Ambridge Takes Disappointment In Stride After Historic Ship Passes Through Earlier Than Expected
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Sunrise in Ambridge. LST 325, which landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day, would pass the town that built so many of the vessels.
It seems that half the town of Ambridge planned to gather on the bridge, and watch the World War II vessel as it came by, on its way up the Ohio, between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m.
But as it did so often during World War II, the LST crossed them up, sailing under the bridge at 5:25 a.m.
By 8 o'clock, it was miles away.
Rosemary Fielding took the disappointment in stride. She says she has an LST connection.
"My grandfather worked at American Bridge Company during the war. So he helped make the LSTs," she said.
Joe Bartolo says his father made LSTs on Neville Island.
"Although he wasn't in the war, he worked 12 hours a day, seven days a week, which he didn't have to work. I think he's a hero," said Joe.
Bob Mikush also has a connection.
"I had four uncles who were welders at American Bridge," he says. "And they helped in assembling the LST."
The massive LST Tank, or Landing Ship, transported tanks, jeeps and soldiers.
LST veteran Gary Augustine says the Pittsburgh area was a major producer of the vessels.
"Here at Ambridge, they built 123 of them. At Dravo, on Neville Island, they built 146. So between the two of them, they built 25 percent of the LSTs that were used during the war," he said.
LST 325 finally docked at Heinz Field. It's open for public tours through Sept. 8.
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