Like an epic adventure, 28 veterans from WWII, the Korean Conflict, and Vietnam proved the impossible is possible. With an average age of 72, the crewmembers guided a 58- year Landing Ship Tank (LST) in excess of 4,000 miles to Mobile Bay Alabama last Wednesday. Despite warnings from the U.S. Coast Guard claiming the vessel was not seaworthy, a journey started at the island of Crete, Greece and ended in Mobile Bay with ports of call at Athens, Gibraltar, and the Bahamas. An impossible journey ended with a heroes’ welcome at Mobile with an estimated 4,000 persons and more than 100 news media representatives cheering as the ship slowly passed the Convention Center enroute to the State Docks at Mobile. Bands played Anchors Aweigh, flags waved, and signs welcomed the crew. Tears of joy were shed for the sailors of what’s been called the "greatest generation." News media from print and broadcast took prominent positions to record the final leg of the long journey of the LST- 325.

Crew members periodically had to manually
steer the ship with the  two wheels (pictured).

Crewmember Bailey Moore Wrinkle, age 71, of McKenzie was the electrician on board this historic journey. Wrinkle had previously served during the Korean Conflict aboard the LST-1123, which earned six battle stars. The former hardware store owner spent a couple of extra days in Mobile as the ship was relocated to Port Chickasaw where the extensive renovations will begin. At Mobile, Wrinkle was surprised when he saw his daughter, Amy and two grandsons, Matthew, 8 and Kyle, 6. Wrinkle, sporting a beard and donned in his uniform and a toboggan, waved to the crowd at the State Docks. He then spotted a sign that read "Welcome Home Bailey" held by friend Bobby McDonald and gave a big wave to McDonald and this reporter. While he was waving, CNN filmed Wrinkle and showed the footage on CNN Headline News. Former McKenzian Franklin Poole of Baton Rouge also made the trip to greet Wrinkle at the docks. Just as in Mobile, signs around McKenzie welcome Wrinkle home.

It could be classified as the trip that almost wasn’t. Besides an aging vessel that was declared unsafe by the Coast Guard, the LST Association faced battles with U.S. Secretary of State Madeline Albright and the Greek government. "Ms. Albright didn’t want any part of it," said Wrinkle. The Greek government wouldn’t release the ship without the blessings of the U.S. Finally, a Congressional Bill, sponsored by Congressman Ralph Hall of Texas, cleared the way for the ship to return home. After three months of red tape, extensive repairs and uncertain financial support, the veterans left Gibraltar for the nearly month-long journey across the Atlantic. The bombing of the USS Cole only complicated matters. After the bombing the crew of the LST-325 was advised not to wear anything resembling the U.S. when they went ashore.

Captain Jornlin said the LST-325 didn’t get a whole lot of publicity until a Coast Guard admiral told the crew that the ship was unsafe and the crew was inexperienced and too old. With a perseverance the sailors developed long ago, they set sail, determined to complete the task they had started.

Wrinkle left McKenzie on August 28, 2000 for a mission that was to last fewer than two months. He eventually spent almost five months on the mission. The journey began with a flight to LaGuardia airport with a transfer to JFK in New York, and then a non-stop flight to Athens. A final flight was from Athens to Crete. The ship was stationed at Souda Bay where repairs were to begin. The ship was in far worse condition than anticipated. The Greek government had given the ship to the private, nonprofit LST Association. Wrinkle said the ship, which had been renamed "Syros", was in the "boneyard" along with a similar ship. Necessary parts were taken from the other ship to make the LST-325 workable. "The Greeks destroy a ship in phases 1, 2, and 3. Our’s was in phase one," said Wrinkle. He said to scrap a ship costs more than $100,000 because all the oil and asbestos have to be removed.

A narrow staircase into the engine room.
Wrinkle ascended and descended a similar
staircase to the electrical room.

At Crete, the crewmembers worked day and night getting the ship ready for its journey. Anchored at the Greek Navy Yard, the Greek sailors  were really friendly and helpful. At times, they volunteered their services to the former American sailors. A fascination surrounded the ship with high ranking Greek and Americans visiting. An American Navy Destroyer also docked alongside the LST-325. The former Navy crewmembers got to enjoy the comforts of a modern ship for a short time. Two U.S. sailors re-enlisted in the military while aboard the LST-325, said Wrinkle. They wanted to make their re-enlistment a memorable experience. The Greeks also pitched a tent top side to provide a reprieve from the hot sun. Wrinkle said it was hot and dry in Crete. The crew slept below deck in small sleeping quarters, where the temperatures easily reached over 100 degrees. Wrinkle had a small, singlewide bunk which he curtained to add a small bit of privacy.

Many of the controls still had Greek
instructions as written on this electrical switch.

While in Crete, the crew made use of the hot showers at the Greek military barracks and made their purchases at the local PX, where everything except cigarettes was "cheap." Wrinkle explained that the government was attempting to discourage smoking.

It wasn’t all work and no play. Wrinkle said he ventured among the countryside to see lots of olive trees and gardens of vegetables. Many of the restaurants had menus in Greek and English and the patrons often eat outside on patios. Stores closed in mid-afternoon and then reopened at 5:00 p.m. for three hours. He visited a monastery and attended a Greek Orthodox worship service. The most amazing visit to Greece was to view the excavation of an ancient palace that was "thousands of years old." It is believed to be the birth of civilization, said Wrinkle.

 Wrinkle said he was greatly impressed with the patriotism of the young people. During a celebration, much like the U.S. fourth of July, the young people proudly participated in the parades.

Before the epic journey began, the crew had a five-hour sea trial of the LST-325. "The engines worked fair," said Wrinkle. They departed for Athens on November 14, making the journey across the Atlantic in three days. The ship was filled with 50,000 gallons of diesel fuel that had been donated by BP Petroleum. They then set sail for Gibraltar, requiring 11 days. All plans seemed to go awry when a cylinder blew on one of two 12-cylinder engines. The ship’s speed slowed to just a few knots as a fouled engine and strong headwinds took their toll. Repairs were made at Gibraltar by the British, who Wrinkle said worked day and night to get the ship underway.

While at Gibraltar, Wrinkle said he was greatly amazed at the 30 miles of caves dug in the famous Rock of Gibraltar. During the war, much of civilization moved to the cave for protection. At Gibraltar, Wrinkle attended a Christmas concert at a Catholic church where singers performed familiar Christmas songs in English and Spanish. He was greatly moved by the song, "I’ll Be Home for Christmas," knowing full well that was his original intention.

Despite warning from the U.S. Coast Guard concerning the lack of safety equipment and the normal rough seas in winter, the LST-325 left Gibraltar on December 13 headed to Mobile Bay.

The crew of 28 and one man on board to chronicle the events on video set sail for a 4,350-mile trip across the Atlantic in a ship that Wrinkle described as "wore out." Enroute, the ship’s starboard engine again blew a piston, the steering mechanism periodically failed and  had to steered manually by two large wheels below deck, the gyrocompass failed, making the crew dependent on a magnetic compass, several pumps failed, and one generator failed. The crew had no hot water for showers, encountered a few storms, and constantly had problems with some of the systems. "We rolled and rocked," said Wrinkle, adding that the ship would sometimes pitch back and forth 24 hours daily. With rolls as much as 30-35 degrees, it would make some of the old salty’s seasick. The flat bottom ship, designed for amphibious landings, would feel like it was "going to break apart," said Wrinkle. Some of the bouncing would cause the shallow draft vessel to dip into the water allowing the twin screws (propellers) to exit the water. "It sounded like it was going to shake apart." The motion also hindered the preparation of meals. Usually the crew ate two meals daily with some snacks in-between. When the seas were rough, a peanut butter sandwich served as nutrition. "We ate light," said Wrinkle. Many of the men shed at least 20 pounds, and some reduced their dependence on diabetic medicine. A physically fit Wrinkle, who had to climb up and down ladders on the ship, claims he had no appreciable loss of weight.

Wrinkle’s workstation was deep into the bowels of the ship at a panel of electrical gauges and switches that revealed the time era of the ship. He also worked throughout the ship, repairing electrical items as needed. Many of the gauges were still marked in Greek from the three decades the Greek military used the ship. The stench of the diesel fuel and the constant hum of the drive motors and generators were part of the everyday activities.

Wrinkle at his electrical workstation, located
below deck. He had to wear ear protection
because of the constant noise.Wrinkle
was the only Tennessean on board.

The first cool weather the crew experienced was in Nassau on January 4. The ship  had no heat in the sleeping area.

Near the Florida Keys, the ship encountered high winds and sea waves, again slowing progress of the trip. At one time, the Captain thought the arrival would be delayed by a day when the starboard engine blew a cylinder again. Fortunately, the engine was refired by Lauren Whiting and nursed along into Mobile Bay.

"I was real impressed with what these men could do with nothing," said Wrinkle of his fellow crewmembers. After the heroes’ welcome, Wrinkle and entourage went to a restaurant where patrons and restaurant staffers treated Wrinkle like a celebrity. They asked for autographs and had their photo taken with Wrinkle. The sailor who had not eaten since the previous day, was eager to get some nutrition, since Customs officials had confiscated all food from the ship around 2:00 a.m.

After a delicious lunch, Wrinkle checked into the Adams Mark Hotel and took his first hot shower and his first shave in a month. Wrinkle returned to McKenzie on Sunday, January 14. Monday, Wrinkle said, "I’m proud to be home."

Did the men complain about the conditions? Hardly. They volunteered for the assignment, gave of their time, purchased two uniforms, and spent $2,100 each to be part of this historic journey. It is almost certain that a movie and certainly a documentary will be made from this trip. The crew members may be faced with modeling and movie releases in the days to follow.