Thurman
01-05-05, 12:52 PM
On the morning of August 21, 1943, at Kokombono, Guadalcanal, a group of LST's moved out from the beach and headed northward at a lazy pace. It was an unpretentious looking convoy as it started out, but as the various landing craft began stringing out on the horizon and eight destroyer escorts took up intermittent positions to accompany them, it became apparent that this was no mission of routine business. They were bound for Vella lavella, carrying ammunition and fuel, along with detachments of army personnel for that newly invaded island. Though the campaign never reached Bougainville or Guam magnitude, it still offered much the same action, discomforts and danger to those participating. The interesting feature about this campaign was the fact that aboard one of the LST's were three volunteer Seabees (25th BN, 19th Marines, 3rd Marine Division). They were the first men of the 25th NCB to see action with the enemy. Added to this distinction, they had the honor of shooting down the first enemy planes, three in all, in the ultimately colorful history of the Third Marine Division. The weapon used was a 50 caliber machine gun mounted on one of their 6x6 cargo carriers. The same three men, a week later made another round trip to Vella Lavella, and again drove their truckloads of ammo from beach to front line dumps!