elsie item issue 69 - USS Landing Craft Infantry

LCI 653 to be Scuttled in Alaska
Over the past years we have heard reports of an LCI being used in the Alaskan fish industry. Now
we have received news of its impending demise.
Dr. John Odin Jensen, maritime historian and archaeologist of the Sea Education
Association, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, recently contacted LCI Historian Dennis Blocker with
the sad news that this veteran LCI which, after its WWII military service, was used for four
decades as a pilot boat and in the fisheries in Alaska, was to be scuttled in the near future.
Dr. Jensen, who specializes in historic ship preservation, recently inspected the vessel that
served in WWII as LCI 653, and found that the hull was far too deteriorated to consider preserving.
“The ships history, however, is another matter.” said Dr. Jensen.
It was this that motivated him to contact Blocker after locating his address on the USS LCI
National Association website.
“I don’t know if you can help me find out more about this ship’s military service or if you
have any members who served on it, but I thought I should notify your organization of the pending
scuttling.” Dr, Jensen wrote. He noted that this was a sad but necessary end to the ship and far
better than scrapping.
Blocker referred Jensen’s email to Hal Bleyhl, who, in addition to his duties as Treasurer of
the LCI Association, also monitors the website, replying to all questions or contacts. Bleyhl
reported to Dr. Jensen that, we do not have anyone from the 653 on our current mail list but that
last year we had one member, Kenneth T. Walzak , who had served aboard her as an Electricians
Mate.
Bleyhl also told Dr. Jensen of the work of the Amphibious Forces Memorial Museum in preserving
the 713 and suggested that they would be interested in any usable parts and would
undoubtedly like to contact the present owners before the 653 is scuttled. In reply, Dr. Jensen
told Bleyhl that he had forwarded this information it to his contact in the Alaska State Historic
Preservation Office.
Jensen told Bleyhl that he didn’t know if there were any usable parts--but at same time did
not know that there are not. He reported that the ownership of the ship is in limbo, but that in
his unofficial capacity he was suggesting contacting the 713 folks in his trip report.
Navsource,com, the website with information on all U.S. Navy ships, past and present, has
the following information posted on the 653:
A 351 class LCI, she was laid down on June 14,1944 by the New Jersey Shipbuilding Co.,
Barber, NJ; Launched, July 14, 1944; and commissioned as USS LCI(L)-653, on July 22, 1944;
She was decommissioned and put in reserve on June 6,1946. Renamed Avocet, she was reclassified
as a Coastal Minesweeper (Underwater Locator), AMCU-16, on March 7, 1952.
In yet a third re-birth she was recommissioned, December 9 1953; and reclassfied for her
final tour of duty as a U.S. Navy vessel as a Coastal Minehunter, MHC-16, on February 7, 1955.
On May 20, 1955, she was decommissioned at Stockton, CA; approved for disposal on December
21, 1959, and struck from the Naval Register on January 1, 1960.
15