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LST-973 Trapp
Photo by Hal Barker. Copyright 1989.

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8 Messages - Newest to 24
Current Message 1 - June 21, 2008
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Entry: 66154
LST-973 Trapp

crew member lst973

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william richards wrote on 2008-06-21 13:38:31.0

Comments:

Keywords:

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Current Message 2 - April 13, 2007
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Entry: 60659
LST-973 Trapp

LST 973: 1944-46

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Calvin Bard wrote on 2007-04-13 15:16:08.0

Comments: I stand corrected. As a late arrival aboard the ship, I wasn't familiar with the 973's origins other than she was laid down somewhere on the East coast.

For those interested, the original skipper, George Irwin Purdy made his home in Japan after the war where he wrote his autobiography. "A Summer For A Lifetime: The Life and Times of George I. Purdy: as told to Thomas Caldwell." In it, according to the publisher, he tells the part the 973 played in the Pacific war. You young whippersnappers might find it interesting reading if you can tear yourselves away from your boob tubes and shuffle boards. LOL

Keywords: CORRECTION: Commissioning Date;

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Current Message 3 - April 12, 2007
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Entry: 60653
LST-973 Trapp

LST 973: 1945-46

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Calvin Bard wrote on 2007-04-12 23:48:06.0

Comments: I'm astounded to learn that the 973, was still in service in 1950, much less until 1960. I left her at Subic Bay in February,1946 and it was my understanding she was to be turned over to the Dutch.

I joined the crew of the 973 upon release from the Naval Hospital, Bremerton, WA. in April of '45. The 973 was my second ship.

Keywords: LST 973, "The Lone Wolf", commissioned in 1945; Lt. G. I. Purdy, commanding.

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Current Message 4 - May 30, 2005
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Entry: 51223
LST-973 Trapp

Robert (Andy) Anderson, LST973

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Elmer Wallace wrote on 2005-05-30 00:00:00.0

Comments: Looking for ROBERT (Andy) Anderson. Last known location was Kansas City Fire Dept. Had a GM3 rating. Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Andy, his old LST buddies are asking about him. We were in Inchon together on Sept. 15, 1950. We are having reunions and still missing a lot of the original crew. The skipper, R. I. Trapp is alive and well.

Keywords: Inchon, Wonson, Hungnam, Koje Do, LST973

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Current Message 5 - March 25, 2002
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Entry: 24226
LST-973 Trapp

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L.W. (ROCKY) Stroud wrote on 2002-03-25 09:39:36.0

Comments: I WAS A MEMBER OF THE CREW ON LST 973 during the landing at Inchon Korea Sept 15'th 1950 & was one of the most severly wounded. I would like to hear from any member of any of the LST's in that landing.

Keywords:

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Current Message 6 - March 18, 2002
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Entry: 24045
LST-973 Trapp

Member of the crew LST 973

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L.W. (Rocky) Stroud wrote on 2002-03-18 12:41:17.0

Comments: I was in the first group of reserves called up from Houston on August 2nd 1950,flown to Japan & assigned to the LST 973. We picked up Marines at Kobe Japan & made the landing at Inchon on Sept. 15th, 1950.It was almost dark when we headed in to the sea wall. The firat LST to reach the wall took a direct hit on the gasoline drums & fire quickly spread all over the ship. I believe it was completely destroyed. We were the 3rd ship to reach the wall & received heavy mortar & small arms fire.Our drums were punctured by shrapnel but did not catch fire. I was wounded by shrapnel to my back which broke two vertebra, which resulted in a medical discharge in June 1951.I was quickly moved to inside the ship, sedated & saw no further action.I am very interested in hearing from any member of any of the LST's. Especially from the 973.

Keywords:

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Current Message 7 - November 11, 2001
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Entry: 20539
LST-973 Trapp

WW II LST-973

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Lisa Adams wrote on 2001-11-11 19:53:15.0

Comments: My name is Lisa Adams and my father is William W. Watson. He served aboard the LST-973 from Jan. 1945, when it was commissioned in Boston, MA. until it was decommissioned in June 1946 in the Phillipines.

My father left Boston in Jan. 1945 aboard LST-973 and sailed to the Phillipines by way of Norfolk, Va., Cuba, through the Panama Canal, to Seattle, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and finally to the Phillipines. The LST-973 was under the command of George I. Purdy.

He has told me many times of going into Tokyo Bay on V-day + 2 and how Cmd. Purdy made the crew go into the Bay under general quarters and how all the other sailors were sunning themselves on the decks of their battleships and laughed at this little LST coming into harbour at general quarters.

According to my father, the ship never partially sank in the Phillipines. He said the ship spent the war and the time immediately after going from the Phillipines, to Okanwa and Japan.

He enjoyed watching the History Channel's special on LST-325's return to the US from Greece and was pleased to hear about the LST-973's role in the Korean war.

I hope this information about the LST-973 before the Korean war is helpful.

Keywords: William W. Watson LST-973 Jan. 1945 - June 1946

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Current Message 8 - February 4, 2001
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Entry: 14808
LST-973 Trapp

LST-973

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Richard Brown wrote on 2001-02-04 19:01:05.0

Comments: I am a son of John Lewis Brown who was on the LST-973 in 1952. He was stationed at Mare Island and San Diego around that time. Any info you may have would be appreciated. Thank you in advance. Richard

Keywords:

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Ship background

From: Elmer Wallace Email address
Sent: Wednesday, May 17, 2000 

In 1945 the LST-973, under the command of Cmdr. George I. Purdy, was
parcially sunk(in shallow water) in the Phillipines.After being repaired,
the 973 was decommissioned and turned over th the U.S.Army to shuttle
supplies to various islands in Japan.  At the outbreak of the Korean War
in 1950, LST-973 was re-commissioned under LT. Robert I. Trapp.

On Sept. 15, the LST-973 landed on Red Beach, the Seawall at Inchon, 
under fire.  The 973 took several hits with mortar fire, and at least 
three sailors were wounded.

There were more than 12 or 13 LSTs there.  We were in TASK ELEMENT 90.32
with LSTs 799,857,859,898, and 975.  I have a copy of the Citation from
Secretary of the Navy that autorizes Task Element 90.32 to wear the
'Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon'.

Thank you for doing a good job on Korea.  
Elmer E. Wallace
Lancaster, Texas


Ship info and pics

On Sun, 19 Dec 1999 
Elmer Wallace Email address wrote:

In the last year or so, I have been contacting my old shipmates of 
LST 973.

It seems that of all the Korean War info I have read has not mentioned 
the 973.  I know that the Navy records are all fouled up, but we got a 
unit Citation from the Secretary of the Navy of that time.

My question to uou is 'Would you be interested in a copy of that 
citation, and pictures of The 973 hauling prisoners of war'?  

If so please E-mail me and I will forward them to you.

Elmer E. Wallace