May 8, 1945 - This is our first anniversary of our life on the good ship USS LST 740. One year ago today we boarded her in Dravo ship yards in Pittsburgh PA. and started down the Ohio River for the Mississippi, the Gulf and finally the Pacific. To celebrate we really did have a fine dinner…we had turkey, ice cream, and all the fixings. Evening - The captain called me and Morrow into his cabin and gave us back our rates and in their place gave us three liberty restrictions. This sure was swell of him. Noon - we heard over the radio that Germany had surrendered unconditionally and everyone sure was happy to hear it although most of us were expecting it anytime.

May 8, 1944 - LST 740 was commissioned and we left Dravo Shipyard Neville Island Pittsburgh PA for New Orleans. We have a pilot crew to take us down the Ohio and Mississippi.

Period pictures of the Neville Island area: