I have located Navy muster rolls for the ship LCI(L) 591, sailing on 9 August 1944. The attached file is the list of Army troops aboard which appear to be mostly men of the 36th Combat Engineer Regiment heading to the Invasion of Southern France, based on the date of sailing. We are in the process of verifying the men as 36th Engineers & assembling the muster roll images & matching transcriptions into a complete file which will be posted as soon.
Larry:
As stated in my emails to you, this is just outstanding. Sent it to everyone on my 36th Engineer list. Had many responses so far and everyone is thrilled to see this too.
I recognize several names on here, including my friend Tony Stefanelli and Irving Cherney. These are two of the men in my documentary, No Bridge Too Far.
Kudos!
Marion, i emailed you the complete .pdf file with all the muster roll images & matching transciptions. I`ll have to break it down into several parts to post here.
Navy Muster Roll images for Army passengers on LCI(L) 591 Sailing 9 August 1944
Fantastic work. I can't commend you enough. You have done a great service for me and my boys!
Information on LCI(L) 591 from NavSource, there is a picture of the ship on their page:
http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/15/150591.htm
USS LCI(L)-591
LCI-351 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):
Laid down, 10 March 1944, at New Jersey Shipbuilding Corp., Barber, N.J.
Launched, 10 April 1944
Commissioned USS LCI(L)-591, 14 April 1944
During World War II USS LCI(L)-591 was assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and participated in the following campaign:
Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Campaign and Dates
Invasion of Southern France, 15 August to 5 September 1944
USS LCI(L)-591 was decommissioned and transferred as part of the Lend-Lease program to the Soviet Union at Cold Bay, AK., 10 June 1945, designated DS-36 by the Soviet Union
Struck from the Naval Register in 1955
Final Disposition, fate unknown
USS LCI(L)-591 received one battle star for World War II service
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Specifications:
Displacement 246 t.(light), 264 t. (landing), 419 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 4 Officers, 24 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 kts; and 110 tons of fuel
LCI(L) Armament five single 20mm guns, one bow mounted, one each port and starboard forward of wheelhouse, one each port and starboard aft of wheelhouse, on some LCIs two .50 cal machine guns were added
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