The Cape Cod Military Museum has launched a fund-raising drive to acquire a landing craft similar to the wooden World War II Higgins boats that operated in Cape Cod waters training troops in amphibious tactics.
Museum Director Joe Yukna said has a chance to acquire a new addition to the Cape Cod Military Museum Vietnam-era Landing Craft Vehicle, Personnel (LCVP) will be the centerpiece for the museum.
The Fiberglas boat is 36-feet long and currently in Dartmouth. The hope is that the boat would be able to be on view at the museum in time for the 2024 D-Day anniversary.
“We have set up a Go Fund Me page, https://gofund.me/af42bb65 to pay for the boat or you can donate directly to the museum,” said Yukna. “Wouldn’t it be amazing to purchase, restore, and make seaworthy a LCVP so that on Saturday, June 8, 2024 we can land Word War II re-enactors on a Cape Cod beach to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings!”
The fund-raising goal of $15,000 would pay for the acquisition, transportation, storage and restoration of the craft, added Yukna, who is seeking experts in transportation, storage and restoration of the LCVP. He’s also looking for any Vietnam-era veterans that worked on these boats, any institutions that would be willing to host the boat as it is being restored and any fund-raising ideas.
The Cape Cod Military Museum in Mashpee is dedicated to promoting an understanding and appreciation of the contributions of the Americans in the conflicts of the 20th century, with an emphasis on the unique roles of Southeastern Massachusetts. For more information, visit capecodmilitarymuseum.org
