In the summer of 2000, an aging crew of 50 Navy veterans saved a ship from a scrapyard in Greece.

On Nov. 14, 2000, only 30 of those veterans remained as the USS Landing Ship Tank 325 began the 6,200-mile voyage home. A stop for repairs in Gibralter was necessary and on Jan. 10, 2001, a crew then numbering 29 arrived in Mobile, Ala.

Now, that the ship will be showcased at the Port of Ashland Thursday through Monday, Sept. 9, as part of the Ohio River Educational Tour, according to Sue Gilmore Dowdy, executive director of the Ashland Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“This is a great opportunity for a fall field trip,” Dowdy said. “We encourage anyone interested in taking a tour to call our office and schedule a tour so you won’t be disappointed if the tours sell out.”

Normally the United States Ship (USS) Landing Ship 325 is docked in Evansville, Ind., and is maintained by the group USS LST Ship Memorial Inc.

The ship compiled an illustrious history from its inaugural launch in October 1942 until it was decommissioned in 1946. It was reactivated in 1951 during the Korean War for military sea transport services and decommissioned again in 1961.

A third activation occurred in 1963 and the LST 325 was part of the Greek Navy until its final decommission in 1999.

The USS LST Memorial Group acquired the ship in 2000 through an act of Congress.

To schedule a tour, or for more information, call the AACVB at (606) 329-1007 and ask for Edna Horner.