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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

LCS(L)(3)-31

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Victor - Romeo - Quebec
NVRQ

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive) - Presidential Unit Citation
Second Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2)
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Liberation Medal
Individual Awards

Silver Star (Ltjg Kenneth F. Machacek CO. LCS(L)-31) Purple Heart (10-KIA and 12-WIA at Okinawa, 4 May 1945)

LCS(L)(3)-1 Class Landing Craft Support (Large)(Mark3):

Laid down, 7 August 1944, at Commercial Iron Works, Portland, OR.

Launched, 2 September 1944

Commissioned USS LCS(L)(3)-31, 20 September 1944, Ltjg Kenneth Machacek USNR, in command

During World War II LCS(L)(3)-31 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater LCS(L) Flotilla Three, Group Seven, as LCS(L) Group SEVEN flagship, LCDR Frank P. Stone in command, and participated in the following campaigns:

**Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns**
Campaign and Dates	Campaign and Dates
Iwo Jima operation Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 19 February to 9 March 1945	Okinawa Gunto operation Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto 1 April to 6 July 1945

Decommissioned in 1946 at New Orleans after running aground on a reef and tearing her bottom out

Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)

Final Disposition, sold to H. H. Buncher Co., Pittsburgh PA., 27 January 1947, fate unknown LCS(L)(3)-31 received the Presidential Unit Citation and was awarded two battle stars for World War II service

Specifications:
Displacement 250 t (lt), 387 t (fl)
Length 158' 6" o.a.
Beam 23' 3"
Draft loaded, 4' 9" fwd, 6' 6" aft
Speed 16.5 kts. max at 650 shaft rpm, 14.5kts at 585 shaft rpm
Armor 10-lb STS splinter shield to gun mounts, pilot house and conning tower
Complement 6 Officers, 65 Enlisted
Propulsion 8 GM diesels, 4 per shaft, BHP 1,600, twin variable pitch propellers
Endurance 5,500 miles at 12 kts. at 45" pitch (350 tons dspl.)
Fuel/Stores

76 tons fuel oil

10 tons fresh water

6 tons lubrication oil

8 tons provisions and stores at full load
Fresh Water Capacity Distill up to 1,000 gals. per day
Armament

bow gun, one single 3"/50 gun mount

2 twin 40mms

4 single 20mms

4 .50 cal MGs

ten MK7 rocket launchers

Size	Image Description	Contributed By
134k	*LCS(L)(3)-31* officers at commissioning, 20 September 1944, at Commercial Iron Works, Portland, OR. From left to right: LTjg. Kenneth Machacek, Commanding Officer, Ensign Robert Rahn, Executive Officer, Ensign Laurance McKenna, Gunnery Officer, Ensign Shelby Harbison, 1st Lieutenant, Ensign Fredrick Morris, Engineering Officer, Ensign James Smith, Communications Officer.	Michael Hollis for his father LTjg. Jack D.Hollis, USS LCS(L)(3)-31 and LCS(L) Group Seven staff, on behalf of Shelby Harbison, 1st LT. USS LCS(L)(3)-31.
11k	*LCS(L) Group Seven* at Pearl Harbor prior to deployment to Iwo Jima, circa December 1944-January 1945. From left to right: *LCS(L)(3)-35* *LCS(L)(3)-34* *LCS(L)(3)-51* *LCS(L)(3)-32* *LCS(L)(3)-56* *LCS(L)(3)-55* *LCS(L)(3)-33* *LCS(L)(3)-5?* *LCS(L)(3)-53* and Group flag ship *LCS(L)(3)-31*.	Michael Hollis for his father LTjg. Jack D.Hollis, USS LCS(L)(3)-31 and LCS(L) Group Seven staff.
24k	*LCS(L) Group Seven* at Pearl Harbor prior to deployment to Iwo Jima, circa December 1944-January 1945. From left to right: *LCS(L)(3)-51* *LCS(L)(3)-32* *LCS(L)(3)-56* *LCS(L)(3)-55* *LCS(L)(3)-33* *LCS(L)(3)-5?* *LCS(L)(3)-53* and Group flag ship *LCS(L)(3)-31*.	Michael Hollis for his father LTjg. Jack D.Hollis, USS LCS(L)(3)-31 and LCS(L) Group Seven staff.
19k	*LCS(L)(3)-54, LCS(L)(3)-53* and *LCS(L)(3)-31*, probably during training exercises off Maui, T.H. prior to deployment, circa December 1944-January 1945.	Michael Hollis for his father LTjg. Jack D.Hollis USS LCS(L)-31 and Comm Officer, LCS(L) Group Seven.
37k	*LCS(L)(3)-31* Christmas 1944 at Maui, T.H..	Michael Hollis for his father LTjg. Jack D.Hollis USS LCS(L)-31 and Comm Officer, LCS(L) Group Seven
32k	Left to Right; Ltjg. Kenneth Machacek Commanding Officer *LCS(L)(3)-31* LCDR Frank Stone *Commander LCS(L) Group Seven, LT. Phil Jacobson, Executive Officer LCS(L) Group Seven*.	Michael Hollis for his father LTjg. Jack D.Hollis USS LCS(L)-31 and Comm Officer, LCS(L) Group Seven
51k	*LCS(L)(3)-31* underway, date and place unknown.	National Association of USS LCS(L) 1-130
53k	*LCS(L)(3)-31* underway, date and place unknown.	Michael Hollis for his father LTjg. Jack D.Hollis, USS LCS(L)(3)-31 and LCS(L) Group Seven staff, on behalf of Shelby Harbison, 1st LT. USS LCS(L)(3)-31.

View the History of LCS(L)(3)-31 as provided by the National Association of USS LCS(L) 1-130

Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association

Other Crew Contact and Reunion Information
National Association of USS LCS(L) 1-130
John Rooney, Secretary
2 Emery Lane, Phoenixville, PA, 19460
Phone 610-935-0902
E-mail John Rooney

Additional Web Sites of Interest
National Association of USS LCS(L) 1-130

Additional Resources
Rielly, Robin L. Mighty Midgets at War: The Saga of the LCS(L) Ships from Iwo Jima to Vietnam. Central Point, Oregon: Hellgate Press, 2000. (ISBN 1-55571-522-2)

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Last Updated 11 May 2007