Dublin Core
Title
Adam Ritchie (Ricci)
Subject
Ritchie, Adam (1926-)
Format
jpeg
Identifier
050-007-102
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
Photographs and documents
Owner
Adam Ritchie
Notes
Adam Ritchie was born January 9, 1926 in Warren, Ohio to James and Ida Spagnoli Ricci. When Ida registered his older brother Carmen for school, the registrar changed the spelling of Ricci to Richie, which Carmen later changed to Ritchie after a boxer he admired. Adam attended Warren G. Harding High School, but was awarded his diploma in 1946 following the war. Adam worked for a short period at Peerless Electric before being drafted. Once discharged, he returned to Peerless Electric, and remained with the company until his retirement as Plant Superintendent in 1988. In 1948 he married Betty Wineland, a third grade teacher in the Leavittsburg school system, and they produced a son, Dr. John Ritchie, D.D.S in 1956 and a daughter, Susan Montecalvo (MLS), in 1966.
Adam was drafted in 1944, entered the Navy, and was sent to the Great Lakes Training Center. After boot camp he was sent to Camp Bradford, Virginia, where he and his fellow soldiers practiced on a plywood mock-up of the craft they would eventually man. He was assigned to the brand new Landing Ship Tank #705, built on the Ohio River at Nelsonville, Indiana. From 1942-1945, 1,051 LSTs were built; so many that they could not all be given names. They were the largest of all the amphibious craft designed to land on enemy beaches, and so slow that they were nicknamed “Large Slow Targets”. The LSTs were used in both the European and Pacific theaters to deliver men and materials, including the occasional mortar shells made in Ravenna. The #705 had a history of shipboard pets, including a monkey, a parrot and a dog named ILO who survived an attack by enemy aircraft, and it was also the designated dental surgery ship for a flotilla of about 3,500 sailors.
Adam’s ship was manned by 110 men and 10 officers, and he was in charge of one of the 20 mm guns. The Japanese occupied most of the islands in the South Pacific, and the islands had to be retaken by the United States, starting below the equator. The mission of the LSTs was to move troops North towards Japan as the islands became secure. Being a sea-going vessel, the L.S.T. was subject to enemy attacks as other large ships, such as submarines and Kamizakes and mines, and being amphibious, was also subject to mortar fire, shelling and small arms when landing on unsecured beaches. The #705 was also one of the LSTs that headed up the convoy at the invasion of Luzon, and was nearly hit by a torpedo from a Japanese sub.
In the weeks prior to the war’s end, the #705 was involved in daily training sessions to prepare for the invasion of Japan, which was due to take place in November, 1945. After the war ended Adam’s LST was used for transporting American troops to Japan for occupation duty, and Japanese prisoners of war back to Tokyo. One Japanese captain who had assisted Adam with communication during the return to Tokyo Bay gave Adam some personal medals which were later identified as being sports medals awarded him in civilian life. The ships and its crew was awarded three battle stars, and was given credit for shooting down two enemy planes. Adam earned four bronze stars.
Adam was drafted in 1944, entered the Navy, and was sent to the Great Lakes Training Center. After boot camp he was sent to Camp Bradford, Virginia, where he and his fellow soldiers practiced on a plywood mock-up of the craft they would eventually man. He was assigned to the brand new Landing Ship Tank #705, built on the Ohio River at Nelsonville, Indiana. From 1942-1945, 1,051 LSTs were built; so many that they could not all be given names. They were the largest of all the amphibious craft designed to land on enemy beaches, and so slow that they were nicknamed “Large Slow Targets”. The LSTs were used in both the European and Pacific theaters to deliver men and materials, including the occasional mortar shells made in Ravenna. The #705 had a history of shipboard pets, including a monkey, a parrot and a dog named ILO who survived an attack by enemy aircraft, and it was also the designated dental surgery ship for a flotilla of about 3,500 sailors.
Adam’s ship was manned by 110 men and 10 officers, and he was in charge of one of the 20 mm guns. The Japanese occupied most of the islands in the South Pacific, and the islands had to be retaken by the United States, starting below the equator. The mission of the LSTs was to move troops North towards Japan as the islands became secure. Being a sea-going vessel, the L.S.T. was subject to enemy attacks as other large ships, such as submarines and Kamizakes and mines, and being amphibious, was also subject to mortar fire, shelling and small arms when landing on unsecured beaches. The #705 was also one of the LSTs that headed up the convoy at the invasion of Luzon, and was nearly hit by a torpedo from a Japanese sub.
In the weeks prior to the war’s end, the #705 was involved in daily training sessions to prepare for the invasion of Japan, which was due to take place in November, 1945. After the war ended Adam’s LST was used for transporting American troops to Japan for occupation duty, and Japanese prisoners of war back to Tokyo. One Japanese captain who had assisted Adam with communication during the return to Tokyo Bay gave Adam some personal medals which were later identified as being sports medals awarded him in civilian life. The ships and its crew was awarded three battle stars, and was given credit for shooting down two enemy planes. Adam earned four bronze stars.
Repository
Adam Ritchie