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:

April 29-May 7, 1944 - Stayed in Pittsburgh and had a good time.

April 28, 1944 - Got 3 day leave but couldn’t make it home so I just took in the town of Pittsburgh with James Gwin and Pollard who are in the next barracks to me. We had a good time even if we didn’t get to go home.

April 27, 1944 - Arrived at Pittsburgh, PA. Assigned to Collage Barracks and eat in Collage Mess Hall. Have liberty practically all the time.