West Loch Post (HI-0005)
Post Commander:
Theo Alexander (USN, Veteran)
Email: theo@amvets-hawaii.org
Phone: 808-728-3338
Post Mailing Address: AMVETS Hawaii Post 5, P.O. Box 2865, Ewa Beach, HI 96706
AMVETS Hawaii’s West Loch Post was chartered to pay homage to the servicemen who died at the West Loch, Pearl Harbor during a WWII accident (21 May 1944)- majority of those who died were African Americans who were loading weapons and ammunitions for a Pacific invasion.
West Loch Disaster
In May of 1944, preparations were underway for the invasion of the island of Saipan. The planned invasion force for the first act of the Operation Forager, the conquest of the Marianas, consisted of two Marine Divisions, a US Army Division, and the required force and support units from an amphibious armada of nearly 600 ships and craft. Inherent in projecting a landing force of such size was the loading and preparation of the massive logistical effort to project and sustain the invasion force.
At Pearl Harbor in West Loch, thirty-four LSTs were tightly clustered while their hulls and decks were filled with ammunition, supplies, and materiel.
On the afternoon of 21 May 1944, while Army Ordnance troops loaded mortar ammunition on the fantail of LST-353, there was an explosion, followed by two more minutes later, that sprayed hot splinters into the highly flammable aviation drums on LST-480 and LST-39 nearby.
Predictably, flaming gasoline and exploding ammunition soon began to take a frightful toll of the Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines loading and manning the ships. Fires and explosions drove back ships and craft engaged in firefighting efforts, but each time those vessels re-entered the inferno to contain the fires and keep the disaster from spreading to the rest of the Fleet anchorage.
The fires burned for more than 24 hours, finally being extinguished on the afternoon of 22 May. As the fires died away, the cost of the catastrophe was counted. One-hundred and sixty three men lost their lives, with another 400 injured, including several fighting the fires. Six LSTs were destroyed, two damaged beyond repair. Three LCTs, lashed to the decks of sunken LSTs, were also lost, as were a number of LVT’s parked nearby.
Though the incident could have caused a serious operational delay, replacements of ships and men were quickly rounded up and the LSTs got underway only one day late as the invasion of Saipan took place on schedule. All that is left as a reminder of that fateful day is the rusted hulk of LST 480, standing silently off of Waipio peninsula.
Photo of: AmVets Post 5 Hawaii Past Commander, Sophia Marinakes and 1st Vice Commander, Oriana Franklin
