A volunteer organization in Pinellas County is working to bring a piece of WWII history back to the Bay area.
Dunedin has an important historical tie to Landing Vehicles Tracked, or LVTs, and one group is on a mission to put one on display at a Dunedin VFW post.
The LVT played an important role in U.S. operations during WWII. The vehicles could move in both land and water.
John Tornga, a member of Dunedin’s LVT Preservation Group, said they want to put one of the few LVTs left on display.
"There aren't any in Dunedin, or anywhere around here," said Tornga.
This is surprising to some, because LVTs were originally created in Dunedin. The factory has since been torn down and replaced by a parking lot, but it was right off Douglas Avenue in Dunedin where the first 200 LVTs were built.
"A lot of people here were happy to be involved with doing something that was helping the war effort," said Stephanie Chill, curator for Dunedin Historical Museum.
Chill said local inventor Donald Roebling had designed a vehicle called the 'Alligator,' originally meant for water rescues during hurricanes. It caught the attention of the U.S. military, and Roebling was asked to refine his design to be used in the war.
"The development of the tanks had the Marines based here, it provided jobs for Dunedinites and it provided a bit of livelihood," said Chill.
Tornga said they've worked hard to track down an LVT in the Midwest, and are trying to bring it back for area veterans.
"It brings back not only memories, but it brings back the feeling of what they had done,” said Tornga. “Most of them don't ride around and say, ‘Hi, I'm a veteran,’ they ride by and they like to see things like this. This is not a relic, it's going to be a monument."
The group hopes to acquire the LVT in time for Memorial Day, but they still need some funding to do it. They need to raise $25,000 to bring the vehicle to Dunedin, and another $50,000 to fix it up and maintain it.
Donations to bring the LVT to Dunedin can be made through VFW Post 2550.