USS LCI(L)-326 explained
USS LCI(L)-326 was an
LCI(L)-351-class landing craft infantry built for the
United States Coast Guard during
World War II. Like most ships of her class, she was not named and was known only by her designation. She participated in numerous battles throughout the war, and successfully landed troops through the
Mediterranean,
European, and
Pacific Theaters.
[1] Service history
After launching from Austin, Texas, LCI(L)-326 aided in the Occupation of Tunisia in June of 1943, and shortly thereafter participated in both Operation Husky and Operation Avalanche, landing troops in Sicily and Salerno from July to September of 1943.[2] The next six months were spent preparing for the Normandy Landings of 6 June 1944, when the ship and its crew successfully landed troops of the VII Corps on Utah Beach. After making multiple landings under constant enemy fire and securing the Cotentin Peninsula, the Landing Craft's commanding officer Lieutenant Samuel W. Allison was granted a Silver Star.[3] After repairs and a change of crew LCI(L)-326 was used to create smoke screens and deliver messages during the Battle of Okinawa in Japan from May to September of 1945.[4]
After returning to the United States in March of 1946, the landing craft received four Battle Stars and a Coast Guard Unit Commendation before being decommissioned later that year and sold for disposal in 1948.[5]
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons
Individual Honors
References
- Web site: HyperWar: The Coast Guard at War--5.2: Transports . 2024-06-23 . www.ibiblio.org.
- Web site: Landing Craft Infantry LCI(L)-326 . 2024-06-23 . www.navsource.org.
- Web site: LT Samuel Whips Allison . 2024-06-23 . www.militaryhallofhonor.com.
- Web site: USS LCI(L)-326 . 2024-06-23 . United States Coast Guard . en-US.
- Book: The Coast Guard At War. V. Transports and Escorts. Vol. 2 . 1 May 1949 . U.S. Coast Guard . 1949 . 2nd . Washington: Public Information Division, Historical Section, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters . 117-130 . English.
