LST Squadron Four - Naval Cruise Book

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cfl ACTIVITIES

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LST 509

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LST 521 HISTORY LT A. C. BOYETT Commanding Officer On l» Fcbruiry 1944, mother member of thai new ind growing brinth o( ihe U ' . S. Nivy, ■he Amphibioui Force, slid down ihe wjy. ic ihc Chicago Bridge and Iron Company, Chi- cago, Illinoii. She wai an LST and ihe number 121 wai betiowed upon her. Her million wai to transport men and equipment wherever our military le.-deri decided they were needed. She lervcd proudly during the latter year, of the Second World «j,. gaining battle ribboni for engagement! in France and England. Her job wai done in I94t. and the wai decommiiiioned. Along with many othen of her type, ihe came to reit ai Green Cove Spring!, I lorida. In June 1910, war once more interrupted the daily and peaceful routine of ihii country. On 20 October 19)0, the USS LST 121 once more became an active member of the Amen.an Fleet. After recommiiiioning, ihc laited up the cait coait to Norfolk, Va., her new home port, and became a part of the Amphibioui Force, U. S. Atl.-ntic Fleet. The months from November 1910 to April 1911 law the USS LST 121 undergo rc- freihcr training, have a yard period in Baltimore, Md.. and take part in training Marine. off the Virginia Capci. Her fint major operation came in June 1951, when, along with many other ihipi of the Amphibioui Force, .he set lail for the frozen wailei of Greenland. In her tank de.k ihc carried tons of machinery and equipment to be used in building a base, and in h.r troop compartment, she carried civilian contractori. Thii trip took about two month.. In the middle of August 19! I. ihe once more entered the yard, in Baltimore for repair, . ' od refitting. In September, ihe embarked on another training operation. Thii time her blunt bow plowed through the warm watcri of the Caribbean, and her crew enjoyed liberty in pom of the West Indiei. She returned to her home port in time for Thank.giving. I9n . In December 19!l. change of command ccrcmonie. took place, and IT A. C. Boyeti. USN. relieved LCDR Sheldon Potter III. L ' SNR. In April 19S2, another trip to Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, wa, made, and Mav. I9i2. found the LST 521 in the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Portsmouth, Virginia for two month, of overhaul, leave, and liberty. On leaving the yard in July, ihc wai even improved over the LST which came out of mothballs a year and nine months earlier. She then under- went .1 rigorous refresher training period and in September, once more embarked on train- ing operations. The i21 closed out the year 1912 berthed at the U. S. Naval Amphibioui n,.,c, little Creek, Va., enjoying holiday leave and liberty. The USS LST 121 is now attached to LST Division 42, Squadron 4. Flotilla 2. Her Commanding Officer is LT A. C. Boyett, U. S. Navy. First row: Anthony Michael S.intoro, Jack Dcmpsey, David M. Scamon, John S. Bennett, Jr., Jewel Stevenson Smith, Ir., James Vincent Lyons, William G. Kenney, Roderick T. Gillij. . . . Second row: William E. Bryant, Jr., Robert Joseph Simons, Donald Gordon Rich, Virgil Christian Lehm.inn, LTJG Joseph M. Ridcout, Othey Martin, Moody L. Pritchett, Joseph Campbell. Raymond J. Whalen, Vincent Madonna. . . . ThirJ row: William J. Gill, Antonio J. Caruso, Robert L. Hummell, Ronald P. Saxon, Edward Max Cash, Ralph L. Pcarce, Edward J. Hoover, Dewey Thomas Garrison, Ronald J. Lotz, Paul S. Topham, Theodore Arbogast.