In The Beginning... LST 996
A Story of the Christening & Ships Sponsor

Today (10/25/98) I received an Email that surprised and thrilled me. I guess this is the type of Email you dream you might get since it helps to answer questions you have about the ship and it's beginnings. Below is a copy of the Email from Richard Hall, son of Mrs. Ursula Hall. I will put more information & photos here as I receive them.  You might want to also check the Guestbook out, he posted in there as well.

Subject:  LST996
Date:  Sun, 25 Oct 1998 13:51:12 -0500
From:  rehall@banet.net
To:  Sunset@Royal.Net

My mother christened the LST996.
My father worked at the BNS and won an award which allowed her to
christen the ship. He also worked on the ship. He was a shipfitter
at the BNS for 30 years. I also worked there as an electrician for 6.
I have 3 pictures that I will get on disk and send to you and I hope
you can get all 3 on the site.
1. My father receiving the award.
2. My mother crashing the bottle on the bow.
3. The ship going down the shipways into the water. I will be contacting
you later and thanks very much for the site.

AWARD
This is Richard A. Hall receiving one of several awards for beneficial
suggestions. One suggestion on a jig saved thousands of dollars while
building ships at the Boston Naval Shipyard. That suggestion allowed
Ursula A. Hall (his wife) to Christen the LST 996. Richard Hall worked on the LST 996 and many other ships during his 30-year career as a Shipfitter at the yard.

CHRISTENING
Mrs. Ursula A. Hall was extremely excited about christening the LST 996.
She took her first swing at the bow and the bottle did not break. The
Commander told her to act like she was mad at her husband. She took the
second swing and you can see the results.

LAUNCH
The LST 996 going down the shipways during
her launching at the Boston Naval Shipyard.