Off The Beaten Path

• Apr 29, 2008 3:59 pm US/Pacific
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  Off The Beaten Path: Last Ship

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Off The Beaten Path: Last Ship

MARE ISLAND (CBS13) ― The last survivor of a small but mighty fleet of warships is home in Northern California tonight. I say volunteers are getting that ship ready to show the public.

Without much fanfare LCS-102 recently came home. She is a landing craft support ship built in 1945 in the heat of WWII.

"There were a 130 of these things built and this is the last one in the world, right here," says Bill Mason.

For former sailor Bill Mason this is a bitter sweet reunion. He served on an LCS in the battle for Okinawa. These were gunboats bristling with firepower to blast a path for marines to hit the beach. They would also shoot down Japanese suicide aircraft. Bill remembers fighting along side a destroyer hit by a kamikaze that killed or injured over a hundred of his fellow sailors. Bill says he and other LCS survivors will never forget that horror.

"When we get together all we say is "is it still in your mind?" Just say that to them and they say "yeah" and that's the end of the conversation," explains Bill.

But just as remarkable as this ship's war record, it is what has happened to this ship after the war.

The 102 was loaned to the government of Thailand and served as a coastal patrol vessel for 40 years until LSC veterans like Bill convinced the state department to bring her home.

Volunteers here at Mare Island are now restoring her and sharing war stories with other volunteers like Jay Chagnon.

"They were out there on the leading edge. They were taking all the flak for the bog ships," says Jay.

Over 70 sailors served on this ship. It was tight quarters. This bunk room will now be restored and the ship opened for public tours hopefully this summer. Today the LCS 102 is attracting a lot of attention and folks stop by to wonder what this mighty midget was used for and how did she end up here.

And Bill is always happy to welcome you aboard and share the story of the last breed of little ships that played a big part in winning WWII.

You can see the ship at Berth number nine at the end of Fourth Street on Mare Island in Vallejo.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)