| Original caption: “Father (Major) Edward J. Waters, Catholic Chaplain from Oswego, New York, conducts Divine Services on a pier for members of the first assault troops thrown against Hitler’s forces on the continent.” Catholic Chaplain United States Army Reserve Major Edward J. Waters (August 5, 1906 – August 24, 1958) conducts Catholic services on the Custom House Quay in Weymouth. Landing Craft Infantry, Large LCI(L)-490 and LCI(L)-494 can be seen in the background. The men are likely the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. Built in Barber, New Jersey by New Jersey Shipbuilding as a LCI-351 class Landing Craft Infantry, Large ship, LCI(L)-490 was launched into the Arthur Kill between New Jersey and Staten Island and commissioned on November 1, 1943. LCI(L)-494 was commissioned at Arthur Kill a week later. LCI(L)-490 was under command of United States Navy Reserve Lieutenant Junior Grade Werner E. Cederberg (August 17, 1911 – January 24, 1990) and the ship was the LCI Group 28 Flagship and Guide. It carried the Headquarters Company of the 1st Infantry Division. While it was supposed to land at 0930 Hours, LCI(L)-490 landed her troops at Omaha Beach by 1400 Hours, where the Easy Red sector and the Fox Green sector met, near the E-3 Draw at Colleville-sur-Mer. On June 6, 1944, LCI-490 couldn’t directly run into Easy Red Beach at Omaha because the high tide was receding, exposing the Nazi German beach obstacles. Landing Craft Vehicle and Personnel (LCVP)s were transferring troops from other LCIs to the beach, but none were available as Nazi German artillery had found the range and were shelling the landing craft. LCI(L)-490’s commander saw a passing Landing Craft, Mechanized (LCM). The LCM was packed with explosives and that commander was worried about his chances. The LCM and the LCI traded loads – the troops went ashore in the LCM, and LCI(l)-490 disposed of the explosives overboard. LCI(L)-494 was under command of United States Navy Reserve Lieutenant Junior Grade Robert M. Pike (November 25, 1914 – October 6, 1998), who came from USS Argus (YT-14). The LCI was supposed to land at 0910 Hours on June 6, but was delayed until 1229 without explanation. Landing at Easy Red was completed without casualties to ships’ personnel by 1313 Hours. Returned to USS Dorothea L. Dix (AP-67) but she was already unloaded. On June 7, attempted to rescue men from USS Susan B. Anthony (AP-72), which had struck a mine, but she wasn’t required. Instead, she unloaded USAT George W. Goethals, carrying 288 soldiers to Easy Red Beach. There, LCI(L)-494 waited for the next tide to return for her next assignment. On June 8 at 0100 Hours, under air attack, LCI(L)-490 and LCT(L)-494 were ordered to tow 2 barges filled with 600 tons ammunition and explosives; 3 other LCIs towed 6 more. LCI(L)-490 and the other ships ran their barges onto Omaha Beach as bombs exploded. The Beachmaster ordered them to remove the barges as they were on the wrong beach — “Take it away!” LCI(L)-490 signaled, “It’s your baby now!” On June 12, LCI(L)-490 transferred 25 casualties from USS LST-496, which had struck 2 mines and sank rapidly, to USS LST-511 for treatment. From June 10 to July 18, LCI(L)-494 served as operation ship for LCT Flotilla 19, with that staff aboard. Through July 22, LCI(L)-490 served as a tug for what her commander called “dumb” barges – loads of ammunition, fuel, and supplies towed across the channel. Waters studied at St. Bernard’s Seminary and served as assistant at St. Augustine’s Church in Rochester, where was instrumental in ordering the new bells. He was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve on October 23, 1940, with the local Bishop’s personal blessing, which he instituted for all the chaplains going to war. Assigned to the 1st Infantry Division, Waters landed with them in Tunisia. He once conducted mass from a large foxhole while his “parishioners” listened from scattered hideouts in a rocky Tunisian slope, and again held service in a huge cactus patch under German artillery fire. United States Army Brigadier General Clift Andrus (October 12, 1890 – September 29, 1968), the Divisional Artillery Commander, stated Waters was “One of the finest chaplains I have ever seen.” Andrus and 1st Infantry Division Commander United States Army Major General Terry de la Mesa Allen Sr. (April 1, 1888 – September 12, 1969) signed Waters’ commendation for bravery in action in North Africa. Waters, a Captain at the time, administered to the wounded and the dead as they arrived at the artillery batteries. Andrus wrote to the Rochester Chancery, “His activity was ceaseless and extended to every part of the artillery. In addition he was of material assistance…in burying enemy dead, sometimes located in extremely difficult country and in isolated spots.” Waters accompanied the “Big Red One,” during their invasion of Sicily. When the 1st Infantry Division arrived in England on November 5, 1943, Waters worked with local Blandford Canon Kenneth B. Meiklem (1909 – January 2, 1991) to fill the local Catholic Church. “It was an inspiration not only to the Catholics but to all the people of Blandford. During a mission held in Holy Week [April 2-9, 1944] the church was so well filled that even the sanctuary was occupied to overflowing. Such scenes had not been witnessed in these parts since the Reformation.” Meiklem wrote to the Bishop of Rochester in August of 1944. On October 29, 1944, in a service broadcast via radio to the United States over the National Broadcasting Company, Waters joined Rabbi Sidney M. Lefkowitz (September 11, 1908 – July 18, 1997) and Methodist minister Bernard F. Henry (November 25, 1912 – October 1, 1996) in the 1st public Jewish religious service in Aachen since the Kristallnacht program on the night of November 9-10, 1938. As Nazi German artillery fire punctuated the broadcast, Lefkowitz led Jewish soldiers in prayer. This interfaith service ended with brief statements against Nazism by the 3 Chaplains. USS LCI(L)-490 was transferred to the United Kingdom Royal Navy on November 20, 1944; LCI(L)-494 was transferred on November 30. They were used in several landings in Asia and the Pacific with Commonwealth Forces. USS LCI(L)-490 was returned to United States Navy custody on June 19, 1946; USS LCI(L)-494 on August 15, 1946. The Maritime Commission sold ex-USS LCI(L)-490 for scrap on November 12, 1947, and ex-USS LCI(L)-494 on June 24, 1947. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0427.jpg |
| Image Size | 666.56 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2921 x 2216 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Army Signal Corps |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | June 4, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | Weymouth |
| State or Province | Dorset |
| Country | England |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NWDNS-111-SC-190504 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
Author of the World War II Multimedia Database