My late Grandfather, Raymond Earl May, was the Coxswain aboard LSM 281. I am currently writing a small family book concerning his war years. I've spoken with four of his shipmates just within the last 4 months. I found them with the help of Larry Glaser at the LSM Assoc. They are all that we are aware of at this time. No one had a photo of the ship except for myself. I have made all copies and would like to see it shared with others. Could you please post the photos for our small group? The gentleman who painted "Alfred" on the Conn is Thomas Thayler. They are all very kind men to have helped me to get this far in my research. I would so very much like to see them in a place of honor among you. If anyone has any information concerning this ship, I would be so very grateful!

"Alfred"

My Grandfather wouldn't speak of the war when he was living. We lost him this past July and he has left us with such treasures! His bos'n whistle, his shellback card, a photo album of all the crew and the one RARE picture of the ship. It's the only one we are aware of. I've even checked with the Naval archives with no luck. I would so appreciate if you could post these for us. Good luck to you with you're great website and please feel free to contact me at any time. Please let me know if you can so I might tell the four remaining crew of the LSM 281.

Respectfully,

Shelley Johnston

This is a calendar sent to me from Robert Murphy “Murph”. The original is a copy from Mr. Bill Albert, a ship mate. I will begin and end with the dates that would have pertained to Grandpa.

1944

November 8
Arrived Pier 92 - New York
November 13
Pier 92 - Ship Commissioned
November 14
Left Pier 92
November 14
Arrived Marine Basin Dry Dock - New York
November 29
Left Marine basin
November 30
Arrived with the LSM 281 at Little Creek - Virginia
December 1-14
Shake Down LSM 281 in Norfolk - Virginia
December 14
Arrived St. Helena - Virginia
December 20
Left St. Helena - Virginia
December 20
Arrived Berkley - Virginia

1945

January 2
Left Berkley -Virginia
January 4
Arrived Davisville - Rhode Island
January 8
Left Davisville - Rhode Island
January 17
Arrived Coca (?) Panama Canal Zone
January 19
Went through Canal
January 30
Arrived San Diego - California
February 13
Left San Diego - California
February 22
Arrived Pearl Harbor
March 3
Left Pearl Harbor
March 8
Crossed the 180th Meridian
March 13
Arrived Eniwetok - Marshall Islands
March 15
Left Eniwetok
March 19
Arrived Guam
March 23
Left Guam
March 24
Arrived Siapan Left Siapan
April 1
Invasion of Okinawa - Love Day - Easter Sunday
April 15
Arrived Siapan
June 7
Left Siapan
June 15
Crossed the Equator at 163^ - 25^ E. Longitude
June 18
Arrived Tulagi - Solomon Islands
June 19
Left Tulagi
June 19
Arrived Guadal Canal
June 22
Left Guadal Canal
June 22
Arrived Banika - Russell Islands
June 24
Left Banika
June 27
Arrived Eniwetok
July 1
Left Eniwetok
July 5
Arrived Guam
July 9
Left Guam
July 10
Arrived Siapan
July 17
Left Siapan
July 22
Arrive Leyte - Tacloban - Philippine Islands
July 26
Left Leyte
July 28
Arrived Subic Bay - Luzon
July 28
Left Subic Bay
July 29
Arrived Lingayen Gulf - Luzon
August 1
Left Lingayen Gulf
August 6
Arrived Okinawa
August 10
Announcement “WAR OVER”
August 17
Left Okinawa
August 22
Arrived Subic Bay
August 23
Left Subic Bay
August 25
Arrived Leyte
August 29
Left Leyte
August 31
Arrived Manilla
September 5
Left Manilla
September 12
Arrived Yokohoma - Tokyo Bay - Japan
September 13
Left Yokohoma - Tokyo Bay
September 21
Arrived Manilla
September 22
Left Manilla
September 22
Arrived Subic Bay
October 5
Left Subic Bay
October 17
Arrived Yokosuka - Tokyo Bay
November 12
Left Yokosuka - Tokyo Bay
November 17
Arrived Siapan
December 7
Left Siapan
December 8
Arrived Guam

* It is believed that Grandpa got his release from the Navy around this date. On his personal calendar, he has the 8th circled and notice it has written Siapan beside it. As of this writing, we are not clear on how he got back. Most of the men tell of catching a ride on whatever they could to get home.

Shelley Johnston
The Crew of the LSM 281 And Where They Hailed From:

F.B. Walker - Middlesboro, Mass.
G.C. Burgmann - Erie, PN
Frederick Worlock - Cardiff, NJ
R.E. Beistel - Aliquippa, PA
William Kaufman - New York, NY
Walter Dycio - Dearborn, MI
Stuart J. Adams - Louisville, KY
K.D. Evans - Indianapolis, IN
Thomas A. Thayler - Cohoes, NY
Raymond Dunham - St. Bernard, OH
Martin M. Baumgartner - Westville, NJ
Thomas L. Formoso - Englewood, NJ
Paul Wood - Jacksonville, NC
Lester E. Furlong - West Frankfort, IL
R.W. Murphy - Bovey, MN
W. L. Goolsby - Velasco, TX
David Brown - Brooklyn, NY
R.E. Gurley - Los Angeles, CA
Roger P. Bresnahan - St. Louis, MO
Robert Franta - Friendship, WI
George S. Watson - Philadelphia, PA
Robert Harland - Elk Grove, CA
Evert L. Eis - Ellinwood, KS
Fred L. Kephart - Keyser, WV
Benjamin F. Odorizzi - Clayton, NM
Thomas H. Johnson - Jamestown, NY
William B. Phillips - Charlotte, NC
R.A. Hopkins - Stockton, CA
“OD” Godwin, Jr. - Waldo, AK
James A. Domme - Chicago, IL
William P. Lukens - Chicago, IL (Captain)
William H. Finch - Emsworth, PA
F.G. Bernard - Superior, WI
Joe LaPonsie - Grand Rapids, MI
G.A. Porter - Sugar Grove, IL
F.P. Mannino - Cleveland Heights, OH
B.H. Neuffar - Albuerque, NM
Raymond Earl May - Muncie, IN
N.L. Gonzales - New York, NY
F.J. McCloskey - Philadelphia, PA
Sam A. Greenberger - Memphis, TN
J.F. McFadden - Philadelphia, PA
J.C. Kilhoffer - Bradford, PA
C.B. Morrow - Kingsport, TN
“RJ” Owsley - Roy, NM
M. R. Meyers - Kittanning, PA
L.J. Poluske - Wyoming, PA
J.D. Nichols - Washburn, WI
Calvin Shrader - Louisville, KY
R.A. Hopkins - Verona, PA
G.C. Phelps - Sanford, NC
“Jock” Kania - Chicago, IL
H.M. Wolfe - Chester, SC
“Boats” Stafford - missing information
William Alberts - Verona, PA
“Ski” - missing information
Andrew Burns - Unionville, PA
D.W. Pricket - Minneapolis, MN
J.A. Newton - Benning, DC

The names of the crew members were sent to me by Tom Johnson.

Shelley Johnston