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Closing Remarks

LST 791 Miscellaneous Statistics—Reed Adams

The longest straight course we ever steered was 1500 miles. The old girl has made over a million gallons of fresh water. We took on fresh water at Samar last week, the first time we have received any since 10 May.

We have been out of dry dock over a year. (She had to be hauled out when we got down the river. Water was low and the propellers were bent.)

By the time we get back from Hokkaido, I shall have spent every night on the ship for a year, and during that year will have had four meals ashore (one at San Diego, one at Guam, two at Pearl).

We have not gone alongside a dock in 1945. And oddly enough I have not felt cooped up, because a clean, snug ship is so much more desirable than most of the places ashore out here.

Here is a list of the seas I have been in, and right now I hope the list won’t get any longer: North, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Tyrrhenian, Irish, Philippine, Bismarck, Solomons, Coral, East China, Mindanao, Camotes, Sulu, South China, and Japan.

Reed—After the War

Reed and Mackie Adams live in Pleasanton, California.

After turning the LST 791 over to the Navy in San Francisco Bay on March 15, 1946, I was transferred to Government Island, Alameda, California for separation from active duty and transfer to the Coast Guard Reserve.

My separation was postponed one day, to return to the 791 to write letters explaining one missing .45 caliber pistol. I have often wondered who took it home.

I secured a California real estate license and embarked on a career in real estate in San Francisco. I sold the very first home in San Francisco using a GI loan. I retrieved my string bass and worked various jobs in San Francisco with the Paul Law, Jack Martens, Dick Dildine, and Jack Fisher orchestras. I also had the thrill of playing one concert with the San Francisco Symphony.

I really got lucky in 1948 when I met and married Mackie Craig. In 1950 we were blessed with the arrival of our son Craig, who resides nearby in Castro Valley with his wife Jeanette.

1949 presented an opportunity to return to teaching in Oakland. Under the GI Bill I earned a masters degree at San Francisco State College.

Following various assignments in Coast Guard Port Security units, I was appointed Commanding Officer of ORTUPS 12-537 in February 1962.

Each summer, I went on active duty for 90 days on the staff at Government Island, Alameda, California, for both the Direct Commissioned Officers’ School and the Command School for COs and XOs from the Western States.

In 1966 I was promoted to the rank of Commander and transferred to the Volunteer CG Reserve, ending my career in the Coast Guard.

In 1972 I retired from teaching and returned to the more lucrative real estate business, from which I’ve since retired.

I presently play my tuba with the AAHMES (Shrine) Concert Band, and six years ago organized the New Yerba Buena Dixieland Band. We play music from the original Lu Watters library and recently recorded our first CD

LST 791 and the Golden Gate Bridge	New Yerba Buena Dixieland band in Pleasanton, California	Ortups 12-537 inspection for change of command at Government Island
Command school staff at Government Island, Alameda, California	LST 791 1993 reunion at Reno, Nevada	LST 791 1995 reunion at USCG Academy at New London Connecticut.

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