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Old 08-28-2017, 09:10 AM
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Arrow Cleveland Indians host World War II Navy Vets

Cleveland Indians host World War II Navy Vets
RE: https://tribevibe.mlblogs.com/clevel...s-5cac40bbae29

Seventy-five years ago, the Japanese attacked the U.S. Naval fleet at Pearl Harbor and America’s direct involvement in World War II began. In the days and months after the attack, Americans by the thousands flocked to recruiters to join the Navy and the Army.

Eleven of those Americans who joined the Navy at that critical time came to Cleveland this past week for a get-together to remember their service and to mourn their comrades who served with them. Their reunion stay included a Memorial Service, a visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a cruise on Lake Erie and a night game on Thursday with the Cleveland Indians vs the Boston Red Sox.

The Management of the Cleveland Indians hosted the vets and their families on Thursday night with the veterans taking to the field for recognition and a ceremonial first pitch just before the National Anthem. They received a standing ovation from the crowd as black and white video on the Giant Screen showed their ships in action at Okinawa.

The presence of those veterans seemed to be the good luck charm that helped the Indians win the game against the Red Sox 13 to 6.

On Friday night, the vets and their family members headed over to the Hofbrauhaus for some good German food and the crowd there gave the vets a big round of applause as everyone raised their beer mugs in salute to their bravery and service.

These sailors are all now in their 90’s. Each of them was in the thick of the fight as their ship provided close-in rocket and gunfire support as our Marines and Army infantry went ashore in the island campaigns in the western Pacific in 1944 and 1945. Dozens of LCS ships saw action at Iwo Jima and Okinawa as well as at the Philippines. In the first eight months of 1945, 26 of the LCS ships were either sunk or damaged beyond repair.

These ships were called Landing Craft Support ships or LCS’s for short. In their battles, they earned the name “Mighty Midgets” because of their enormous firepower and their ability to not only protect American and allied troops as they waded ashore but they also proved highly effective in providing anti-aircraft fire and were responsible for shooting down dozens of kamikaze suicide airplanes as well as many suicide boats.

Two of the eleven veterans live in the Cleveland area and are happy that the Landing Craft Support Museum Convention is being held near them. Seaman 1st Class Tony Artino is 91 years young and makes his home in Twinsburg, OH. Tony is a survivor of the sinking of the LCS-26. The 26 participated in the amphibious landings on the shores of the Bataan Peninsula (Marivelies Bay) in the Philippines. In the early morning hours of February 16, 1945 fifty Japanese suicide boats raced out of hidden caves on the nearby island of Corregidor. They attacked the screen of LCS ships that were protecting the troops landing on the shores of Bataan. Three LCS ships were sunk and one was severely damage and had to be beached to prevent it from sinking. LCS-26 was among those that were sunk.

James Minnich is 91 years young and lives in Elyria, OH Jim served as a Seaman 1st Class (Mess Cook) and served on LSC-29. The 29 participated in the landings in the Philippines and the last amphibious landings of WWII in Borneo.

An estimated 10,000 sailors served on LCS ships during World War II with 167 killed in action and with 267 suffering grievous wounds.

These ships and the brave young men aboard them were a key factor in winning the war in the Pacific. Today, there is only one of these historic ships left in the world. The LCS 102, which saw heavy action during the assault on Japanese occupied Okinawa is now serving as a floating Naval History Museum at the former Mare Island Navy Base near San Francisco. The ship is open to the public.

In order to learn more about the LCS 102 and the historic role the LCS-102 and its sister-ships played in the bloodiest battle of the Pacific War or to make a contribution for the upkeep of the ship, go to www.mightyMidgets.org
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Boats

O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"IN GOD WE TRUST"
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