TAZEWELL COUNTY, Ill. – During World War II, a Navy vessel, the U.S.S. Tazewell, was commissioned in honor of Tazewell County, Illinois.
County Clerk John Ackerman tells WMBD’s “Greg and Dan”, the vessel sailed the Pacific Ocean, performing a very important service.
“It was what was called a Haskell-class attack transport. Now, if you’ve seen ‘Saving Private Ryan’ and other movies of D-Day, when they show all the landing craft going to the beach…this is the boat that would carry all of those boats in the Pacific Ocean, to their battles.” Ackerman says.
The deck of the U.S.S. Tazewell was covered in anti-aircraft weaponry, Ackerman adds, that provided air support for the troops as they stormed the beaches of Okinawa.
Wednesday, April 16, marks the 80th anniversary of the Invasion of Okinawa. That is why Tazewell County chose the date for a public dedication of a new display of the U.S.S. Tazewell at the Tazewell County Courthouse.
Ackerman says Tazewell County has obtained a portrait of the USS Tazewell in 1946 in San Francisco Bay during Operation Magic Carpet.
“Additionally, thanks to the assistance of the United States Department of the Navy, we have obtained for public display the Red Port Side Navigational Light and the Green Starboard Side Navigational Light from the USS Tazewell, the only physical remnants of the ship today,” Ackerman says.
The U.S.S. Tazewell was part of the U.S. Naval fleet from 1944 to 1946. The vessel also was commissioned in honor of Tazewell County, Virginia.
The public is invited to attend Wednesday’s dedication. The event is free and begins at 4:30 p.m.
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