"The model that was on display at the LST National Convention in Buffalo, NY was the result of my once being a Shipfitter on the LST 1148 (Sumner County) during the Vietnam War.

"Wile readin an issue from the Scuttlebutt I saw an opportunity to obtain a kit of the basic hull and deck of the ship from BaD Ship Models in Westford, New York. I became very interested in making a scaled model of my particular ship, and this presented the perfect opportunity. I was informed that the kit was not designed to have a tank deck or operating bow doors and ramp. As our "R" Division patch of the 1148 says 'We Can Fix Anything Except a Broken Heart'. I believe I spent many nights dreaming about how I was going to accomplish this task.

"Once I received the kit, I set out on the arduous task of planning and modifying the hull to have bow doors open, a ramp that went from the main deck into the belly of the ship, and the ramp going from the ship to land. I had to add two additional LCVP's as the 1148 had four of them. I also cut out a portion of the upper deck as a means of viewing the types of tanks and vehicles normally carried on an LST (this particular door was not a part of any LST).

"I was very pleased to see how many veterans appreciated and reminisced about their own LST while looking at the model. It had taken me about two and a half months of actually working on the ship in order to complete it in time for the Buffalo reunion. This particular model is now on display at the Indiana War Memorial in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana."

Jerry Howe
LST 1148
1965 & 1966