The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-09-24
or Man River And His Tributaries
Keep Invasion Fleet Rolling Along
BY WALLY WOOD
written for NEA Service

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~ into the channel. An entry was
made in the log: "OS:0O-Under
way" 5s.
Some battle-swept beach in Eu-
rope or the South Pacific lay far
ahead. Very far. Before the ship
even would meet salt water 1t
Unjust undertake an 1163-mile voy-
age between cornlands and, cot
tonfields, for this craft is part Of
the stable fleets that are being
spawned in in land shipyards Of
the Middle West. Daily down the
Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois rivers
and on through the broad, muddy
Mississippi, move these vessels
for invasion.
Their type name is LIST, which
stands for Landing Ship Tanks.
More simply, they are general
purpose invasion craft designed to
carry tanks, soldiers, artillery and
anything else that the Allies want
to put on enemy shores. They
are larger than the average de-
stroyer, and according to q Navy
announcement many of the LISTS
made a 4,6O0-mile Atlantic cross
ing in stormy weather to spear
head the successful Sicilian inva-
sion." Later, Of course, they
headed for the Italian mainland.
CARRY TWO CREWS
This writer boarded an LIST at
the Evansville, Ind, shipyard for
the trip to the Algiers Naval
Yard at New Orleans. The ship
carried two crews. First the
river-wise ferry crew, charged
with the dif1cult job Of easing the
large craft through the Ohio
locks, which 1t barely clears, and
takin git on down TO New Or
leans.
Then, the combat crew, which
takes over when the ship goes
into actual service. Combat crews
go along on the river voyage so
that they can familiarize them
selves with the ships and can be
ready for real fighting teamwork
when they put to sea.
The ship that took me down had
everything from sulfa pills to a
Santa Claus. The latter was Jim
Yellig, who for years has been
nationally famous as the American
Legion Santa Claus travelling
around in q motorized sleigh adver-
Using the town Of Santa Claus, Ind.
He gave up the st. Nick business to
be a wartime inspector for the
Evansville Shipyard.
"MOPPING UP"
while we're on the river there
still are a lot Of things to be done, "
Yellig explained. Things have to
be cleared up, like those scores Of
covers on the deck, and saving off
protruding bolts. Work like this can
be done while the ship Is moving
and tht saves production time -"
Yellig was interrupted by a
shrieking siren. Alarms changed
all over the ship. Men, some half
dressed, cooks in their aprons, work
men who had dropped their tools,
dashed up on the deck.
Even on the peaceful Ohio River,
the crew was practicing for war.
The men were taking battle sta
tons, manning anti-aircraft and
machine guns. They stripped OF
the covers, started to load and aim
as II StukaS were swooping down
from neighboring Kentucky.
Combat crew Captain John Al
geo stood on the bridge, watch In
hand.
1T will have to be faster than
that, men," he shouted. You took
five minutes"
HALF.MINUTE COUNT
Three days and five alarms later
the sailors were at their battle sta
tons IN four and one.half minutes.
The Navy says an LIST has the
most specious quarters Of any ship
her size, afioat, but q land-lubber
doesn't find much room to spare,
Crowded into the deckhouse are
ofncers' quarters, showers, lavatories
the captains quarters, and q ward
room. At the rear Is an open front
cafeteria where the men get their
food IN trays that also serve as
dishes. Near this are two spigots-
one for water, and a buster one for
hot coffee, which the Navy seems to
exist on.
Below are the crew quarters, q
commiSsary, and sleeping quar-
tiers for the soldiers who form the
invasion force. Farther below are
the engine rooms and large equip
ment and tank carrying rooms.
On the f1ve-day trip there was
no shore leave for the sailors, but
they picked up mail G. the vari-
Gus locks along the Ohio. This
was mainly for the ferry crew
which in its numerous trips ha:
made friends of the lock keepers
and practically turned them into
postmasters.
But lock keepers are not the
only friends of these sailors or
the inland navy. Passing Cars
vile. Ky, the pilot gave a couple
OF blasts on his whistle.
An elderly man dashed from q
house on the river bank and waved
an American flag as long as the stir
was in sight.
That's Joe Harmon" Ferry
Captain L. M. Wall explained. He
does that every time an LIST goes
by. II he isn't out in front, we foot