Moored riverside. The curious and the patriotic queued the full 327-foot length of a floating museum aboard a historic landing ship. The vessel made 40-plus trips across the English Channel in the Allied invasion to reclaim Normandy. Each trip carried tanks and soldiers for beach landings. Images: Steve Lunde
Bow ramp a visitor entry
LACROSSE, Wis. – The last landing ship from World War II, LST 325, winds up a LaCrosse stop on Labor Day after hosting thousands of visitors. On its first war mission, in 1944, the vessel carried 59 vehicles, mostly tanks, trucks and jeeps; 30 officers; and 400 soldiers. On the first trip back, LST 326 carried 38 casualties back to England. The vessel, whose home port now is Evansville, Indiana, has been restored. In 2009 it joined the National Register of Historic Places. This LaCrosse visit is LST 325’s first so far up the Mississippi. The next stops: Dubuque, Hannibal, then home to Evansville. Admission: $15. World War II and Korean war vets free.
Interim Greek service. The Hellenic alphabet letters bespeak LST 325’s post-World War II service in the Greek navy. The vessel is no stranger to transoceanic voyages. It was built n 1943 in Philadelphia.
Fore, aft and midship. Defensive cannons still bristle the ship’s profile.