ROTARY WEEK VOL 6 NO 5

FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER...

FELLOW ROTARIAN DOUG MELVOLD GAVE THE PROGRAM THIS WEEK AND TALKED ABOUT THE LST 325. THAT'S CLYDE HARPER LISTENING CLOSELY.
THE LST SHIPS WERE WORKHORSES IN WORLD WAR 2.
THOUSANDS WERE MADE, AND THEY WERE USED TO
TRANSPORT TANKS, TRUCKS AND TROOPS.   EACH HAD
ABOUT 8 OFFICERS AND A CREW OF 100 AND THEY
COULD TAKE 150 SOLDIERS TO THEIR DESTINATION.
A LST 325 THIS AUGUST CAME ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER FOR TOURS AT BOTH DUBUQUE AND DAVENPORT. BIG CROWDS EVERY DAY.   DOUG WAS A VOLUNTEER
GREETING VISITORS WHEN IT WAS AT DUBUQUE A COUPLE DAYS.    HE HAD GOOD REASON TO VOLUNTEER.    HIS FATHER, THE LATE ROBERT MELVOLD (A FELLOW MAQUOKETA ROTARIAN ALSO)
SERVED ON ONE OF THESE SHIPS ABOUT 1 YEAR
DURING THE WAR.   IN FACT HE WAS CAPTION....KNOWN
AS THE "SKIPPER" TO HIS CREW.