Boiling Mad, Crew of World War II Ship Seeks to Resume D-Day Voyage

Crew members aboard a restored World War II cargo ship bound for D-day celebrations in France are steamed.

Their 9,000-mile voyage was called off Saturday after the ship developed engines problems near Acapulco, Mexico. But the Lane Victory’s captain said Tuesday he was never consulted, and maintains the crew is ready to go. “I feel lousy. I think it was doable,” Capt. Bill Tilghman said from Acapulco.

The ship’s crew faxed a petition signed by 34 of the 54 crew members stating they want to continue the trip.

The board of directors of the Merchant Marine Veterans of World War II, which owns the 455-foot boat, voted 4 to 1 Saturday to scrap the trip. However, two board members are aboard the ship and said they were excluded from the vote.

“We have engineers and we’re ready to go now,” said board member William Skinner, 76, from Acapulco.

Chief engineer Pete Jacobelly flew home to San Pedro after a dispute with Tilghman over whether the ship could continue the trip. Jacobelly told the board that the ship needs boiler repairs and a custom-made part for the evaporator that turns salt water into fresh water.

President Joe Vernick said delays caused by mechanical problems make it nearly impossible for the crew to arrive in time for the June 6 ceremonies in Normandy. But Tilghman said he believes that the ship can still get there for at least some ceremonies.

All told, the ship’s 54 volunteer crew members--former merchant marines whose average age is 68--needed more than $1 million in fuel, equipment, supplies and cash to make the Normandy trip.

After numerous delays and a last-minute contribution of $250,000, the ship steamed out of Los Angeles Harbor on April 29.

But the ship developed engine trouble and limped into port in Acapulco on May 4. Officials said oil had leaked into one of the ship’s two boilers.

The Coast Goard required the ship to cross the Atlantic with another ship. The crew planned to steam through the Panama Canal and rendezvous with the Jeremiah O’Brien, a ship based in San Francisco that is going to Normandy. The delay has made that meeting impossible.

But the crew is now hoping for a last-minute reprieve from the Navy. Several members have asked officials if the Lane Victory could be escorted by one of 14 Navy ships expected to make the voyage, said Clint Johnson, a member of the Merchant Marine veterans board.

Tilghman said no decision has been made.