatedmorethanfiftyJapanesepersonnelhadbeenkilled,withonlytwomenontheLCTswounded.

Andinatleastonechanceencounter,oneLCTgottheopportunitytoengageinantisubmarinewarfare.PulitzerPrizewinningwarcorrespondentIraWolfertwroteaboutoneLCTskipperwhoclaimedtohavesunkaJapanesemidgetsubmarine.InhisLCT,ILoveYou(SaturdayEveningPost,January8,1944),WolfertrecountedEnsignCookyJohnsonslaconicdescriptionoftheaction:CookyclaimedtherewasthisJaptwo-mansublookinghimsquareintheeye.Iloweredmyrampandcharged,Cookysaidoverabottleofbeer,andIbuttedhimtodeath.TheaccounthassincebeenconfirmedintheLCTveteransgroupnewsletterbyJackJohnson,whowasthentheskipperofLCT182andwholaterwentontocommandLCTGroupSixty-seveninFlotillaTwenty-three.

LCTsalsoaccomplishedfeatsofpureseamanship.OneofthemostdramaticwastheepicvoyageofLCT(6)FlotillaThirty-one(Lt.Cmdr.C.V.Dilley),whosethirty-sixLCTssteamedfivethousandmilesundertheirownpowerfromPearlHarbortothePhilippinesin1945.ThevoyagetookthemfromtheHawaiianIslandstoJohnsonAtoll,Majuro,Eniwetok,Guam,Ulithi,Leyte,andfinallyLuzonallatabout5.5knots,andoccasionallyupto6knots,withthewindandseasbehindthem.AfterafewmonthsinthePhilippines,twooftheflotillasgroupswereorderedtoOkinawa,adistanceofonlyfourteenhundredmiles.Butthistimeatyphoonblewin,scatteringthelittlecraftalloverthewesternPacific.Theiraccompanyingdestroyerescortsfinallyroundedthemallup,butmanyendedupsteamingmorethantwenty-threehundredmilestoreachOkinawa.Thatstorydeservesitsownbook.

So,startingin1943,LCTsenteredserviceandbeganquicklybuildingtheirreputationasunmanageablelargecreepingtargetsthatwereneverthelesstough,versatile,andindispensableformodernamphibiouswarfare.AsthemenwhowouldformthecrewofLCT614foundthemselvesbeingassignedtothestrangeworldoftheamphibiousnavy,theymayhavefeltthemselvesrobbedofthechanceofbeingaboardthecarriersandbattleshipsanddestroyersoftherealnavy.Buttheyhadnodoubtthattheywouldbeintherealwar.

3SOLOMONSISLAND

InDecember1943,thesamemonththatPidgeon-ThomasIronCompanygatheredthematerialsthatwouldbecomeLCT614,CarterandsomeofthemenwhowouldbecomehisshipmatesbeganarrivingattheU.S.NavalAmphibiousTrainingBase(ATB)atSolomonsIsland,Maryland.LikeCarterandPequigney,manycamestraightfromserviceschools.Forothermenwhohad,likeCromer,beenberthedintemporaryassignmentssincebootcamp,theorderstoamphibioustrainingcameasakindofdeliveranceintotherealnavyatlast.Fewofthemencameaboardwithpreviousserviceafloat.

ThebasehadbeenestablishedinJuly1942asatemporaryfacilitytotrainacoupleofthousandmenfortheinvasionofNorthAfricainNovember,butastrainingforoneamphibiousoperationbegantowinddown,anotherpendingoperationrequiredthetrainingofanotherbatchofmen.Theincreasingpaceofamphibiousoperationsthroughout1943coupledwiththegeared-upmassproductionoflandingcraftofallsizesconvincedthenavytomaketheSolomonsIslandfacilityapermanentbase.However,itsbeginningsasatemporarycamp,plustheever-growingdemandfortrainedcrews,outstrippedATBSolomonsfacilitiesfortrainingthemuntilthefallof1944.WhenCarterandhisfutureshipmatesarrived(betweenlate1943andearly1944),theproblemsstemmingfromovercrowdingwereacute.Originallyconceivedtotraintwothousandmenforacoupleofmonths,thebaseeventuallyoperatedalmostthreeyearsandtrainedasmanyaseightthousandmenatanyonetime(thatnumberpeakedatmorethantenthousandinthesummerof1944).BythetimethenavydeactivatedthebaseinFebruary1945,ithadgraduatedalmostseventythousandmen.Atthebasesheightofactivity,thetenpiersalongthewesternedgeofthepeninsulawerepackedwithlandingcraftastightascigarsinabox,oneobserversaid.

Lackofrealestatepreventedexpansiontorelievetheovercrowding.ThebaseoccupiedlessthanahundredacresonthetipofapeninsulaatthejunctureofBackandMillCreeks.TheconfluenceoftheriversformedalagoonthatopenedjustinsidethemouthofthePatuxentRiver,providingasafehavenforthelandingcraftbutalsoformingnaturalboundariesthatrestrictedthebasesexpansiontothewest,south,andeast.Theonlydirectionpossibleforexpansionlaytothenorth,butfarmlandsandswampsblockedgrowthinthatdirection.Also,thenavysbureaucraticlockontheconceptthatthebasesusefulnesswasalmostoverdisinclinedthegovernmentfromexpendingtheeffortandmoneythatsuchanexpansionwouldrequire.

ThemostseriousproblemassociatedwithovercrowdingatSolomonswasthesupplyoffreshwater.Eventuallythebasehadadailydemandofalmostamilliongallonsofwater.Engineerssankfourwellsintothesandysoilbeneaththebase,andfortunatelytheareawasfarenoughfromthebrackishwatersoftheChesapeakethatbackflowcontaminationwasnotaproblem.However,theaquifersthatsuppliedthewellswerenotwaterrich,andthewellstooktimetoreplenish.Themenatthebaseoftenfound

themselvesonwaterhoursandlearnedtotakemarineshowers:waterontowetdown,waterofftosoapup,waterontorinseoff.

Theotherproblems,asirritatingandrealastheywere,actuallyservedtopreparethemenfortheirworkonamphibiousvessels.InadequateberthingkepttheQuonsethutsandothertemporarystructuresovercrowded;limitedsuppliestaughtthementopreserve,improvise,substitute,ordowithout;andhavingtoomanymouthstofeedmeantthatthefood,notthenavysbesttobeginwith,gottothemenwithminimalpreparation.Thesecircumstanceswouldbenormallivingconditionsforthecrewsofthesmallerlandingcraftoncetheybeganoperatinginforwardareas.

Theproblemsonthebasewereexacerbatedbythefactthatnothingoffthebaseofferedanyrelief.ThetownofSolomonsitselfwaslittlemorethanafishingvillagewithaprewarpopulationofaroundthreehundredpeople.Thatshotuptomorethantwothousandoncecivilianconstructionworkersstartedmovingintotowntohelpbuildthebaseandadditionalserviceindustriesmovedin.Ofcourse,theincreasedcivilianpopulationovertaxedthetownsamenitiesevenbeforelibertypartiesfromthebaseinvaded.

Norwastheareaservedbypublictransportationthatcouldtakethemenoffthepeninsula.Themenfoundthemselvesintheclassicnavyhell:noliberty,nowheretogoiftheyhadit,andnothingtodooncetheygotthere.Bysomeaccounts,SolomonsIslandhadoneofthehighestabsentwithoutleave(AWOL)ratesofanybaseinthenavy.Itwaseasyforthementogaintheimpressionthatthebasewasstaffedalmostentirelybyprisonersatlarge(PALs)trainingfellowPALs.Themenjoked(Ithink)thateventhebasechaplainwasaPAL.Thebrig,reservedforthoseguiltyofthemostseriousoffenses,hadawaitinglist.

TrainingAshoreBy1943,thetrainingstationhadestablishedaneight-weekcurriculumforLCTsailorsthatincludedeverythingfrombasicseamanshipskills,suchaslinethrowing,mooring,anchoring,andnavigation;basicnavyskills,suchasgunnery,aircraftrecognition,damagecontrol,andsound-poweredphoneprocedures;andthebasiclandingcraftskills,suchasbeaching,loading,andtowing.Thegraduationexercisewassupposedtobeafull-scaleshore-to-shorelanding,completewithloadingvehicles,navigatingtothetargetarea,andunloadingthevehiclesontothebeach.Allofthatwasonpaper;however,theactualexperienceofthemencouldbe,andusuallywas,quitedifferent.

InDecember1943,themenreceivedonlythreeweeksofclassroominstruction.Muchofitwasrefreshertrainingforskillsintroducedinbootcamp;onashipassmallasanLCT,everyoneneededtoknowbasicdeckseamanshipanddamagecontrol.LaterclassesintroducedthementotheworkingsofanLCTandthebasicideasofamphibiouswarfare.Buthavingonlythreeweekstoworkwith,allofthistrainingwassimplyanintroduction.Themenhadnotimetopracticeorpolishtheirskills.

Afterthosethreeweeks,menofvariousratingsandspecialtiesweregroupedtogetherintotrainingcrews.OnJanuary6,1944,thedaybeforeLCT614wentthroughhertrials,ATBSolomonsformedCrewNo.5158,whichwouldeventuallybecomethenucleusof

LCT614screw.Onlargerships,menareformedintodivisionsthatperformvariousfunctionsoftheshipsduties.Gunnersmatesformthegunnerydivision,quartermastersandsignalmenformthenavigationdivision,boilertendersformtheboilerdivision,andsoon.Eachdivisionhasafullrangeofratingsfromchiefpettyofficerstopettyofficerstounratedmen(calledstrikers),allunderthecommandofanensignorlieutenantjuniorgrade(j.g.)asthedivisionofficer.Divisionswithsimilarfunctionsgathertogethertoformdepartmentswithalieutenantorlieutenantcommander(perhapsevenacommanderonbattleshipsandcarriers)asthedepartmenthead.Forexample,thegunnery,antiaircraft,andtorpedodivisionswouldformtheweaponsdepartmentofadestroyer.

Withtwelvetofourteenmenskipperedbyanensignoralieutenantjuniorgrade,anLCTcrewboreasuperficialresemblancetoadivisiononalargership,butthesimilaritiesquicklyvanished.AnLCTcouldaffordonlyonespecialtyratingforeachfunctionthatwouldbeadepartmentonalargervessel.SoCarterwasthesumtotalofCrew5158sgunnerydepartmenteventhough,asseamanfirstclass,hewasnotyetanofficialgunnersmate.Similarly,Pequigneywasthecrewsonequartermaster.OnlyRobertLong,asignalmanthirdclass,wasalreadyapettyofficer.Whatwouldhavebeentheengineeringdepartmentwasmadeupofthreefiremenfirstclass(theengineeringequivalentofseamanfirstclass):WalterStefanowicz,theelectrician(andthereforeknownbytheuniversalnicknameSparky),andRobertClarkandJohnDowling,themotormachinistsmates(motormacs).Oneothercrewmemberwasastewardstriker,orshipscook.WilliamCromer,RichardGudger,andWoodrowJohnsonroundedoutthecrewasunratedseamen(deckapes).

TrainingAfloatOnceformedasacrew,thesemenweretransferredtoLCT(5)FlotillaOnebasedatATBSolomons.TheyspentonlytwoweeksaboardaMark5LCT.Theirinstructorsaccompaniedthemforonlythefirstfewdays,showingthemwheretheequipmentwasandhowtooperateitandsupervisingtheirfirstfewtimesunderway.Laterthemenwereprettymuchontheirown.Thecrafttheywereassignedwasfairlywellwornfromitstrainingdutiesandhavinghadsomanydifferentcrewseverytwoweeksorso.Theengineroomleaked(aperennialproblemwiththeMark5s),andmuchoftheequipmenthadnotbeenproperlymaintained.OnthoseJanuarymornings,themenwouldgodowntothepiersandhavetopumpthevoidsandclearicefromengineintakesandthedecksbeforestartingoffonthedaysassignment.

Atfirst,theirassignmentswereassimpleasclearingthedocks,headingoutintotheriver,andcomingback.Later,thetripswereabitlongerandmorecomplicated.ManeuveringanLCTinthePatuxentRiverandtheupperreachesoftheChesapeakeBaywithnoexperienceinacraftnotoriousforitsbadhandlingmadeforsometensemomentssimilartotakingtheirfirstdrivinglessoninadealerslotfilledwithshinynewcars.Theycrashedintopilings,bumpedintoothercraft,knockedoverthelocalscrabpots,andgenerallymenacedeverythingthatstoodorfloatedwithinthreefeetofthewaterssurface.SometimestheywouldheadoutatnightandsimplyroamaroundatwhatseemedtoPequigneytobethewhimoftheinstructor.Laterassignments,oncetheywereontheirown,offeredmorechallengingnavigationalproblems,suchassailingacrosstheChesapeaketoasiteinvisiblefromthebaseordowntothenavysgunneryrangeoff

BloodsworthIslandtopracticeonthe20mmguns.

Towardtheendoftheirtwoweeks,theyreceivedanassignmenttoleavethebaseintheeveningandsaildowntoLittleCreek,nearNorfolk,Virginia,topracticebeaching.Pequigneylaidoutthecourseonthechart,completewithspeedandtimeofcoursechanges.Thecrewtriedtofollowthecourseascloselyastheycould,butbydaybreakPequigneyrealizedtheyweretotallylost.TheyedgedovertotheEasternShore,andeverybodyscannedwithbinocularsforaroadsignoratownnameonawatertowersotheycouldfigureoutwheretheywere.Fortunately,aboutthattime,theCapeCharlesFerrycamebyonitswaysouth.PequigneyknewitwasheadedtoeitherNorfolkorLittleCreek,sohefollowedituntilhecouldtelltheirlocation.

Eventhoughmanyofthemenfilledspecificbilletsaboardtheship,theydidnothavetheluxuryofconcentratingonthatonetask.Carterwouldhavelikednothingbetterthantoworkonlyonthebigmachinegunsandthevarietyofsmallarmsaboard,butasoneofthemorehighlytrainedindividuals(agraduateofaserviceschool,evenifnotfromhighschool)aboard,hebecamethebackuphelmsmanandradiooperator.Pequigneytaughthimsomerudimentarynavigation,suchashowtotakethebearingsoftwoobjectsashoretofindtheshipsposition.Formorecomplicatedshore-to-shorenavigation,Pequigneyhadashortcut:Usethecharttofigureoutwhatdirectionyourdestinationis,andthensteersouthofit.Onceyoureachshore,headnorthtillyougetthere.SignalmanRobertLongtaughtCarterthebasicworkingsoftheradioandhelpedhimbrushuptheMorsecodeandsemaphorehehadlearnedinBoyScouts.

Workingasateamalsoallowedthementogettoknowoneanother.Allofthesemenwereyoung,andonlyafewofthemhadactuallygraduatedfromhighschool(thatwinterwastohavebeenCartersjunioryear).Stefanowiczstoodalmostsixandahalffeettallandhadasolidbuild.Fortunately,hewasalsoabitofaclown,alwaysjokingaroundandpunchingpeopleontheshoulder.ThemensooncalledhimtheMadRussian.DowlingwasaneasygoingfellowfromtheBuffaloarea,alwayswillingtohelpout.Hismaininterestwasintheshipsbigdieselengines.GudgermountainbredlikeCarterwasanathleticsouthernfarmboywhokiddedPequigneyunmercifullyaboutnotknowinghowtodrive.Hisexperienceonthefarmhadmadehimquitegoodwithhishands,whetherworkingtheshipstackleoranyotherformofsmallmachinery.Cromerlovedtotalkandhadplentyofadventuresabouthischildhoodandadolescencetoserveasfodderforhisstories.Liketheothersouthernboys,hetendedtobeagoodshot,especiallywithpistols.Clarkwasprobablythequietestmanonthecrew,preferringtoworkwithhishands.Allhigh-spiritedyoungmen,theyquicklymeshedintoacooperativecrew.

OfficerTrainingEnsignDonIrwindidnottrainwiththemenwhowouldlaterbecomehiscrew.OfficerstrainingatSolomonsformedtheirowncrew,primarilybecausetheyneededtoknowthefulloperationalrequirementsandcapabilitiesofthecrafttheywouldlatercommandandbecausetheyrequiredsomespecialtraininginconningthecraftandincoordinatinglandings.Theseparatetraininghadtheaddedadvantagethatthecrewdidnotseetheirfutureskipperbeingasbunglingatraineeastheywere.

MuchofIrwinstraininginvolvedsailinganLCT(5)backandforthbetweenSolomons

andLittleCreek.Itinvolvedplottingthecourseonthecharts,gettingthecraftunderwayintheafternoonandsteamingallnightthroughslushyiceandcrabpots.Forawhile,helivedontheLCT.Thetinyheatersdidlittletowarmthecompartments.Onthecontrary,thebaresteelbulkheadsandoverheadsbecamethoroughlychilledonthosewindyJanuarynights,andtherelativelywarmairinsidethecompartmentreadilygaveupitsmoistureoncontactwiththesteel.Thecondensationdrippedallnight,andIrwinoftenwokeuptoacold,damprackwithwaterdeepenoughonthedecktoslosharound.Thetraineessoonlearnedtokeepshoesandallotherarticlesoffthedecks.Duringthosesleeplessnights,hebitterlyrememberedwhyhehadjoinedthenavysoft,drybedsandhotfood.

Conditionsashorewerentmuchbetter.TheQuonsethutsalsosweated,beingheatedbysmallcoal-burningstovesthateveryonewastootiredtostokeatnight.By2:00a.m.,thefireshadlongburnedoutandtheashesturnedcold.Themenshiveredundertheirblanketsuntilfinallysomeone,usuallyasouthernerwhocouldstandthecoldnolonger,wouldgooutintothenightandbringinwetcoal.Ofcourse,withtheashesthemselvescold,thestovesresistedrelighting.Themenusedanyformofpapertheycouldfindaskindlingandevenresortedtousingfuelfromcigarettelighters.

Towardtheendofhistraining,IrwinwasconningtheLCTintothebaseatLittleCreekthroughanarrowchannelbetweenstonejetties.TheentrancetoLittleCreekwasmoreopentotheChesapeakethantheharboratSolomonsIslandhadbeen,andthisdayfeaturedtypicalblusteryChesapeakeweather.Astheunwieldycraftenteredthechannel,theLCTencounteredatugheadingout.TheinstructorsizedupthenavigationalproblemandtheweatherandtooktheconnfromIrwin.JustastheLCTandtugbegantopass,astiffgustofwindcaughttheLCTsbowandpusheditintothetugsside.Thecorneroftheramptoreoutbigchunksofwoodfromthetugsside,butapparentlytheglancingblowdidnotstart(orseparate)anyofthetugswoodenseamstocausealeak.Still,thetugsskipperhadafewchoicewordstorelaytotheLCTcrew.Irwincouldnotsuppressachuckle,butitwasaclearlessonthatnomerehumancouldsafelysteeranLCT.

FormingtheCrewOnJanuary22,1944,themenweretransferredoutofLCTFlotillaOneandsentdowntoCampBradford,anotheramphibioustrainingbasenear