By Jeff Veesenmeyer There was a strange silence on board the LCI 35…and on the streets of Brighton too. The Normandy invasion had begun. Over 280,000 men were crossing the [ … ]
Category: Elsie Item
Post that appear in an Elsie Item
A Word from Officer’s Country
By Robert E Wright Jr., President and Treasurer To paraphrase an old song made famous by General Douglas MacArthur in his final speech to Congress, Old Sailors never die, they [ … ]
President’s Corner – June 2018
by Robert E. Wright Jr., President/Treasurer The reunion is now history, and from history we learn. After serving as our Vice President for eight years and our President for the [ … ]
David’s Journey
by John France 02/17/2018 David Forman was born July 31, 1923. A native of Kings County, New York, he was the son of immigrants. His father Louis was from Latvia [ … ]
“Now it Can be Told” LCI (R) 765 Takes on a Japanese Destroyer
This is truly one of the most intriguing stories of LCI’s I have ever come across. We are indebted again to Hank Henderson, LCI(R)-765 for this story which, for obvious [ … ]
Navy Beachmasters on “Red & Green” Omaha
By Jeff Veesenmeyer Ensign Joseph Vahgi couldn’t sleep. He was playing cards below deck on Coast Guard LCI(L) 88 (Landing Craft Infantry Large). The flat bottomed, 300-ton amphibious ship rolled [ … ]
Friends in High Places
By Joe Flynn An earlier article was featured in the Elsie Item #95 President George H.W. Bush was known for his many friends from all walks of life. At his funeral many [ … ]
LCI 476 Memories
by Jud Ashmore Got a call recently from an LCI veteran from Texas, Jud Ashmore. I was excited because we are always looking for good stories and Texans [ … ]
Notes from the LCI(G) 70
The Men of LCI 70! At the Nimitz Museum LCI archives dedication: Artist Joe Ortiz poses with his uncle and shipmates from LCI 70. Left to right: Royal Wetzel, Leo [ … ]
What’s New
from President’s Corner, Elsie Item 100, March, 2018 Welcome to our 100th Edition of the Elsie Item! It is the work of our new editor, Jeff Veesenmeyer. Welcome Jeff! Jeff hails [ … ]
Albert D. DiVincenzo Aboard USS LCI(G)373
During my service on the USS LCI(G)373, I experienced a friendship with some of my shipmates that is going to last a lifetime. During my stay, I was honored to [ … ]
Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire!
By Ralph I. Miller, LCI(M) 805 In the Campaign in the Pacific, LCI’s made a lot of smoke and provided a good cover for the “big boys,” the destroyers, the [ … ]
The “Angels” Came At Dawn
Bob Wheeler served in the USN as a Radioman 2nd Class on the USS Avocet – MHC -16, which was an AMCU and before that it was USS LCI 653. [ … ]
An LCI Ace
By LeRoy Olson, USS LCI(L) 966 &(L) 321 Not only did LCI(G) 70 ace out with five planes, but she survived both torpedo and kamikaze hits. Her exploits resulted in [ … ]
What’s in a Name?
By Joe Flynn The USS Begor (APD 127) slid down the ways of deFoe Shipyards of Saginaw Michigan, May 25 1944. It was being built as a fast, shallow draft [ … ]