elsie item issue 61 - USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association

As the restoration took a more and more visibleshape, an organization was formed to give leadershipand coordinated effort to the project.Chaired by LCI Association member GordonSmith, the Amphibious Forces Memorial Museumbecame a legal entity.Pier 39 AstoriaFor a long time, the LCI found a somewhatmakeshifthome moored to log booms up theWillamette River. The possibility of a much morevisible and attractive home came when FloydHolcom, the owner of a former cannery on Pier 39in Astoria, saw the possibility of the 713 being anattractive addition to his plans for converting thecannery into the home for a range of businesses, arestaurant and a bed and breakfast. His offer offree mooring at Pier 39 was enthusiasticallyaccepted by the board of the Amphibious ForcesMemorial Museum and the 713, sans engines,made the journey down the Columbia River propelledby a small tug boat lashed to her stern.Pier 39 was home for the 713 for two yearswhen it became apparent that the location,more exposed to salt water and harsher weatherdue to the immediate proximity of the stormyPacific Ocean, was causing further deteriorationof the hull. It became apparent that the vesselwould need to be returned farther up river.The 713’s return up-river in August of 2006was something of a triumphal procession. JerryGilmartin described it in a News Update for theMuseum’s website:“The 713 was powered by the “Ramona II”,Clark Caffal’s reliable river tugboat, pushing theveteran Landing Craft on the all-day trip toPortland. While underway, the LCI flew a full setof signal flags and one of the largest US flagspossible to fly from a ship of her size. Walt Jameseven hooked up the ship’s horn and signaled thetown of St. Helens as we passed by. During thetrip, hundreds of startled people on the riverwaved and shouted and took pictures of thisproud warhorse as she passed. More than oneperson asked “What kind of a ship is that?” andwere answered proudly,“She is one of the onlyremaining WWII Landing Craft still afloat, and iscalled an LCI”.Return to the Red LionDue to the generosity of Howard Dietrich,owner of the Red Lion Hotel, mooring facilitieswere provided for the 713 in the same placewhere she was viewed by LCIers at their 2004reunion. The list of restoration projects completedis impressive. It includes such items as thecomplete restoration of all wiring, installation ofbunks in the troop compartment, conn and pilothouse refurbishing and replacing of many of thedeck plates. All this work continued as ChiefGilbo led parties in scouring the U..S. .NavalReserve Fleet in Suisan Bay, California for whateverparts and materials might be used.An Unexpected VoyageSometime during the night of Monday, March28, 2007, vandals cut the mooring lines of the713 and an antique Coast Guard Cutter, the Alert,which was tied alongside. It was a dangeroustime for both vessels as they drifted downriverand the winds rose to 20 knots. Fortunately, thetwo vessels came to rest against dolphins alongthe shore line. The 713 was returned to hermoorings by a tug boat of the Tidewater BargeLines who generously contributed their servicesto the rescue.The Alert did not fare so well. Suffering holesin her bottom, she was sinking when Walt Jamescame to the rescue. At the risk of his life, Waltmade a dive under the vessel to place heavy waxin the largest holes. This stopped the inflow ofwater and kept the cutter from sinking. For this,he earned the admiration and respect of allthose concerned with the preservation of the oldcutter. Of his action, Gordon Smith commented:“Would I like to make a dive under a ship thatwas sinking and not really knowing what I wouldfind under there? Hey, Walt, WOW!”The Portland Rose Festival—Almost!Just prior to this unexpected adventure,Gordon Smith and his associates, who hadaccepted ownership of the 713 from Walt James,were delighted to receive an invitation for the713 to participate in the Portland Rose Festival inJune of 2007. The possibility of such favorableexposure to a large audience was exciting andthey began making serious preparations to put14