USS LST 561

Comments: I was a crewman (ET) on the 561 from Oct 1951 until July 1954. I have just written a book about the LST during this time. The title of the book is Come in Swanee Leader. ( Subtitled: The Thirty-Three-Month Odyssey of an LST in the 1950s.) See the web site www.swaneeleader.com. Swanee Leader was the call sign of Lcdr Brooks in the LCPL lost on 3 March 1952 with 12 men. The book contains a detailed account of this tragedy. This is the first published account on the loss of these men.

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USS LST-561

Comments: Although this appears to be a web site for Korean war I was aboard the LST-561 during 1955,1956,& 1957 making 3 trips to the Artic and 1 westpac cruise.Thanks James Phillips

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My dad served on LST-561...

Comments: My dad served aboard the LST-561 and saw service in Korea.

On 10/04/2005 he suffered a traumatic brain injury and is now bedridden after almost a year of hospitalizations and surgeries.

His memory is badly failing, but he has fond memories of his service aboard the CHITTENDON COUNTY. If anyone knows him or has anything that we could use to encourage his remembering, his name was JOHNNY SEGUI and he was a marine fireman.

Keywords: LST-561 CHITTENDON COUNTY

I Remember Alton Waldrop from the Central Community in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana.

Comments: Alton Waldrop March 30, 2006

Following provided by Robert Raborn, 10954 Joor Road, Suite B, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70818. 225-261-6577

Alton Waldrop was from Central, a small community in the northeast corner of East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. I am also from East Baton Rouge Parish, and now have my laww office located in the Central Community. I met Alston when we were in Korea.

His brother has talked to me about him quiet a few times over the years since Alton's death in 1952. Alton was in the same LST Division as my LST 692. LST Division 12 was comprised of 5 LSTs--I was on LST 692. Alton was with Commander Brooks as a member of his staff as Commander of Div 12. Commander Brooks and his staff would shift from ship to ship depending on where we were and what we were doing. We in the LST 692 were ending up a long stay in the yellow sea off the west coast of Korea and Commander Brooks and his staff had been aboard our LST for that period of time. On the morning of Alton's death (along with Commander Brooks and about 10 others)Commander Brooks had just moved his command and staff from LST 692 to LST 531. LST 561 had jsut arrived on site to relieve the L?ST 692. The LST 692 immediately set sail from the West coast of Korea (in the Yellow Sea) back to Japan for a well earned rest. Only about an hour after leaving the scene we got the message that the small boat with Aalton, Commander Brooks and all personnel were missing. Alton, Commander Brooks, and about 12 others got into a small boat (LCVP) one morning and went on a search mission around an island--we never heard from them again. Found debris from the small boat, but no bodies.

I am now a retired attorney in the Central Community where Alton was raised. Only yesterday I ran into his sister-in-law and we had a long reminiscing talk about Alton.

I really appreciate you folks making this site available to remember the many young men who gave their lives for the freedoms we enjoy here in our country.

Keywords: USS LST 692--Loss of LCVP and personnel on Mar 2, 1952, in Yellow Sea off West Coast of Korea--Commander Brooks, Alton Waldrop, adn others were killed in action)

My first ship

Comments: I reported aboard the USS Chittenden County while she was in the yards in San Pedro, CA preparing for our first excursion into the ice to replenish the DewLine. My duty station was Commander Landing Ship Squadron 7 flag which was embarked in the Chittenden County. We finished our overhaul and set out for a shakedown cruise around Catalina Island. What an adventure. Shortly thereafter, we steamed up the West Coast to Seattle, WA where we embarked members of the U.S. Army and supplies to replenish the DewLine. The trip was a scary first adventure for and 18 year old sailor. We were rammed in the Straits of Juan de Fuca by a tug boat pulling two barges enroute from Seattle to Canada. After emergency repairs, we headed North into heavy weather as you will find in the Aleutians most any time of the year. At Point Barrow, we were waiting for several commercial ships to join us and we were frozed into the ice. We were incompany with several U.S. Navy and USCG ice breakers. When the went to free us, the ice breaker lost steerage way and almost rammed us. There were sailors climbing out of the hatches with life jackets and skivvies... life expectancy in those waters was a few minutes at best. We were finally freed and followed the ice breakers steering jack staff to mast thru the ice. We hit a piece of polar ice and it ripped a hole in the port side fuel tanks 18" wide and 22' long. Visiting the Eskimo villages was a real adventure and has lots of memories. Will answer any and all e-mails. Fair winds and following seas... Ron Olesen RMCM USN Ret.

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LST 561 Korea 1950-51

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LST 561 SERVED 1951-1954

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Arctic 1956 DewLine

Comments: I served on USS Chittenden County (LST-561) from spring 1956 until summer 1957 after having served on Morgan County (LST_1048). We made the Dew Line Resupply mission that summer into the Arctic for 3 months and I found the service on LST's fun and exciting (especially since I was only 20/21.

More responses for Service? Sorry, didn't realize this was a Korean War page.

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Arctic 1956 DewLine

Comments: I served on USS Chittenden County (LST-561) from spring 1956 until summer 1957 after having served on Morgan County (LST_1048). We made the Dew Line Resupply mission that summer into the Arctic for 3 months and I found the service on LST's fun and exciting (especially since I was only 20/21.

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LST 561

Comments: I served on the 561 from may of 1951 until JAN. 1955. I was in Korea on March 2 1952 when we lost a LCVP with all men aboard were lost. We made two trips to Korea once in 1951 and again in 1954. Would like to comunicate with shipmates. Each tour to Korea was about a year each. Also we made the trip to Alaska in the summer of 1953 which was the first trip. WE had ice breaker protection added in Seatle. I WAS ON THE 561 FOR ALL OF MY TIME IN THE NAVY.

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Crew Member 56-early 58

Comments: I was a crew member in 1956 and 1957. During this time LST made two trips to the Arctic Area to deliver supplies. Would like to contact any members who serve on LST 561 in order to compile a history.

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LEWIS, WILLIE E. FN LST 561 3/2/52

Comments: We are looking for kin of FN Lewis who was aboard the 561. FN Lewis was KIA. Remains not recovered. He was said to be from New Cumberland, WV. We would like to put kin in contact with USN missing persons office. Any kin or anyone knowing whether FN Lewis had a spouse, children, brothers, sisters or aunts or uncles are requested to contact the undersigned. Kenneth E. Page, Chapter Director, Northeast NY Chapter, KWVA, Inc., Troy, NY

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Rudy Overman, looking for info

Comments: Can anyone tell me anything about the circumstances around his death? It happened on 3/2/1952. Others killed were Eugene John Thome, Alton Waldrop, Richard George Sigg, Thomas Boggs Brooks, Willis Encil Lewis, Elma Iaac Chavers. Any help would be appreciated.

Keywords: Rudy Overman, crewman aboard a SMLBT or landing craft

Crew Member

Comments: I served as a crew member from 1954-1956

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uss lst 561

Comments: USS LST 561

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crew member 1951-1955 LST 561

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Keywords: Former radarman and ship's mailman. Remember names of many crewmen. Am interested in all former crewmen who were on board in February and March 1952 when Lt.Sigg and boat crew lost.