Troops Going Down Landing Nets James Turnbull #9 Oi l on canvas, 1945 Gift of Abbott Laboratories 88-159-KJ This phase is sometimes a very dangerous one in amphibious operations both for the crew of the boat and the men coming down the nets, especially when there are high seas. The boats bob about like corks and crash against the APA (Personnel Attack Ship). At one moment the net will be hanging clear of the bottom of the boat and at the next the boat will be raised by a wave so that the net is bunched up and the soldier with all his equipment may get a considerable shoving around.

Amphibious Troop Movement James Turnbull Oil on canvas, 1945 67-109-B   Burdened with full combat packs, assault troops clamber down a landing net into the landing craft which will debark them on the shores of Lingayen Gulf to open the battle for Luzon.

Unidentified Landing Scene James Turnbull #2 Gouache, 1945 Gift of Abbott Laboratories 88-159-KC Troops cluster at the rail of a ship over whose side they are about to descend. In the background a battleship is firing a salvo into the shore at Lingayen. Just to the left is seen an attack transport, a sister ship of the one from which the picture is made. In the middle foreground are some LCVP's moving in a circle. This maneuver is performed until all the craft are assembled and are given the signal to move up to the line for the final dash in. The man in foreground holds a rope to steady an LCVP below.

Down the Net Kerr Eby #10 Charcoal, 1944 Gift of Abbott Laboratories 88-159-CT   Like a flowing stream, Marines come over the side of the transport for the attack on Tarawa.

The Mortars Come Ashore James Turnbull #11 Oil on canvas, 1945 Gift of Abbott Laboratories 88-159-KL   Members of a mortar platoon, lugging their heavy equipment, wade ashore through the surf from a Navy landing craft during the invasion of Lingayen on Luzon in January of 1944.

The Wave Breaks on the Reef Kerr Eby #2 Charcoal, 1944 Gift of Abbott Laboratories 88-159-CL   Jarred to a halt by a hidden reef, an assault boat is abandoned by a unit of Marines. Doomed to near extinction by a storm of enemy fire, long since trained on this objective, the group pushes forward to a man into the hindering water, into the teeth of the deadly storm.

Dad, I had to carry a 25 lb. radio on top of all that. Now, mind you, I don't really mind being a radio operator, but when I start humping 75 lbs and more up and down nets, thats a different story. Anyway, after two days of this we went aboard ship. The morning we left it was real cold but lucky for us, the assult boats came right up to the shore so we didn't get wet. We went out to the ship and climbed aboard. We climbed the net which was made of coarse hemp (you would not believe it) and over the side. The swabies showed us our troop compartment (as far down as you could get) and gave us a welcome aboard (HA!). Believe me, this tub was really scuzzie. The lighting and ventilation were poor, the compartment was crampt and the head didn't work. After all of this I noticed that I had trouble walking because of the swaying of the ship. Actually, it's the closest thing to being drunk without even drinking. Next was chow so all of us weaved our way down to the galley. I couldn't believe it, the food was great. I thought to my-self that well, it's only the first meal I'll just wait and see, need-less to say all of the meals were great. We had briefings all that afternoon and got plenty of sleep. I didn't know it then but, ship-board life is very boring. I slept pretty good that night considering our living conditions. Early the next morning we ate chow and prepared to assult the beach. Oh, hey! I forgot to tell you that the beach we landed at was down in San Diego (I can't seem to shake loose of that place). Anyway we climbed down the nets into the boats and took-off. Since I was in the third wave, we circled around for an hour and a half. With the rocking of the boat and the fumes from the engine I started to turn green (the captain already was). Finally we were given the go ahead signal so in we went. We were about three hundred yards off-shore when we were told to brace ourselves. When we were thirty yards out our boat grounded and the ramp dropped. The captain yelled go, so we ran out like we were supposed to, screaming and cursing through waist deep water. After that it wasn't much because all we did was to wade back out to the boats, and then go back to the ships and up the nets. The rest of the day we did what we wanted to besides to dry out our clothes. That night taps went at 2230 and reville at 2145 because we were making our last landing the next day. I decided to stay in the rack so I got up at 0200 (10 minutes before we went over the side). It was cold again so we hoped that the boats could get up on the beach. No such luck, after circling for 1 1/2 hours we were dropped 30 yds from shore. Into the cold water we went screaming and cursing. When I got up on shore and the wind began to chill us I said to myself. "Self, you don't hardly believe this, it can't be true. No-body in his right mind should be here, when instead he could be back in the rack nice and warm." Then I looked at my salt water soaked clothes and my gear laden body and said, "Self, it's true that your here and not somewhere else. Your an awfuly dumb idiot, you moron." Well I was right because of what was to happen when we got back to camp. After going back to the ship and then to Camp Pendleton, we prepared to go on 72 hours of liberty that they promised us. When our Comm Chief came in and told us to saddle up again because we were going out on another operation. Yes, we were taken all the way. This operation will last 45 days and be a combination of air and sea assault, along with running up and down mountains. Well, let me know how your easy life is coming along so I can pity myself.
Your son,
Clyde

Fire Fighters Reginald Marsh #15 Watercolor,1944 Gift of Abbott Laboratories 88-159-IA   One of the more colorful operations at Camp Bradford's Amphibious Training Base is the training for fighting fires aboard ship. Leaping flames and thick black oil-smoke provide an eerie background for the activities of the firefighters.

Concrete Ship Side Carlos Lopez #9 Oil on canvas, circa 1943 Gift of Abbott Laboratories 88-159-HE   This welin davit simulates a ship, with davits. The LCVP in foreground is coming alongside, and will be hoisted "aboard" with the other landing craft, in center, stirring high waves to add realism to the operation.

Suicide in Paris James Turnbull #8 Oil on canvas, 1945 Gift of Abbott Laboratories 88-159-KI   Streaking down from a sullen flak-pocked sky, a Japanese kamikaze suicide plane heads towards its target an Landing Ship Tank (LST), already smoking and in wreckage from another enemy plane that crashed on its deck a few seconds before. This action occurred during the Philippines campaign.

Hauling the Sling Gently Over the Rail Kerr Eby #6 Charcoal, 1944 Gift of Abbott Laboratories 88-159-CP Last stage of the arduous trip back from the front lines is reached for this casualty, being hoisted abroad a transport. Soon he will be relaxing on a soft bunk, with skilled medical care and good food in prospect during the voyage to a base hospital.