Chattanooga welcomed a piece of history to the downtown waterfront last week when the USS LST 325 docked at Ross’s Landing as part of its Tennessee River Cruise. The World War II Landing Ship Tank arrived the morning of Thursday, Sept. 11. Self-guided tours began that afternoon and continued through Wednesday, Sept. 17.
Bob Jornlin, commanding officer of the WWII LST, and his crew held an opening ceremony.
The USS LST 325 participated in the D-Day Invasion on June 6, 1944 as well as other invasions and occupations. It was launched on Oct. 27, 1942 and commissioned on Feb. 1, 1943. On Sept. 1, 1961, the ship was struck from the Naval Register of Ships and transferred to the National Defense Reserve Fleet. In November 1999, by act of the Congress of the United States, she was given to the USS LST Ship Memorial.
The LST 325 now visits waterfront cities across the country to offer a glimpse of this piece of history.
Source: USS LST Ship Memorial