elsie item issue 61 - USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association

LETTERS TO THE EDITORWe’ve got an interesting mail bag to share with you for this issue, so let’s have at it!Gresham, OR:Ivan Gilliam, LCI(FF)Wow! A pleasant surprise. My ship, LCI(FF),Flotilla 3 Flagship was pictured on page 18 ofthe most recent Elsie Item, and referred to severaltimes in some of the deck logs. Then on page 23my name appears first on the list of men whoserved aboard the ships listed. Quite a surprise!Carson City, NV:William Burke, LCI 1030Keep up the good work! I appreciate yourefforts and the excellent newsletter.I would like to hear from former shipmates, butdo not see any listed. I do not have a computerso am a little limited in checking on my formershipmates who might have email addresses.Birkenhead, England:S/M Bob Bell, LST and Landing Craft AssociationThe news of the passing of Tiny Clarkson reached ourshipmates in England and prompted this responseJust a few lines to say how sorry our U.K.Associations were to receive the sad news ofHoward’s passing, and the wonderful tributesthat have been paid in respect of his service asTreasurer, and one of the founder members ofyour National Association.His graveside service with full military honors atthe Saratoga National Cemetary was a fittingtribute to a gentle giant who will be rememberedby all who had dealings with him on joiningyour association.Yours in comradeship.Lexington, MA:Albert D. Ullman, LCI(L) 500Elsie Item has lots of stories about heroic behavior,and I want to add one more that is a little different.I was C.O. of LCI(L) 500. The main thing we didwas take British troops into Gold Beach on D-Day. Nothing heroic, even though our crew ofmainly 18-19 year olds behaved magnificentlyas always. But the heroism I want to writeabout occurred every day we were underway.Chicago, IL:Ross Fragale, LCI(R) 1077Just a short note to say how much I enjoyedseeing a picture of Jack Dempsey. [Issue 58, page15, “Saluting our Coast Guard Shipmates] That picturehas to be a classic.He was my idol back in the 30s. Any kid whoput on a pair of gloves wanted to be JackDempsey.PS Keep Elsie alive!F1C Donald Schmitz had chronic seasickness. Ioffered to have him transferred, but he askedme not to. Every watch, he took his bucket andwent down to the engine room. I’m sure youremember how hot and smelly it was. For theyear we were togethere on the 500, Schmitznever missed a watch! My hat was off to himthen, and it still is.7