Oral history interview with Dale O. Bender, [sound recording], January 2007.

ArchivalResource

Bender, Dale O., 1921-. Oral history interview with Dale O. Bender, [sound recording], January 2007.

Oral history interview with Dale O. Bender, [sound recording], January 2007.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/756492058

Dale O. Bender discusses his efforts to preserve an LST as a floating museum, as well as his service on an LST during World War II. Bender talks about a group of people incorporating as the LST Ship Memorial under the leadership of Al Rager in 1988, but then discovering that LST 533, the ship they were going to buy, had been sold for scrap. Bender touches on his service aboard LST 901 during World War II and describes the crew, his ship, and his resistance to seasickness. He tells anecdotes about training new engineers, climbing the mast in rough seas, the ideal spots on the ship, and sliding down the railings during general quarters. He addresses "Operation LST Homecoming," an effort in 1990, led by Jack Goddard, to transport an LST from Formosa to Illinois. Bender describes the high cost of transportation, the monetary commitment of people who wanted to ride the ship back, and the difficulties after discovering the ship was not in good enough condition to cross the ocean. He tells anecdotes about laying smoke to hide destroyers. He describes another effort called Ship Memorial Incorporated, led by Jack Melcher, to retrieve LST 325 from Greece. Bender explains his role in planning the ship retrieval and his reasons for withdrawing from the sailing crew. He tells of the retrieval of LST 325, its time at a New Orleans dock, and its eventual conversion into a museum in Evansville (Indiana). Bender touches on the failed efforts to get the Sphinx, an Auxiliary Repair (Light) ship that was originally LST 963, to Texas. He details his attempts to assist the Great Lakes Naval Memorial & Museum in purchasing LST 393, which was being used by the Sand Products Corporation in Muskegon (Michigan) to transport cars to Milwaukee. He discusses the unwillingness of the private company to settle on a deal and the eventual abandonment of the project. Bender touches on riding aboard ARS 50. He describes sailing a brand-new LST down the Mississippi River in 1944, relying on the Coast Guard for navigation, having a tough shake-down cruise, and running out of oil in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico. Bender talks about delivering supplies in the Pacific, difficulties caused by slippery volcanic ash at Iwo Jima, and using LCVPs as tug boats. He details heading back to the States under full throttle, modifying the engine to run with a higher RPM, and nearly running ashore in Seattle because the throttle was stuck at "forward".

Sound recording : 2 sound cassettes (ca. 92 min.); analog, 1 7/8 ips.Master sound recording : 2 sound cassettes (ca. 92 min.); analog, 1 7/8 ips.Transcript : 58 p.

Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center