Notes from the Captain
Posted 21 December 2005

First the USS LST MEMORIAL BOARD of directors wish everyone a very MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We have so many things to be thankful for at this time of the year. With the help of so many, the LST 325 has had one great year. It has not been a perfect year, but the accomplishments of this ship this year have been awesome, and we are correcting the few glitches that have showed up for reasons I do not understand fully.

By the end of 2005 our PAID attendance in Evansville, IN. alone will exceed 5,000. We have had several hundred and maybe more nonpaying individuals, who have toured the ship. They come in the rain and the cold. We were shut down for several days, not very many, because of snow, ice or unsafe conditions. They have come from all over the United States and a few from foreign countries. A lot of these were our Veterans, but not the majority. We have had a lot of just interested people, wanting to know what an LST is? Some have never been on a US Naval ship, let alone one that was in WW II.

The LST's success in Evansville has been due to a lot of great and caring people. I cannot say enough about our volunteers, who show up day after day, and give their time to explaining all about the LSTs and their role in the wars of our country. They have become professionals and can tell you more than most people want to know about LSTs and LST 325 in particular. Go ahead and ask them a question, make it a hard one. It is difficult for an X-LST sailor to stump them. We also have maintenance volunteers, electricians and welders, those that check the bilge alarms and the steel cables holding the ship. We have volunteers in the office and gift shop, doing just one tremendous job. We have coffee and donuts most of the mornings, paid for by donations from those who partake or are just donated by a worker. Thank you guys and gals.

This brings me to the great job our (Evansville) Visitors and Convention people have done. They organize our LST reunions, conventions, school groups, bus groups, and business groups that want to tour the LST. We have groups booked throughout next year. One group I have first knowledge of is the great Illinois LST Chapter reunion next October. The bureau has been trying to get the National LST Association to come, but have not to date had one phone call even returned. They have a big display on the LST at the Visitors Center on Interstate 64 as you come into Indiana from Illinois. We have signs in Evansville directing you to the LST. Lots of signs, we are easy to find. We have new and updated brochures again printed by LKS (Letterkraft) of Peru, Illinois. Thank you Mark Dudek. This is the fourth time that they have donated these brochures for the ship! 

We have an Office Manager and Executive Director in Sandy and Mike Whicker. What a great job they are doing. Sandy has organized the office, and overcome a very complicated cash register. She will do most of our "Thank You" letters and correspondence. She has asked to have donations and memberships sent to the ship -- just one place for everything. This is going to help in one of those areas we have slipped up on. Mike, as a volunteer has organized the day to day activities of the ship and the crew. He sees that things get done and that they get done right. He does the depositing of funds, adds up the attendance figures, and with Sandy they keep inventory on the ship's store and are reordering merchandise. He is on the computer, giving talks, and writing our story. He also teaches and has been elected Chairman of the Evansville Port Authority. Thank you Sandy and Mike Whicker!

Our new dock facility is almost complete. The ramp is fixed, lights are on the barge and ship, and a roof is being put on. Our thanks to the city, Mayor Weinzapfel, and all the departments that have helped with the dock facility. A security fence is now installed in the gift shop. A golf cart for the handicapped and for transport of supplies has been donated by the "COURIER AND PRESS." We have our LCVP's now sitting on the barge. This was done so they can be sandblasted and painted in the spring.

I also want to thank the volunteers which took care of the LST all last year in Mobile, especially Bob and Rosemary Ostrander. Also Bill Arras for all the work he did on the ship to get it running and keep it that way. Thanks to all of you who helped us in Mobile, Alabama. I will miss someone or something, but one thing that continues to stand out is our great web-page. Jim Anderson has done such a great job, and put in so many hours. How do we thank him, but THANK YOU, THANK YOU, JIM ANDERSON. We have a new web-skipper, Rudy, and we are looking for a continuation of Jim's efforts, but we are asking the impossible I believe.

We will be having a board meeting at the ship on January 9th and a special celebration of our 5 year reunion bringing the ship home on January 10th at 7:00pm at the Evansville Museum of Art, History and Science (411 SE Riverside Dr.) with an actress portraying "Rosie the Riveter" performing. This performance is free to the public. If you need more information on this event, call the ship or check our web site.

Yes, the LST 325 is not only the luckiest LST ever built, but it also is so blessed by all of the wonderful "LST fans" that support her and keep on supporting her. I am also blessed by the great LST Board, Crews, volunteers, and supporters that make my job easier. I am really blessed by all of the friends I have made because of a "Damn" thing called an LST!

Bob Jornlin, Capt. LST 325
President USS LST MEMORIAL, INC.