LST (491) - Naval Cruise Book

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,Al K ,fx l i-' .A at Q ' N T1 ., A x f 4 .-' U . 3, , ...e.,..f., mf -ff' ' vw, ' 7 s wi 2 is ,,, 1 ,X i. x 'ls The LCVP Expeditersn Standing, from left to right: Johnston, Mil- jour, Gerhart, Gillespie, Carey. Seated, left to right: Scott, Anastasi, Welge, Capstick, and Lena. The Black Gang Lovergine Re- ports Manned and Ready X xx l We W Q, -. V 'f ll-

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OPERATION OVERLORD of these two men, but the wounds were so severe that their efforts came to naught. We all admired the fine work of Doctor Daugherty and Doctor Lawrence, our Pharmacists Mates and corpsmen, and also the Army Doctor and staff that were aboard for the invasion. Early on june 10 we sailed from Portland. We had a heavy load of vehicles, tanks, half-tracks, and trucks and several hundred American soldiers. There was still plenty of action on the French Coast and our passengers all looked mighty serious. They cleaned their guns with diligence and skill as they realized that their guns would be most helpful friends when they would disembark. We arrived late that evening, but could not beach as the tide was low. During the morning of June ll, at about 0400, we had our first real air-raid. The jerries were over-head dropping bombs all around us. All of the ships were making smoke and the heavens were covered with tracer shells from the anti-aircraft batteries ashore. We beached at daylight and off-loaded our troops and vehicles. Before retracting we received about 85 American infantry men who had been wounded in battle. Most of them were ambulatory patients, but were suffering from severe shock. We also received 14 German prisoners who were badly woundedg they were in serious condition and one died before we reached England. We entered the port of Southampton this trip and in eight hours were off-loaded and re-loaded and soon on our way back to France. VVe carried a British Armored unit this time, and many of us saw for the first time the Churchill and Cromwell tanks. On 25-