WHEELING, W.Va. -- A World War II ship that was used during the D-Day Invasion at Normandy is docked in West Virginia this week as it begins a three-state tour.
WHEELING, W.Va. -- A World War II ship that was used during the D-Day Invasion at Normandy is docked in West Virginia this week as it begins a three-state tour.
The LST 325 Memorial Ship will be at Wheeling's Heritage Port through Tuesday. It then heads to Pittsburgh and will reach Marietta, Ohio, in time for that city's Sternwheel Festival.
After World War II, the amphibious vessel was assigned to Arctic operations. Today it's a living museum that lets tourists see Army vehicles and equipment below deck, as well as tight sleeping quarters and messages from the Greek sailors who serviced the ship until 2000.
Volunteer Hiram Brownell said more than 1,000 LSTs were built, but few remain. They were designed to land on beaches and deploy troops.
Navy veteran Bob Pointer of Evansville, Ind., who works on the helm, said many families say they only begin to hear their grandfathers' war stories once the family boards the vessel.
"They get emotional. They stand at the rail, sometimes in tears,'' Pointer said. "So that's our job, to spread the word, tell the stories and keep it current.''
The ship is now based in Indiana with crew members ranging in age from 36 to 89.
"It is a labor of love. We were in the Navy years ago and couldn't wait until we got out,'' said crewman Perry Ballinger. "Now we have fond memories and remember the good times and try to recreate it.''
WHEELING, W.Va. -- A World War II ship that was used during the D-Day Invasion at Normandy is docked in West Virginia this week as it begins a three-state tour.
The LST 325 Memorial Ship will be at Wheeling's Heritage Port through Tuesday. It then heads to Pittsburgh and will reach Marietta, Ohio, in time for that city's Sternwheel Festival.
After World War II, the amphibious vessel was assigned to Arctic operations. Today it's a living museum that lets tourists see Army vehicles and equipment below deck, as well as tight sleeping quarters and messages from the Greek sailors who serviced the ship until 2000.
Volunteer Hiram Brownell said more than 1,000 LSTs were built, but few remain. They were designed to land on beaches and deploy troops.
Navy veteran Bob Pointer of Evansville, Ind., who works on the helm, said many families say they only begin to hear their grandfathers' war stories once the family boards the vessel.
"They get emotional. They stand at the rail, sometimes in tears,'' Pointer said. "So that's our job, to spread the word, tell the stories and keep it current.''
The ship is now based in Indiana with crew members ranging in age from 36 to 89.
"It is a labor of love. We were in the Navy years ago and couldn't wait until we got out,'' said crewman Perry Ballinger. "Now we have fond memories and remember the good times and try to recreate it.''
