Richard Levine's Posts

Latest reader review of my novel EYE OF THE REDEEMER

Posted by Richard Levine on February 19, 2012 at 7:40pm

I pulled this off of Amazon.com today.

5.0 out of 5 stars ...Excellent!,

By

Warren Dennis (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eye Of The Redeemer (Paperback)

It's been a long time since a novel kept me up till 4:00 am reading! Excellent character development and prose. In the tradition of my favorite author, Leon Uris, Mr. Levine keeps the story moving with one twist after another. You feel as if you know the characters. Rich in Naval history and tradition this is a must read for any that like suspense and intrigue! Bravo Zulu Mr. Levine!

THE MIGHTY LCI SAILS AGAIN IN NEW NOVEL

Posted by Richard Levine on January 26, 2012 at 10:07am

What does an old WWII Navy vessel and a bunch of Saturday sailors have to do with the war on terroism?

In my 1st novel EYE OF THE REDEEMER, the LCI 776 is restored by a bunch of unwitting volunteers only to find that the man leading up the restoration effort had more in mind than turning this little ship into a floating museum. Here's a short descriptive of the book as seen on Amazon.com

Newly divorced and with two grown kids off to pursue their own careers, all Dr. Raymond Silver wanted to do was to move on with his life as peacefully as he could. But unanswered questions, guilt, and an unfulfilled desire to carry on a family tradition to serve his country gnaw away at him. When he sets out on a personal quest to atone for his past, and validate his existence, he never thought he would be the catalyst for three others longing to do the same. As his life becomes intertwined with a young marine biologist, a nurse, and an elderly janitor, this 45 year old "average joe" chiropractor battles with bureaucrats at the local veterans hospital, becomes the love interest of two beautiful women, and finds himself on a 60 year old naval relic sailing for the Philippines, a key player in a CIA operation to stop a terror group from unleashing a nuclear holocaust.

I hope you'll check it out. Thanks

www.amazon.com

LCI 713 Restoration UPDATE

Posted by Richard Levine on January 27, 2009 at 1:00am

I just returned from my weekend in Portland, Oregon, a 3 hour drive (each way) from my home near Seattle. I spent Saturday with the volunteers of the Amphibious Forces Memorial Museum working on the ongoing restoration of LCI (L) 713. The crew is making steady progress as the 713 slowly comes back to life. Since my last visit a few months ago the AFMM acquired 20mm AA guns .The 713 has 5 20MMs (1 on the bow, 2 forward and 2 aft of the wheel house). Also two 12 cyl diesels where donated to the AFMM. They used to power a U.S. Navy torpedo recovery boat. It will be awhile before they can be installed as the 713 is in desparate need of a new hull. The AFMM is hoping to raise $300,000 so that can get done.It was a cold day to be working on the Columbia river. Temps were in the low 30s and it was snowing. We worked inside and it was hard moving around dressed in 3 to 4 layers of clothing. The LCI (L) which stands for Landing Craft Infantry-Large has 4 separate troop stations below decks. The ship is capable of transporting from 150 to 175 Soldiers or Marines to a landing. Troop 1 has been restored, Troop 2 is in process and my job on this trip was to begin working in Troop 3. With lighting supplied by two rough service bulbs and heat coming from a makeshift wood burning stove I spent several hours wire wheeling rust off of the deck plating and the bulkheads in preparation for grey primer. At the end of four hours I had to come up for air and to hit the head. I couldn't understand why everyone on board kept asking me If I was OK and I thought it was strange that they kept staring at me. It was even stranger when I went back to my hotel and several people hurried to get away from me and one kind woman handed me a dollar and told me to have faith. It wasn't until I got to my room and looked in the bathroom mirror that i started to laugh. Between the rust particles and soot from the woodburning stove, I was blackened from head to toe. I truly looked like I had been living on the streets for many years. Even though I had gone through several particle masks, after 4 hours I still felt as If I had just smoked a few packs of cigarettes. My chest was quite heavy and sore. So I stayed top side for a another hour working on sealing the new insulation in the main mess area. By 15:00 hours I was exhausted and chose to pack it in. Dirty and sore from head to toe I felt a real sense of pride helping to keep alive a little workhorse that so many of our fathers, grandfathers and uncles served aboard so proudly when all that was at risk was the free world. My dad was 18 years old when he reported for duty on the LCI (L) 606 in the South Pacific and for me to put in a few hours every couple of months on the 713 allows me, in some small way, to share a part of his life.The AFMM is currently trying to communicate with the New York City based CircleLine tour company. They have two converted LCIs left in their tour boat fleet that are soon destined for the scrap yard. Although these ships have been modified over the years there are still plenty of mechanical parts that can be salvaged for the 713. Sadly, CircleLine is being less than cooperative. If anyone out there has any connections, no matter how small, It would be a tremendous help if you could help in this effort. For anyone interested in learning more about the AFMM go to www.amphibiousforces.org . The LCI National association will be having it's 2009 reunion at the Red Lion Hotel on Hayden Island in Portland, Oregon in May. This is where the 713 is moored.That's all for now.As always Navy Vets, Thank you so much for your service and for the freedom that I enjoy every day because of your sacrifice. God Bless all of you.Rich LevineProud Son of Henry Levine MoMM3USS Sargent BayLCI (L) 606

UPDATE ON THE LCI 713

Posted by Richard Levine on December 24, 2008 at 1:12pm

As some of you might already know, there is an ongoing effort by volunteer members of the Amphibious Forces Memorial Museum (AFMM) to restore the LCI 713 at her home in the Janzten Beach area of Portland, Oregon.In recent months 20mm machine guns were acquired, rebuilt and refitted to the 713s gun mounts.And just a few short weeks ago a generous donor gave the AFMM 2 12-cylinder detroit diesel engines that will allow the 713 to make way under her own power once they are installed. Right now however, installation of these engines cannot be done until LCI 713 gets a new hull. In order to do this the AFMM still needs your financial help.When compared to the glory of the great naval vessels in the likes of the Battleship Missouri or the Aircraft Carrier USS intrepid there's not much WOW factor in the restoration of an LCI. Nonetheless, vessels like these played a major role in WWII and our fathers and grandfathers risked their lives aboard them. At this time there are only 2 LCIs left in the U.S. . One in California and one under the care of the AFMM in Portland. Your help is needed in restoring the LCI 713 to seaworthiness and to keeping her and the memory of those that served aboard LCIs alive for future generations.Please visit the AFMM website to join the AFMM and/or to donate to the cause. www.amphibiousforces.org . Since the AFMM is a non-profit donations are tax deductible as per the federal 501(C)3 tax code.I'll be making the 3 hour drive from my home to Portland in a few weeks to spend a Saturday working on the 713 with the other AFMM members. I'll give you all an update at that time. Thanks to all, bless you and thank you for your service.

Help the Amphibious Forces Memorial Museum

Posted by Richard Levine on October 30, 2008 at 12:30pm

The Amphibious Forces Museum continues it's restoration efforts of LCI 713. Visit the website at http://www.amphibiousforces.org to check on ongoing efforts to save the 713.The Amphibious Forces Memorial Museum is located in Portland, Oregon and is dedicated to remembering the great contributions made by U.S. Navy personnel of WWII that sailed into harms way aboard LCIs as well as the many Marines and Soldiers that they carried into battle. These little ships and the men that bravely served aboard them sailed, under armed, under powered and under armored into the greatest battles of WWII from Sicily to Normandy, from Iwo Jima to the assault on Okinawa, while transporting men and material and providing fire support under the worst conditions.This group is dedicated to preserving the memory and the history paying tribute to a group of heroes, those living and those forever at rest, who proudly served their country and asked for nothing more than to return home to enjoy the very freedoms that they so willingly sacrificed for.I ask that you please help this effort and spread the word to every Navy Vet that you know as well as to every VFW post that you can that we need your help to succeed.To contribute to this effort please go to the Amphibious Forces Memorial Museum website and click on the "donations" link.10-30-2008 UPDATE: NEW AT THE AFMM SHIP'S STORETHE 2009 LCI CALENDAR IS IN. GO TO THE SITE TO ORDER YOURS TODAY. REMEMBER, ALL PROCEEDS GO TO HELP THE RESTORATION EFFORT OF LCI 713 !ALSO: THE 713 has her 20mm guns back in place ! Check out the new pictures on the website.

Amphibious Forces Memorial Museum LCI 713 Progress Notes

Posted by Richard Levine on July 20, 2008 at 12:00pm

July 20thI just returned from a quick trip down (I live near Seattle) to Portland, Oregon (6 hours drving roundtrip) to spend the day working alongside the regular volunteers on the LCI- 713 restoration project. I left my house at 5AM, met the crew for breakfast by 8 and got to work by 9:30. We knocked off at 5:30PM and I made the 3 hour drive home. I had a blast carrying out my assigned duties working in the ship's galley and ward room sealing the newly installed insulation. New ventilation and heating ducting was recently procured and installed throughout the ship. Negotiations for engines are still underway with New York City based CircleLine Tours which still operates two converted LCIs in their tour boat fleet. We just missed (by a few weeks) getting our hands on an LCI that CIrcleLine retired from service and sold off for scrap.The LCI 713 is in desperate need of a new hull and the USCG is begining to loose patience with the AFMM as the organization seeks permission to tow the ship to participate in the upcoming regional Festivals. Scuttlebutt says that they may deep 6 the group's request. Participating in these summer festivals brings visitors on board and helps to raise funds. A USCG inspection is pending. The AFMM desperately needs to raise an estimated $300,000 for new steel, drydock time and labor for the installation of a new bottom. Any help from Navy Vets members would be greatly appreciated. If anyone has any pull or contacts with corporations or defense contractors that might consider contributing to the cause, any help would be greatly appreciated.The LST 1166 Washtenaw County. Sad news for this vessel. There had been plans to also restore the 1166 but she was badly damaged by vandals who repeatedly made runs on her for copper, brass, electrical fixtures and wiring. It wasn't enough that they were stealing from her, but to add salt to the wound they damaged portions of the ship that they couldn't carry off. It's my understanding that she's in the process of being turned over to the Coast Guard which plans on towing her out to sea and will sink her to create an artificial reef.The AFMM continues to ask for your support. Please check out the AFMM website at www.amphibious forces.org to check on further news, make donations, join the organization, and maybe purchase a great looking baseball cap with an embroided LCI on the front.