Untold Stories of World War II Ships

[@jimbupplargeslowtarget3713]

My name is Jim Bupp. I entered the crew seven weeks before we commissioned The 1063. I have not talked to Bob in four years. He probably thought I was deceased. He mentioned a crew member getting a DEAR JOHN letter, that was me and another shipmate announced it over the PA system. My family and I really enjoyed the interview. WELL DONE. .

[@randy4768]

My Dad was on an LST made in Evansville, Indiana. He boarded the ship there and sailed to New Orleans, through the Panama Canal to San Francisco then to Hawaii. His ship was at the landing at Iwo Jima. At the end of the war, his LST moved Japanese P.OW.s to Okinawa.

[@QurikyBark32919]

This channel is criminally underrated

[@Wahbooz]

Gator sailors are a proud, special breed to have crewed these flat bottom Amphibs.

[@Wahbooz]

@@markmark2080 I served on LSMR 525 until the beginning of '67, then LST 1157 . Spent most of my time homeported in Yokosuka, I'll get my typing right yet.

[@JeepWrangler1957]

I served as a Marine on many amphibs, the worst being LST-1188 on a Med Cruise.

[@Wahbooz]

@@JeepWrangler1957 The USS Saginaw. Newer class than the one I was on.

[@Idahoguy10157]

My father served on a LST. Was in the invasion of southern France and at Okinawa. He was in his late twenties. He talked very little about it.

[@gergemall]

Like my dad did.

[@ericcriteser4001]

My dad served on USS LST 960 from 1944 to 46. Thanks for sharing.

[@garym1935]

My father served on LST 57 during WW2 in the European theatre as MoMM1c. Thank you for this video!

[@DavidLeslie65]

My dad was on last 895 and didn't discuss the war much, only his ship. I've been looking for more information and videos regarding his ship. I know that there is an old black and white show world at war or one like it that we were watching in the early 70's my mom told my dad that his ship is on the show. I've been trying to find it sense. LST's and there crews were very important to our winning in both theaters and so many people know little about them.

[@Landmine663]

That was an awesome interview.

[@HistoryX]

Thanks for the great comment!!! He is a very interesting man. It was a pleasure to talk to him. Glad you enjoyed the video!!

[@gergemall]

My pop was on an LST in the South Pacific. Thank you so much. God Bless our SERVICE MEMBERS. my dad had newly graduated high school June 13 turning eighteen years old. My dad minimized his role in the Solomon Islands , New Guinea and the Philippines taking tanks . Troops, ammunition. He was a gunners mate and Petty,officer. He used to modify machine guns etc to do extra work. Thank you for posting. I want to say he was on the 212 . I’ll validate that and follow up. Thank you. I am an honorary member of the LST that they take on cruises on the Mississippi’ I learned from an uncle that broke down crying when he told what battles my dad had been fighting in . He was very humble. My dad died in his fifties from leukemia that many people who fought in those theaters contracted . I know some of it and I have his photo albums and Navel / Coast Guard ribbons and decorations. He NEVER TOLD US . MY MOM IS 97 YEARS OLD AND is alert and very independent can fill in some questions for me’ I am 68 YEARS OLD and lost my dad in my mid twenties. He was an amazing person. This helps me understand more about him.

[@edwardarn5660]

Dad served aboard #317 Invasions of Sicily. Salerno and Omaha beaches.

[@davec6863]

Very interesting. Amazing example of what can be done when all are working together for a common cause. Well done!

[@flyingfortressrc1794]

That is such a great story. I could listen to these heroes giving their stories all day long. Thanks for letting him tell his story to us Ken.

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

Well done, History X and Ken. Excellent editing job, and appreciate you sharing the story of the ever dwindling WWII vets! So appreciated, Thank you, YN Coulson.

[@brianpesci]

another excellent episode, the support troops never get enough credit for their actions and sacrifices, this was very informative.

[@HistoryX]

Thank you for the kind words, Brian!!

[@brianpesci]

@@HistoryX Mom's first cousin was Wade McClusky and Dad served on the USS Bataan CVL 29, so we grew up knowing about the exploits of the Navy and the Pacific theater.

[@ssstripe1]

My father was in the Coast Guard during WW 2. He served aboard LST 791 and was at the invasion of Okinawa April 1 1945. I've written a book about it based not only on deck logs, actions reports, but diaries of crew members and tape recorded interviews of surviving members of the crew. First published in 2011, I am republishing a revised edition this year with memoirs of the captain integrated into the book. I received those from the son in law of the skipper who contacted me.

[@veganconservative1109]

I felt his pain. It sucks to have a new 'leader' who knows less about a job than you do, but they are in charge so you have to be... delicate on how you handle things. Straight up ladders like shown are difficult when dry. I can't imagine going up on down ones while being battered by water. Mystery cargo was likely part of the nuclear bomb especially since the escort sailors were sent elsewhere directly after. Thanks for the video. History is never boring. :)

[@HistoryX]

So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for watching!

[@johngolini332]

Fascinating! My father was the gunnery officer aboard LST552. He told me, being his only son with 3 older sisters, some stories that he never shared with my sisters. The 552 was in the first wave of many landings, including Pelilu, Eniwetok, San Pedro Bay (Leyte), and Okinawa, to name a few. He earned The Combat Action ribbon and six Battle Stars. I remember in the 80's, he bought a Mercury Villager, which was equipped with a motor made by Mitsubishi. I asked him at that time why he would buy a vehicle that had a motor made by the same company that built the Kate bomber that dropped the bomb that struck the ship amidships on the beach in Leyte. His response? "He was doing his job, and I was doing mine." He died at the age of 88 in 2008. I fear that we will never see men like him again. I will never hold a candle to his gentle greatness, but I strive every day to make him proud.

[@jamesleathers5488]

167 of these were built in Evansville, Indiana on the banks of the Ohio River.

[@mh-fu2bm]

my dad was on the lci 80 in 44 and 45. he kept a war diary even had good drawings of the islands he visited.

[@jeannechavez6512]

I love this so much....

[@JeepWrangler1957]

Many of these were built here in Illinois at Seneca on the Illinois River. There is a memorial plaque to the LST's and their builders in Seneca on the river.

[@chilltarts]

My grandfather was a WW2 Veteran. His experiences of fighting for others freedoms and feeling like a hero, to coming home and be treated like a second-class nothing again were some of the poignant he ever told.

[@bobyoung4013]

The ship was later, taken out of mothballs and recommissioned as the USS Monmouth county, LST 1032. Along with other sister ships, they served during the Vietnam conflict, moving cargo, and as part of the mobile riverine force.

[@markmark2080]

The video refers to LST1063, I served on the Monmouth County during '66/'67 and it was always #1032. In around 2002, had the pleasure of visiting, a couple times, with an old timer (which I am now) who had been an officer on it from the time it was commissioned, through Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and the end of the WW2... Living and working conditions were HELLISH for the engineering gang, but the adventure of criss-crossing the far east hauling all manner of supplies into the Delta and to coastal locations, barely surviving a typhoon and visiting Bangkok and Hong Kong...PRICELESS.

[@johnhopkins6260]

For Operation Neptune (D-Day Normandy landing, 6JUN44), DUKWs and "DD" tanks, were launched, via the ramp.

[@barryhopesgthope686]

Long, Slow, Target. Ok, enough silliness. What about the LSTs made into aircraft carriers? They launched J-3s only, no landings.

[@johngolini332]

Some were made into rocket launch platforms as well, to soften the beachhead prior to landing.

[@jamesreynolds1930]

my grandfather was also on an LST,,,LST 532 june 6 1944 onaha beech,pharmacist mate 1st class,i have his journal,he witnessed everthing from the ship until the wounded arived ,after that he performed 100 colostemys,he also wrote they took wounded back too england along with prisoners.in the middle of the night on way to england an american sargent who was wounded,found out there was a german machinegunner on board,took out his kbar kvife went to this wounded german prisoners bed and cut off his head with it .and went back to his bed to sleep.

[@dabigkahunacatfish2992]

l was surprised not hearing the "other" name for an LST, IE; Large Slow Target.

[@johngolini332]

My father also called it a "Large Slow Target"

[@johngolini332]

He called "Loaded for Single Trip" as well.

[@dabigkahunacatfish2992]

@@johngolini332 Even with it's little drawbacks, it was one amazing vessel along with the people who built and sailed them. They truly were the greatest generation.

[@johnryan8533]

I'm afraid you're all mistaken. LST stood for Large Slow Target.

[@marycorrell2557]

The Greatest Generation for a reason. I firmly believe that if they would have known that this great Republic would be like it is now. That not one of them would have sacrificed what ALL AMERICANS did during WW2

[@JeepWrangler1957]

I noticed that the officers saluting the raising of the colors were Coast Guard. Was this a mixed crew of USCG Officers and USN enlisted?

[@matthewmillar3804]

Less than 5 min in and I'm noting the content. However, as a note of criticism, the music is far too loud. Otherwise, I'm enjoying it. 🙂

[@timlist4173]

Do you have any info on LST 861? My dad served on it during ww2.