Charleston Naval Shipyard

Copyright: Contact The Charleston Museum Archives for publication quality images and credit instructions.

Description:

Black and white photograph showing the christening party of two landing ships, LSM 298 and LSM 299. Left to right are W.M. Zeigler, Mildred Audrey Byrd, Mrs. W.B. Dickey, Mrs. Ethel Holbrook Moak, Rear Admiral Jules James, Wilhermena C. Hiatt, Mrs. Carolina M. Hiatt, and Miss Nan C. Bailey.

Typed on reverse, "Official Party at Dual Landing-Ship Launching in Charleston Navy Yard. Charleston, S.C. Nov. 13 --- The first two of six landing ships to be launched at the Charleston Navy Yard in a space of 24 hours slide down the ways this morning, one christened by a worker's wife, the other by a worker's 12-year old daughter. Principal participants in the ceremonies were left to right: Chairman W.M. Zeigler of the yard's Central Shop Committee, who presented silver gifts to the ships' sponsors in behalf of yard employees; Miss Mildred Audrey Byrd, of 42-B Cypress Drive, North Charleston, an employee in the yard Shipfitter Shop, who presented flowers to the sponsor of the LSM 298; Mrs W.B. Dickey, of 5 Eighth Street, Chicora Place, Navy Yard, S.C., matron of honor to the 298's sponsor; the sponsor of the LSM 298, Mrs. Thomas O. Moak, of 5 Eighth Street, Chicora Place, Navy Yard, S.C., wife of a chipper and caulker in the Shipfitter Shop; Rear Admiral Jules James, USN, Commandant of the Navy Yard and the Sixth Naval District, who presided over the ceremonies; the sponsor of the LSM 299, Miss Wilhermena C. Hiatt of 30 Henrietta Street, Charleston, daughter of W.C. Hiatt, a yard sheetmetal worker; the sponsor's mother, Mrs. Carolina M Hiatt, who was matron of honor to her daugher, and Miss Nan C. Bailey, of 14-F Tom McMillan Homes, Navy Yard, S.C., an employee of the Sheetmetal Shop, who presented flowers to Miss Hiatt."