LST 996 Reunion Reunion Information and Photos below!! Some LST 996 crewmembers were  reunited for the first time in 55 years during the Annual LST Convention, held August 2000, in Buffalo, NY.  Attendees were Charles A. Leach, CO LST 996, along with Dick Rice and Martin Greaser.  Many more were there in spirit as well.  Below is some information, and photos (when I get them) of the picnic and the Banquet in Buffalo.

Dick Rice Modeling the sailor suit for us....

"Dusty" Greaser (left) & "Skipper" (Charles Leach) with Dick Rice's son, Mike, looking on They are going through some photos the Skipper brought with him and discussing the "old days"....

Chuck "Skipper" Leach and his wife, Pat He's posing in the sailor suit that at one time used to fit all these guys!!

Cook Out, Saturday, 1 Sep 2000 in Dusty's Backyard (Niagara Falls, NY)

Pat Leach & Kay Greaser

Charles Leach, Jr CO, LST 996

While at the LST Convention, crewmembers got together on Saturday, 1 September at Martin Greaser's house in Niagara Falls, NY.   The Skipper & his wife Pat were there, along with Dick Rice and his son Mike. Martin & Kay Greaser were there, along with his son Bill and wife Donna, daughter Sunset (that's me!) and husband Joe, daughter Teres with husband Sheldon, son Mike with wife Beth and their two little sons and lastly his daughter Pat with husband Steve and their three children.  Pappy (William) Halward and his wife were there in spirit. I had a videotape I took in May 1998 which I showed the Skipper & Dick. I also plan to patch part of it onto the video I made of the Picnic and the Banquet.

On Sunday evening, we attended the 15th Annual LST Association Banquet at the Adams Mark in Buffalo. The Program and Banquet Menu were:

We were able to be seated together which was really nice. Prior to dinner, the Skipper awarded certificates (and handshake) to Dick & Dusty as "Plank Owners" on the LST 996 and for WW2 service. All three seemed to have nearly the same suits on for the Banquet, it was uncanny. The Skipper signed certificates for other known crewmembers, and those will be sent out in the near future.

The first return note I received was from Pappy Halward, it said, "Thank you for letting me know about the convention, although I am not able to make it. I have no transportation down to Maryland (I assume he meant Buffalo here...they both are legally blind). I wish you and your family well. Please say hello to Dusty (that's my Dad's nickname)."

The second one was from Mary Rita Mizgorski, she said, "Dear Paula, I was extremely happy to receive your letter. At this present time, Richard and I are unable to travel. Besides the heart disease and diabetes, he now has dementia plus symptoms of Altzheimers. It is very difficult to keep him happy and contented. The heart disease has been active since 1984. The dementia and the "Alz" have been active since 1996 and developing more. We do belong to the National Organization and to Penna Chapter of the L.S.T. We are not able to attend any of the "Penna
Chapter" reunions anymore. As long as I can manage, I hope to keep Richard in his own home. I am very grateful for your letter, and shall continue in my next letter. My time is not my own anymore, for I cannot leave him alone. Gratefully, M. Rita Mizgorski". The really cute thing is the tiny note she put at the very top of her note, it said, "This paper is near our age. Richard - 81; Rita - 82." hahahaa I got a great chuckle out of that and thought her note was very touching.

29 June 2000

Here is a letter received from Kenny Specht, Lee's Specht's (from LST 996) son... my eyes watered at the end:

Dear Ms. Greaser-Hayes:

I am writing this letter in behalf of my father, Lee A. Specht.  In April you sent some information regarding the LST Convention to be held Aug 30 - Sept 4 in Buffalo, NY.

Dad will not be able to attend, but we appreciate you sending the information to us.

We checked out the Web information on LST 996 and we found it to be very interesting.

Dad has lost much of his memory and he continues to deteriorate.  He once could recall many of the "good old days" and reminisce about his time aboard the LST, but when we ask him about it now he does not have any memory of it. We showed him his picture; but he could not tell us where he was or any other people with him.

He is in relatively good health except for the memory loss.  He retired from the National Park Service and moved to Sun City, Arizona. He and Maxine have lived here for 21 years.

My wife and I retired from teaching school in California and moved to Arizona to be closer to them -- to lend them a hand.

Extend a hello to his crew mates even though he doesn't remember any of them.

Sincerely,
Kenny L. Specht