| 1947- - 1953 History LST 1126 Still a ship with no name |
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| 1953 LST 1126 spent another busy year operating in WESPAC. The ship made tours to Hawaii, Marshall Islands, Enewetoc atoll and Parry Island in support of the Atom Bomb testings. I was fortunate (kinda) to arrive around the latter part of 1953, just in time to spend a couple of months on the ship while it was in the yards in Oakland. When I arrived, shortly thereafter, It did proceed to the ammo dump to unload the ammo before going into the shipyard, and that's what I mean "kinda" fortunate. Having to off load all the ammo, and then reload it later after the shipyard repairs, was quite a job for the "non-rated" personnel. This was my first experience of realizing how much it really meant to have one of those crows on your sleeve. I finally got one (a couple of times) but really missed it in those times in between. Ironically, the ship's crew changed a great deal right after this period and I really never got to speak with anyone about the trips to Alaska or to the Marshall Islands during the "A" Bomb testing. Al Askew said it was not unusual to not hear much because they were sworn to secrecy during the time and for a while afterwards. Of course he said his wife sent him clippings of the actions going on down there in the Marshall Islands when he was there..............secrecy is where you find it I guess!! A shipmate (Jack MIller) who made these Marshall Island tours of duty on the LST 1126 is compiling a story on these days and will be presenting them to me for publishing on the website. The "Secret Classifcation" documentaion of these events has been lifted. I'm sure the article will present some interesting reading and revelations heretofore kept secret. |
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| WAS THAT A WELCOME ABOARD ??
I had just finished Boot Camp, Electricians School and Movie Operators school at the Naval Training Center in San Diego. I was flown up to Treasure Island to meet with my new home, the LST 1126 that was coming into port for some major renovations in an Oakland shipyard. Prior months had been spent (of course) saluting anything that moved, including Chief Petty Officers or others with more than one stripe on their arm. After spending about a week, I left Treasure Island on a bus to the gate of the shipyard, then was told where the ship was docked. I carried that heavy seabag laden with my previous schools books for what seemed like miles in the direction told. Finally I sighted what appeared to be my ship, but not knowing the configuration too well I just had to press on until I saw the number. Before I saw the number I thought “ No, this can’t be my ship, it looks like it’s too small to be ocean-going”. However, I finally got within range and could read the number …. I was home. I boarded the ship via the gangplank they had set up, still carrying my seabag on my shoulder. I got to the top of the gangplank, saluted the flag, then turned and saluted the first class boson mate who was standing nearby. He looked at me as though I was some alien and just nodded me to come on board. He noted my electrician’s insignia, and led me over to a hatch on the port side just past the entry to officers quarters. He said dump your seabag there and I complied. We proceeded to the bunk area via the ladders and passageways. When I came upon my seabag it was split from the drop and the books loaded at the end. He told me to pick a bunk and locker that was still available and set it up. Now I knew I was home, I was being given orders again like in boot camp. I spent the next 40 months sleeping in the same bunk and using the same locker, traveling across the Pacific Ocean and back twice. I also got to know the boson mate well because he remained on board until just after I got off the ship. He never did return my salute though. !!! (C.C. Benton) |
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| My very first job as an Ship's Electrician. (ccb) |
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| PHOTOS Mid 50's |
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| PHOTOS Christmas in Japan 1958 |
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| PHOTOS Early 50's |
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| Here's the LST 1126 retrieving a pontoon in the Early Years. The Stern anchor winch as well as the forward winch could be utilized to get it back into the frames welded on the ship's sides and winched up .. After being brought up alongside, they were lashed to the ship with chains to the deck cleats. During my tour on the ship (53-57) we never that I recall had the pontoons on board. (ccb) |
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| 1947 LST-1126 operated out of her home port of San Diego, California. During the summer of 1947, LCDR I. D. EASLEY relieved LT. MAY as Commanding Officer. In speaking with some shipmates who served on the 1126 during this time, they indicated most of the year consisted of trips to San Clemente Island on the usual training missions. Sometimes with Marines from the base close by in San Diego. |
| 1948 During this year LST-1126 spent two months in the yards and then rode her second tour to the Western Pacific. Shipmates say this trip was very similar to others in that they visted Japan, Okinawa, and delivered various items. |
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| 1949 LCDR EASLEY was in command when the ship went on the Point Barrow Alaskan Re-Supply Expedition during the summer of 1949. This was the first of several trips that LST-1126 made of the Dew Line Re-Supply Expeditions. During these Alaskan tours I was told they flushed out many sea ballast tanks and filled them with fuels for delivery to the Point Barrow area. Upon having the fuel delivered to the storage area, the ship returned to a AO which had made the trip with them and transport fuel from the AO to the storage tanks at Point Barrow. The shifts of the crew was six hours on and six hours off during this operation to get the fuels, oils and equipment unloaded. |
| 1950 LST-1126 operated around San Diego and (I believe) was suppose to make the Alaskan run again. However, from what I've been told by a shipmate, the ship was unable to go because of problems with the main engine reduction gears. It was suspected that someone not wanting to go on the tour to Alaska purposely damaged the gears with some objects being placed in them. |
| The Alaskan Dew Line Re-Supply run was made several times by the LST 1126. One year during one of these Alaskan runs, they had a bit of trouble with icing. There was an Icebreaker with them and it took care of the situation. Also after one of these Alaskan Runs (1952) the ship was required to go into a shipyard in Bremerton for repairs received during a beaching. The area where many LST's beached on these runs was being used by another group, so the ship beached at an another location. Unfortunately damages were sustained in the hull below the boiler room. The section was flooded and there was no heat, for anything including the showers, and kitchen. Lots of cold cut meals were served for sure. This was related to me by John Hudson, GM (48-53) who made all of the trips. Also Al Askew who made this tour has given an account of his memnories of the trip to Point Barrow Alaska in 1952. (See his story on the pages 1951-1953) |
| Well, there goes the neighborhood ...... Benton, EMFA arrived, straight from Boot Camp, Electricians and Movie Operators Schools and after a short stay on TI (Treasure Island) doing the mess hall duty and playing pool in the off hours waiting on the ship to return from Island hopping. |
| 1951 On 10 February 1951 LCDR EASLEY was relieved by LT. J. H. MEHUS, USN, who retained command of the ship throughout the Korean conflict. During 1951 the ship operated mainly in the Southern California area and made another trip to Alaska on a Resuppy Mission.. LST- 1126 also spent two months in the yards during 1951. |
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| Here's some of the ship's crew onboard during 1948 - 1949 During a visit to Hawaii. Are there any more beautiful waters in the world than those surrounding Hawaii? Also, the landscapes of these years and shortly thereafter were pristine and beautiful. |
| Billy Strength Dave Bellmard (photo furnished by Dave Bellmard) Walking the streets of Hawaii and the surrounding areas it was not unusual to have a rain squall run right over you and pass on out to sea. No one seemed to care or run for cover. |
| Stream - Shyler - (?) - Bellmard Getting beautiful view and enjoying a cool one in Hawaii (photo furnish by Dave Bellmard) |
| (?) - Dave Bellmard - (?) - Gene Stream The natives of the islands were friendly too. (photo furnished by Dave Bellmard) |
| Dave Bellmard - Magallan Somewhere aboard ship in the Pacific (photo furnished by Dave Bellmard) |
| The name of this shipmate is unknown right now, but you can tell he had his sea legs prefectly trained. Notice the front of his feet off the deck. No doubt the ship was in a few large swells, but he was keeping himself perfectly upright. |
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| Billy Gene Strength - Dave Bellmard A certain amount of "Sky Larking" going on. No doubt that right after this photo was snapped an elbow caught Strength. (photo furnished by Dave Bellmard) |
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| Stream - Shyler Tours of the islands took you to some strange but interesting places (photo furnished by Dave Bellmard) |
| They pay wasn't all that good, but they gave you a certificate for going over the Artic Circle. |
| 1952 LST-1126 operated in and out of San Diego and made another re-supply run to Alaska. This was a very busy year for the ship having to go to Point Barrow Alaska and also to the Marshall Islands, Guam and Hawaii. |
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The photo on the left really puts the punctuation marks on the phrase; "You gotta be there to understand" Hers's the sun, moon and endless nights at the North Pole |
| Following orders sometimes it can get you into some very difficult situations |
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| Dave and Joanne Bellmard (now) LST 1126 Reunion LST Week September 2006 Evansville, Indiana |
| Captain, you can throw away your vehicle keys. |
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| Keep your cool onboard ship !! |
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| Purple Heart Awards being presented to Korean War Veterans - 1950 |
| Inchon Invasion casualty of Korean War being buried at sea - 1950 |
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| For the first time in history, the Navy was drafting and recalling reservist - 1950 |
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| The LST 1126 was scheduled to go to Korea at the beginning of the Korean War, but another LST had problems and the ship replaced it as a supply ship in the Pacific during the nuclear testing, and later to Alaska |