elsie item issue 78 - USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association

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Southern California LCI Sailors HoldLast Pearl Harbor Day Luncheon inoceansideBy Joe FlynnCalifornia DirectorThe 15th Annual LCI Pearl Harbor Day luncheon was heldSaturday, Dec. 3, at Hunters Steakhouse in Oceanside, CAwith 25 LCI Sailors and their guests enjoying good food, goodcompany, and a good round of sea stories.These luncheons were started in 1996 by Jim McCarthy,late California director. That was a year after Jim convincedCapt. Ralph Davis and a crew of original LCI Vets to sail theUSS (L)1091 from Eureka, CA 850 miles south into San DiegoBay and into the hearts of LCI sailors for the largest LCINational Reunion before or since. Nine hundred and fiftywere registered for that gathering and the widespreadpublicity gave the Association a real boost.During the 1091’s five days in San Diego, 1,568 peopletoured the ship, many of them LCI Sailors who had not yetheard about the LCI Association. Soon after, the 1091 wasnamed the Flagship of the USS LCI National Association, atitle she still holds today. In the years that followed,McCarthy organized California LCI reunions in Eureka, CA,home port of the 1091. Each year Capt. Ralph and First MateBobbi Jo Davis opened their ship and their hearts to LCISailors from California, surrounding states and visitors fromacross the country. After many reunions, the Davis’ donatedthe 1091 to the Humboldt Bay Naval Sea/Air Museum whereit is now being restored, still hosting smaller reunions, andstill open to visitors year round.This year, due to the toll of time and the impediments totravel the Pearl Harbor Day luncheon in Oceanside this yearwas our last scheduled event there. We will still gather, insmaller groups, and random locations. Any place we can geta few LCI sailors together and get the sea stories rolling theparticipants and spectators are guaranteed to have a goodtime. Till we meet again,Fair Winds and Following Seas!Jack Walters, LCI (L) 668 reports on our 2011reunion in Nashville. Wife, Yvonne, looks onJimmie Prime LCI (G) 373 shares his experiences providing firesupport for UDT teams prior to Pacific island invasions.Daughter Patti Prime looks on. Owen Accorsi, who served aboardthe Flagship of the LCI Assn, the LCI (L) 1091, during the KoreanConflict, waits his turn on the microphone.18 | ELSIE ITEM | March 2012
LCI (L) 1 attacks Sicily all By Herself!From a letter to Paul Mascatelli USS LCI)L) 24 from Curtis Boutelier MoMM2/c USS LCI(L)-1, dated January 6, 2007, describing hisrecollections of what happened to LCI(L)-1 and her crew during the assault at Licata Sicily.USS LCI (L) 1 broached on the beach at Sicily“My beaching station was the stern steering engine room. Theescape hatch from the steering engine room was open andwhen the Jerries opened up on us, the tracers from the fourbarrel 20mm up on the high bank put out enough shells tohighlight the complete fantail. Ohe, M0MM2/c was ready to dropthe winch anchor when ordered. The 20mm’s opened up beforethe order came and he was badly wounded. As a result, ourstern anchor was not dropped and we broached.“Stark QM/2c was in the con. An armor piercing 20mm hithim in the shoulder. He died of blood loss and shock. Mace wason the wheel and a 20mm hit him in the chest. I can recall (Ihad the head phones on) the sound that he made as the roundhit him. It was armor piercing. It came through the front of thepilot house, killed Mace, exited the back part gouged a dent inthe deck and kept on going.“Pinky S2/c was on starboard ramp, an explosive 20mm gothim on the helmet. His brains were splattered on the steel closeto the ramp. Our Executive Officer, Mr. Palmer, in the conn, wasalso wounded.“Moore and Rice manned the bow 20mm. How they survivedthe concentrated flak is a miracle. While still not close to thebeach Moore fired back and killed the Jerries manning the 4barrel 20mm. Moore would fire, drop down and Rice would slamon another ammo drum on the 20mm.“After broaching we were pounded with mortar rounds. Thecaptain commanding the 3rd Division troops aboard wasriddled with shrapnel and died on the deck in front of the pilothouse. I remember so well his wallet contained photos of hiswife and small children. Still get teary eyed to think of it.“In the context of the great war, the landing at Licata beachplayed a small part, to the shipmates of mine that died there,we are forever to remember that they are forever young.”Looking back on those events I can almost come to theconclusion that we were deployed to draw fire before the rest ofthe LCIs hit the beach. The LCI’s were one behind the other,sailing along when the LCI-1 turned to starboard and proceededto conquer Sicily all by her lonesome.March 2012 | ELSIE ITEM | 19
Page 1 and 2: OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THEUSS LANDI
Page 3 and 4: a Word from thePresident/editorThan
Page 5 and 6: March 2012 | ELSIE ITEM | 5
Page 11 and 12: a Son remembersHis Father’s LCI D
Page 13 and 14: LCI (L) 989 and the “yangtze Inci
Page 15 and 16: I thought we were and my concerns a
Page 17: The 631 Changes NationalityRobert M
Page 22 and 23: my Grandfather:a Cigarette Salesman
Page 24 and 25: The ship flashed a signal to shore
Page 26 and 27: USS LCI NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONAPPLICA
Page 28: USS LCI NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, INC.c

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