Posted 8 years ago
Bfaria866
(1 item)
My grandfather second image, third gentlemen from the left in white, Lt R.W. Dillard, can anyone place a name with a face.
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Here are a couple of links you may like to check out: http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/16/160473.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Tern_(AM-31)
If these help you then you can maybe find names from Mike Guarino
LST - 473 was laid down on 10 July 1942 at Vancouver, Wash., by Kaiser, Inc.; launched on 9 December 1942; and commissioned on 16 March 1943, 'Lt. R. W. Dillard in command. During World War II, LST-473 was assigned to the Asiatic- Pacific theater and participated in the following operations: Lae occupation-September 1943 Leyte landings-October 1944 Lingayen Gulf landing-January 1945 Zambales-Subic Bay-January 1945 Mindanao Island landings-April 1945 Following the war, LST-473 returned to the United States and was decommissioned on 18 March 1946 and struck from the Navy list on 17 April that same year. On 21 April 1948, the tank landing ship was sold to Hughes Bros., Inc., New York, N.Y., and subsequently scrapped. LST-473 earned five battle stars for World War II service.On behalf of the LST 473 Association I would like to share some additional information about this great LST and crew. LST 473 sailors were awarded a number of decorations for heroism during the assault on Lae, New Guinea on September 4, 1943 in the Southwest Pacific Theater of War serving as part of the VII Amphibious Force known as "General MacArthur's Navy". The following decorations were earned: JOHNNIE DAVID HUTCHINS, S1c, Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor; FREDERICK L. ERICKSON, S1c, awarded the Navy Cross; NELSON TUDOR, CPhM, awarded the Silver Star; J.K. HAYES, Ensign, awarded the Silver Star; Letters of Commendation were awarded to EDDIE A. HUNTSMAN, EM3c, SYLVESTER L. MODGLIN,MoMM2c and J.W. TRIPLETT, Ensign. 8 shipmates were killed in action during this assault a 14 others were seriously wounded when 2 500-lb. bombs hit the 473. Shipmates killed in action were: WALLACE M. BONAPARTE, Lt(jg); CHARLES L. BOOTH, QM2c; JOHN M. CARIMI, PhM2c; JAMES "JAKE" M. DODERO, SF2c; GEORGE E. EKLUND, SK2c; MARK A. HOVENKAMP, EM2c; JOHNNIE DAVID HUTCHINS, S1c; HOWARD STARK, MoMM2c. It should also be noted that LST 473 earned a 6th battle star for her participation in the Borneo landings in the summer of 1945.
And this: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth648497/m1/1/
T A
Hi TA your comment is similar to the above navsource link with a more in depth addition of the sailors decorations very interesting indeed glad to learn more about this in your words great LST and crew and about R.W. Dillard. The first photo above with the full crew displaying the AB-31 USS Tern life perserver was laid down much earlier 7 September 1919 ( She was decommissioned on 23 November and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 5 December 1945. ) then the LST-473. I guess there are two parts to Bfaria866's post maybe R.W. Dillard served commissions on both ships at different times during his career.