Edward Joseph Romanowicz

Ship’s Cook Third Class Edward Joseph Romanowicz was born May 2, 1923. He lived in Camden, NJ, where he was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church at 10th and Liberty Street. He had worked at the Philadelphia Navy Yard prior to joining the Navy in December of 1943. He went overseas as a crewmember of a Landing Ship Medium (LSM).

Edward Joseph Romanowicz was killed in action during the landings on Luzon in the Philippine Islands on January 9, 1945. He was survived by his mother, Tillie Romanowicz, of 1146 Sycamore Street, Camden, NJ, and a brother.

Ship’s Cook Third Class Edward Joseph Romanowicz served on a Landing Ship Medium of the LSM-1 class.

LSM-45 was laid down at Brown Shipyard Co., Houston, TX; launched June 30, 1944; commissioned as USS LSM-45 on July 31, 1944, Lt. Charles D. Freight, USNR in command. Decommissioned March 27, 1947, at Green Cove Springs, FL; laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Florida Group, Green Cove Springs; transferred November 3, 1958 to Greece; renamed Ipopliarkhos Grigoropoulos (L-161); returned to the U.S. to be refurbished as a floating museum by the USS LSM/LSMR Association.

Specifications: Displacement 520 t. (light), 743 t. (landing), 1,095 t. (fully loaded); Length 203′ 6″ o.a.; Beam 34′ 6″; Draft, light, 3′ 6″ forward, 7′ 8″ aft, fully loaded, 6′ 4″ forward, 8′ 3″ aft; Speed 13.2 kts. (max.); Complement 4 officers, 54 enlisted; Armament one twin 40mm gun mount, four single 20mm gun mounts; Vehicle/Boat Capacity: 5 medium or 3 heavy tanks, or 6 LVTs, or 9 DUKWs; Troop Capacity: 2 officers, 46 enlisted; Armor: 10-lb. STS splinter shield to gun mounts, pilot house and conning station; Propulsion: two Fairbanks Morse (model 38D81/8X10, reversible with hydraulic clutch) diesels, direct drive with 1,440 BHP each @ 720 rpm, twin screws; Endurance: 4,900 miles @ 12 kts.