Diary of Larry Mulvey, QM2c

Diary of Larry Mulvey, QM2c - USS LST 173
Submitted July 6, 1999

[WebMaster Note: The following diary was kept by Larry Mulvey (QM2) while serving on LST 173. Every attempt has been made to accurately transcribe the information from his diary for this web site. Thank you very much Larry.]

March 14, 1944
Got underway from convoy anchorage, off Cape Henry, Virginia - 1056. Proceeded at an eastern course out of sugar buoys, clear of sugar buoys - 1900.

March 15, 1944
Headed on course 113° P.G.C.. Sea very rough. Covering about 8 miles an hour. 0700 - Fell into convoy position 58. Didn't get seasick yet. About 117 ships in convoy, 20 LST's, 6 destroyers, 7 destroyer escorts, 1 aircraft carrier. Very nice warm day, sun shining. 1300 - Change convoy position from 58 to 57. Sea calmed down a little, wearing just our shirts outside. 1500 - Have covered about 280 miles so far.

March 16, 1944
Underway as before on an average course of 110° T. Sea still pretty rough. 1900 - Heard an emergency operation was going to take place. Asked permission to leave convoy to perform operation for busted appendix. 1125 - Lt. started operation. I was standing at the feet of patient. Ship was rolling heavily. I never seen such efficiency in anyone's hands as the doctor that performed. It took exactly 35 minutes for the operation over 2400, patient normal. Resumed flank speed to catch up with convoy.

March 17, 1944
0100 - One LST got engine trouble, had to turn around and head back to the states. 0400 - Have covered about 550 miles, 60 miles to go to Bermuda. Sea pretty calm now, but ship rolling about 20°. This is because it is top heavy.

March 18, 1944
Proceeding as before on course approximately 085° P.G.C.. Sea calm not much rolling. Sun wasn't shining too bright. Have covered about 900 miles up to 2000. False alarm for submarines.

March 19, 1944
Proceeding as before. Nothing unusual happened.

March 20, 1944
Changed course to 076° P.G.C.. Proceeding as before.

March 21, 1944
Hottest day so far. Had a nice sun bath topside.

March 22, 1944
Foggy and rain all day. Slept on my off time. Had good old Irish stew for supper chow. Proceeding as before on course 076° P.G.C. averaging about 9.5 knots a hour.

March 23, 1944
Morning was swell, sun shining. 1300 - Started to get cloudy and misty, light rain. 1800 - Fog with very rough sea. Worst than the day of March 15, stormy. Have covered approximately 2200 miles. I was wondering how the weather was at home, heard it was 15°. I guessed everybody at home was wondering why I wasn't writing. I can't out here in Mid-Atlantic, but I intend to write to everybody as soon as I am able to post a letter. Sea very rough and stormy. Didn't get sea sick because I'm used to it now.

March 24, 1944
Proceeding as before on course 086° P.G.C.-T. Still rough sea and stormy weather. Have to use radar at night to maintain convoy position #57. 1100 - Sighted deserted life raft from merchant ship.

March 25, 1944
0400 - Almost collided with LST 27 we were following. Came within 25 feet of it, and its cargo is ammunition. Sea continues to be rough, hard to eat chow, coffee and food spill as ship rolls heavily. 150° directly south of Azores Islands distance 75 miles, cannot be seen. Very hard to sleep because of rolling of ship, rolls me back and forth in my bunk, but when I'm really tired nothing keeps me awake.

March 26, 1944
Storm came up, very rough sea, visibility very close. Using radar to maintain convoy position.

March 27, 1944
Storm passed over, water got calm and again enjoyed a nights sleep. Two subs sighted and sunk.

March 28, 1944
Calm sea, sun shining, just like Rockaway sun, distance not far away. Figured I'll see the Rock of Gibraltar Thursday morning.

March 29, 1944
Proceeding as before on course 086° P.G.C. 1500 - 70 miles west of Casablanca changes course to 054°, heading for Gibraltar Straights.

March 30, 1944
Spanish Morocco sighed at 0630, now passing through Straight of Gibraltar. Destination changed from Oran to Bizerte.

March 31 - April 1, 1944
Proceeding as before close to shore on southern side of Mediterranean. Have mid. to 4 watch.

0345 - Was just relieved and on my way below, to hit the sack, heard General Quarters sounded. I knew this was no drill, so I ran down to the crews quarters put on all the lights, then I grabbed my life jacket and helmet and ran to my gun station, starboard side, aft.

0358 - Enemy bombers over head, then they dropped flares, about five were directly over head. It lit our ship and the rest of the convoy up like the brightest day. We were dead targets because we couldn't see them. Escorts have radar controlled guns opened fire with AA guns, they aimed at flares and knocked them out, (lucky for us). Then there was a complete darkness.

0402 - Just then we opened fire on a plane diving from bow to stern with 40mm and 20mm, then we opened fire on a plane bearing 270° T - Alt. 7°.

0403 - I went to help the loaders break out more 40mm ammunition when there was a huge explosion not more than 100 feet away from me. I turned and saw a wall of water 50 feet high right amid-ships about 25 feet out from starboard side. This wall of water brake over our main deck, then ship lurched to port. We stopped all engines, sent repair party #1 to inspect damages. They reported one ballast pump damaged also gauges for ballast tanks beyond repair, an eight inch hole in stb. hull of LCT from shrapnel. This explosion was not a bomb, but it was a German bomber which had crashed right alongside of us. Repair party #1 gathered all the wreckage which had landed on main deck to captain's cabin such as aluminum gas tanks, wires, parts of motor, wings, glass, etc, no personnel was hurt. [WebMaster Notes: Reference pictures 1# and #2]

0416 - Another explosion on port quarter. Distance 1 mile. This was also another German bomber which had been shot down, exploded and then sank. All during this bombing raid our escorts were lighting the sky with the tracers from there AA guns.

0420 - Bombing ceased. We ceased firing and stayed at General Quarters until 0715. They didn't return. We left all guns ready to fire at any minute. It is the same day now but 2000. We don't know whether they'll come back tonight or not, but if they do we'll be ready for them. Also, we have barrage balloons high over us tonight which will stop dive bombers.

April 2, 1944
Well no planes came this morning. I guess they knew we were waiting for them. Some of the crew stayed up all night. The rest slept in their clothes. Nothing unusual happened during the day except three German reconnaissance planes were sighted but were to far away to fire at. I guess they wanted to see what damage they did to the convoy.

April 3, 1944
Were prepared for attack this morning too but nothing happened. About 0500 we sighted a squadron of unidentified planes but they went out of sight. 0800 - Dropped anchor out side of destination Bizerte. Have to wait for pilot to take us in channel. Will probably have to wait long because we're one of the last ships to go in.

April 4-14, 1944
In Bizerte, Tunisia unloaded cargo, dropped LCT off main deck, had a few liberties. Loaded tank deck and main deck.

April 15, 1944
Underway for Naples, Italy with LST's 74, 177, 263, 178. All of us are towing LCT's. No escorts. Hit rough sea by Sicily and LCT broke loose. LCT under its own power and headed for calm water then secured it on again.

April 16, 1944
Off the coast of Palermo, Sicily had General Quarters, sighted submarines, no damage. Two LST's 177 and 74 dropped out at Palermo, proceeding onward. LST 177 sent last message "Good Luck", "God Speed to You".

April 17, 1944
Arrived at Naples, Italy at 1700. Unloaded cargo, Italians beg for something to eat.

April 18, 1944
Still at Naples. Town bombed pretty bad. Fed Italians leftovers on tank deck. Wish I was back in America.

April 19, 1944
Borrowed an Army truck. Took a ride all over the place. 1200 - Got underway to Pozzouli, Italy and unloaded tank deck.

April 21, 1944
Got underway from Pozzouli to Nisida, Italy and got loaded with 475 men and trucks at 1200. 1845 - Got underway for Anzio, Italy. Prepared for anything to happen. A lot of fighting and air raids. Expect to arrive at Anzio at 0730 in the morning.

April 22, 1944
Arrived at Anzio at 0700. Quite a bit of fighting going on. Unloaded vehicles and loaded up with Army clothes and trucks. Also took back first one man submarine (German) ever captured, also a midget tank radio controlled. Left Anzio at 1600. Shells starting to drop pretty close. Got underway for Nisida, safe trip, then to Naples.

April 23, 1944
Still at Naples. Unloading old Army clothes.

April 24, 1944
Went out for firing practice to the Isle of Capre then went to Nisida. I had just hit the sack at 2100 when an air raid came. They stayed for 30 minutes bombing, then left. They flew at such a high altitude, we couldn't reach them with our guns. No damage inflicted.

April 25, 1944
Started loading us with trucks that carried oil and ammunition, plus 450 troops. Got underway for Anzio at 1830 with LCT in tow.

April 26, 1944
Arrived at Anzio at 0700. All well so far. Unloaded trucks and now taking on old salvage clothes. 1800 - Shoved off for Naples.

April 27, 1944
Arrived at Naples. Unloaded cargo rapidly then proceeded to Nisida.

April 28, 1944
Arrived at Nisida and loaded up with 800 troops and equipment plus tanks. 2000 - Shoved off for Anzio and took inside route. This route goes northward along German occupied beaches. Spotted a few planes (German) during the night but arrived safely at Anzio - 0600.

April 29, 1944
Unloaded and went to anchorage out side of Anzio where we are right now 1320. Almost forgot, we had Catholic mass on the main deck on the way from Nisida to Anzio on the hood of a jeep. Received Communion. Unloaded at Anzio and started back for Naples.

April 30, 1944
Didn't do too much today. This morning we went for a hike, then went swimming. Getting loaded up to go to Anzio. Have a lot of Italian troops that have turned allied.

May 1, 1944
Arrived at Anzio. Unloaded and reloaded with more salvage clothes. On return trip to Pozzouli a squadron of German planes past over head but luckily they kept going.

May 2-4, 1944
Stayed at Nisida for a rest. Had some liberty. Got my second class rate.

May 5, 1944
Loaded up with trucks and tanks. Awaiting to shove off for Anzio at 1900.

May 6-June 1, 1944
Made more trips to Anzio. Completed 14 trips to Anzio. Most trips made of any LST to Anzio is so short a time, underway night and day.

June 2, 1944
Made fifteenth trip and ran over a wreck at Anzio Harbor which punctured a hole in fuel tank. Salt water mixed with fuel and was sucked into main engines and auxiliary engine generators. Had to be towed back to Nisida.

June 5, 1944
Got underway for Palermo, Sicily for repairs.

June 6, 1944
New invasion started. Arrived at Palermo, Sicily. Went to dry dock.

June 16, 1944
Got hull painted and the hole fixed. Admiral Lowry came aboard for inspection.

June 20, 1944
Left Palermo, Sicily proceeded to Naples, Italy. Beached at Nisida, where we are now June 22 1944. From June 20 1944 to August 12, 1944 we were on the go. Especially maneuvers for an invasion.

August 12, 1944
Got underway with our FLOT (FLOT ONE) with may escorts, proceeding to Southern France for invasion. As far as I know there will be seven Battle Ships, 20 Cruisers, 15 Aircraft Carriers and unnumbered amount of Destroyers. 2200 - Captain Barber made speech on P.A. system. Churchill passed in boat. "Well men, this is it, the day we've all looked forward to. We are enroute to the Southern Coast of France to invade. This to release the strain from our forces at Northern France. This in my opinion, will be the final chapter in the European Theater. There are three attack forces, we being one of these. There are three divisions in our attack force. We are carrying the 3rd Division and are goddamn lucky to have them. The 36th and 45th Divisions. We will land on the left flank of Red Beach. I want all you men to renew in your mind over and over the duty each of you have to perform. That is all".

August 13, 1944
Proceeding as before enroute to invade Southern France. 1300 - Announcement on P.A., D-Day Tuesday 15, August, H-Hour 0800. As far as I know we will have 6 Battle Ships, 20 Cruisers, 20 Destroyers, 15 Aircraft Carriers, numerous escorts. There are two German held islands off the coast to be taken by Rangers and Commandos the night before D-Day. Paratroopers are to land behind the beach also a day before D-Day. Heard Sammy Kaye's "Sunday Serenade".

August 14, 1944
Proceeding as before. Passed between Sardinia and Corsica at 0400. Received greeting from General [Maitland] Wilson and Admiral [Sir John] Cunningham. "Good luck in this operation which will be the final blow to Germany". Also greetings from Com. FLOT ONE. Have the 8-12 watch tonight. May have a little action.

August 15, 1944 (D-Day) [WebMaster Note: Reference LST 173 Action Reports]
Sounded G. Q. at 0430. Could see firing all night from 0430 to H-Hour (0800). US bombers were flying over head in groups of 15 bombing the beach. Our small boats went ashore at 0500 with 3rd Div. troops. Much smoke being made.

0930 - Pontoons were tied alongside for us to beach. 1000 - 6 casualties brought aboard. Enemy resistance not to heavy (so far). Our Battle Wagons, Cruisers and Destroyers shelling beach heavily. Brought sandwiches and coffee around to gun tubs.

We were ordered to beach at 1300. When about 100 yards off the beach a P.T. boat told us to stop and head seaward. We let pontoons go on to the beach and backed out. At 1400 were told to hit beach again, but again ordered out just a few yards off beach. The reason was it was still to hot for LST's. Shells were falling all around us. Noticed quite a few small boats blown up on beach. Most likely from mines. All this is being written in my gun tub.

The third time we were ordered to beach we finally did with shells still bursting around us. We were the first LST to hit the beach on this invasion of Southern France.

Right now it's 1615 August 15 and all is pretty quite with the exception of a few shell bursts here and there. It seems a little too quiet. It is quite mountainous country with plenty of hillside fires from our barrage. Our #3 small boat brought 5 Gerry prisoners back. LCI's and LCT's are coming in now by the dozens unloading men and vehicles. The beachhead is ours (I hope). Will write more later.

1900 - We unloaded all men and vehicles then loaded with 500 German prisoners. All boats returned safely. No casualties from our ship. Still at G. Q.. [WebMaster Note: Reference pictures: #1, #2, #3, #4, and #5]

2000 - Got underway for Naples, Italy. 2030 - At sunset started making smoke. Then sighted enemy planes. Had a small air raid but lost convoy. Proceeded at Flank speed and caught a convoy going to Corsica.

August 16, 1944
Arrived at Corsica at 1000. Took prisoners off. It is now 2400. Guess we'll load up in the morning and go back to Cavalaire Bay (Southern France).

August 17, 1944
Shoved off enroute Corsica to Cavalaire Bay (Southern France). Didn't have any trouble. Our cargo was French troops and Singalees, South African cannibals who had scours all over there faces but were fierce fighters.

August 18, 1944
Arrived at Cavalaire in the afternoon. Stayed off shore waiting to unload. At sunset (2030) had an air raid. Fired at German planes but they were to high. 2100 - Were given orders to go to Yellow Beach (Bay of St. Tropez) about 20 miles away. Our radar being out of order and no moon we had quite a time but managed to make it.

August 19, 1944
Beached at 0900 and I went ashore to look around. Seen a German 88mm which was abandoned intact. All kinds of hand grenades. Went into nearby house which Germans had previously occupied. Ammunition, landmines, hand grenades and many other instruments of war. One room had a table with chow on it. They must have been eating breakfast when we attacked. Wine, pumpernickel bread, cheese, etc.. Got a few souvenirs but was afraid of booby traps. 1600 - Just shoved off for I don't know where yet.

September 14, 1944
Well we shoved off for Corsica then back to Southern France, then to Naples. Completed six trips to Southern France to this date where we are. Rumor going around about us going to Bizerte then to the USA. It sounds to good to be true. We are going to Corsica again tonight. Almost forgot, lost a French soldier overboard yesterday. Looked for him but never found him.