GATORFORCE.COM

WELCOME TO THE GATEWAY TO THE GATORS.

 

THIS SITE HONORS THE MEN, WOMEN, AND VESSELS OF THE TRIPHIBOUS NAVY, THE NAVY/MARINE CORPS TEAM, AND ALL OF THE FORCES THAT PROJECT POWER FROM SEA TO SHORE AND BEYOND. IT WILL CARRY INFORMATION ABOUT THE MODERN TRIPHIBOUS FORCES AND THE AMERICAN AMPHIBIOUS FORCE ASSOCIATION. EFFORTS TO PRESERVE AMPHIBIOUS VESSELS WILL BE SHOWCASED.

HONOR WILL BE PAID TO THE MEN AND SHIPS, PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE THAT HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO 'WAGE PEACE'.

Site Navigation - Click on the Page in the left frame to go right to that Page.

WHAT'S NEW - 8/4/2008:

Pictures of USS New York from RHall.

An updated link to the pictures of the Lorain County's 1959 Med Cruise sent by Mark Ehasz.

1960/61 SOLANT Amity Log from Wayne Halloran.

Amphibious Squadron 10 in the Carribbean, 1963

American Amphibious Force Association

The American Amphibious Force Association was formed to honor the memory of those who served in the Amphibious Forces of the United States Navy. The Navy Team has fought to preserve the nations liberties since its birth and today is on the front lines in the fight against terrorism. Members will be from all Gator vessel classes and the LST 1156, 1171, and 1179 classes (the Big T's).

The Association is seeking to publicize the contribution made by the Amphibious Forces to the defense of the nation and to promote community participation in events commemorating our Naval Heritage.

We're a young, growing, and exciting veterans organization - and we're looking for Amphib vets who'd like to find and re-associate with their shipmates and other amphibious veterans. Join our Association today. Go to the AAFA Site for a membership request.

Check out the GREAT MERCHANDISE FOR THE ASSOCIATION AND OUR SHIPS ON:

http://www.cafeshops.com/denoshops

GATOR GATHERING at EVANSVILLE OCTBER 2007

Click the Reunion Site to the left to see pictures.

2008 Reunion Information

For all of you who may have missplaced your reunion information or would like to tell fellow ship mates about the reunion, you can do the following:

go to: www.trea.org

scroll down left side and click on REUNION/BUDDIES.
When that opens up click on USN then you can scroll down to September and see our reunion announcement.
It is listed for the AAFA and also for each individual ship.

Here is initial information from Larry Adamik:

WHEN: September 17 thru 21 of 2008

WHERE: San Antonio, TX

HOTEL: El Tropicano downtown on river walk

HOSPITATILTY ROOM: Yes

DINNER: Saturday night

BUFFET: Mexican dinner with all the trimmings

TOUR: “ THE GRAND TOUR”…..goes to:

Alamo IMAX Theatre, Riverboat Ride, Mission San Jose,’ Mission Concepcion, Japanese Sunken Gardens, Market Place

During your tour, you will drive by a number of other important sites within San Antonio’s rich history.

San Fernando Cathedral-----founded in 1731

La Villita---San Antonio’s oldest surviving neighborhood

1750 Tower Of the Americans------750 tall San Antonio’s most visible landmarks

Hemisfair Park----Site of 1968 World’s Fair

Institute of Texan Cultures-------1968 features exhibits on 27 ethnic cultural groups that settled the state.

This whole Tour Package costs $50.00 a person; lunch is extra at a site to be determined later.

Gator Vessels

Galleries, histories, and data on post WWII amphibious vessles will be provided. There will be links to vessels by class.

Landing Ship Tank (LST) sites.

LST 1171 Class This site contains information about each of the ships in the class.

LST 1156 Class See this site for information about the Terrell County and other ships in this class.

LST 1179 Class This site contains pictures and information about the Newport Class of LSTs.

Information about the WW2 LSTs that served in Korea, the Cold War and Viet Nam will be provided. They received names on 1July 1955. Also LSTs 1153 and 1154 will be described.

Landing Platform Dock (LPD) Site

LPD Classes This site contains information about these versatile vessels. See information and pictures of the Raleigh, San Antonio, and Austin classes.

Landing Ship Dock (LSD) Site

LSD Classes This comprehansive site contains information and images of the Thomaston, Anchorage, Whidbey Island, Harpers Ferry, Ashland, and Lend-lease classes.

Amphibious Assault Ship (LHA, LHD) Site (under construction)

The following from Joe Grage:

USS New York

It was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center.

It is the fifth in a new class of warship - designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists. It will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft.

Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down in a foundry in Amite, LA to cast the ship's bow section. When it was poured into the molds on Sept 9, 2003, 'those big rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence,' recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there. 'It was a spiritual moment for everybody there.'

Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that when the trade center steel first arrived, he touched it with his hand and the 'hair on my neck stood up.' 'It had a big meaning to it for all of us,' he said. 'They knocked us down. They can't keep us down. We're going to be back.'

The ship's motto? 'Never Forget'

THE FOLLOWING PICTURES AND INFO ARE FROM RHALL.


Construction of the USS New York was delayed because of damage by hurricane Katrina (August 23, 2003) that also displaced many shipyard workers.

Ships Motto: “Strength, Forged through Sacrifice. Never Forget.”

7 ½ tons of steel recovered from the World Trade Center were cast as the bow stem of this great warship (September 9, 2003).

The USS New York (LPD-21)

Start Fabrication March 15, 2004

Keel Laying September 10, 2004

Bow Stem Installed August 4, 2005

Launched December 19, 2007

Christened March 1, 2008

The ship is presently being fitted out to be commissioned in NY in 2009.

The LPD Class ship will carry:

Crew of 361 Sailors

Deliver a fully-equipped battalion of 700 Marines.

· Landing Craft Air Cushioned (LCAC)

· Expeditionary Fighting vehicles (EFV)

· MV-22 Osprey and/or helicopters

 

Click on the patch for more info about the 325.

See the LST325 DC Visit for more pictures of her visit to the Nation's Capitol.