Updated 12/15/07
The USS LCS(L) 102 is back in the USA once again. The following are some links to articles in various newspapers that help document the transfer of the LCS(L) 102 from the Royal Thai Navy back to the USA. The first of these articles is from a newspaper in Thailand:
Pattaya Mail - Vol. XV No. 22 - Friday June 1 - June 7, 2007 Features
HTTP://www.shelbynews.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&subsectionID=93&articleID=52264
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/11/10/BAF9T9KI1.DTL
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/09/26/BALLSE1UQ.DTL
On Saturday 11/10/07, ownership of the 102 was officially transferred from the Royal Thai Navy to the National Association of USS LCS(L) 1-130. More than 150 people were in attendance as the transfer documents were signed by Admiral Mason and Rear Admiral Surasak Rounroengrom of the Royal Thai Navy. This accomplishes one of the primary purposes of the Association, to attempt to locate one of our ships for preservation. The following are photographs taken during the dinner on 11/09/07 and the transfer ceremony on Mare Island on 11/10/07. The first five photographs were taken by Admiral Mason. The rest of the pictures in the first group were taken by John Wisner. The second set of photographs were taken and donated by Leonard & David White. The third set were taken and donated by Gil (Shorty) Nadeau and Gil's son Mark Nadeau. The fourth set of pictures were taken and donated by Bill Blake and his son Bruce Blake. In the fourth set of pictures, there are a few pictures of a person I have not been able to identify. If you know this person, please send his name to John.Wisner@cox.net.
TO ENLARGE OF ANY PICTURE, CLICK ON THE THUMBNAIL
 LCS(L) 102 after being unloaded from the heavy lift ship |
 LCS(L) 102 after being unloaded from the heavy lift ship |
 LCS(L) 102 after being unloaded from the heavy lift ship |
 LCS(L) 102 after being unloaded from the heavy lift ship |
 LCS(L) 102 after being unloaded from the heavy lift ship |
 National Air Cargo Acknowledgement |
 The 102 Transfer Dinner on 11/09/07 |
 The Royal Thai Navy Delegation to the 102 Transfer Ceremony |
 LCS(L) 102 tied up at Mare Island. Ready for the Transfer Ceremony |
 LCS(L) 102 ready for the Transfer Ceremony |
 LCS(L) 102 ready for the Transfer Ceremony |
 Vallejo Sea Scouts - The Transfer Ceremony Color Guard |
 Shorty Raising the colors on the LCS(L) 102 |
 Shorty Raising the colors on the LCS(L) 102 |
 Posing for a photograph with the 102 |
The Royal Thai Navy Delegation to the Transfer Ceremony |
Christopher Lehman speaking at the Transfer Ceremony |
Rear Admiral Balmert speaking at the Transfer Ceremony |
 John Lehman speaking at the Transfer Ceremony |
Bill Mason and Rear Admiral Surasak Rounroengrom signing the LCS(L) 102 Transfer Documents |
 Bill Mason and Rear Admiral Surasak Rounroengrom signing the LCS(L) 102 Transfer Documents |
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Shorty welcoming the LCS(L) 102 |
Shorty welcoming the LCS(L) 102 |
Bob Wisner (My Dad) & John Rooney in the Radio Shack |
Officers Quarters |
 Officers Mess |
COs Quarters |
 Wheel House |
Forward Gun |
Admiral Bill Mason and Great Nephew, Dustin Mason at the Admiral's WW2 battle station |
 Bob Wisner (My Dad) & Bill Blake after touring the 102 |
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The following are photographs taken and donated by Leonard & David White during the transfer ceremony. I didn't use all the pictures you sent but I do thank you for sending in your pictures.
 Leonard next to the 102 just before the ceremony |
 Shorty raising the colors |
 Leonard watching on as Shorty works to raise the colors |
 Leonard and David White posing as Shorty works to raise the colors |
 Side view - Rear Deck |
 USS LCS(L) 1-130 Association members and guests assembling for the 102 Transfer Ceremony |
 Dick Jones - the original CO of the 102 arriving at the transfer ceremony |
 Members and guests assembling before the transfer ceremony |
 Leonard on the forward deck |
 Leonard in the COs Quarters |
 Leonard in the Officers Mess |
 Leonard in the Officers Quarters |
 Leonard in the Engine Room |
 Leonard at the winch at the aft |
 Now that Shorty has the colors raised, Leonard is checking his work. |
 Leonard by the Rear gun |
 Conning Tower |
 David by the forward gun |
 Leonard at the door to the bridge |
 Leonard in the Conning Tower |
The following photographs were taken and donated by Gil Nadeau's son, Mark Nadeau. These pictures were taken during the transfer ceremony on Mare Island on 11/10/07. I do thank you for sending in your pictures.
 Shorty - ready for the bus ride to Mare Island |
 The LCS(L) 102 just before the transfer ceremony |
 Shorty - "putting up" the Thai flag |
 The LCS(L) 102 just before the transfer ceremony |
 Shorty - getting ready for the transfer ceremony |
 USS LCS(L) 1-130 Association members and guests assembling for the 102 Transfer Ceremony |
 Lt. Bhanucha Lukarang & Shorty "hauling down" the Thai flag, preparing to hoist the U.S. flag during the ceremonies. |
 Shorty - posing with Rear Admiral Balmert just before the transfer ceremony |
 Rear Admiral Balmert, Dick Jones, Lt. Bhanucha Lukarang, and Gil (Shorty) Nadeau |
 Shorty's son Mark posing at one of the machine guns |
 Thai sailor praying after the transfer ceremony |
The following photographs were taken and donated by Bill Blake's son, Bruce Blake. These pictures were taken during the transfer ceremony on Mare Island on 11/10/07. I do thank you for sending in your pictures. In the following pictures, there is a person I have not been able to identify. He is in the last picture in the first row below and also the first picture of the second row. If you know his name, please send it to john.wisner@cox.net.
 The LCS(L) 102 just before the transfer ceremony |
 The Thai delegation getting ready for the transfer ceremony |
 Mystery Man, Bill Blake, and Bob Wisner (my Dad) |
 Mystery Man, Bob Wisner, and Bill Blake standing in front of Olin Hammer on the left and the LCS(L) 102 Conning tower on the right |
 USS LCS(L) 1-130 Association members and guests assembling for the 102 Transfer Ceremony |
 The conning tower on the LCS(L) 102 |
 A close-up of Admiral Mason's battle station |
 The LCS(L) 102 just before the transfer ceremony |
 The forward gun |
 John Lehman speaking at the Transfer Ceremony |
 Lt. Bhanucha Lukarang & Shorty "hauling down" the Thai flag, preparing to hoist the U.S. flag during the ceremonies. |
 Lt. Bhanucha Lukarang & Shorty hoisting the U.S. flag during the ceremonies. |
 Shorty welcoming the LCS(L) 102 |
 Bill Blake ready to board the LCS(L) 102 after the transfer ceremony |
 Lt. Bhanucha Lukarang offering a prayer after the transfer ceremony |
 Bill Blake by the forward gun |
 Looking down the barrel of the forward gun |
 John Wisner (me) on the left and Bob Wisner (my Dad) on the right in the radio room |
 Bill Blake, his daughter Melinda and wife Kathleen in the engine room |
 The rear gun |
 Rear gun, winch and conning tower in the background |
 Bill Blake at the machine gun |
 Bill Blake and his wife Kathleen while touring the 102 |
 Wheel House |
 Bill Blake and Bob Wisner on the bow of the 102. Bill Blake and Bob Wisner were shipmates on the 37 |
 John Wisner, Bob Wisner and Bill Blake leaving the 102 after the tour |