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Editor's Note: Ernest Kromer assisted in the only emergency appendectomy ever performed on an LCI.  You can read the story here.

LCI(G)440
I have been serching for shipmates that served on LCI(g)440 for the past couple of years that served in the pacific from jan 1944 to aug1946
Dominick C Maurone

LCI(M) 760
I am the son of Robert W. Wilson, Sr., Gunners-Mate 2nd, who served aboard LCIm-760 during the Okinawa Landings, and at Nagasaki Harbor through 1945 and part of 1946. I am also a ship modeler who is in the planning stages of creating a model of LCIm-760, in honor of my father and those who served aboard.
I would enjoy hearing from any member of LCIm-760's crew.
Robert W. Wilson, Jr.USA

LCI 874
My name is Karen Foster, I'm the daughter of Bennie L. Pratt and I'm hoping you can help me. I'm looking for any information that you may be able to provide me with about the ship my father was aboard ( LCI 874). Is there a way to locate shipmates, photos, a list of other sources that I might contact etc... I would like to gather as much information and history as possible within the next four months. My goal is to create a 'scrapbook' as part of a birthday gift for him. I would truly appreciate any assistance. You may e-mail me at rugrats@spectra.net I will be forwarding a check for a year membership in his name.
 Many thanks, Karen Foster

Looking for Joe Bode,Herb Volk,Don Mitchell,Carl Cox
Robert Anderson,or anyone who was served from launching
date,May 1944 to April 1946
Joseph A.Belliveau

Subject: LCI 1096
From: Basil Brewster, LCI 1096
Thanks to your newsletter I have found a shipmate that I've been nsearching for 3 years. He posted his e-mail address in the latest issue and I was able to get in touch.
Would you please post this message so that I might reach more of the crew of the 1096. So far I have found about half of them.
Basil Brewster
LCI 1096

Does anyone have a photo of LCI(M)1023. I served on her from her commission in Oregon until after the Japanese surrender. A picture of her would be great to show to my great-grandchildren.  A Revel model would even be greater. Thanks. George E Miller, SM2C

I'm now 75 years old and these good shipmates would be around that age too.Where did you get the term " Gators" ? I never remember us being called that. I do know a name that stuck. It was Waterbug Navy. They said an Admiral on a Carrier observed a bunch of us scurring about and he said it looked like a bunch of waterbugs. Admiral Dan Barby was commander of the 7th Amphibious Force and he was referred to in a magazine article as " Uncle Dan The Amphibious Man". Anyone out there remember these things?

 Please, please let me hear from you. My E Mail address is lpeters@erinet.com. God bless all you who are still with us and God bless those of us who departed this life during and since WW II.

 We have a web site at www.columbusga.com/infantryassn.
 Our objective is to make it as easy as possible for Infantrymen to easily travel between units where they have served, and those who were a critical part of the team. We have an actual landing craft that took part in the Normandy operation, presently at Fort Benning, and in the near future will be undertaking a National Infantry Museum project to provide a new large home which will include featuring the landing craft, fully restored, and on display. Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you now or in the future.
Thanks for your site.
Biff Hadden

Subject: LCI 806 (M)
From: Perry Hatch
My father (Gerald D. Hatch) served aboard the LCI 806 (M) as a cook during WWII. He would like to find one of his old friends. His last name was Iderman and was from Indiana. Anything I can find out about this ship, its history or if you can tell me how to find this information would be greatly appreciated.
Perry Hatch

Subject: LCIs in New York City
From: Brian Bailey
Hi!
I was very interested to see your excellent site about LCI's. Although I was not even born in WWII, I have extensive service aboard three LCI's that were sold as government surplus and are to this day running as sightseeing vessels in New York City.
At Circle Line, we have eight sightseeing vessels, all former military ships. Five are old Argo-class USCG cutters, and two of those still have their original 1931 Winton diesels (see my page at http://members.aol.com/wpc104 for pictures). One of our three former LCIs has the original powerplant (air controls were added to enable pilothouse control, but the engines run the same as they did in WWII).
I started out as an oiler on one of the LCIs, and later became engineer when I got my license. Although my regular vessel has for the last 18 years been the former USCGC Calypso (WPC-104), now Circle Line XI, I have been Chief on all three LCIs as well.
I would like to add a page for Circle Line VII (LCI(L)-191) similar to my Calypso page when I get the time. I have pictures as she is now, but if you can give me a source for original LCI pictures, especially that of 191 herself as she was then, I would appreciate it.
Circle Line X was the former LCI(L)-758, and I forget the original number of C.L. VIII but can find out.
Anyway, I thought you'd like to know that at least a few LCIs still live on in merchant service after all these years.
Regards,
Brian Bailey
Engineer, M/V Circle Line XI (ex-Calypso, WPC-104)
P.S. the other CG cutters we have were Perseus, Argo, Nike and Triton.

Subject: LCI(G) 1065
From: Ken Lawrence
My father, BM2C Edgar H. Lawrence, served aboard the 1065 until she was sunk in October 1944 at Leyte by Kamikaze action.
I have just found a Rogers 1946 wooden scale model of the LCI. I'm looking for drawings, photos, and any other info I can find to help me figure out how to build the gunboat version.
Can you help me?
Many thanks,
Ken Lawrence

Subject: LCU 1066
From: AndrÈ E. Slintak
I am trying to find information concerning a particular Landing Craft Utility (LCU-1066). I am trying to find out where it was built and where it served. Can you give me any leads as to where I might be able to find such information?
AndrÈ E. Slintak
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Subject: Richard Steyer, LCI 366
From: Troy Finsel
Thank you so much for the wonderful website. My grandfather (mother's father) is Richard Steyer. He was killed on LCI 366 on July 24, 1944 during the Marianas campaign. I've been studying the history for about a year now, and have had a difficult time finding anything on the LCI's. I think I've located the captain of his ship. His name is Cornellias B. Waddle. I just found a phone number today. I'm hoping that it is him.
I'm putting together as much information as I can to hopefully learn more about my grandfather, to be able to tell his story.
Thank you again!
Troy Finsel

Subject: LCI-78
From: LCDR Garry Collins
My father was a WWII crewmember of LCI-78. I am looking for photos of the ship. So far the only one Ive been able to locate is the shot of LCI-77 & LCI-78 at Peleliu launcing rockets. I know there must be others. I am enrolling my dad in the LCI Association as a Christmas gift but would love to to get my hands on some other photos. If you can help, I would be greatful. I myself retired from USN in 93 after 22 years of service (ten as enlisted, twelve as officer). I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks so much,
LCDR Garry Collins, USN, (ret).

Subject: Looking for Action Records for LCI 554 D-Day
From: Derek May
Hello. My name is Derek May and my father Wesley served aboard LCI 554 when it went into Omaha Beach up until it was handed over to the Russians. A year or two ago I mailed away for copies of pages from the ship's logbook, hoping to get detailed information on the ship's actions during the Omaha Beach invasion. However, the pages sent to me for June 1944 gave little information, centering mostly on the ship's stay in England shortly before the invasion. I believe information from the missing dates would be found in under "battle records" or "action records". Can you help me find anything? I believe my father was actually the one who wrote down changes of speed, direction, number of troops carried etc. during the day of the landing and days thereafter. If you have any of this information, or can tell me where to get it, I'd be much obliged.

Subject: Royal Navy LCI Veteran
From: Bob Kipps
I volunteered for the Royal Navy in 1941 for hostilities only as an Engine Room Artificer. My first draft was to tank landing craft and training exercises in the English Channel with Canadian Soldiers who went on the Dieppe raid on August 19th 1942 to the French coast. There were 12 craft in our flotilla and there were 6 survivors, which were converted to firing rockets. I was sent to the Mediterranean with these rocket firing TLCs. We joined other TLCs that were fitted with 4.7inch guns, others were fitted with anti-aircraft guns of heavy calibre. Each flotilla had 6 craft each fitted with as many guns respectively as could be fitted to the upper deck. All 30 of these craft joined to form the Support Craft Squadron Mediterranean.

 They took part in most of the major landings on Sicily, and Italy the Island of Elba and finally the South of France. I was aboard a rocket firing craft off the South of France assisting with re-loading 1000 5-inch rockets to bombard targets on the French shore. While this was in progress we saw the American Battle Ship Missouri (we were told) about 2 miles away from us and I guess 15 miles from shore. As we watched the Missouri she opened fire with her 16-inch guns on to targets ashore on the French coast it was an amazing sight to see the shells rotating nose over tail. Our ordinance Artificer who saw the shells said that the rifling of the gun barrels were worn out and was not giving the shells the necessary rotation to keep them on course.

I would be interested to exchange experiences with Motor Mechanic engineers who sailed in the American Landing Craft Infantry and others.

I have an ex -RN pen pal who was a telegraphist (Signalman) and was sent to America to join an LCI. He tells me that he was sent to the builder?s on the Hudson River, New Jersey in March 1943. The craft was 289 LCI (L) and he became "ships"company who sailed the craft back to the British Isles and then out to the Mediterranean. I was de- mobbed from the Navy in 1946, and was a Chief Petty Officer, Engine Room Artificer on leaving the Royal Navy. I have lived in England since 1930 Except for about 2 years in the Mediterranean.
 I am a Canadian born in Hamilton, Ontario in 1920.

Subject: USS LCI (G) 373
From: Jimmie A. Prime
I was an eighteen year old radar man just out of radar school when I reported aboard in Pearl Harbor March 12, 1944. She had just been equiped with rocket launchers and had replaced 20 mm forward with 40 mm single mount bofores. Our first assault was Saipan,then Tinian. We then went on to the Phillipines and were a part of Layte assault and then Lingayan Gulf. On to Okinawa and assaults on Ia Shima, Kerrama Retto Shima and the Okinawa Shima. A lot of our time in between these assaults was close fire support for the UDT swimmers clearing beaches. By this time, I had turned 19. The war was over in August of 1945. I got home and was still too young to vote or buy a beer. Jimmie A. Prime
 

Subject: The Sinking of the Susan B. Anthony
From: Marsha G. Wise
I was cruising the Internet and found your site. I hit the story from Karl
J. Bischoff and is account of rescuing the men of The Susan B. Anthony. My
father was one of those men he saved. If not for him and the rest of the
brave men, I wouldn't be here to write you. Could you put me in touch with
Mr. Bischoff? I would like to thank him personally.

Subject: LCI 489
Date: Sat, 5 Jun 1999 16:16:18 -0400
From: Chuck Phillips
I would like to hear from Harry Montgomery, McCone, & MacMillan. All were
officers on LCI 489. I am also looking for a sailor on LCI 489 named Murphy, pictured here with Karl Bischoff.
Chuck Phillips

Editor's Note: Chuck Phillips was the Engineering Officer on LCI 489. My father, Karl Bischoff, was a motor machinist's mate, and came under Mr. Phillip's command. I had the pleasure of watching Mr. Phillips and my father meet again after 55 years at the LCI Assoc. Reunion in Louisville, KY. This was the first time either man had met a fellow crew member since LCI 489 was decommissioned.  Captain Montgomery passed away in 1988.

 Subject: LCI 880
From: Jonathan Williams
I am a sixth grader at Robertsville Middle School in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. A
 school project required an interview with a WWII veteran. I interviewed my
 grandfather, Mike Williams, who served on the LCI 880. He said he was
 stationed in the Marshall Islands. Do you know others who served on the LCI
 880? Do you have any history on the LCI 880 like some of the others I have
 read on your Web site?
Thanks
Jonathan Williams

Subject: LCI(L) - 1
From: Marvin Strand
My name is Marvin R. Strand. I was a signalman trained at the signal school set up at the University of Chicago. I was part of the crew of LCI -1 which was built at the New York
Shipbuilding Co. in Camden, N.J. in the fall of 42'. following which sea trials were run on the Delaware River. It was determined at this time that the pilot house had to be redesigned to raise it one deck higher in order to see over the bow.

Revisions were made accordingly, after which we proceeded to Solomons, MD on Chesapeake Bay for training at the newly built amphibious base. Later we became part of Flotilla 2 and proceeded across the Atlantic to be based at Bizerte,Tunsia.
We were involved in the invasion of Sicily on July 10, 1943. A good account of our ex-periences, as well as others during the invasion, can be read in the book "By Sea and By Land" by Lt. Earl Burton USNR by Whittlesey House, McGraw-Hill Book Co. Inc. In summary, the ship became broached on the beach due to the fact that enemy gunfire had killed three crewmen and disabled the pilot house controls. Four days later the ship was refloated and limped back to Bizerte for repairs. The ship and crew were awarded the Presidental Unit Citation for the landing and action on the beach near Licata Sicily. The ship was later sunk in Lake Bizerte by a direct bomb hit during a night air raid on the 17th of Aug.43'. All members of the crew were saved.

 The crew returned to the U.S. and some members including my
self were assigned to another LCI, to become LCI(FF) 399. The LCI(FF) 399 sailed to the Pacific and was involved in the initial landing on Okinawa on April 1, 45'. During a typhoon in the late summer of 45' the ship became broached on the beach in Buckner Bay, Okinawa along with many other naval and merchant ships. LCI(FF)399 later was stripped of salvageable equipment and the hull etc.were cut up for scrap. The war had ended by the A-bomb strike on Hiroshima just
prior to the typhoon.

Subject: LCI(C)669
From:WaltonaJL@aol.com
My brother served as a Motor Machinist mate 3/c on LCI (C) 669 at Anzio &
 Salerno. Would like to know the history of this LCII and photo. Also what
 did he do on this LCI. Thank you WaltonaJL@aol.com

Subject: LCI (L) 507
From: Maddoxjm@aol.com
Do you, by chance, have a picture of the LCI (L) 507--or, any stories either? My uncle was on that craft during the D-Day landing in WWII. Sure would nice to get him a picture of that craft, it there happens to be one available.
Thanks in advance for you help...
Jeff Maddox, Major, USAF(Ret)

Subject: LCI 404
From: TheLegendz@aol.com
Hi! I was off the 404 as you might have heard of us. Our skipper was known as Ramming Sam. Was in Pacfic and was a plank member
 Don Freedman Knapp

Subject:  LCI 85
From: Pete Hendley
Sirs,
I am the son of a WWII veteran. My father served as captain of an LCI which
was used in the invasion on D-Day, on Omaha Beach (LCI-85). His ship was sunk
that day, but he survived. I was very surprised and pleased to find your web
site about LCIs. I have been trying to learn as much about them as I can. For
a long time I have also been trying to find a model of an LCI, in particular
the LCI my father served on (square/angular bridge, ramps on either side of
the bow, etc). I was wondering if you might know if such models exist or
where I might find one. Any information you can give me would be much
appreciated.

Thanks for such an interesting sight. I have yet to finish looking it over
completely, but I find it very fascinating.

Pete Hendley

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