A combination of crew safety and uncertainty over events being cancelled forced the decision.
The LST 325 is back in Evansville after just one stop on its fall tour.
While the ship was in Brandenburg, Kentucky, a crew member began having COVID symptoms. He later tested positive for COVID-19. By the time the visit was over, two more crew members began having symptoms.
A statement from the ship noted that all the crew members were vaccinated, so the crew member who tested positive represents a breakthrough case of COVID-19.
LST 325 spokesman Chris Donahue says they were most concerned about the crew's safety, but they also didn't know whether emergency COVID measures being contemplated in Kentucky might cause the cancellation of their second stop in Ashland. The final stop was scheduled for West Virginia.
Donahue says the ship's board of directors made the decision to turn around and come back to Evansville. The ship arrived Tuesday evening.
The cancellation of most of the fall tour is a financial hardship for the LST 325. The group counts on the fundraising cruise for expensive repairs and inspections of the World War Two ship.
