MONROE - It was a chance for a veteran to explain to his sons and grandsons what it was like to be on a ship during World War II.
As a young man, Jim Hendrickson was a crew member on a Landing Ship Tank (LST) while in the United States Navy during World War II. He served in the Pacific theater.
From 1944 to 1946 Hendrickson, Monroe, served on the ship built specifically to beach itself in order to land tanks, trucks and supplies without using ports. By 1944, the last full year of the war, Hendrickson said, it was difficult to find ports that were usable. Opposing countries had destroyed them during the war.
Hendrickson is proud of the ships that were used to defeat Japan and Germany.
His sons and grandsons heard the stories about his time on an LST, but he never got to show them what the ship actually looked like until this year.
On Sept. 7 he and his three sons, Gary, Greg and Jim, along with his three grandsons, Derek, Zach and Nick, spent the afternoon in Clinton, Iowa, touring an LST.
For Hendrickson, it was a chance to show them in detail what the ship looked like. Although not the actual ship on which he served, the LST-325 is almost an exact replica. The LST-325 was used more than 30 times during the war to cross the English Channel during and after the invasion at Normandy. Before that it was used to help Gen. George Patton's Seventh Army invade Sicily.
He was able to take them to the deck to show them the view he and so many other sailors saw as they moved at 10 mph toward the islands in the Pacific or the shores of France. He was able to show them how he and his fellow sailors lived while on the ship.
"I was able to relate the stories of when I was on the ship," he said.
Hendrickson recalled how the first time the ship set sail many of the young sailors became seasick. He remembered how, during a storm, the ship would tip almost onto its side as it moved. He remembered when he and his fellow sailors would jump from the ship's deck into the ocean to swim. He also remembered how the sailors celebrated on the ship when they learned the war was over.
The trip to Clinton, Iowa, wasn't about him, Hendrickson said. It was for his sons and grandsons.
"There is a bond between a ship and its crew that lasts forever," Hendrickson said. "That's why I wanted my three grandsons to see a World War II vessel of that era that was so unique and important.
"It was a very special day for all of us."
As a young man, Jim Hendrickson was a crew member on a Landing Ship Tank (LST) while in the United States Navy during World War II. He served in the Pacific theater.
From 1944 to 1946 Hendrickson, Monroe, served on the ship built specifically to beach itself in order to land tanks, trucks and supplies without using ports. By 1944, the last full year of the war, Hendrickson said, it was difficult to find ports that were usable. Opposing countries had destroyed them during the war.
Hendrickson is proud of the ships that were used to defeat Japan and Germany.
His sons and grandsons heard the stories about his time on an LST, but he never got to show them what the ship actually looked like until this year.
On Sept. 7 he and his three sons, Gary, Greg and Jim, along with his three grandsons, Derek, Zach and Nick, spent the afternoon in Clinton, Iowa, touring an LST.
For Hendrickson, it was a chance to show them in detail what the ship looked like. Although not the actual ship on which he served, the LST-325 is almost an exact replica. The LST-325 was used more than 30 times during the war to cross the English Channel during and after the invasion at Normandy. Before that it was used to help Gen. George Patton's Seventh Army invade Sicily.
He was able to take them to the deck to show them the view he and so many other sailors saw as they moved at 10 mph toward the islands in the Pacific or the shores of France. He was able to show them how he and his fellow sailors lived while on the ship.
"I was able to relate the stories of when I was on the ship," he said.
Hendrickson recalled how the first time the ship set sail many of the young sailors became seasick. He remembered how, during a storm, the ship would tip almost onto its side as it moved. He remembered when he and his fellow sailors would jump from the ship's deck into the ocean to swim. He also remembered how the sailors celebrated on the ship when they learned the war was over.
The trip to Clinton, Iowa, wasn't about him, Hendrickson said. It was for his sons and grandsons.
"There is a bond between a ship and its crew that lasts forever," Hendrickson said. "That's why I wanted my three grandsons to see a World War II vessel of that era that was so unique and important.
"It was a very special day for all of us."