I thought some of you might be intrigued to see

[Joe Chi Minh]

footage of a Mass celebrated on a tank-landing ship on its way to Iwo Jima during WWII. Here is the link :

http://www.aleteia.org/en/religion/article/video-rare-footage-of-a-catholic-mass-aboard-a-ship-on-its-way-to-iwo-jima-5300417638432768

[Suich]

1. Wow!

Hard to believe that was 75 years ago...very good quality film.

Thanks for posting this!

[Joe Chi Minh]

3. My pleasure, Suich. I'm tickled someone likes it. A bit of history,

and, as you indicate, very clear.

[pinboy3niner]

2. I remember services held out in the jungle in Vietnam

Especially at Christmas, which always meant hot chow and chaplains. The chow and the chaplain would be choppered in. The chaplain would be running his ass off trying to get to all the battalion's platoons in the field, flying to one after another. The service would include a memorial service, with battle crosses, for recent losses.

A battle cross for a fallen soldier is a memorial display of rifle, helmet and boots.

[Sherman A1]

4. Thanks for Posting!

my dad was on an LST during WWII. I don't believe it went to Iwo but rather to the Philippines and then to Japan for Occupation duties. They were interesting ships.

[Joe Chi Minh]

5. Well, I'm tickled it 'touched' so close home with someone's dad, in

the same theatre and same kind of vessel.

[Sherman A1]

6. Well,

He was storekeeper on his ship and served on an 40mm AA mount from what I gathered from some photos. My Mom & He split up shortly after I arrived on the planet and I really knew little of him. From what she told me, He and his crew mates picked up the ship in Memphis, I was built in Evansville, Indiana and sailed it down the Mississippi to New Orleans and I am assuming through the canal to the Pacific. When the war ended, he came home aboard a Destroyer and was mustered out, the LST stayed in the area for awhile and went to Korea for a bit, doing Occupation duties. It eventually returned to the US and I believe was scrapped in 1946 or 47.

I did get to visit the LST 325 that is based in Evansville, IN and tours during the off seasons. They are interesting ships and worth visiting if the opportunity presents itself.