Chapter 3 of my book deals with the training at Fort Indiantown Gap Military Reservation, Pennsylvania. The men of the 519th Port Battalion (an other other port battalions) learned about winch operation (see photo above), rigging, stowing, checking gear, mechanize equipment, warehousing, and the myriad other responsibilities of the Army stevedore.
The above photo shows training at one of the landships, replicas of supply ships built on dry land.
Dave Weaver, Bruce Kramlich, and John Shireman posing with the 304th Port Company banner.
Kramlich and Shireman with a view of some of the fort buildings.
A 1943 map of Indiantown Gap from a welcome guide. Bruce Kramlich write in the notes.
The concrete foundation of the two landships, SS Manada and SS Swatara, can still be seen today. 
In 2008 the site received a historic marker from the state of Pennsylvnia. Today Indiantown Gap is home to the PA National Guard Museum.See my previous post on Indiantown Gap: Landships at Indiantown Gap and 1943 Philadelphia Inquirer article about the stevedore training on the landships.
Hi
ReplyDeleteI've been interested in the Port Battalion, especially the 487 Port Battalion, 186 Port Company, who on May 15th 1944 arrived in Treherbert, Rhondda Valley, South Wales, for the build to D Day.
I now know Indiantown, was where they did their training, thank you for the information.
Yours sincerely.
Gerwyn
PS. I laid a Royal British Legion Wreath at the Normandy American Cemetery,last September, to a Allun D Shell
My grandfather was in the same port company and battalion!
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