Riverfront in Wilmington in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

REPLACED

CHECK OTHERS NEARBY

World War II

Riverfront Wilmington

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 28, 2022

1. World War II Marker

Inscription.

World War II. Riverfront Wilmington.

"Build 'em right, fit to fight." , S.M. Alexander, Commander USN, October 2, 1943

, On June 4, 1999, fifty-five years after the Wilmington-built LSTs assisted in the Normandy invasion, the Riverfront Development Corporation of Delaware dedicated Dravo Plaza to the thousands of Wilmington boatyard workers. The Plaza's "Points of Remembrance" compass rose is inset with names of destroyer escorts and landing ships built at Wilmington., [Captions:] , Above: The National Archives caption reads, "Out of the gaping mouths of Coast Guard and Navy Landing Craft, rose the great flow of invasion supplies to the blackened sands of Iwo Jima a few hours after the Marines had wrested their foothold on the vital island." Closely following the initial assault waves, these specially designed landing craft carried tanks, trucks, heavy ordnance and supplies in support of the attack. The nation's very first Landing Ship Medium, LSM 201, had been built by Wilmington Dravo workers and launched on the Christina River on February 26, 1944 in an icy driving rain, a portent of the ship's stormy combat future., Left: LST 21, built in Wilmington and named "Blackjack Maru" by her crew, served as a flagship for a group of ten LSTs. Her Captain Charles M. Brookfield recalled, "(We) cruised over 25,000 miles, operating in all three theaters of war. We … earned two Bronze stars on our ribbons, visited eight countries, four continents and sailed through seven different seas. During the Normandy invasions, the LST 21 was fitted with rails on her tank deck to carry railroad cars across the English Channel. At the beachhead, soldiers and cargo poured out through doors and on a ramp in the bow of the ship. LST 21 was decommissioned in 1946 and scrapped in 1948., Sources: I Remember '42, The Dravo Corporation, 1945; The City That Launched A Thousand Ships, by Richard Urban, Cedar Tree Press, Wilmington 1999. ,

"If these vessels are produced in the time required, the war will be one year shorter than it will be if we fail." , Admiral S.S. Robinson, Chief, Bureau of Ships, USN - January 8, 1942, "Build 'em fast, built to last. Build 'em right, fit to fight." , S.M. Alexander, Commander, USN - October 2, 1943

"Build 'em right, fit to fight."
S.M. Alexander, Commander USN, October 2, 1943

On June 4, 1999, fifty-five years after the Wilmington-built LSTs assisted in the Normandy invasion, the Riverfront Development Corporation of Delaware dedicated Dravo Plaza to the thousands of Wilmington boatyard workers. The Plaza's "Points of Remembrance" compass rose is inset with names of destroyer escorts and landing ships built at Wilmington.

[Captions:]
Above: The National Archives caption reads, "Out of the gaping mouths of Coast Guard and Navy Landing Craft, rose the great flow of invasion supplies to the blackened sands of Iwo Jima a few hours after the Marines had wrested their foothold on the vital island." Closely following the initial assault waves, these specially designed landing craft carried tanks, trucks, heavy ordnance and supplies in support of the attack. The nation's very first Landing Ship Medium, LSM 201, had been built by Wilmington Dravo workers and launched on the Christina River on February 26, 1944 in an icy driving rain, a portent of the ship's stormy combat future.

Left: LST 21, built in Wilmington and named "Blackjack Maru" by her crew, served as a flagship for a group of ten LSTs. Her Captain Charles M. Brookfield recalled,
Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online
"(We) cruised over 25,000 miles, operating in all three theaters of war. We … earned two Bronze stars on our ribbons, visited eight countries, four continents and sailed through seven different seas. During the Normandy invasions, the LST 21 was fitted with rails on her tank deck to carry railroad cars across the English Channel. At the beachhead, soldiers and cargo poured out through doors and on a ramp in the bow of the ship. LST 21 was decommissioned in 1946 and scrapped in 1948.

Sources: I Remember '42, The Dravo Corporation, 1945; The City That Launched A Thousand Ships, by Richard Urban, Cedar Tree Press, Wilmington 1999.

"If these vessels are produced in the time required, the war will be one year shorter than it will be if we fail."
Admiral S.S. Robinson, Chief, Bureau of Ships, USN - January 8, 1942

"Build 'em fast, built to last. Build 'em right, fit to fight."
S.M. Alexander, Commander, USN - October 2, 1943

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • War, World II • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is January 8, 1942.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 28, 2022

2. World War II Marker

near 39° 43.793′ N, 75° 33.685′ W. Marker was in Wilmington, Delaware, in New Castle County. It was in Riverfront. It was at the intersection of Jack A. Markell Trail and Pettinaro Park Road, on the right when traveling north on Jack A. Markell Trail. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 920 Pettinaro Park Dr, Wilmington DE 19801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in Greater Philadelphia.

It was also in the American Mid-Atlantic

and on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: A different marker also named World War II (here, next to this marker); Points of Remembrance (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named World War II (within shouting distance of this marker); Michael S. Purzycki Riverwalk (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Michael S. Purzycki Riverwalk (about 300 feet away); Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge (about 600 feet away); The New World (approx. 0.2 miles away); Long Hook (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has been replaced with the linked marker. There are slight differences in the inscription.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 4, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 29, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 514 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 29, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.