''The Elsie item'' - USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association

"THE ELSIE ITEM"Number 39 December, 2001Official Newsletter of the USS LCI National Association, anon-profit veterans organization .. Membership in the USSLCI National Association is open to any U.S. Navy or U.S.Coast Guard veteran who served aboard a Landing CraftInfantry. Associate Membership, without voting privileges,may be offered to others upon approval of the Board of Directors.See Page 38 for a list of all officers and directors.Published quarterly by the USS LCI National Association,20 W. Lucerne Circle, #615, Orlando, FL 32801. John P.Cummer, EditorWhat's in This IssueWelcome AboardGreetings to a bunch ofLCIers who found us at last! ......... 3At Last! A Memorial to the Amphibious ManSolomons Plans Memorial to Us All ................................... 5Return to the Solomons: Cradle of Invasion 200 IA great weekend in June at the old base .............................. 7British Landing Craft Association DemonstratesSolidarity with the U.S.A deeply appreciated gesture from Great Britain ............... 8Book Review: The Solomons Campaign byWilliam McGee ................................................................. 10Getting it Right on the USS Gambier BayWe get straightened out on our Reno guests ...................... 11Man Overboard! With a Rocket LauncherDancing with a Rocket Launcher can ruin your day! ....... 12Letters to the EditorWe hear from you! .............................................................. 14Bravo ZulusHonors for some Shipmates ............................................... 17Jim Talbert Pulls a Great Work Party!And you thought you knew our President! .......................... 18A First Hand Look at the Modern Amphibious NavyAdmiral Moran hosts Tiny, Leo and John toAmphibious Group Two and Little Creek .......................... 20Vester Kelly Receives Purple Heart 53 Years Late!Recognitionfiluilly comes .................................................. 22The Picture GallerySome pictures dug out ofthe scrapbooks .......................... 23Admiral Sabin on Seasickness!Atlantic crossing in an LCn ............................................... 27In MemoriamFarewell to some great shipmates ....................................... 29New E-Mail AddressesThe list keeps growing! ........................................................ 30Minutes of the Reno Business MeetingWho said what and when from Bob McLain ........................ 30 Information and Registration Materials for theSan Antonio ReunionIt's coming sooner than you think! .................................... 33The Day of LCI Bravery and Heroism ................................. 39From The Desk of Jim Talbert:For those of you who went throughUSNTB Solomon's during WWll andhaven't been back since, you shouldreally go. John Cummer, TinyClarkson and I went to the "Cradle ofInvasion 2001" celebration they haveevery year and it was a real treat. Itbrought back a lot of memories. Theyhave a great Museum and Library.I hope you all are making plans for the next Reunion, in SanAntonio. It should be a great one.I'm sure you all feel about the same as I do, over all thiscraziness that's been going on in New York, Washingtonand Pennsylvania. I, like you, feel so helpless. But we cansay, "Been There, Done That" and I guess we will just haveto let the younger folks handle this one. We wouldn't knowhow to operate the equipment they have now anyway. I justwish we had some of it "Way Back When" But I'm sure Idon't have to tell you, we must give them all support wecan.I have been sending out Past Due notices lately to some ofyou who have forgotten to pay your dues. I hope I haven'toffended anyone, but we don't have a very good system ofletting you know that your annual dues are due. We used toinclude it on the address of the "Elsie Item", but we can nolonger do that.We have been getting some very fine comments about the"Elsie Item" and I thank you. John Cummer, our Editor andVice President, is doing one heck of a job and deserves allthe credit. John takes pride in everything he does. He is alsoour Model Maker and does a great job at that. Because ofthis, we are getting our LCI story out, allover the country.In as many Military Museums as we can find. We are nowvery strong in the D-Day Museum in New Orleans, whichis dedicated to the combat landings of WWII. If you everget to New Orleans it is a "must" that you see this Museum.It is like no other, in the world.I want to thank those of you, who have written me, pleasekeep it up. I will help you and work with you in any way Ican.I guess I have rambled on about long enough, so I'll say, solong for now.God Bless You and God Bless America!Jim fJaIr;E'T.t2