USS LST 325 is coming to Bettendorf and you can tour it. The USS LST 325 is a Landing Ship Tank which delivered land battle ready tanks, soldiers and supplies onto enemy shores. It will be docking at the Isle of Capri Casino in Bettendorf and will be offering tours from Thursday August 30 through Monday September 3.

According to an article in the Quad City Times the USS LST 325 participated in the Battle of Normandy. It carried 59 vehicles, 31 officers and 408 enlisted men on it's first voyage. Then carried thousands of men, some from the Quad Cities, making over 40 trips across the English Channel.

It's history didn't start there, nor does it end there. The ship was commissioned in 1942 and originally operated in the North Africa area before participating in the Invasion of Normandy. In 1951 the ship operated in the Arctic. In 1964 the ship served in the Greek Nay until 1999. After that the ship was acquired by USS Ship Memorial, Inc. and is only one of two World War II era LST's to be preserved.

Today the ship is a memorial and floating museum dedicated to the men who served our Country aboard LST's. Guided tours of the USS LST 325 will be offered in Bettendorf at the Isle of Capri Casino August 30 - September 3 from 11:00AM - 6:30PM CT. Cost of tours is $10 for adults, $5 for ages 6-17. Under 6 is free. World War II Veterans are also admitted free. The ship has its own page here with plenty of historical information. A Facebook event has been created here.

 

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