| ALASKA BAREX 51 Here's some photos and experiences of the Dew Line Resupply Run made by the LST 1126 in 1951 and 1952. This is furnished by Dick Jackson, who served on the LST 1126 during this Alaska Resupply run and another in 1952. Thanks Dick for supplying these items and for your service during this time. |
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| Here's a early photo of the USS LST 1126 Still a ship without a name You can see that the main deck has been modified to remove the Tank Deck vents which were originally installed when built. Also there are additional 20mm gun tubs which were later removed during the yard period of 1953. Run your mouse over the ship photo to see a later photo with the gun mounts removed (Photo furnished by Al Askew YN (1951-1953) |
| 1951 (or thereabouts) to 1953 USS LST 1126 Still a ship without a name. A very busy ship and crew going from the frozen waters around Point Barrow, Alaska to the smeltering heat of the Marshall islands in the Pacific. |
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| SUMMERTIME in Alaska and the Pacific Islands Can you guess which photo is where?? Al Askew with the natives in Alaska and again on the right with his shipmates Folger (L) and McCuen (M) (Photos furnishd by Al Askew) |
| LST 1126 Ship's crew in Hawaii .... about 1952 Looking over the photo I see some familiar faces, but have not placed a name with them as yet. (Photo furnish by Al Askew, YN 51-53) |
| The LST 1126 was busy during the Korean War, but it was not until 1954 that the ship made port in Inchon, Korea delivering equipment, and supplies. I recall a huge amount of mail delivered during this trip. (ccb) (Korean Veterans Memorial - Washington, DC) |
| Inspection at COMTRACPAC at FleetSonar School where Al Askew served as Yeoman in the COMTRAPAC headquarters. That's him in the forefront with his 1st class stripes and hashmark. He looks exceptionally sharp and no doubt squared away for the Chief of Staff. (The photo of him below presents another view) (photo furnished by Al Askew, YN 51-53) |
| Al Askew YN (51-53) Gee, what a few stripes and years can add to a sailor's dress code and attitude. Not quite as squared away as above, Huh?? (photo furnished by Al Askew) |
| Here's D.R. Wilkinson conducting Sunday services on the way to Point Barrow, Alaska in the Summer of 1952 When you wake with the cotton mouth and head hurt, you search everywhere for a cure. (photo furnished by Al Askew) |
| Watching Movies at the "Coral Bowl" theater on Parry Island of the Marshall Islands sure beats the ships main or tank deck in any weather I would think. I know from experience it would be much better for the "Movie Operator". (photo furnished by Al Askew) |
| Clint "Pete" Peterson - John Jobes Cool ones (in each's hand) Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Honolulu (photo furnished by Al Askew) |
| Below is a copy of an e-mail sent to me by Al Askew which gives an overview of the year 1952 and the many ports visited during this time. He's offered to give more detail later of individual events and places visited. This clears up the facts on one of the years the ship went to Point Barrow, Alaska which I had originally been told was made in 1953. The error in the years is easy to explain with the passing of time. However, Al has clear memory of this as his twenty first birthday was spent there. |
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| During the year of 1952 the ship made it's way not only to Alaska, but shortly thereafter in December 1952, the Marshall Islands delivering equipment and supplies through out most of the year 1953 in support of the proposed secret Nuclear Bomb Testing Code Named Castle Operations. |
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| A familar question from new young shipmates as they came aboard and started asking questions was "How long you been on board?" That's about the only question I got answered when I came aboard in 1953 (ccb) |
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| Here the USS LST 1126 sits stuck on a sand bar in Bremerton, Washingtom near the end of 1952. The ship had just had left from a shipyard drydock after having repairs made for damages sustained on a trip to Point Barrow, Alaska during a Dew Line Re-supply run. Seems there were two varing opinions on the Conn as to which direction to go during the shakedown cruise after the repairs in Bremerton ..... apparently one was quite wrong!!Fortunately no further damages were sustained this time. (Photo furnished by R. Buchanan) |
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| Going Nowhere |
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| Here's the LST 1126 pulling alongside of the LST 1138 in preparation for a high line transfer. This was apprently in the summer of 1953 prior to Nuclear tests in the Marshall Islands. Neither ship had been named yet and you can see only ship numbers. Names were given in 1955 to both. USS Stuben County LST 1138 and USS Snohomish County LST 1126 The LST 1126 went into the yards in Oakland right after this Marshall Island tour of duty where it had gun mounts removed and much needed work accomplished (Photo furnished by LST 1138 Website http://www.LST1138.com ) |
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| While the LST 1126 (my future home) was in Alaska and Marshall Islands during 1953, I was in Boot Camp and Electricians Mate school at San Diego Naval Training Center. Education for a lifetime!! |
| Flowers from NC - Benton from SC This guy ran me down in Myrtle Beach, 4 years later after he recognized me driving by in my company work truck |
| Benton 1953 Laundry Day - Boot Camp |
| Either marching, cleaning or sleeping |
| Getting a case of the dropsies was not unusual. When you came up with anything to drop down on, you dropped |
| C.C Benton (1953) Even with "Cinderella Liberty", being in Electricians school was a great change of pace from Boot Camp!! Note that EM insignia and red stripes |
| C. C. Benton - Boot Camp 1953 Smoke break while doing laundry. |
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| Benton 1953 This would be like jumping out of the frying pan into the fire trying to escape, but there was no escaping the Navy after you said "I Do". You couldn't jump ship when on the high seas either. (Safely anyway) |
| A comment about the Secrecy of the 1953 WESPAC tour to the Marshall Islands. After the ship returned, I came aboard. When I asked about where they had been, I get a very cold shoulder from the shipmates. Buddy Benton 53-57 |
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| Here's one sailor's story (Jack Miller in above photo) of the Marshall Island Tour of duty in 1952 - 1953 when the United States was preparing for the Nuclear Bomb tests code named "Castle Operations". His story is compiled from the offical LST 1126 logs and his personal experiences, and gives a very good description and overview of a WESPAC tour. The LST 1126 made nearly 20 Wespac and Midpac cruises during it's 25 year career. Read the day to day happening of this Marshall Island tour |
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| Photo furnished by Jack Miller |
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| Where were you and your ship when this bomb was detonated on Bikini Atoll ?? Did you go to there after it had been tested ?? Would you care to go there now ?? Check those the ships going up in the blast. One may be your old LST. If you went there after 1945 you should tell your doctor you may have been around radiation. (Photo furnished by Dick Jackson) |
| Jack Miller arrives just in time for the trip to the Marshall Islands. The crew had been adjusted with many of the short timers being transferred. The tour was considered as a "hardship tour" because of the nature of the ship's duty and the length of time it would be gone from the States. |
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| Here's a photo of a Nuclear Bomb test made during 1954 after the LST 1126 came back from delivering troops, equipment, machinery, food, water, fuel and other support items for the "Castle Operations" |
| Benton at rest during boot camp clothes washing time. |
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| This Twin 40 which all LST's had was not removed from the LST 1126 in 1953. This one is from the LST 1148 |
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| Right after WWII when the Korean Conflict came about, (finally called a War) many were re-called to the Navy and other Armed Forces. They were not all happy campers that's for sure. I went through Boot Camp with a draftee and his attitude was nothing like those who joined. The same was for those called back and who had married and set up house or were going to Tech schools or college. |
| These new photos of some highline transfers with the LST 836 and LST 1101 were furnished by George "Buster" Eagan, GM2/C on the ship during the "Early 50's. Thanks Buster, CCB |
| LST 836 alongside for highline |
| LST 1101 alonngside for highline |
| I don't recall the ship having a crane when I was onboard in 1953-1957 ... but maybe it did because some photos show one. |
| Okinawa 1945. We were involved in a re-enactment on the 10th anniversary in 1955 |
| Sending over an empty to the LST 1101 via highline |
| Trusting your shipmates and those of the other ship was neccessary. |
| LST 1101 coming alongside for a highline transfer |
| Maybe it’s in the basement, let me go up stairs and check.
Maurits Cornelis Escher |
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| Outside of these hedges (hiding a chain link fence) is housing around San Diego Naval Training Center in 1953. |
| Out in the distance is Treasure Island where I was for a couple of weeks awaiting my ship to come in. the LST 1126 was my home for the next forty months. |
| First things first.. here's a portion of the ammo we had to remove before going into the yards, and then reload upon completion of the yard work. The yards were in Oakland, and the ammo was stored at Port Chicago accross the bay and around the bend. |