LCT-209 was a Landing Craft Tank

Landing craft tank

The Landing Craft, Tank was an amphibious assault ship for landing tanks on beachheads. They were initially developed by the British Royal Navy and later by the United States Navy during World War II in a series of versions. Initially known as the "Tank Landing Craft" by the British, they later...

 Mk V built by Bison Shipbuilding of Buffalo NY. The keel was laid in September 1942 and the vessel was launched in October 1942. LCT-209 served as part of Force O-2 at Fox Green sector of Omaha Beach

Omaha Beach

Omaha Beach is the code name for one of the five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during World War II...

, Normandy, on D-Day

D-Day

D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...

, June 6, 1944.

The following is from an action report for that day, supplemented by personal recollections and a history of the 62nd Armored Field Artillery Battalion

62nd Armored Field Artillery Battalion

The 62nd Armored Field Artillery Battalion was formed in 1942 at Ft. Bliss, TX. The 62nd served in the campaigns in North Africa, Sicily, and Europe. They received a unit citation for their activities on D-Day at Omaha Beach. Elements of the unit were transported ashore by USS LCT-209.-External...

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Three officers and 39 enlisted men of the 62nd Armored Field Artillery Battalion

62nd Armored Field Artillery Battalion

The 62nd Armored Field Artillery Battalion was formed in 1942 at Ft. Bliss, TX. The 62nd served in the campaigns in North Africa, Sicily, and Europe. They received a unit citation for their activities on D-Day at Omaha Beach. Elements of the unit were transported ashore by USS LCT-209.-External...

 with 1st Lieutenant Raymond D. French in command boarded at 1145 on 1 June 1944. Sailed from Isle of Portland

Isle of Portland

The Isle of Portland is a limestone tied island, long by wide, in the English Channel. Portland is south of the resort of Weymouth, forming the southernmost point of the county of Dorset, England. A tombolo over which runs the A354 road connects it to Chesil Beach and the mainland. Portland and...

 at 1430 on June 5, 1944. Scheduled to land at Fox Green sector of Omaha Beach at H+90 after firing artillery from 8000 yards off Colleville-sur-Mer

Colleville-sur-Mer

Colleville-sur-Mer is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.The beach next to the coastal village was one of the principal beachheads during the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, designated Omaha beach....

 in support of the 16th Regimental Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division prior to H hour. Commenced firing 105mm howitzers at 0600.

The landing attempt at 0800 was repelled by enemy fire. The vessel was hit by enemy fire while approaching the beach again at 0940 and retracted with one wounded by shrapnel. The vessel then stood by for an opportunity to beach until 1655. All vehicles and Army personnel landed at 1705. Vessel was also employed removing casualties from the beach.

According to the action report, on D+1 at 1947, LCT-209 towed LCT-460 to the beach, assisted in beaching at 2008, retracting, and towing LCT-460 to the LST area. The report continues for four pages through 19 June 1944.

LCT-209 was commanded by A. Hayes. Serving aboard was Navy Ensign Thomas F. O'Shaughnessy Jr. Subsequent reports have LCT-209 lost, grounding, 10 June due to weather and mechanical failure with the crew evacuated. Other reports, however, have it abandoned on 19 June near shore, with the boat repaired and returned to service, according to an endorsement to its action report. The boat is reported stricken from the Navy Register on 11 December 1944.