USS LCI(L) 554
c/o Fleet Post Office
New York, N.Y.
20 June, 1944
FROM: THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER
TO: COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, US FLEET
Via: (1) Commander, Group 33
(2) Commander, Flotilla 11
(3) Comlancrab11thphib
Subject: Personnel Action Report
1. The general attitude of our crew before we took on Army personnel was a natural American one. We all felt we had a job to do and hoped we wouldn't have to remain inactive too long. It was a relief to see the Army come aboard; we now knew we didn't have to wait as long as these other ships who had been here for several months.
2. Although we had not been briefed, the Army had,--and since we were all restricted to the ship we learned a great deal about the plans on D-Day in our conversations with the troops. Their information did very much to bolster our morale.
3. When we shoved off for the invasion we were pleasantly amazed at the terrific mass of ships that were continually collecting as we proceeded along the English coast, and then across the Channel. The tremendous air power overhead added to our ever-growing confidence that this invasion would be a great success. All of us tried to sleep that night, but most of us only rested.
3. As we lay offshore waiting to be called in to the
beachhead we had a ringside seat to the first real gun-fire
we had ever seen. We were in an excellent frame of mind and all was extremely tense as the larger naval units protected our advance to shore by firing at the gun emplacements which
fired on us. Just as we dropped anchor we experienced that natural fear because now we realized that not all the gun-fire was coming from our units. The enemy was dropping shells all around us and mines had exploded under landing craft near us. The sight of so many dead bodies and damaged crafts made us feel as if we were lucky so far. We wondered how long it would be before we were hit, and I'm positive everyone prayed terrifically while we were under fire.
4. It was inspiring to see our men work so methodically in spite of the intense firing around us. For two of our men on the ramp lines,(LOUIS W. THOMAS S2c and PAUL L. PERRYMAN S2c) it was the first time they had seen our or any other landing craft make a beaching. For all of us it was our first beaching in several months, and our first under fire(and with troops).
5. The manner in which our Captain, Lt. (jg) E.B. Koehler, USNR had handled the ship while advancing through the many posts protruding through the water and the damaged debris along the beach was admirable. Although we could see other landing craft stuck on the beach, we felt sure that our Captain would get us off once the Army was ashore.
6. The work of Floyd W. Ward, MoMM 3c, in handling the stern winch was excellent in keeping us from fouling our
cable around the many posts we had to come through. He persistently worked the winch and did very much to keep our stern from drifting into the damaged landing craft and enemy
underwater obstacles on both sides of us, both while we were
on the beach and as we retracted safely.
7. When we returned to the rendezvous area we were ordered to land more troops form a transport, while the other ships in our unit were ordered to proceed to England. After the second beaching the crew was beginning to feel especially proud of their work. We remained along the French beachhead (OMAHA) for three days during which time we made six beachings, unloading over 1800 troops, and bringing back thirty-nine casualties on two of our beachings. The crew became conceited enough to believe that we were establishing a record of some sort among the LCI's here. If it weren't that they wanted to get word home to their worried folks they would not have complained about staying in France and missing so many meals while keeping busy unloading troops at the beach.
8. Our swimmer, HERMAN (n) HOFFMAN S1c, showed superb courage by volunteering to take into shore a life line which the Army used when we could not get them on dry land.
9. Throughout the complete operation we suffered no casualties to men nor troops.
J.J. Terranella,
Ensign, USNR
Executive Officer
Copies:
Cominch(2)
Flotilla Commander
Comlancrab11thphib
Group Commander (33)
File
ACTION REPORT
USS LCI(L)554
SERIAL - NONE 12 JUNE 1944
CONTACT WITH FORCES OF THE ENEMY
COVERS TRANSPORTING OF 200 OFFICERS AND MEN OF 1ST BATTALION HEADQUARTERS AND COMPANY D--115TH INFANTRY--TO OMAHA AREA--BAIE DE LA SEINE-- 5-6 JUNE 1944
76943
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USS LCI(L) 554
c/o Fleet Post Office
New York, N.Y.
12 June, 1944
From: Commanding Officer.
To: Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Fleet.
Subject: Contact with Forces of the Enemy.
1. 1704, 5 June, 1944: Underway from Weymouth Harbor on orders of CTF 22 to participate in Operation (omitted) Army personnel on board consisting of two hundred officers and men of the 1st Battalion Headquarters and Company D of the 115th Infantry, with Lt. Col. R.C. Blatt as Commanding Officer of troops. Sailed in convoy with Captain Imlay, USCG as Convoy Commander and Lt. Comm. Henry, USNR as Group Commander.
2. 1029, 6 June, 1944: Proceeded to Dog Green sector of Omaha Beach under the direction of Group Commander. 1100: Beached and commenced unloading of troops. Machine gun and shell fire on approaching beach. 1110: Retracted.
1115: Underway for rendezvous area.
3. There were no casualties to ship or to Army or Navy Personnel while on board. All personnel carried out their duties in a quiet and efficient manner. No firing was done by this ship due to Army troops on the beach and other LCI(L)s close by. One unidentified sailor deserves credit for boarding an abandoned LCT further down the beach and directing accurate twenty MM fire at the machine gun pill boxes until either killed or wounded by shell fire. It is believed that his fire held up the machine gun fire considerably during the unloading of the LCI(L)s.
E.B. Koehler
76943
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ACTION REPORT
USS LCI(L)554
NO SERIAL 3 JULY 1944
ACTION REPORT -- OPERATION NEPTUNE, 5/6 JUNE 1944.
TRANSPORTED 200 OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE 1ST BATTALION HEADQUARTERS AND COMPANY D, 115TH INFANTRY TO OMAHA AREA, BAIE DE LA SEINE.
79462
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LCI(L) 554
c/o Fleet Post Office
New York, NY
3 July, 1944
From: Commanding Officer, USS LCI(L) 554
To: Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet
Via: (1) The Commander, LCI(L) Group THIRTY THREE
(2) The Commander, LCI(L) Flotilla ELEVEN
(3) The Commander, Landing Craft and Bases, Eleventh Amphibious Force
Subject: Action with the enemy.
Enclosure: Executive Officer's report of Personnel.
1. The USS LCI(L) 554 sailed with Convoy Group one LCI(L), from Weymouth Harbor, England on 5 June, 1944, in accordance with the operation plan for the Western Naval Task Force. This convoy consisted of thirty five LCI(L)s, and proceeded along the convoy route as set down in the operation orders. This convoy was to proceed to the transport area, from which they were to depart in separate groups to their respective beaches at times scheduled and land embarked troops and equipment. This ship was assigned to a group of eight LCI(L)s under the command of Lt. Commander Henry, USNR., which was to land troops and equipment on Beaches Easy Green and Dog Red at approximately 1015, 6 June. At the scheduled time, this group reported to the control vessels at the line of departure and on orders from them proceeded to the beaches. There were no cleared channels to the beach, as the obstacles set up by the enemy had not been cleared away. The obstacles that could not be seen at high tide had sufficient water over them for this ship to clear them. The stakes nearer shore could be seen sufficiently to pass between them. As we approached the beach, there was some machine gun firing, but did not appear to be directed at this ship. The troops were landed with their equipment, during which time there was shelling by what was believed to be 88MMs. This ship retracted from the beach and proceeded to the rendezvous area.
2. 5 June, 1944: 1704: Underway in accordance with orders from CTF 122. Courses and speeds conforming to the channel. Took station in convoy. Set battle Condition II. 1808: Base Course 132(T), speed 8.5 knots. 1848: Changed course to 098(T). 2155: Changed course to 164(T). 6 June, 1944: 0000: Underway as before in convoy formation. 0917: Changed from condition II to condition I. Leaving transport area for line of departure. 1029: Changed from Condition I to Condition IM (Beaching). Arrived at Line of Departure. Received orders to proceed to beach. 1057: Dropped stern anchor. 1059: On beach between LCI(L)s 412 and 411. 1100: Ramps out and troops proceeding to land. Two feet of water past ramp. Troops using port ramp due to shallower water and obstacle at starboard ramp. 1115: Three men, stranded on the beach from the USS Samual Chase, came aboard for transportation back to ship. Ramps retracted and ship off beach. 1129: Anchor secure, Underway for rendezvous area.
3. Due to the presence of army and navy personnel on shore and other LCI(L)s nearby, there was no firing of guns aboard this ship.
4. There were no casualties to either this ship or to the personnel, Army or Navy, while aboard. All personnel concerned performed their duties in an apparent calm and efficient manner.
E.B. Kohler.
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Enclosure "A"