USS LCS-102

West Michigan Boy Scouts perform a ceremony of remembrance saluting the flags on USS LST 393 Veterans Museum Friday. Sept. 11. The Scouts annually remember the tragic attack on America that cost 3,000 lives 19 years ago.

Let this be a warning to other ships in the historic fleet. The Slater is one of the best maintained ships in the fleet but we have huge hidden problems just a...s you do. No one wants to climb under machinery to inspect the void pockets. We got the smallest, skinniest person to crawl under to see why we had leaks. Extreme rot and wet debris will sink any ship in just a few years. Ships rot from the inside!!! EVERY bilge pocket needs to be clean and dry using only a putty knife. Tim and I have been doing this for 42 years and still missed this. Start a bilge cleaning program by doing the pockets starting at the waterline working to the keel. See more

My grandfather's ship, LCS(L) 61 in WWII, May 27th, 1945 off Okinawa. They were escorting another vessel, LCS(L) 52, back to ancorage after they had been damage...d by a bomb. The Betty bomber narrowly missed their ship, as they turned hard to port at the last minute. The miss was so close that the tail section landed on the deck. LCS(L) 61 shot down four more planes at Okinawa and had partial credit for several others. The Navy lost 4,900 sailors at Okinawa to kamikaze attacks. The LCS(L)s were tasked to support destroyers in radar picket duty to defend the main fleet from kamikazes, as well as help fight the fires and evacuate personnel from larger damaged ships. Painting by Richard W. DeRossett

#OTD June 11, 1945, while operating off the Ryukyu Chain, Japan, Lt. Richard M. McCool led his vessel in the rescue of survivors onboard USS William D. Porter a...fter a Japanese kamikaze bomb exploded underneath the ship. The next evening, two more Japanese kamikazes attacked. Organizing a counterattack, McCool’s crew downed one of the kamikazes and damaged the second before it crashed into the vessel. McCool was severely wounded, suffering severe burns from the attacks. For his conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, McCool received the Medal of Honor. The future USS Richard M. McCool Jr. is named in honor of this World War II hero. #Okinawa75 #NavyReadiness Read his Medal of Honor Citation here: https://go.usa.gov/xwXWp

June 10, 1945 -- #OnThisDate at 0815 (8:15 am JST), Fletcher-class destroyer USS WILLIAM D. PORTER (DD-579) was attacked by an Aichi D3A Type 99 dive bomber (Al...lied designation: "Val") #kamikaze aircraft while patrolling off of #Okinawa. She evaded the intended collision and the plane crashed close aboard the destroyer. The wreckage ended up passing beneath the ship when its bomb exploded. PORTER was lifted up out of the water and dropped down again, suffering loss of power, broken steam lines, and fires. Three hours of damage control efforts failed and the order was given to abandon ship. Twelve minutes later, the ship rolled to starboard and sank stern first. The crew suffered no fatal injuries. USS WILLIAM D. PORTER was named for New Orleans native Commodore William David Porter who served on the Western Rivers during the Civil War. (Official USN photos; courtesy of www.navsource.org; contributed to NavSource by Fred Weiss & Robert Hurst) #history #WWII #Louisianahistory #destroyer #honorandremember #neverforgotten #tincansailor #mapreading #technology #timezone #museum #education #ReadMoreAboutIt: https://www.history.navy.mil//danfs/w/william-d-porter.html

Richard Miles McCool, Jr. of Tishomingo, Oklahoma, was a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy and a recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions during World War II o...n this day in 1945. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, McCool was accepted into a new Navy ROTC program, and later appointed to the Naval Academy. He graduated in 1944 (his class of 1945 graduated a year early) and by June 1945 was serving as a lieutenant on the USS LCS(L)(3)-122, and Landing Craft Support ship. On June 10th, 1945 off the coast of Okinawa Island, McCool helped rescue the survivors of sinking destroyer USS William D. Porter (DD-579). The next day, his own ship was hit by a Japanese kamikaze. Although he suffered severe burns and shrapnel wounds in the explosion, he continued to lead his crew in the firefighting and rescue efforts until relief arrived. For his actions on this day, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. McCool also served in the Korean War and in the Vietnam War. He retired at the rank of Captain in 1974 after a 30-year career. He died of natural causes on March 5th, 2008 in Bremerton, Washington. His Medal of Honor citation reads: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of the USS LCS(L)(3)-122 during operations against enemy Japanese forces in the Ryukyu chain, 10 and 11 June 1945. Sharply vigilant during hostile air raids against Allied ships on radar picket duty off Okinawa on 10 June, Lt. McCool aided materially in evacuating all survivors from a sinking destroyer which had sustained mortal damage under the devastating attacks. When his own craft was attacked simultaneously by 2 of the enemy's suicide squadron early in the evening of 11 June, he instantly hurled the full power of his gun batteries against the plunging aircraft, shooting down the first and damaging the second before it crashed his station in the conning tower and engulfed the immediate area in a mass of flames. Although suffering from shrapnel wounds and painful burns, he rallied his concussion-shocked crew and initiated vigorous firefighting measures and then proceeded to the rescue of several trapped in a blazing compartment, subsequently carrying 1 man to safety despite the excruciating pain of additional severe burns. Unmindful of all personal danger, he continued his efforts without respite until aid arrived from other ships and he was evacuated. By his staunch leadership, capable direction, and indomitable determination throughout the crisis, Lt. McCool saved the lives of many who otherwise might have perished and contributed materially to the saving of his ship for further combat service. His valiant spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of extreme peril sustains and enhances the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. We are eternally thankful for Captain McCool’s service to our country. Rest in peace, Sir. #WWII #WW2 #USNavy #Navy #MedalOfHonor #Oklahoma #ThankYou #Sacrifice #RIP #GreatestGeneration #NeverForget #NeverForgotten #OTD #OnThisDay

Amphibious Assault at Tarakan: The Oboe operations were a series of amphibious assaults on Japanese held territory in the Dutch East Indies. Operation Oboe ...One was planned to capture the island of Tarakan on the Northeast side of the island of Borneo. Its goals were to re-capture the oil fields and to repair and use the airfield for future operations. On May 1st, after several days of prepetory work (gunfire, minesweeping and engineering), the United States Navy landed the Australian 26th Brigade (9th Division) on the south end of the island. Twelve LCIs of Commander Vernon Janotta’s Flotilla 24 were assigned to the landing. An additional eight LCIs were assigned to provide close fire support during the landings. While the landings were a success, the goals were only marginally met. The airfield was found to be in far worse shape than expected and, despite substantial engineering support, was not available for use until mid-July. #lci713 #ww2 #ww2 history

May 25th is Memorial Day. Our Nation pauses to remember those brave men and women, both past and present, who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our Nations freedo...m. While some will confuse this day with giving thanks to our Veterans, Memorial Day is strictly for those who gave their lives to protect our Nation. We do not celebrate this day. Instead, we reflect deeply on the courage, faithfulness, and dedication to duty it must take to lay your life down for your country. God bless the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice, and God bless America Check us out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvewjwkysH26lO6bTEwC6DA And add us on Instagram: 3rdMAWBand #3rdMAW #marineband #marinemusicprogram #usmc #marinecorps #3rdmawband #beyondtheuniform #knowyourmil #growingstrong #stayconnected #marinemusic #mcasmiramar #miramar #3rdmawband #taps #memorialday #CBSTaps #lajolla #mtsoledad #miramarnationalcemetery #ussmidway #petcopark #coronado

Turn to, continue ship’s work.

Although U.S. forces secured Okinawa on June 22, 1945, the cost of victory was a staggering death toll. The total number of naval personnel killed, wounded, or ...missing in action remains the highest sustained by the #USNavy in a single battle. This infographic shows some of the numbers that the U.S. Navy suffered during the Battle of Okinawa. One thing remains certain, though. Success at Okinawa would not have been possible without two important factors: effective cooperation between the Services and the Allied partners and the perseverance and preparation of U.S. Navy crews. Download the infographic and learn more about the Battle of Okinawa here: https://www.history.navy.mil///1945/battle-of-okinawa.html #Okinawa75 #NavyReadiness