Nicholas Michael Domitrovich
Nicholas Michael Domitrovich was born 12-FEB 1912 in Granite City Illinois. His parents were Nicholas Domitrovich (1872-1922) and Annie P. Kure Domitrovich (1885-1973) Nick had two brothers: Christopher and Peter, and two sisters: Anne and Catherine. According to the 1930 Federal Census, the family was living at 1425 Madison Avenue in Granite City. Nicholas was 18 and working as a “Boxmaker” at the National Enameling and Stamping Company (“NESCO”) plant in Granite City Il.
Nick enlisted in the Navy in Chicago Illinois on 14-MAR 1944 at the age of 32. His service number was 944 17 67.After reporting for induction, Nick was sent to boot camp at Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Illinois just north of Chicago on Lake Michigan. In 1943, the Great Lakes Naval Training Station in North Chicago was a massive, bustling center for WWII, processing over a million recruits.
Nick attended a 6-week boot camp, and then was sent to a specialized school (known as “A” school) for job specific training. Editor’s note: Demand for sailors shortened the training from 12 months to 8 weeks (or less) in World War II.
By 30-APR 1944, Nick was beginning his advanced specialized training (“A” training) at Amphibious Training Base, Camp Bradford, NOB (Naval Operating Base) Norfolk, Va. He was a S2c (Seaman 2nd Class). A S2c in WWII was an entry-level U.S. Navy enlisted sailor and performed general shipboard duties like deck maintenance, assisting officers, standing watch, and handling small craft. Here Nick began his amphibious warfare training preparing to become a crewmember of an LST. In 1943 Camp Bradford Virginia was changed into a training center for the crews of LSTs. The crew of LST 920 began its training at Camp Bradford earlier in January 1944. As World War II progressed, the United States was building LSTs at an incredible rate and thus the need for sailors to man the ships. LST’s were a very important in World War II. They were heavily used in the Pacific and soon would be needed for the invasion of Europe. About 230 LST’s would be used on D-Day.
Soon, Nick was mustered aboard LST-921. Editor’s note: Much of Nick’s story is based on the accounts of Landing Ship Tank LST-920, LST-921’s sister ship and its Captain Lieutenant Harry N. Schultz and the book LST 920: CHARLIE BOTULA’S LONG, SLOW TARGET! A Ship That Made History in WW2! By Mike Botula.
LST-921 would be torpedoed in the English Channel on 14-AUG 1944. Nearly half the crew was lost, If not for the captain of its sister ship, LST-920, many more men would have died. The story features first hand accounts from the survivors.
For the rest of the story, click on the link below.
