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Gene Jaeger - World War II
Eugene (Gene) Jaeger grew up in Geneva, Illinois during the Great Depression, and graduated from Notre Dame University in 1942. He received training as a Naval Officer and soon found himself assigned to LST (Landing Ship-Tank) #400, heading for the Mediterranean Sea. His ship supported the Allied landings at Sicily in July, 1943 and at Salerno in September of the same year. They then sailed north to England, and supported the D-Day invasion, making repeated trips to Utah Beach over the next several months.
Interview Links
Feature Excerpt
Unloading an LCT
Abstract
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
Early years, assignment to LST #400,
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
LST operations
Interview Session 03 (Audio)
LST operations on D-Day and beyond
Transcript
Photos
Caption
Jaeger family, 1936. Gene, standing second from right. His parents, Justin and Blanche Jaeger, are on the right. (Narrator’s photo)
Where:
Unknown
When:
1936
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Gene in a football stance, in 1936. He played right guard for Marmion Military Academy. (Narrator’s photo)
Where:
Unknown
When:
1936
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Gene on his Notre Dame graduation day in May, 1942. Justin (father), Bette (sister), Dick (brother), Blanche (mother), and Gene in his graduate’s robe.
Where:
University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
When:
May, 1942
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
LCT (Landing Craft-Tank) 461 sits atop LST 400’s main deck on while the ship was at Portsmouth Navy Yard preparing to be convoyed to Europe.
Where:
Portsmouth Navy Yard
When:
March 23, 1943
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
An LST is equipped with a barrage balloon like those deployed for defense against enemy aircraft during the Sicily landings in July, 1943. Note the explosive canister positioned on the balloon’s cable.
Where:
Unknown
When:
July, 1943
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
A Landing Craft, Vehicle and Personnel (LCVP), also known as a Higgins Boat, is hoisted aboard an LST. An LST typically carried a couple of these on board, the LCVP being much better equipped for delivering troops and supplies closer to the beach.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
A group of LST 400 shipmates get their picture taken sometime late 1943, after supporting two successful invasions at Sicily and Salerno. They started the war as kids; by this time they were veterans. (Narrator’s photo)
Where:
Unknown
When:
1943
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
An LST rolling in a moderate sea. An LST was not designed to ride well in a rough sea, but it didn’t take long for the crew to become accustomed to the sea.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Gene Jaeger, kneeling in the center, heads the ship’s Gunnery Division. In the top row are G. Scalamoni, D. Bingham, W. Lederle and J. Burba. IN the front are unknown, C. Epperson, Lieutenant, Junion Grade Jaeger, H.E. Lowdermilk and P. Terefenko.
Where:
Unknown
When:
May, 1944
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
LST 400 sits “high and dry” on Utah beach, probably in June of 1944.
Where:
Utah beach
When:
June of 1944
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
A group of LSTs unload their cargo on an ebbing tide, onto Utah Beach.
Where:
Utah Beach
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Bosun of the Watch A.A. Braginton of Middle Village, New York, and Officer of the Deck Lieutenant Gene Jaeger stand their watch while in port at Falmouth in southern England on LST 400 in 1945.
Where:
Falmouth in southern England
When:
1945
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
In September, 1946 after his Navy discharge Gene, on the left, gets a chance to relax at Round Lake in Minnesota. His brother Jack Jaeger is on the right.
Where:
Round Lake in Minnesota
When:
September, 1946
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Four generations of Jaegers, circa 1952. Gene’s mother, Blanche Schott Jaeger holds his son Bob. Gene’s Grandfather, Charles Schott is next, with Gene on the right.
Where:
Unknown
When:
circa 1952
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Florence and Gene Jaeger, circa 1967.
Where:
Unknown
When:
circa 1967
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator
Caption
Gene and several of his children in 1970 in a neighbor’s home in Geneva, Illinois. From left to right are Grant, Gene, Doran, Florence, Anne and Peggi.
Where:
Geneva, Illinois
When:
1970
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
The Jaeger children in 1967. From top left to right are Bob, Jeff, Anne, Mary, Chris, Peggi and Grant.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1967
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption
Gene and his brother Jack Jaeger at his sister Mary’s summer place in County Kerry Ireland in 1984. (Narrator’s photo)
Where:
County Kerry, Ireland
When:
1984
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Florence and Gene at son Doran’s wedding in 1993 at a Unitarian Church in Geneva, Illinois.
Where:
Unitarian Church in Geneva, Illinois
When:
1993
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Gene Jaeger aboard the USS LST-325 in Mobile, Alabama, Circa 2002. The USS LST Ship Memorial, Inc. purchased the LST from the Greek Navy in 2000, then sailed it across the Atlantic with a crew of WW II veterans.
Where:
Mobile, Alabama
When:
circa 2002
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Mary Jaeger-Voss (daughter), granddaughters Claire and Ella, and Gene at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois, circa 2002. (Narrator’s photo)
Where:
Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois
When:
circa 2002
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Sam Nauyalis, a survivor from LST 313 sunk by Nazi aircraft during the landings at Sicily, talks to Gene Jaeger, on the right, and his granddaughter Reilly Jaeger. Their seated in front of the wheelhouse of LST 325, then anchored at Peoria, Illinois.
Where:
Peoria, Illinois
When:
September 1, 2007
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Gene with Josh Sarkkinen, his great-grandson. They were at Sorin Hall on the campus, in October 2010.
Where:
University of Notre Dame
When:
October 2010
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo