LIEUTENANT KENNETH ADAIR SKILES (1912 – 2008)

He served in the US Navy from 1943 to 1946 commissioned as an Ensign and rose in rank to Lieutenant Senior Grade. He was a ’90 Day Wonder” which referred to a crash training course for newly commissioned officers in order to supply officers for the World War II fleet.

In 1943 he was assigned to a new ship (USS LST 50) built it Pittsburgh. They took the ship down the Mississippi Rover into the Gulf of Mexico and then across the Atlantic Ocean to dock in England.

An LST was a large ship used to transport troops and equipment (tanks, trucks, etc.) for beach landings. LST stands for Landing Ship Tanker but the crews often referred to them as Long Slow Targets because the two flat bow doors reduced their speed through the water. LSTs were about 400 feet long and 50 feet wide. They were capable of a speed of about 20 mph and had a range of about 10,000 miles. They had two large bow doors and a ramp that could extend another 100 feet. The LST 50 had six davits attached which held LVCP (Higgins) boats each of which could be launched with about 36 Army troops for the initial assault on beaches. Crews on LSTs consisted of about 10 officers and 100 enlisted sailors.

The LST 50 joined with thousands of other ships in England in preparation for the invasion of Normandy, France – Operation Overlord. On June 6, 1944 they landed on Utah Beach unloading men and supplies for the 101 Airborne. They returned to England with wounded troops, and then made numerous trips across the English Channel ferrying additional equipment for the invasion.

In August of 1944, Kenneth and the LST 50 were shifted to the Mediterranean in preparation for the invasion of Southern France – Operation Anvil. After loading equipment in Italy, LST 50 began the invasion on August 14, 1944 at Green Beach near St. Tropez, France. There was only light opposition -- the Germans had two large gun emplacements to project the beach, but instead of real guns they held wooden dummy guns. Only two LST ships could beach at one time. When the ship beached along with LST 282, an enemy plane fired a rocket propelled radio controlled bomb, which sank LST 282. One of LST 50’s LCVP craft pulled survivors from the water, but it also sank when it took on too may people. The LS 50 made about 14 additional trips bringing cargo from Corsica to Southern France. On one trip, it transported Free French, Foreign Legion and Senegalese troops to fight for the liberation of their homeland. In late 1944, Kenneth departed the LST 50 for leave in the states and assignment to a new ship. LST 50 eventually was moved to the Pacific where it experienced another invasion.

After his leave in the US, Lt. Skiles was assigned to duty aboard the USS LST 915. The LST 915 left New England and sailed through the Panama Canal for Pacific duty. The ship had stops through numerous Pacific islands and finally ended up in The Philippines in convoy awaiting the invasion of the Japan mainland. With the surrender of Japan, they became a part of the Occupation Forces in Japan. Kenneth returned to the US in late 1945 and was released to inactive duty in early 1946.

Student’s Name: Melanie Skiles

Student’s Relationship to the Veteran: Granddaughter

Veteran Selected: Kenneth Skiles (1912 to 2008) as related by his son (my father) Kenneth Skiles, Jr.

Date of Interview: October 27, 2012

Method of Contact: in person

1. Lieutenant Kenneth Skiles joined the United States Navy.

2. His highest rank was as Lieutenant Senior Grade.

3. He served in the military from 1943 to 1946.

4. Kenneth fought in World War II.

5. My father never discussed why he joined the military, but my mother told me would not have been drafted. He was 31 with two small children and a war critical job at home. I assume he joined out of a sense of responsibility and patriotism.

6. He was stationed on two ships, the USS LST 50 and the USS LST 915.

Kenneth won several Campaign Medals, the American Theatre, Victory Medal, Asiatic-Pacific and European Theatre (with 2 bronze battle stars).

7. His main duties were Deck Officer and Stores Officer. He and six or seven other officers rotated 4 hour shifts around the clock. They controlled and logged the status of their ship and all contact with other ships or personnel.

8. Other than the three years of active service, I don’t think he would said there was much direct impact on life other than the sense of victory, confidence, togetherness and optimism felt by the returning veterans and their families.

9. One memorable experience was during the Invasion of Southern France, when the ship beside Lieutenant Kenneth’s was bombed and sunk.

10. I learned that my grandfather did many great things for our country. I thought it was interesting that he was there during Japan’s surrender. He took pictures of some of the Japanese soldiers there. It is hard for me to believe that my granddad was actually in World War II! I think it is amazing and I take great honor and pride in both him and my father being veterans and serving our country.

Other facts:

The Ninety and Nine by William Brinkley, author of Don't Go Near the Water, portrays an LST running supplies to Anzio during World War II. The title refers to the ship's company of ninety enlisted men and nine officers. The book opens with a quotation attributed to Winston Churchill - "The destinies of two great empires … seemed to be tied by some god-damned things called LST's."

Kenneth A Skiles