"The Elsie Item" - USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association

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The Grand Parade on December 7th honored veteransof the Pacific Campaigns. LClers filled one of thetrucks designated for Navy Vets. (See cover photo)Here, Aggie Hurdle, with her son and Yvonne Mason,cheers the LClers as they ride past.Following the Parade, Celebrators gathered at theConvention Center for the "Gathering of Eagles",where LClers had the opportunity to take front andcenter as President Jim Talbert presented our checkfor support of the National D-Day Museum to Presidentof the Board of Directors, Dr. Gordon H "Nick"Mueller.THE GRAND FINALE - THE USO SHOW AND DINNER DANCE!The Ballroom of the New Orleans Marriott Hotelwas the setting for a gala usa Show andDance. With great big band music and superbperformances by a trio of girls doing great renditionsofAndrews Sisters music we all felt likewe were back in the • 40s again.Here's the whole gang - or at least all that wecould round up at the end of the evening. Allcleaned up and looking fairly respectable buthaving a ball!.6
LeI ReunionsMichigan LCI ReunionReported by Sam Rizzo, LCI 687, Grosse Point, MLOur reunion started on a damper Tuesday, September 11 th. Someoneran into the registration room just as the news was about toshow the second plane crash into the World Trade Center. Wewere stunned. We could not believe that we would see a "Kamikaze"attack in our own country 55 years after the war.The whole reunion was subdued with many tears and we leftafter two days instead of the three we had planned. However,we were glad to be together again.Our Michigan Memorial Roll Call had 9 men plus Walter Kopazthis year.We were fortunate enough to have as our main speaker a youngU. S. Navy Commander (USNR), Kurt Homburg. He was reassuringand inspirational for our group. He was also flattering tothe LCIers for our service in the War. He knew a lot about us!Bailey, also of Gordo, who have become interested in theirgrandfather's wartime service duties, and those of the LCI (G)561 on which he served. They were thrilled to meet some ofDoyle's "way back" shipmates and made a point of having picturestaken with each of us.Our memorial service, participated in by the North CharlestonHigh School ROTC, was held on the fantail ofthe USS Yorktown.Florida LCIers Honor Don McGranahanReported by John Cummer, LCI(l) 502, Orlando, FLEighty five LCIers and their spouses gathered at the SurfsideResort, Ormond Beach, November 13-14, 200 I for a resumptionoftheir annual reunion.Highlight ofthe reunion was the presentation ofa special plaqueto outgoing Florida State Director Don McGranahan, honoringhim for his many years of service.LCI Flotilla 6, Group 16, Meets in South Carolina Reported by Connie Mulherin, LCI(G) 561, Titusville, FLUSS LCI(G) Flotilla 6, Group 16, held its tenth annual reunionSeptember 12-16,2001, at the Holiday Inn, Mt. Pleasant, SC.The tragedy at the World Trade Center affected our gatheringgreatly with many cancellations because ofair travel problems.The saddest news ofall was the cancellation by our Group President,Sal Caffiero (560) ofStaten Island, NY, because his niecewas in one of the World Trade buildings when it fell. A trulysorrowful period for him and his family.In this same week we also lost Group 16 regular Thomas "Bernie"McCarthy (568) ofBrookville, FL, who succumbed to cancer.Except for travel hardships incurred by several ofthem men, thereunion was a huge success.Present at our reunion were two grandsons ofour late shipmate,Doyle Bailey, of Gordo, Alabama. They were Chris and KirkNational President Jim Talbert presents Don McGranahan witha plaque honoring his long service to the USS LeI NationalAssociationRelaxed conversation on the patio overlooking the ocean (a bitwindy!) and an enjoyable banquet followed the informal patternof reunions of past years. In an informal discussion, it wasdecided to try for a two day meeting next year with more plannedgroup activities.The untimely deaths of the two men who planned this reunionbrought sadness to us all. Harry Gatanis, LCI(L) 435, who hadenthusiastically volunteered to take on planning for the reunionsuccumbed to cancer on September 3, 200 I. His partner EarlMinner, LCI(R) 342 of Daytona Beach, FL, stepped into thebreech to complete the planning. We were saddened to learn of7
Page 1 and 2: "The Elsie Item" orficial Newslette
Page 3 and 4: A Note from the EditorIn place of m
Page 5: PACIFIC WING, NATIONAL D-DAY MUSEUM
Page 9 and 10: to the public across the river from
Page 11 and 12: member in our organization.credit.
Page 13 and 14: That night four Jap destroyers trie
Page 15 and 16: in fact, being "run over" by anothe
Page 17 and 18: Elmer Carmichael: German Paratroope
Page 19 and 20: She has never known the feeling ofm
Page 21 and 22: Our diet dictated the flat belly, n
Page 23 and 24: Pete Gagliardi Experiences the Grea
Page 25 and 26: PICTURE GALLERY This one is just to
Page 27 and 28: ~n ~£moriam The bell has tolled fo
Page 29 and 30: Comings and Goings: LClers on the M
Page 31 and 32: THE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS OF THE U
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"The Elsie Item" - USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association

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