The Newscaster/Nature Coast News
PAGE 3 - June 20, 2007
Inglis WWII Veteran Tells
Squawk Box from page 1
Addison was chief of police and he ran that office with one deputy.
Pastor Bobby Thompson was the pastor at the First Baptist Church of Inglis in 1987
Story of Heroism
and the good Pastor Bobby is still tending his flock and helping anyone else in the community
in need come to think of it. He may well be the only minister still preaching in Inglis that was
By Newscaster Correspondant Sally Price
in Inglis in 1987.
The A&N Corporation was one of the biggest employers in the area in 1987, but they
Hugh Bannister of Inglis served the
moved to Williston several years ago. Levy County State Bank was the only bank in town and
U S Coast Guard on the LST 166 (Landing
they sold to CapitalCity several years ago. Bank of Florida built a branch bank later but sold
Ship, Tanks). This chilling story from Bannis-
to Perkins State Bank.
ter was verified from the Pearl Harbor Gram to
I remember that the best place in town to buy a hamburger then was a little restaurant
back up Bannister's story.
called Millies, which was where the Shell Station is now. Soon after I arrived, Millies moved to
The LST's of the Saipan Invasion
where Aunt Winnies is now located and a new and modern gas station/convenience store
Fleet entered Pearl Harbor May 20, 1944 and
opened on the corner of U.S. Highway 19 and State Road 40 on the land Millie vacated. Bob
proceeded to berth in the shallow anchorage
Sargent built the station and it started out as selling Texaco gas.
of West Loch. They were assembling for the
All of the restaurants and cafes that were in Inglis in 1987 have either changed hands
forthcoming onslaught on Japan's inner-de-
or vanished except the Pub. Donna still makes a great hamburger and her chicken wings are
fense ring.
hard to beat.
Berthed beam to beam, one could
Although many of the town's businesses and community leaders have changed in
walk one to the other on a plank. Floating
20 years, Inglis is still a cozy, quiet, sleepy little town with some of the finest people I have ever
bombs, the ships were crammed with person-
known living within her city limits. I hope that we can maintain that simple life for a long time
nel, vehicles and other supplies. Some of the
to come. It is worth more to most of us than money.
ships were loaded only with extra ammunition,
State Park Fee reduction promotes outdoor
gasoline and other invasion needs. May 21,
some the the service men were on shore for
and as the tug nestled against the LST's closed
recreation for youth and adults
leave or servicing vehicles, while those re-
bow doors, an explosion blew the bow's doors
maining were stretched out resting, reading,
open and demolished the tug's super struc-
TALLAHASSEE- To encourage more youth groups to enjoy camping, the Department of
writing letters or playing cards. Shortly after
ture and it drifted away with no sign of her
Environmental Protection's (DEP) Florida Park Service is reducing group camping fees to
1500 (3PM) the peaceful Sunday disrupted
crew.
$1.00 per child and $2.00 per chaperone per day. The single fee gives campers access to all
when LST 353 erupted in a huge explosion
Those 5 hours in Pearl Harbor cost
park facilities and amenities. Youth and adult group camping facilities and group primitive
hurling a boiling column of smoke, men, pieces
the lives of 163 men and 396 injured. De-
sites are available in 32 state parks located in every region of the state.
of bodies, vehicles and slabs of steel above
stroyed were LST's 39, 43, 69, 179, 353 and
"With rising gas prices and travel expenses, we want to encourage our youth to take advan-
the front row of the nested LST's- she was
480 along with 3 LCT's (Landing Craft
tage of the camping and recreational opportunities in our own backyards," said Florida State
berthed in the nest's 8 ship forward row and
Tank) that had been lashed to the top deck of
Parks Director Mike Bullock. "State parks allow children and adults to experience Florida's
was 7th in line from shore.
the LST's.
natural beauty, abundant wildlife and historic and cultural sites without traveling far from
So began Hawaii's second worst di-
A Naval Court of Inquiry never established
home." The fee reduction, already in effect, precedes the launch of The Great American
saster, second in casualties only to the Japa-
the cause of the first explosion on the LST
Backyard Campout (GABC), celebrated on June 23, 2007. a's cultural heritage. For park con-
nese attack Dec 7, 1941. Crews rushed to sta-
353. It was concluded that probable cause was
tact information call (850) 245-2157.
tions, lines were chopped with axes, LST cap-
that either a defective fuse or carelessness in
tains frantically gave orders to get their ships
handling 4.2 mortar ammunitions being off-
Vote for
underway. It became a holocaust as fires and
loaded into a truck parked on the ship's el-
explosions erupted on other LST's. Men
evator.
who fell overboard or jumped were sucked
After a frantic search for replacement
MIKE GUDIS
into the screws as they turned trying to get
ships, men and equipment, the LST flotilla
the 1600 ton vessels away from the maelstrom
sailed out of West Loch only one day later
of concussions, searing and shredding of
than originally planned.
Crystal River
metal and skin toasting heat of fires. Crews in
Bannister added that his LST 166
small crafts heroically plucked men from the
came in and tied up in the front row, 4 to 5
City Council, Seat 3
oil slicked water near the LST's. Medics went
slips out from the mooring. The Flagship lead-
to work. Some LST's cleared West Loch but
ing came in and notified that they were taking
those floating afire from stem to stern were
that spot and the LST 166 went to the back
Tuesday, July 26, 2007
drifting toward the ammunition depot
row of ships. Bannister also added that this
but heroic tug crews pushed them away. Only
was not publicized during the war and kept
Certified Government Finanacial Manager
one LST in the nest's front row remained afloat
secret till the war was over.
LAND LAND LAND
Mike Gudis Will Work for:
Property Tax Cuts - Cutting Waste out of Budgets
Several 1 acre parcels starting at $33,900
Keeping Local Police & Fire Departments
2 building lots in Cedar Lake Estates $32,900 ea.
Cleaning our Waterways - Protecting our Water Supply
Adhering to the Comprehensive Plan
75 acres in Otter Creek at 10k per acre
Supporting Interests of Seniors & Children
Waterfront on Withlacoochee River
with dock & building $129,900
Qualifications, Past & Present:
B.A. in Accounting, George Washington University
Call our Office for a FREE List of affordable homes & land, (352) 447-4442
Certified Government Financial Manager
or stop in to our office at the corner of Hwy 40 and US 19 or go to our
Crystal River City Councilman, 4 years
Website:
Crystal River Planning Board Member
Diamond Investments, Inc.
President, Boys & Girls Clubs - President, Friends of Homosassa Wildlife Park
Treasurer, Veterans Coalition - Enrolled Agent Before the I.R.S.
Darryl A. Diamond
Licensed in Insurance & Securities
Lic. Real Estate Broker
352-447- 4442
President, Michael L. Gudis Accounting & Tax Corporation
Real Estate Investment Consultant
Political Advertisement Paid for and Approved by Mike Gudis, Candidate for City Council,
Cell 352-400--0301
48-B U.S. 19 South - Inglis
Nonpartisan for Crystal River City Council Seat 3