arrival of LST 325, the lone remaining landing ship, tank, of her type from World War II. The vessel’s board reports that an engineering firm is working with the Army Corps of Engineers in hopes of moving the vessel by the fall of 2018. Whereas the riverboat casino had crew available 24/7 to adjust to varying water levels, the LST currently relies on a passive mooring system, and a new system will have to be put in place to ensure a safe berth LST 325
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in the new location. The move has long been in the works; an agreement was forged between the city of Evansville, Tropicana, and the board of the USS LST Ship Memorial, Inc., in 2014 outlining the departure of the casino boat and the plan to have the LST take her place. Included in the deal is a $1-million pledge from Tropicana towards the naval vessel’s moving costs. Launched on 27 October 1942 and commissioned on 1 February 1943, LST 325 served in operations overseas, including Operation Husky (the invasion of Sicily), and the invasions of Salerno and Normandy. After the war, she was reactivated for service in Military Sea Transport Service Arctic operations, eventually joining the National Defense Reserve Fleet in 1961. In 1964 she was transferred to Greece, renamed HS Syros (L-144). In 2001 she was restored to the name LST 325 and returned to the United States, and was eventually brought to her new home port of Evansville. LST 325 is one of only two World War II LSTs to be preserved in the United States. The departing vessel, Casino Aztar, also known as City of Evansville, was built in response to a 1993 referendum allowing riverboat gambling in Indiana and her exterior lines were inspired by the historic riverboat Robert E. Lee. Casino Aztar opened for business in 1995, the first riverboat gaming venue
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