Stainless steel kitchens were even in vogue in the 40's!
Onboard the LST was a full blown kitchen that even today's chefs would be proud of. A large enough facility to feed over 200 men at any give time. The guide mentioned the steel trays to hold your food as you pass by the kitchen serving area. He said that on board a vessel like this....the captain ate the same food as the enlisted men...the only difference being that the captain ate on Chinaware rather than the cold steel trays. I would guess that is probably still the same today.
The most personal part of the living quarters was the sleeping areas that lined the length of the ship down below. There were no pads whatsoever...when a soldier bedded down for a few hours sleep...he did so on the stretched heavy canvas swinging bunks. On the walls of the sleeping quarter there were notes scribbled to loved ones back home. This area was his personal space...the only personal space on-board the vessel. Whenever he slept...he slept with his necessary gear for war...helmet, rifle, life raft etc...in case he was awoken abruptly to abandon ship or man the heavy guns up on deck.
Hope you enjoyed the last couple of days on-board the LST. For me not having served in the military...it was a look into a lifestyle that I had never seen except in the movies.
Dan
Posts
9 comments:
That is an impressive looking stainless steel galley, imagine all of the meals that were cooked there ... not an easy job I should imagine for anyone to undertake.
Those canvas bunks would not have provided much comfort but I guess when you are tired you can sleep anywhere, nice that they made that their own personal space, there is no privacy on a ship.
Thanks Dan for some very interesting posts about life at sea. ♡
I just can't imagine living on a ship like this...
Your photos are excellent, Dan, as always :)
It's a very different world, isn't it? A bit too closed in for me. I admire the resolve that it took to serve here.
Dianne thank you. One aspect of the personal side of this ship that I forgot to post was that there were openings in the sides of the sleeping areas that led to the loading bay down below. These were used to transport the wounded directly from the loading bay through the wall to the bunks for treatment.
Dan
Heather...this was all new to me as well since I never served in the military.
Dan
Cynthia...life at sea was truly a different world for these guys. So many came from the fields and farms and had never been on board a ship before joining in the war effort.
Dan
You have really captured the mood of the ship. I imagine it could get very claustophobic at times. A few years ago, I took a tour of a WW2 submarine, I could never be in such tight quarters!
Sunny :)
We got another 2 feet of snow, the only one happy about it was Lucy.
I miss coming here - I should come by more often again. I just love being taken into another world with your photos paired with your writing like this. What a vivid depiction you have painted with this post! Thank you!
Dani...it is really good to hear from you again! I know how it is to get busy with life! You are always welcomed here whether it is daily or once a year...you are always appreciated.
Dan
Post a Comment