USS LCI(L)-1091

USS LCI(L)-1091 is an LCI(L)-351-class large landing craft built for the United States Navy in World War II. Like most ships of her class, she was not named and known only by her designation.

Operational history
LCI(L)-1091 was laid down at Defoe Shipbuilding Company in Bay City, Michigan, and commissioned on 21 September 1944.

She was assigned to the Pacific Theatre and participated in the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto from 28 April to 30 June 1945.

The landing craft performed minesweeping duties in the Kōchi-Shikoku area from 8 September to 16 September, and in the Nagoya area from 28 September to 25 October.

LCI(L)-1091 was on occupation duty from 2 September to 16 December 1945.

On 28 February 1949, she was, like all other LCIs remaining, reclassified as LSIL-1091.

The ship was active during the Korean War. During this time, LSIL-1091 was assigned as Laboratory Ship for Fleet Epidemic Disease Control Unit No. 1, a part of the U.S. effort to combat malaria in Korea. From October to September 1951, LSIL-1091 was at Koje-do performing malaria testing among residents and refugees.

In 1955 she was decommissioned at Astoria, Oregon.

The former LSIL-1091 was sold for commercial use and operated as a cannery ship for salmon on the Yukon River until 1985. Purchased and moved to Eureka, California, she fished for albacore from 1995 until 2003.

In 2005, she was donated to be a museum ship for the Humboldt Bay Naval Sea/Air Museum at Eureka, and is currently open to the public during restoration (usually Fridays and Sundays, but if the flag is flying from the forward mast, visitors are welcome). The Humboldt Amateur Radio Club often runs a Special Event Amateur Radio station out of the original radio room.

LCI(L)-1091 received two battle stars for World War II action and received four battle stars for Korean War as LSIL-1091.