| PHOTOS |
| A photo of this emblem was sent to me by someone a long time ago, and I cannot remember who it was. I'm not sure this was ever adopted as the Ship's Emblem, but it sure paints a picture of the ship as a "Buckin' Workhorse" and that describes it pretty good. |
| This war weary LST 697 returned home from the Pacific Theater and shortly thereafter was decommissioned. Many LST's remained to transport refugees from China and Formosa back to their homeland and prosoners back and forth. (From the Home Port Photo album) |
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| "1945 World War II Service" The LST 1126 (not yet named) entered the Pacific Theater in April 1945. After transiting the Panama Canal the ship proceeded to San Diego which became it's first Home Port. From San Diego it proceeded to Seattle, Washington where it loaded an Army company of black troops. It was then fitted with two pontoons on the sides, and a LCT on the main deck. The ship loaded trucks, jeeps, various equipment and supplies bound for several islands in the Pacific. Departing from Seattle in May it proceeded on it's first Wespac tour. Arriving in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii it offloaded troops and materials. Upon completion of the offloading, the ship was ordered to move to another site to await further orders. During this move the ship ran aground and unfortunately got the screws tangled in the stern anchor cable while trying to work its way out of the muck. Likely the many ships sunk during the Japanese Invasion of Pearl Harbor were part of the cause of this accident. The ship had to be towed to its designated site. A change of command was made during the stay in Hawaii. The Island Hopping was delayed until June 23, 1945 after the ship repairs were completed in Hawaii. The ship then proceeded to the Marshall Islands, Eniwetoc, Guam, Saipan, Philipines, Okinawa, Tsingtao China, Philipine Islands (Manila, Leyete, Samar) and Korea serving in the China Occupation. There was an extended stay in Tsing Tao China when the ship received bottom damages on rocks while beaching. The ship was hung on the rocks until the tides rose enough to allow a large tugboat to dislodge it from the rocks which were penetrating the boiler room. After repairs were made in a dry dock, which took about 60 days, and completing its tasks with the China Occupation of ferrying civilians and equipment to various ports, the ship returned via Hawaii, to it's Home Port of San Diego, California in early 1946. |
| 1946-1947 Stateside Duty |
| On the return voyage to her Home Port of San Diego, during a routine trip from Long Beach to San Diego., LST-1126 had the misfortune of colliding, with the USS Charles A. McCue during a heavy fog. The damage was slight and the ship continued on its mission. Never a dull mission in the "Early Years" it seems. Later, the year 1946 found the LST 1126 operating out of it's home port of San Diego on various training missions. The ship had been selected to be a part of an Alaskan Supply Run during the summer of 1946. However, due to damages to the main engine reduction gears the ship was placed in the Naval shipyard in Sand Diego two months for the needed repairs. These damages were believed to have been purposely made by someone on the ship. No names were ever specifically given as to the culprit, but a number of shipmates were quickly transferred from the LST 1126. During the year 1947 the ship was directed to Longbeach, California and moored alongside the USS Iowa. Mooring beside the Aircraft Carrier Iowa was a special experience in itself. However, from this location, shipmates were able to view the maiden and only flight of Howard Hughes' famous "Spruce Goose" aircraft on Sunday, November 2, 1947. One shipmate, John Bradley, EM2 (1946-1948) was aboard during this event and informed me of the LST 1126 being there at that time. Talk about being in the right place at the right time!! (I'm always looking for additional comments, historical information, and experiences from shipmates of the ship of all eras that I can post here on the website.) |
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| Being at the right place at the right time allowed shipmates of the LST 1126 to view this historic flight of the Spruce Goose (Photos Goleta Air and Space Museum) |
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| Ship's crew photo around 1946-1948 (Furnish by: John Bradley EM2 who served during those years) (He's 4th from the left in the back row) (Is that a halo over his head?) Know any of these shipmates names? I can add the names if given by row starting from the left. Note: This photo was taken on the main deck of the LST 1126 and it shows it had vents built into the main deck. These were later removed and vent hoods installed. These deck vents were not like that in 1953 when I came on board. (CCB) |
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| The Coast Guard was a very important part of the Amphibious Forces during WWII and manned a number of LST's and Patrol Boats. Of course they continue today in their jobs of support and protection. |
| All brothers couldn't serve aboard ship. My Uncle Horry, on the right in this photo, served on a converted LST, ARL-17 Numitor. The website for the Numitor is http://www.ussnumitor.com My dad on the left in this photo worked in Shop 51, the Electric Shop of the Norfolk Navy Ship Yard where many LST's were built and serviced. My Mom also worked in the Norfolk Navy Yard as a Machinist fabricating bolts and nuts of all sizes. I have a piece of her handy work, a stainless steel vase, made while in training. |
| Small craft and other stuff |
| In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved, were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. by John McCrae |
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| . The Korean War had brought back a lot of WWII sailors who thought they were finished with the Navy. It also brought in the first ever draftees into the Navy. Before, the Navy was all vollunteers.When I joined the Navy, I went to Boot Camp along with those who had been drafted into the Navy. To be sure, they seem to have a different attitude than those who had volunteered. I recall one recruit who was quick to tell the CPO that he did not join, he was drafted. He got a Section 8 a few weeks into Boot Camp. I served with many old salts who said the Navy wan't like it use to be because of the draft. They even said the Navy was going to the Dogs. WELL LOOKIE HERE .... they may be right !!! Check out these photos !!! |
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| In the aftermath and even during WWII, LST's were converted to many kinds of "auxilliary" ships. This photo is of a LST converted to a Salvage Ship. You can see the many booms and other equipment onboard which was used to lift the sunken ships, boats and equipment onto barges which were nearby or moored alongside. In speaking with a shipmate in my Carolinas State LST Chapter, I learned they had Navy Seals onboard who would go down and cut the metal to sizes they could lift onto the barges. Just another utility use of a LST designed ship. |
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| After being launched, then fitted with all the needed appendages, the ship navigated the rivers down to New Orleans where it was commissioned. Ed Dahlin (Read his Historical Naval Adventures ) described the trip down those rivers, and some of the things he saw. There were plenty of farm land and cattle to see, and many people along the way waving to the crew. The ship stopped along the way at night. The rivers were too narrow in places and not well enough marked to travel at night. The mast was not raised upright until they arrived in New Orleans so that the ship could pass under the low bridges along the way. After receiving additional crewmen, a bit of training, degaussing and testing, the ship then transited the Panama Canal to it's new Home Port of San Diego, California |
| Harold Haney with man's best friend. As it turned out the dog was friendly, but not very faithful, as it ran away two days after Haney bought it in China 1945. (Butterfly Dog ???) (photo furnished by Harold Haney) |
| Harold Haney (right) Komeroski (left) (photo furnished by Harold Haney) |
| Harold Haney worked in the Laundry Room for the length of time he was aboard ship. He describes his duty station as a "Department of One" and it sounds a bit like the new "Army of One" you see advertised these days on TV |
| USS LST 1126 - 1945 - The Beginning "The Early Years" |
| Where were you when the "A" Bombs were dropped? Where were you when they signed the Peace Treaty? If your memory is a bit faded and you're not sure, here's a list of ships that were in Tokyo Bay during the signing... Here's what a Sailor thought of his Naval career And what the Pilot of the Aircraft that dropped the Atom Bomb had to say years later. |
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Sometimes you can get a little bit too IN-volved with your job |
| (phorto furnish by Mike McGuinn, Plankowner) |
| This large washing machine was unique in that it tumbled clockwise for a determined time, then tumbled counter-clockwise for a determined amount of time throughout the cycle. This DC operated machine had some pretty intricate controls to make this operation. I recall being sumoned to the laundry room to work on it. When I arrived, the head electrician was there with this glazed look in his eyes. He had just come off of another ship which was AC powered, and was understandably at a disadvantage trying to work on this type of equipment. I had been on the ship for a while, and actually enjoyed working on the controller, so I quickly got it back into operation with some minor tinkering. |
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| (photo furnished by Mike McGuinn, Plankowner) |
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| Sister ship in formation (photo furnishd by Mike McGuinn) |
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| LST 912 on the rocks in Taiwan, China Mike McGuinn told of the LST 1126 making a landing in Tsing Tao in 1945 and tearing a hole in the bottom of the ship. The ship remained in Tsing Tao for nearly 60 days for repairs. |
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| USS LST 1126 being launched February 1945 in Seneca, Illinois (Photo furnished by Harold Haney, Plankowner LST 1126) |
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A LCT (right) was a popular item carried by LST's from the states to the Far East Islands during WWII. The LCT carried on the LST 1126 was dropped off in China |
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| Mike McGuinn LST 1126 Plankowner Tsingtao, China 1945 (Multi-LST Beaching) |
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| Here's that sailor (left) now in 2006 Brigadier General Michael McGuinn Commander Georgia State Defense Force Still serving ...... |
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| Left - JOHN BUZBEE CCS Middle - STANLEY TOMICK CMOMM Right - WINTER BLACKBURN CRM Small (?) Beer party on Guam 1945. (photo furnished by Mike McGuinn) |
| DANIEL DUGAN S1C GEORGE LEMON F1C Somewhere on the South Pacific 1945 (photo furnished by Mike McGuinn) |
| PETER RAKOWSKY CRM STANLEY TOMICK CMOMM JOHN BUZBEE CCS Still at the "Small" Beer party in Guam 1945 with a few empties in the foreground. Just photo props for sure!! (photo furnished by Mike McGuinn) |
Engine room LST 1126 in 1945 managing the heat and speed. (photo furnished by Mike McGuinn) |
| (L-R) JAMES TIBBS EM3C CHARLES RAMSOWER MOMM2C CARL PETERS MOMM3C IRA ROSENBLUM EM2C CHESTER HOLMES Y2C KENNETH ANDERSON F1C (front) All wearing life preservers with nitrogen charge cylinders that are likely used up by cooling canned beers. (1945) |
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| EVERETT WILD MOMM1C Crewman of theLST Group Ninety Eight which was picked up in Hawaii and traveled with the ship throught the Pacific. The 1126 was the flagship of the group and carried additional crews of those assigned to the LST Group. McGuin said they rarely traveld together as a group, but ended up at several port together. (photo furnished by McGuinn) |
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| C'mere sailor, I've got an offer you can't refuse and it will get you out of the service faster. |
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| Christmas 1945 - The ship's first Christmas was spent in Tsingtao China. It didn't matter where the ship was, China, Japan, Philipines, or in the states, Christmas, New years and Thanksgiving Dinners were special with all the trimmings ... almost just like Mom's would have been. |
| Once in the Pacific in 1945 the LST 1126 made many ports in it's "Island Hopping" tour of duty. Many Islands more than once. It was not until the ship reached Taku Bar, China that the LCT was dropped off |
| Menus Furnish by Mike McGuinn (1945-1946) Run your mouse over the menu for more. |
| Liberty Ships ????? |
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| The Atom bomb brought the Japanese to the peace table and saved a lot of lives when it was used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. Of course, after the Japanese surendered, the United States continued their nuclear testing. In 1946 they had a series of tests code named Operation Crossroads testing bombs on July 1, 1946 and July 25, 1946. Later the Hydrogen bomb, code named Bravo,was tested March 1, 1954. The LST 1126 spent the winter, the long hot summer and then some in 1953 making trips (40) to, from, and around the Marshall Islands, delivering equipment, troops and machinery where the tests code named Castle, were to be held. Jack Miller discribes this tour of duty in the 1952-54 section of the website, |
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| Women in the workforce during WWII Without a doubt without the women in the workforce during WWII the equipment needed to win the war would have come a lot later and the war would have lasted much longer. Women took up welding, machining, riveting, and other jobs vital to getting ships built, repaired, converted and to the war zones where needed. Women even flew newly completed aircraft from the factories to the bases where they were armed and put into action. Besides being mothers, sisters, grandparents, WACS and WAVES, they joined the workforce of factories, shipyards and many other businesses to help in the war effort. A young Megan Sack a 16 year old from Mendota interviewed women and researched the topic of Women Welder's of the Seneca Prairie Shipyard as an Illinois History Fair Project. Using the research she collected, she wrote a play and created a museum type exhibit which won 1st at state competition in Springfield IL (20,000 students participate in History Fair in IL) Megan's exhibit was selected to represent the state in the Washington D.C. area National History Day competition held June, 2006 at the University of Maryland. Megan's Rosie the Riveter: Women in the Work Force during WWII exhibit was judged in the top 20 in the Nation (700,000 students compete in history fair nation wide) The LST 1126 was built in Seneca using Women in the Workforce and served 25 continuous years for the US Navy. |
| Read her Bio |
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| Read of her sources |
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| Here's the LST 1126 coming home in 1946. She just passed under the Golden Gate bridge seen in the left background. I'm sure everyone who was able to be above decks was there anxiously, but with a sigh of relief waiting to dock. This photo furnished by WWII veteran Mike Miller with the help of his son in law Mike Snow. |
| Mike Miller 1945-1946 |
| Another photo of the LST 1126 coming into San Francisco in 1946 No one sleeping on the conn for sure. Photo furnished by WWII veteran Mike Miller 1945-1946 |
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| Do you think they may be looking for a "Ship Wash"? Not that it needs cleaning!!! Photo furnished by Mike Miller 1945-1946 |