John (Herb) Osbeck #53

Born 19 Feb 1910 in Brooklyn, NY to Swedish immigrants.  Served in the Naval Reserve 28 Feb 1928 - 10 Aug 1936.  Re-entered the Naval Reserve in late 1940.  enlisted in the regular Navy on 28 Sep 1942.  Joined the USS LST 662 as the ships cook in Mar 1944 where he was present at the commissioning of the ship.  He left the ship in San Diego, CA in Sep 45 and was discharged on 28 Sep 1945 at the rank of Chief Commissary Steward. He was married to Margaret Hughes and had 3 children, John (me) in 43, Margaret in 44 and Edward in 47.  He died in Sep 1963 of Cancer in the neck.

Contributed by his son, John Osbeck III

Edward Todorsky #38

Born 24 Apr 1916 in Gilmanton, NH.  His family moved to a farm in Norton, MA.  I 1938 he married Stella Nicewicz of Everett, MA and settled in Taunton, MA and later Raynham.  They had one son in 1943 and then was drafted into the Navy on 1 Dec 1943.  He did his boots in Sampson, NY.  He served for a short while on the LST 436 and then joined the crew of LST 662 for the ships commissioning in April 1944.  He was discharged on ----- with the rank of S1c.    They had a daughter in 1950.  He passed away on 19 Feb 1988.

Contributed by his grandson, Eric Silvia

Born 30 July 1925 in Zanesville, OH.  Graduated Zanesville in June 1943 & worked the summer at the Crane Ammunition Arsenal in Indiana with his father, a WW1 Navy veteran.  Enlisted in the Navy on 30 July and did boots at Camp Greenbay, Great Lakes.  Then to gunnery school at Great Lakes.  Then it was off to Camp Bradford, Virginia for amphibious training and formation of the crew that would man the LST 662.  Stayed with the ship until she was decommissioned in Dec 1945.

From a published article by Walter S Huffman, Norwich, OH

Contributed by his daughter, 
Jeannine Tardif and his son, Dan Lacasse

James Howard was born in Canton, Ga on April 29, 1925 to the parents of Arthur and Stella Howard. He was one of four children. He enlisted in the Navy on August 20, 1943. Training was at NavTraSta Bainbridge MD. He served on the U.S.S. LST 662 and on the U.S.S. LST 512. His rate was Coxswain. He received several medals during his service. James was discharged from the navy on March 23, 1946. He met and married Tommie Lee Boles of Atlanta, Ga. on Jan. 6, 1947. They had one daughter, Shirley Ann. 
"Red", as he was known, worked for several Truck Lines after leaving the Navy but settled down with the City of Atlanta's Street Department where he worked until his sudden death, on August 10, 1979, of a heart attack at his home. My Dad was one of a kind! A true Southern gentleman when it came to respecting women.  He loved life and his time serving his country. Our lives changed a lot with the loss of my Dad but I have wonderful memories and lots of photos to keep me smiling and remembering.

Here's to you James "Red" Howard, a proud Husband, Father, Grandfather and most proudly a Navy man!

Contributed by his daughter
Shirley Ann Cordray