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[Vaughn]

Isn't there any more WW ll old men posting on this BB? If so report in!
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I decided to find another tall sea tale and ended up with this one dated September 1997 # 22 from the LCI Nationa Newsletter about the Korean era recollection. This ship was designated as an LSI (Landing Support Infantry instead of an LCI.
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Memories of the U.S.S. LSI (L)-1091
By Glenn M. Moberll, I first reported aboard the 1091 about July 1954, after serving two tours of duty on the U.S.S. Chara AKA-58, a cargo ship that supplied ammunition to the fleet in the Korean War. The LCIL-109l was tied to a buoy in the inner harbor in Sasebo, Japan. When I came aboard the Captain, a
Lt(jg). out of Annapolis was on the Quarter Deck he welcomed me aboard and even shook my hand, I thought this strange being only an electrician second class, and not
used to officers shaking my hand. Later I found out why There was only a young electrician striker aboard, the electrician mate was sent home for discharge a few weeks earlier, and there were serious electrical
problems throughout the vessel. There were three officers and thirteen enlisted men aboard. All the people on board were easy to get along with. The young electrical striker, a Mexican kid named Pedro Gonzales was a good worker and we got most all the equipment running properly in a few weeks.
The Engineering section was mostly made up of Engine men. The first Class Engine man was a MoMM llc named Winningham, born in Kentucky, a career Navy man, he and his wife
lived in San Diego, California. Another third class engine-man from Ohio, named Jack Arnold. The cook on the ship a 1ST class named Canalas, also a career enlisted man, he got deathly sea sick every time we went
to sea. Just before I went aboard, the ship
it was used as a Medical Support Unit that went through the small Islands in Japan and gave medical attention to the native population. The ship's duty was changed to a support vessel that had a small detachment of aviation personnel that Lived on the base in Sasebo. The mission was to catapult small model
air planes off the ship and fly around the War Ships for target practice. The small planes which had a wing spread of about six feet were
radio controlled. We were on this mission till about June 1955 when we were ordered
to bring the vessel back to San Francisco for decommissioning. A Fleet Tug accompanied us back to the USA. We started back from
Yokuska, Japan with the, Fleet Tug. After about three days, our engines overheated, and the Tug towed the ship to Pearl Harbor where we received repairs. Then towed us to
San Francisco Bay. We then used our
power to tie up at Treasure Island. We only stayed there a few weeks, then took the ship to Astoria, Oregon for decommissioning. At Astoria, the ship was put in first class condition, all the engines, the generators, motors, gyro compass, radio gear plus all the external wiring was pulled through the deck and sealed. When we finished, the Vessel looked like new. Then the ship was sealed and dehumidifying equipment was used and tested. Our Captain who carne aboard in 1954 was Lt(Jg) Garfolas, a very good officer, mathematics major I believe. He loved to
fish, another engine man named Cunningham
and I took him salmon fishing in the Columbia River. We had a ball. After the ship was de-commissioned, Jack Arnold, then a 2nd Class Engine man was given the Pennant for being the man that had been aboard the longest time. I was the senior enlisted man aboard, having made 1ST class when we came through Pearl Harbor. After decommissioning I was ordered to Seattle for discharge, my four years was over.

I gather the Korean era Gator sailors were allowed to enlist for a 4 year hitch. When I was in, we were in for the duration of the war plus 6 months before we could be discharged. Of course after the war was over, they wanted to get rid of all those sailors so the discharges came fast!
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vaughn
USS LCI 450
WW ll Gator Navy

[ClutterNan]

Thanks for the story. My dh has a friend who was in the Korean war who was in demolition. I had a couple cousins in it. One married a Korean girl who was a translator for the military. She was a lot of fun.

[Cathy AtStopSeven]

Vaughn,

Thank you for your posts.

Perhaps we'll be fortunate enough to have some WWII Veterans locate, and join us here.

Cathy