LST Squadron Four - Naval Cruise Book

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LST 938 W. Limes, USNR 1491 Miller Ave- Keel Laid: 14 July 1944 Launched: 14 August 1944 Sponsor: Unknown Named for: Commissioned: 9 September 1944 First Commanding Officer: ENS H. First Commanding Officer ' s Address: nue, Columbus, Ohio Present Status and Date: May 1946, Assigned to 3rd ND for training reserves. November 1951, in proc- ess of activation by Florida Group, Atlantic Re- serve Fleet Awards: 1 Star — Borneo Operations Balikpapan Operation— 26 June to 9 July 1945 Navy Occupation Service Medal— 9 September to 30 September 1945, also eligible for both Navy Occu- pation Service Medal and China Service Medal for the period from 29 January 1946 to 13 May 1946 STATISTICS Overall length 328 feet Displacement 3960 tons Bea 50 feet Speed 11 knots LT H. W. CHILDRESS Commanding Officer

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LST938 THE USS LST 938 was placed in commission by ENS H. W. Limes. USNR, on 9 September 1944 at Bethle- hem-Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, Mass., with a com- plement of nine officers and one hundred and three enlisted personnel. The ship was assigned to the 132nd Division, Group Sixty-six, Flotilla Twenty-two, Seventh Amphibious Force, Seventh Fleet, for duty. Fitting out was completed at Commonwealth Pier No. 5, Boston, Mass. On 16 September 1944, sailed for Little Creek, Va., arriving 18 September 1944. Reported to Commander Amphibious Training Command, At- lantic Fleet for shakedown. Shakedown was accom- plished at Cornfield Point, Md., in the Chesapeake Bay and completed 29 September 1944. At this time the ship was granted four days availability at Norfolk, Va., Navy Yard. On 6 October 1944, left Norfolk Navy Yard; moored to dock at N.O.B. for overseas loading. On 11 October 1944, sailed for New York, arriving 12 October 1944. Availability of five d ays was granted for completion of fittings and for loading of LCT 1210 on main deck. On 18 October 1944, sailed in convoy from New- York en route to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. On 25 Oc- tober 1944 anchored in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, en route for Coco Solo, C Z., on 26 October. Sailed in convoy from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, en route for Coco Solo, arriving 29 October 1944. On 31 October 1944 transited Panama Canal and stood out of Balboa, swept channel en route to South Pacific. On 4 December 1944 arrived at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands. Sailed from Espiritu Santo on 9 December 1944 for Sealler Harbor, Manua Admiralty Islands, arriving 16 Decem- ber 1944 where cargo was unloaded and the ship re- ported to Commander LST Group Sixty-six for duty. On 23 December 1944, Commander LST Group Sixty-six held a surprise inspection. Comments — Very good. On 7 January 1945, loaded cargo of PT Base No. 17 at Los Negros and sailed in convoy on 14 January 1945, for Humboldt Bay, Hollandia, New Guinea, arriving on 17 January 1945. On 19 January 1945, sailed in convoy from Humboldt Bay en route to Leyte, Philippine Islands, arriving in San Pedro Bay 26 January 1945. On 27 January 1945, launched LCT 1210 from main deck. On 30 January 1945, proceeded to anchorage off Bobon Point, Samar, Philippine Islands. On 7 February 1945, discharged cargo of PT Base No. 17 at Bobon, Samar, Philippines. From 14 February 1945 to 19 February 1945, the ship made four trips from Yellow Beach at Dulag, Leyte, Philippine Islands, to Guiuan Samar, Philippine Islands, transporting the personnel and equipment of the 821sf Aviation Engineers, US Army. On 27 February 1945, departed San Pedro Bay, en route to Mindora Island, Philippines. The ship was load- ed with elements of the 41st Division, US Army, arriv- ing and unloading on 1 March 1945. HISTORY On 3 March 1945, staged for Victor Four Operation, I Zamboango, Mindanao, Philippine Islands, departing on 8 March 1945, and arriving in the objective area on 10 March 1945, as part of assault group D-Day, H-Hour. Sailed 11 March of 1945. as part of assault group, for Mindoro, Philippines, arriving on 13 March 1945, and staged for supply echelon. Sailed on 22 March 1945, and arrived at Zamboango, Mindanao, Philippine Islands, on 24 March 1945. On 27 March 1945, loaded unit% of 658th Amphibious Tractor Battalion. On 28 March 1945, sailed for Mindoro, Philippines, arriving and discharging cargo on 30 March 1945. On 14 April 1945, sailed for Leyte, Philippine Islands, arriving 16 April 1945. On 18 April 1945, reported to Commander LST Group Twenty for duty. On 26 April 1945, sailed for Cairna, Australia, via Hol- landia and Milne Bay, New Guinea. Pontoon causeways were lif ted at Milne Bay. Australian Infantry Division for Morotai, Dutch East Indies were loaded after ar- rival at Cairns, Australia on 26 May 1945. Sailed for Morotai on 26 May 1945, via Milne Bay, New Guinea, and Biak, Dutch East Indies, arriving and unloading on 12 June 1945. Restaged for Oboe Two Operation, Balikpapan, Borneo, Dutch East Indies, lift- ing elements of Seventh Australian Division. On 23 June 1945, held rehearsal operations. On 26 June 1945, departed Morotai, Dutch East Indies, arriv- ing at objective area 1 July 1945, as unit of assault group D-Day, H-Hour. On 4 July 1945, sailed for Morotai, Dutch East Indies, arriving and staging for resupply echelon 8 July 1945. Sailed for Balikpapan, Borneo, Dutch East Indies, on 9 July 1945, arriving on 14 July 1945. Discharged troops and cargo and loaded units of 672nd Amphibious Trac- tor Battalion for Manila, Philippines, arriving 27 July 1945. Sailed 28 July 1945, arriving at Leyte Gulf 2 August 1945, via Guiuan, Samar, Philippine Islands, to drop pontoon causeways. Granted availability until 18 Au- gust 1945. On 29 August 1945, loaded 230 personnel and equip- ment of 8th Army 153rd Engineering Battalion for oc- cupation forces for Tokyo, Japan. Arrived 15 Septem- ber 1945, and discharged men and cargo at Tokyo, Japan, 16 September 1945. On 20 September 1945, sailed from Tokyo, Japan, for Okinawa, arriving 24 September 1945. Since commissioning of 9 September 1944, until 30 September 1945, this vessel has participated in two in- vasions; both of which were D-Day, H-Hour assaults. In both operations she operated in all the resupply echelons. On 15 September 1945, arrived Tokyo, Japan, with Occupation Forces on occupy Japan. During the twelve months of active service covered in this report, the ship has suffered no damage and no casualties to personnel. Name of Ship: USS LST 938 Built by: Bethlehem Steel Company, Hingham, Mass.

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LST 938 First roiv: Peter E. Griffin, Robert Williams, Nick Galioto, Robert E. Hoffner, Louis L. LaBombard, Bob Furey, Oscar B. Grice. . . . Second row: E. A. Lupinacci, Flcary Pack, Willis L. Peeler, Michael Scheraldi, Glenn F. Leonard, Ken- neth G. Meyer, William S. Festa, D. R. Brown. . . . Third row: Daniel Flores, Daniel A. Penta, Kenneth McNatt, ENS Wiley E. Cross, Jr., Raymond Romanowski, Patrick J. Ma- guire, Billy C. Reynolds, Michael Ward. . . .■ Fourth row: Marshel O. Parson, Dennis D. Doran, Frank A. Tanna, Robert T. Moore, William D. Ewing, T L Barrier, Herbert F. Knoblach, T. R. Brown. First row: RusscI N. Corse, Manuel Marquez, Robert J. Ethier, H. G. Yarbrough, LT Bernard T. Kclley, R. S. Wil- liams, Richard W. Eldridge, Jr., Arden D. Johnson, Gilbert M. Largcnt. . . . Second row: Bennc L. Elmore, Walter Klein, Everett R. Davenport, Roger R. Lucier, Frank B. Ensell, Lcroy Bolding, Robert P. Baker, Peter J. Gulli.