LST Squadron Four - Naval Cruise Book

Page 36 text:

LST 503 First row: Robert J. Johnson, James Paul Smiddy, James W. Herring. . . . Second row: Robert B. Wright, James M. Todd, LTJG Edward Shimon, Clyde H. Welsh, Robert J. Fortier. . . . Third row: Henry W. Wilson, Raymond A. Lovetere, Jack L. DuBoe, Everett R. Bowden, William E. Allen. Firit row: Joseph D. Hassclbcrgcr, Stuart W. Quick, Richard D. Harmon, Paul R. Miller, Jarius D. Eckard. . . . Second rou: Edward C. Markgraf, Francis M. Redding, ENS William Y. McLean, Richard D. Knock, Paul D. Black, Earnest L. Priest. . . . Third row: Philip W. Smith, Kenneth G. Lang, E. F. Gilc, R. Claude Emrich, Jr., Raymond J. Martin, Harry H. Firth, Ignatj! A. Kcppcl. . . . Fourth row: John E. Mc- Queen, Richard A. Etschcid, Harry M. Fulcher.

Page 35 text:

LST 503 LT P. M. MITCHELL Commanding Officer HISTORY THE USS LST 503 was launched at Jeffersonville, Indiana. She was commissioned in New Orleans and outfitted m New Orleans and Mobile. Shakedown training was con- ducted at Panama City, Florida in January 1944. The ship was assigned to carry British troops in assault on Nor- mandy and made its initial landing on the Normandy beaches in the vicinity of Arromanche. In May 1944 the 503 carried occupation troops to Trondheim, Norway. On V-J day the ship was just recently returned to Norfolk, Va. for a complete overhaul. In October 1945 the USS LST 503 was placed in the reserve fleet with the St. Jobns River Group, Jacksonville, Fla. Reactivation of the USS LST 503 was started on 20 September 1950. She was recommissioned on 9 January 1951 in a civilian shipyard in Jacksonville, Fla. After commissioning the first big job of the ship was the transporting of strategic equipment to Port Lyautey, French Morrocco. Next on the agenda was the lifting of Marine detachments and equipment and the transport of them from Vieques, P. R. to Norfolk, Va. There was no respite for the ship for almost immediately she was loading troops and equipment again in preparation for LANTFLEX 52 in the spring of 1952. After a few local operations the 503 next participated in SUNAC— 52. Operations here ceased for a spell and the ship got some much needed overhaul under its belt at both Newport News Shipyard and the Phi ladelphia Naval Shipyard. first rou: Edward L. Ashcraft, Norman N. Reichcrt, Howard E. Thrift, Millard L. Howe, Arthur Downes. . . . Second row: Charles W. Lenling, James E. Coner, LTJG Edward J. Shimon, R. B. Urbanski, Joseph Ancora. . . . Third row: Sam G. Fox- F. Duer worth, Granville C. Eustice, Gerard Colvell, Ca Jr., Raymond Adkins, Jr., Larry J. Langin, John Thomson. . . . Fourth row: Stephen J. Craig, Brur D. Valentine, Michael P. Jenks. Rossii Robert

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LST 503 First row: Joseph P. Santos, Elden W. Smith, ENS Charles B. Lewallen, Jr., Rayford G. Kimbrell, P. J. Camarata. . . . Second row. Joseph M. Darcy, Richard L. King, Joseph J. Gulino, John E. Persico, William M. Alexander. first row: John Pisano, Lewis E. Hunt, John F. Takacs. . . . Second row: Patrick J. McCann, ENS Nicholas VanLaer, LTJG Robert C. Hennckens, Max Potts, Thomas E. Randall. . Third row: Richard H. Scott, Buford Mills, WUliam F. Bernard, Hugh A. Smith, Richard Morris, Frank Rogal.