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LCI(L)-86


USS LCI(L)-86 was manned by the US Coast Guard
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive)
Second Row - Coast Guard Unit Commendation - American Campaign Medal - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (4)
Third Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)
LCI-1 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):
  • Laid down (date unknown) at Consolidated Steel Corp., Orange, TX.
  • Launched (date unknown)
  • Commissioned USS LCI(L)-86, 23 January 1943, with a Coast Guard crew, LTjg Harold A. Levin USCGR in command
  • During World War II LCI(L)-86 was assigned to the European Theater, Coast Guard Flotilla 4, and participated in the:
  • North African occupation;
    (a) Tunisian operations, 1 June to 9 July 1943
  • Sicilian occupation, 9 to 15 July 1943
  • Salerno landings, 9 to 21 September 1943
  • Invasion of Normandy, 6 to 25 June 1944
  • LCI(L)-86 departed the United Kingdom 5 October 1944, arriving Charleston, S.C., where she remained for overhaul and repair until December 4, 1944
  • LCI(L)-86 was next assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater - Departing Charleston, 4 December she arrived at NAB
    Little Creek, 7 December 1944 to undergo amphibious training at Solomons Islands from 10 to 13 December and
    then undergoing repair, alteration and loading at Norfolk from 15 to 23 December. On 23 December LCI(L)-86
    departed for Okinawa via Key West, Canal Zone , San Diego, Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, Guam, and Ulithi arriving
    13 April 1945. There she participated in the:
  • Okinawa Gunto operation;
    (a) Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 18 April to 7 September 1945 - LCI(L)-86 anchored at
    Hagushi Anchorage and Nakagusuku Wan, to make smoke to provide coverage for New Orleans (CA-32)
    and West Virginia (BB-48), as well as to provide smoke coverage and AA fire for merchant ships off
    White and Brown Beaches. She opened fire on Japanese suicide planes on 3 and 11 June. Arriving at
    Kerama Rhetto anchorage 14 June she made smoke to cover ships present, making, two trips to Faguahi and
    return. During June she made smoke 54 different times and went to general quarters 52 times on air alerts.
    On two occasions she directed 20 MM fire at Japanese soldiers on the beach with undetermined results. She
    continued to make smoke and perform other duties at Kerama Rhetto. In Buckner Bay and at Chimu Wan,
    during July 1945 she went to general quarters 25 times on red alerts and made smoke 27 times to cover
    ships in the anchorages. During August she made smoke at Chimu Wan until the 12th carrying mail from
    Buckner Bay every fourth or fifth day. From the 12th to 31st she made smoke in Buckner Bay and carried
    liberty parties for the Fifth Fleet. She made smoke 21 times during August and went to general quarters on
    red alerts seven times. She continued operations at Buckner Bay through 7 September 1945.
  • Following World War II LCI(L)-86 performed occupation duty in the Far East until 25 November 1945 which included
  • Minesweeping operations - Pacific: (Mine Destruction Unit)
    (a) Skagway (East China Sea-Ryukyus Area) - 26 October to 25 November 1945
    Departing Buckner Bay 8 September 1945 LCI(L)-86 as part of Task Group 52.6, designated the
    Wakayama Sweep Group, she proceeded to Wakayama, Japan, to destroy mines in Kii Suido cut by
    sweepers and to lay Dan buoys. Arriving at Wakayama 10 September she drydocked for repairs.
    Proceeding to Sasebo, Japan 19 October she was assigned 26 October, to destroy mines in "operation
    skagway" in Nanei Shote until 8 November 1945. Returning to Sasebo on that date, she departed the 25th
    for Guam where she arrived 2 December. She departed Guam 5 December, for return to the United States.
    She reached Galveston, via Pearl Harbor, San Diego and Canal Zone 19 February 1946.
  • Decommissioned, 8 April 1946, at Galveston, TX.
  • Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
  • Final Disposition, transferred to the Maritime Commissioned, 13 November 1947, for disposal LCI(L)-86 earned six battle stars for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 216 t.(light), 234 t.(landing), 389 t.(loaded)
    Length 158' 5½"
    Beam 23' 3"
    Draft Light, 3'1½" mean, Landing, 2' 8" forward, 4' 10" aft, Loaded, 5' 4" forward, 5' 11" aft
    Speed 16 kts (max.), 14 kts maximum continuous
    Complement 3 officer, 21 enlisted
    Troop Capacity 6 Officers, 182 Enlisted
    Cargo Capacity 75 tons
    Armor 2" plastic splinter protection on gun turrets, conning tower and pilot house
    Endurance 4,000 miles at 12 kts, loaded, 500 miles at 15 knots; and 110 tons of fuel
    Armament four single 20mm guns one forward, one amidship, two aft, later added two .50 cal machine guns
    Fuel Capacity 130 tons, lube oil 200 gal.
    Propulsion two sets of 4 GM diesels, 4 per shaft, BHP 1,600, twin variable pitch propellers
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    LCI(L)-86 93k LCI-86 crew photo.
    US Coast Guard Public Relations release

    "Coast Guard Commander W.H. "Jack" Dempsey while recently in Europe inspected a Coast Guard-manned LCI. In the group are, top row left to right; Frank Kluge, Lieutenant (jg), 14 Garden St., BAY SHORE NEW YORK, Ralph H. Herrold, Lieutenant (jg), 411 Washington Blvd., OAK PARK, ILL.; Edison M. Fabian, Lieutenant, 322 Annatte Ave., VALLEJO, CA.; Wado S. Dressler, coxswain, 108 South Lake Ave., ALBANY, N.Y.; Nicholas Kicidis, stewards mate first class, 110 South Pincknay St., UNION, S.C.; James N. Abbot, seaman first class, 249 Brookside Ave., ALLENDALE, N.J.; Lester O. Bousan, boatswain's mate first class, 2110 M. Street, LINCOLN, NEB.; Issac J. Potts, motor machinist's mate third class, MOUNTAIN VIEW, MO.; George E. Howe, gunner's mate third class, 1079 Clay Ave., PELRAM MANOR, N.Y.; Edward Orezechowski, seaman first class, 2934 Davison, Apt 1, DETROIT, MICH.; William J. Lynch, motor machinist's mate second class, 740 East 39th St., BROOKLYN, N.Y.; and middle row: Max Ashinofsky, motor machinist's mate third class, 60-15 Woodside Ave., WOODSIDE, L.I., N.Y.; John Tumas, seaman first class, 80 Harbor View St., DORCHESTER, MASS.; Rudolph T. Kramer, seaman first class, Route 305, NEW YORK CITY, N.Y.; Frederick V. Ahearn, motor machinist's mate second class, 1640 Columbia Road, SOUTH BOSTON, MASS.; Daniel Cavanugh, seaman first class, 512 12th St. BROOKLYN, N.Y.; Commander Dempsey; Harold J. Scott, seaman first class, 3011 Laecas Blvd., FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA.; and first row: Fred Moressh, Mach, 13 OAKLAND COURT, POQUONNACE BRIDGE, Conn.; Frederick J. Alles, chief radioman, 5 Cayuga St., FORTY FORK, PA.; Walter E. Jackson, gunner's mate third class, 1313 N. Louise Ave., OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA.; Lawrence W. Eisner, seaman first class, 225 Warren St. HUDSON, N.Y.; David E. Cobbs, steward's mate first class, 3741 Rippello St., DETROIT, MICH.; Arthur E. Crane, radioman third class, 9435 Fifth Ave., BROOKLYN, N.Y.; Donald E. Breaner, coxswain, AINSWORTH, NEB.; and Bernard Blidon, seaman first class, 1721 Gwyns Falls Parkway, BALTIMORE, MD.". US Coast Guard photo.    		 Sean Connor in honor of his grandfather Frederick V. Ahern USS LCI(L)-86
    LCI(L)-86 104k LCI(L)-86 partial crew photo
    US Coast Guard Public Relation release

    "Plainly happy to hit the "beaches of America", after fighting on the beachheads of Sicily, Italy and Normandy, these three-invasion Coast Guardsmen arrived at an undisclosed East Coast port after an epochal round trip voyage over the stormy Atlantic. They went out and returned aboard Coast Guard manned LCI(L)s. Seated, left to right: Coast Guardsmen Murray Hollins, of AUGUSTA, ME.; Max Ashinofsky, of NEW YORK CITY; William Lynch, of BROOKLYN, N.Y.; Fred Ahern, of SOUTH BOSTON, MASS.; standing, left to right; Rudolph Kramer, of NEW YORK CITY; Walter Jackson, of OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA.; Leslie Blakeney, of DECATUR, ILL.; Thomas Prestridge, of SHREVEPORT, LA. and Ray Maleski, of YONKERS, N.Y." US Coast Guard photo.    		 Sean Connor in honor of his grandfather Frederick V. Ahern USS LCI(L)-86
    The history for LCI(L)-86 is from "The Coast Guard At War, Transports and Escorts, Volume II"
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    US Coast Guard Unit Commendation Flotilla 10 - Group 29 - Division 27
    USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association
    U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office - USS LCI(L)-86
    The CG History Page
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 10 March 2006