DAVID HOTLE, Muscatine Journal, Iowa

LST-325 cruise director Ken Rupp says that for the decommissioned tank landing ship's 50-member crew, "we get by with a little help from our friends."

As the 327-foot museum ship was coming to the end of its five-day trip up the Mississippi to Muscatine, a medical emergency on board threw off the time schedule. Arriving on the Muscatine riverfront at about 11 p.m. Tuesday, the initial plan was for the ship to run its twin General Motors 900 HP engines all night to hold the ship in place and then dock properly in the morning.

A passing tug boat proved to be a friend who could help, though, and was able to move the ship into place on the riverfront.

LST-325, the last World War II landing craft of its type, arrived in Muscatine Tuesday evening. It will

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