Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaigns
Campaigns and Dates
Invasion of Normandy Omaha Beach - 6 to 25 June 1944

"J.L. Bradford was assigned as skipper of the LCT 659 in Norfolk, VA. They traveled from Norfolk to New York in April, 1944 where they were loaded on an LST headed for England to prepare for the D Day invasion. One severe storm was encountered on the trip to England. The 659 was stationed in Salcombe, Devon, England to continue training for the invasion. While in Salcombe, at least one crew member, James Cothron, was added to the crew that had traveled from the states.

For a period of time before the invasion the 659 was loaded with jeeps and 4X4's which were loaded with medical equipment. The crew and other personnel assigned to drive the medial equipment were restricted to the 659 with a camouflage canopy over the top. They also were not allowed to throw any trash off the LCT so they would not be spotted by aircraft. The trash was over ankle deep on the LCT by the time they unloaded on Omaha Beach.

The LCT went out the first time on June 4 and had traveled for 4 to 6 hours before a speed boat caught up with them and told them to turn back. On D Day the LCT 659 was part of flotilla 26, task group 124.5, assault group 0-3. they were loaded with jeeps and trucks loaded with medical supplies and arrived in the 10th wave. Before landing on the beach, they were instructed to not fire their guns to ensure that they would not be firing on their own men. On their first approach, a 4X4 was unloaded but quickly hit a deep hole and was submerged except for the roof. On the second approach, a jeep was unloaded but it also flooded out and was being pushed ashore. On their third approach they were able to make it all the way in to the beach under a cliff where they finished unloading. After unloading, the LCT 659 turned and headed straight back out into the channel. After getting out a good ways, one of the big guns on the cliffs took two shots at them, one missing to the left and the next to the right. Both shots were close enough to rock the boat. A destroyer saw what was happening and moved in to return fire at the cliffs. The Germans did not fire any more shots at the 659.

The LCT 659 was then directed to go into the English beach. For the next several weeks, the 659 hauled different cargo from the cargo ships into the beach. Once the big ships were able to come in to the harbor, their mission was finished and they were reassigned." Jess Bradford, son of J.L. Bradford Officer in Charge LCT-659

"...ON 15, MAY 1944 THEY WERE ORDERED TO AN ACCESS AREA IN WEYMOUTH HARBOR, ENGLAND TO BE LOADED. THEY TOOK ON 1 JEEP, 11 TRUCKS, 41 MEN AND 200 BLANKETS. JOHN MARK GANNON WAS ASSIGNED TO THE ENGINE ROOM AS AN F/N MM ABOUT 1, MAY.
THEY GOT UNDERWAY ON MONDAY, 5, JUNE AND HEADED OUT INTO THE ENGLISH CHANNEL. 5 HRS. LATER THEY WERE ORDERED BACK. IT WAS THE JEEP WITH AN OFFICER AND DRIVER THAT WENT OFF FIRST AND SUNK IN 15 FEET OF WATER. THE DRIVER AND OFFICER SWAM TO SHORE. THEY UNLOADED AT "FOX-GREEN" LANDING AREA. ON BACKING OFF THE BEACH THEY HIT A SUBMERGED OBJECT AND PUT A HOLE IN THE BOTTOM CAUSING THE CRAFT TO LIST TO PORT. THEY WERE ABLE TO GET UNDERWAY ABOUT 1700 HRS. AT THAT TIME THEY PICKED UP A BRITISH FLIER THAT HAD BEEN SHOT DOWN OVER NORMANDY. [SEE ATTACHED NOTE]. THEY ANCHORED OFF SHORE ABOUT THREE MILES TO MAKE REPAIRS AND GET READY FOR DAY TWO...
ONE OTHER NOTE, THE LCT-659 HAD 3 DETROIT DIESEL ENGINES NOT GRAY MARINES. JOHN REMEMBERS GETTING "CHEWED OUT" FOR GOING IN THE ENGINE ROOM DURING THE SHELLING. HE REPLIED TO BRADFORD HE HAD TO GO IN TO CLEAN THE SEA STRAINERS TO KEEP THE ENGINES FROM OVERHEATING. BRADFORD REPLIED "WELL DONE SAILOR".
LARRY BOWERS AMERICAN LEGION POST-32 OIL CITY, PA