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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

LCI(L)-88


USS LCI(L)-88 was manned by the US Coast Guard during World War II
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom. left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (6 June 1944)
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 at Consolidated Steel Corp., Shipbuilding Div., Orange, TX, (date unknown)
  • Launched (date unknown)
  • Commissioned USS LCI(L)-88, 2 February 1943, with a Coast Guard crew
  • Succeeding Commanding Officers
    LT. William B. Cole USCGR (1 December 1944)
    LT. Henry K. Rigg USCGR
    Ens. William G. Marchl USCGR
    LTjg. John R. Allums (2 March 1945 - 27 February 1946)
    LTjg. William G. Marchl USCGR (27 February - 9 April 1946)
  • LCI(L)-88 was assigned to the European Theater, LCI Flotilla 4, Capt. M. E. Imlay, USCG in command, (Flotilla 10 at Normandy) 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
    LCI(L)-88 proceeded to England in November 1943 for training in preparation for the
    Invasion of Normandy.
  • Invasion of Normandy, 6 June 1944
    LCI(L)-88 was damaged off the coast of France on D-day, 6 June 1944
  • LCI(L)-88 departed England 24 October 1944, for Charleston, S.C. for availability and overhaul at US Navy Yard, Charleston, S.C.
  • Departed Charleston, 5 December 1944, for Little Creek, VA. for amphibious training at Solomon Island, MD. until 13 December 1944
  • Departed Norfolk, 26 December 1944, for San Diego via Key West and Canal Zone
  • Arriving at San Diego LCI(L)-88 was attached to Ship Training Group, Naval Repair Base, San Diego.
  • LCI(L)-88 was reassigned to the Asiatic Pacific Theater, LCI Flotilla 35
  • Departed San Diego, 3 April 1945, for Okinawa via Peal Harbor, Eniwetok, Guam, Ulithi, Leyte, arriving, 29 May 1945 at Hagushi, Okinawa and participated in the:
  • Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto - 29 May to 8 September 1945
  • LCI(L)-88 anchored at Tanabaru Wan, Okinawa, 31 May 1945 to make smoke for West Virginia
    (BB-48), New Orleans (CA-32) and Portland (CA-33).
  • On 6 June 1945 LCI(L)-88 proceeded to Kerema Rhetto escorting LCI-(L)-90 damaged by Japanese
    suicide planes
  • Returned to Nagagusuki Wan to again make smoke, being at general quarters on numerous occasions as
    red alerts were sounded.
  • On 11 June, 1945, the LCT area was under attack by Japanese planes,. LCI(L)-88 continued to
    make smoke and kept almost continually at general quarters
  • Following World War II LCI(L)-88 departed Okinawa for Wakayama, Japan, 8 September 1945 for mine destruction and occupation duty
  • Minesweeping operations - Pacific;
    (a) Wakanoura-Kii (Honshu Area), 11 to 27 September 1945
    (b) Klondike (East China Sea-Ryukyus area) 27 to 31 October 1945
    (c) Navy Occupation Service (Asia), 2 September to 25 November 1945
  • LCI(L)-88 departed Sasebo, Japan for Galveston, TX., 25 November 1945, via Guam, Pearl Harbor, San Diego and Canal Zone, arriving 19 February 1946
  • Decommissioned, 9 April 1946, at Orange, TX.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, (date unknown)
  • Final Disposition, transferred to the Maritime Commissioned, 19 March 1947, for disposal
  • LCI(L)-88 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 2 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)-14 94k LCI(L)-88 along with the rest of LCI Flotillas Two and Four ready to sail to North Africa with the Third Infantry Division. Bill Brinkley
    LCI(L)-88 211k LCI(L)-88 underway off the coast of Normandy, circa June 1944 Bill Brinkley
    LCI(L)-88 57k LCI(L)-88 beached, date and place unknown. Bill Brinkley
    LCI(L)-88 67k Aboard LCI(L)-88, standing in the foreground, Chief Ralph Gault, USCG, wearing the khaki working uniform, poses with part of his deck hands and former World Boxing Champion, Commander Jack Dempsey Ken Davey
    The history for LCI(L)-88 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 - LCI(L)-88
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 8 July 2005