WWII Ship Lands at Camp Lejeune
July-August 2004
After traveling more than 3,000 miles and spending more than 30 days at sea, a WWII-era landing ship medium (the Marine Corps Museum of the Carolinas' newest artifact, is now safely moored at its temporary mooring in Mile Hammock Bay aboard Camp Lejeune. The LSM-45, 203 feet long and 35 feet wide, was pushed by tug boat from Freedom Park (outside Omaha, NE), 'In the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans, and then around the Florida Keys to Charleston, SC, where SgtMaj. Joe Houle and volunteers dressed the ship for the final leg of its journey to North Carolina. The ship was donated by the Amphibious Ship Museum, which paid the cost of the voyage.
The LSM-45, commissioned in 1944, carried a complement of 54 enlisted and 4 officers. She participated in the Okinawa campaign in 1945, shuttling equipment, supplies, and ammunition to shore. She was decommissioned in 1947 and sold to the Greek Navy. In 1998 the Amphibious Ship Museum purchased the M-45, refurbished it, and moved it to Freedom Park. Now, she has come full circle and is back home with the Marines and Navy, waiting to move into her permanent home with the planned (but unbuilt) museum. Like any ship, however, she will need constant upkeep. So when you come to Camp Lejeune the next time bring your paint chipper and brush.
Little info on the uniform:
Scarlet Trouser stripe (Blood Stripe)
It is said that the right to wear these stripes was
conferred on the Corps during the Mexican War, after
the Battle of Chapultepec, in honor of Marines killed
or wounded during the action, and the blood they shed.
An enlisted Marine does not obtain the "blood stripe" until
he reaches the rank of Corporal.
Mameluke sword
The mameluke sword, also known as the "officers sword"
began its association with the Marine Corps in the early
19th century. Tradition states that in recognition of
Lieutenant Presley O’Bannon’s heroic actions in the Tripoli
expedition, Prince Hamet Bey presented him with
a Mameluke sword.
NCO sword
The Marine NCO's are the only NCO's in any branch of
service who still have the privilege of carrying swords.
The sword is the personification of military tradition
and has been entrusted to those most responsible for
maintaining it. This sword is still in use, however, it has been
limited by regulations to be used only "when in charge of
troops on ceremonial occasions."
"Leatherneck" This has been a long standing nickname for Marines.
It goes back to the leather stock or neckpiece, which was part
of the Marine Corps uniform from 1775 to 1875. The leather collar
was intended to ensure that Marines kept their heads erect.
However, legend says it was worn as a sort of neck armor
to protect the jugular vein from saber slashes. Today, the
leather stock is commemerated in the dress blues,
dress whites and evening dress uniforms to regulate stance,
posture and thus proclaiming the wearer as a modern
"Leatherneck."
Semper fi.