Our website was created to help the family members of those who died and participated in Exercise Tiger. Dean Small, son of the late Ken Small, continues with his father's legacy. We are endorsed by the survivors and the families.
Nathan Resnick Story - LST 511
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NATHAN RESNICK - U. S. Navy – LST 511 - Motor Machinist Mate 2nd Class - Resides in Van Nuys, California
My normal duty was in the Engine Room. In the early morning hours of April 28, 1944, I wa sleeping. At 02:10 hours General Quarters sounded, and my assignment became gunner on the top deck for the 40mm gun as first loaded. LST 511 was in front of LST 531, and behind them was LST 496. When I arrived on deck, LST 507 had already been hit and was in flames. I saw LST 531 get hit by two torpedoes, followed by a thunderous noise, an explosion, and a huge fireball. The rest of the convoy began zigzagging, and LST 511 began firing their guns in the direction of the German E-Boats, but I could hardly see them. Friendly fire from LST 496 and enemy fire from the E-Boats injured 15 men on the top deck of my ship. I witnessed a torpedo making contact with the hull, but it didn’t explode. The Army men in the tank deck remember hearing the sound of the impact. Another torpedo came and missed. The Captain was injured but refused to leave the Bridge. After the attack, the ship made its way as quickly as possible to the nearest port. The casualties were taken to Portland. My shipmates and I were ordered under threat of Court Martial not to talk about Exercise Tiger.
On D-Day, LST 511 was assigned to Omaha Beach, where it stayed off shore and sent LCVP landing craft vehicles to pick up the wounded. The Rangers were the first injured to be picked up. LST 511 was used as a hospital ship along with unloading troops and equipment beginning the day after D-Day. The ship made 50 crossings to land troops and equipment during the following weeks.
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