| Original caption: “A flotilla of coast guard-manned and navy LSTs, those massive-mouthed carriers of war materiel, disgorge their cargoes on the beach of Leyte Island early in the liberation assault in the central Philippines. while anti-aircraft guns from their bows point into the sky against possible jap air raids, hundreds of American liberators build unloading ‘docks’ out to the LSTs’ ramps.” Tank Landing Ships USS LST-67, USS LST-68, USS LST-18, USS LST-245, and USS LST-202 unload on White Beach, San Ricardo, Leyte, during Operation King 2. These LSTs formed Task Unit 78.2.4, LST Flotilla 7 under Captain Richard M. Scruggs (October 27, 1900 – February 15, 1989), LST Group 21, LST Division 41. Tank Landing Ship USS LST-67 was laid down on September 7, 1942, by the Jeffersonville Boat and Machine Company, Jeffersonville, Indiana. The LST was launched on January 28, 1943, into the Ohio River. United States Coast Guard Lieutenant William E. Paulsen (December 14, 1901 – July 27, 1972) commissioned USS LST-67 as Captain on April 20, 1943. USS LST-67 served in the Finschhafen, Cape Gloucester, Admiralty Islands, Tarakan, Balikpapan, and Visayas operations. As Task Unit 78.2.4 approached the beach on October 20, 1944, USS LST-67 came under air attack at 0615 Hours from a Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryū “Nick” heavy fighter, sighted at 15 miles (24 kilometers); the ship fired 75 rounds of 40-millimeter (1.57-inch) Bofors ammunition; 330 rounds of 20-millimeter (0.78 caliber) Oerlikon ammunition; a 150 rounds of M2 Browning 50 caliber (12.7 millimeter) ammunition; and 1 round of 3-inch (75 millimeter) ammunition. No hits were observed. USS LST-67 anchored off Leyte in San Pedro Bay at 0910 Hours. USS LST-67 beached at 1450 Hours and completed unloading by 2000 Hours. The LST remained beached overnight and retracted back into the sea at 0801 Hours on October 21, 1944. Decommissioned on March 28, 1946, Ex-LST-68 was struck from the Naval Register on May 8, 1946. USS LST-68 earned 7 battle stars for wartime service. She was sold for scrapping on December 5, 1947, by the Ships and Power Equipment Company of Barber, New Jersey. Tank Landing Ship USS LST-68 was laid down on September 7, 1942, by the Jeffersonville Boat and Machine Company, Jeffersonville, Indiana. The LST was launched on March 8, 1943, into the Ohio River. United States Coast Guard Lieutenant Karl A. E. Lindquist (May 2, 1898 – April 27, 1978) commissioned the ship as Captain on June 4, 1943. USS LST-68 served in the Cape Gloucester, Admiralty Islands, Saidor, Aitape, Hollandia, Biak, Noemfoor, Cape Sansapor, Morotai, Leyte, Lingayan Gulf, and Visayas operations. USS LST-68 embarked 7 officers and 198 men of C Company, 46th Engineer Regiment at Hollandia on October 13, 1944, destined for San Ricardo. The “Nick” heavy fighter was sighted at 0621 Hours, and port anti-aircraft batteries fired 53 rounds of 40 millimeter and 230 rounds of 20 millimeter. USS LST-68 claimed a Japanese aircraft during a resupply sortie to Leyte on November 12, 1944. Decommissioned on March 7, 1946, Ex-LST-68 was struck from the Naval Register on June 5, 1946. USS LST-68 earned 7 battle stars for wartime service. She was sold for scrapping on September 18, 1947, by the Southern Shipwrecking Company of New Orleans, Louisiana. Tank Landing Ship USS LST-18 was laid down at the Dravo Corporation at their Neville Island, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, shipyard on October 1, 1942. Launched into the Ohio River on March 29, 1943, United States Coast Guard Lieutenant John Lenci (April 17, 1906 – March 19, 1981) took command and commissioned the ship on April 26, 1943. USS LST-18 served in the Finschhafen, Cape Gloucester, Admiralty Islands, Aitape, Hollandia, Wakde, Biak, Noemfoor, Cape Sansapor, Morotai, Leyte, Lingayen Gulf, Palawan, and Visayas campaigns. She took American troops to China immediately after the war. Decommissioned on April 3, 1946, she was struck from the Naval Register on April 17, 1946. USS LST-18 earned 7 battle stars for wartime service. The ship was sold to the Suwannee Fruit and Steamship Company of Jacksonville, Florida, for commercial service on October 31, 1946. Tank Landing Ship USS LST-245 was laid down on May 7, 1943, by the Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company in Evansville, Indiana, and launched into the Ohio River on July 17, 1943. United States Coast Guard Reserve Lieutenant Matthew J. McCabe placed USS LST-245 in commission as Captain on August 22, 1943. Assigned to LST Group 19, USS LST-245 served in the Cape Gloucester, Admiralty Islands, Saidor, Hollandia, Wakde, Biak, Noemfoor, Cape Sansapor, Morotai, Leyte, Lingayan Gulf, Mindanao, and Balikpapan operations. USS LST-245 opened fire at the “Nick” heavy fighter at 0620 Hours on October 20, firing for 1 minute. Almost immediately, when the order to cease fire was given, 6 aerial bombs exploded in the water alongside. The crew never identified the aircraft that dropped the bombs. USS LST-245 beached at 1103 Hours and unloaded all night, until 0530 Hours on October 21. Later, USS LST-245 made a 2nd run to Leyte, carrying United States Army Engineers, on November 12, 1944, and engaged Japanese aircraft during that sortie. The ship was decommissioned on April 1, 1946, and transferred to the Maritime Administration for disposal on April 15, 1948. USS LST-245 earned 8 battle stars for wartime service. Her final disposition was unknown. Tank Landing Ship USS LST-202 was laid down at the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company in Seneca, Illinois, on July 15, 1942. The ship was launched into the Illinois River on March 16, 1943. Philippine Coast Guard Lieutenant Benjamin Ayesa (1904 – ????) commissioned USS LST-202 as Captain on April 9, 1943, exactly a year after he successfully fled Manila. USS LST-202 served in the Cape Gloucester, Admiralty Islands, Hollandia, Wakde, Noemfoor, Cape Sansapor, Morotai, and Leyte campaigns. Under successive United States Coast Guard Captains, Lieutenant Robert R. Edge (September 20, 1907 – November 12, 1975), Lieutenant Commander Thomas N. Kelley (March 20, 1901 – November 19, 1986), Lieutenant Harold H. Gaillard (February 9, 1912 – May 23, 1972), and Lieutenant Robert B. Elliott (August 6, 1906 – December 21, 1968) USS LST-202 continued to service landings. Ayesa was detached to rebuild the Philippine Navy in 1945. On October 20, 1945, USS LST-202 carried the 82nd Field Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division to Leyte. USS LST-202 was so focused on the “Nick” heavy fighter at 0620 Hours that they didn’t notice other aircraft dropping 7 bombs, 3 on the starboard side and 4 to port. USS LST-202 served in China and Japan from October 15 to November 3, 1945. Decommissioned on April 11, 1946, she was struck from the Naval Register on August 28, 1946. USS LST-202 earned 5 battle stars for wartime service. She was scrapped by the Bethlehem Steel Company starting on April 16, 1948. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1467.jpg |
| Image Size | 888.11 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 3000 x 2328 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Coast Guard |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | October 20, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | San Ricardo |
| State or Province | Leyte |
| Country | Philippines |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | 26-G-3575 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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