Warship finally arrives in Q-C

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By Doug Schorpp | Thursday, August 28, 2008 7:29 PM CDT | () comments

The LST Memorial Ship passes under the Centennial Bridge Aug., 28, 2008. (Kevin E. Schmidt/QUAD-CITY TIMES) Buy this Photo

VIDEO: USS LST 325 Ship Memorial
The USS LST 325 Ship Memorial sails into the Quad-Cities. …
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After a delay in its journey up the Mississippi River, the USS LST 325 Ship Memorial will be open for public viewing at 9 a.m. Friday in Moline.

The Landing Ship Tank, or LST, is a World War II-era amphibious vessel designed to land battle-ready tanks, troops and supplies directly onto enemy shores. Several Quad-Citians were involved in recovery and restoration of the ship, one of the only LST, or Landing Ship Tank, vessels still operating in the country.

The vessel was scheduled to arrive in Moline on Wednesday and be ready for tours Thursday. However, low water caused it to dock Tuesday night in Burlington, Iowa, until the river channel near Oquawka, Ill., could be dredged. With that work completed, the LST 325 was able to complete its voyage and dock Thursday afternoon near the Celebration Belle along Ben Butterworth Parkway in Moline.

The vessel, commissioned in 1942, was known as LST 325 during World War II, and USNS LST 325 during its Arctic operations in the 1950s. Later, the ship was called L-144 (A/G Syros) after the U.S. Navy discontinued its service, and the ship was transferred to the Greek navy.

The ship was launched for the first time Oct. 27, 1942, from Philadelphia, participating in the invasions at Sicily and Italy. On June 6, 1944, it became part of the largest armada in history by participating in the D-Day invasion at Omaha Beach.

LST 325 was decommissioned in 1946 and sent to Greece in 1964. The ship was acquired in 2000 for restoration by volunteers involved with USS LST Ship Memorial Inc., made up of retired military members.

Capt. Robert Jornlin said his crew planned to set up and be ready to open to the public this morning. The Moline visit will continue through Tuesday.

“We will go to Clinton as planned on Wednesday,” Jornlin said. Tours there will be Thursday through Sept. 8 at the riverfront landing where the former riverboat casino was docked.

The ship will travel past the Quad-Cities again on its way to Fort Madison, Iowa, where it will be open for tours Sept. 10-14. The LST is scheduled to return Sept. 18 to its homeport in Evansville, Ind.

Cost for tours of the USS LST 325 is $10 per adult and $5 per child under 17 years old, free for children under 6 years; $20 for a family ticket. All proceeds will be used for further ship restoration and maintenance. It is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily to the public near the Celebration Belle riverboat along the Ben Butterworth Parkway.

Doug Schorpp can be contacted at (563) 383-2292 or dschorpp@qctimes.com.