From amphibious landings in World War II to humanitarian missions decades later, the boxy gray ships known as LSTs quietly reshaped modern warfare — and their story is coming to Owensboro next month.
Cory Burdette, Museum Operations Coordinator for the USS LST Ship Memorial in Evansville, will headline the Owensboro Area World Affairs Council’s first program of the spring 2026 season with a presentation titled “The Gator Navy: The Global Significance of LSTs in WWII and Beyond.”
The event is set for 7 p.m. on Feb. 3 at the Western Kentucky University-Owensboro campus in the Badgett Conference Center, 4821 New Hartford Road. Admission is free and open to the public. A Zoom link will also be available for those who wish to attend remotely.
Burdette has been part of the USS LST Ship Memorial since 2021, but has long been immersed in history and museums. A native of Owensboro, he began his academic journey at Owensboro Community & Technical College before earning a degree in history and social studies from Western Kentucky University. He quickly advanced in the field, rising from part-time tour guide to full-time assistant director at the Historic Railpark and Train Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, by the age of 23.
At the USS LST Ship Memorial, Burdette is one of the organization’s lead historians, researchers, and archivists. In addition to his museum work, he is also an actor who has worked on projects featuring Rick Harrison, Ate de Jong, and Ethan Hawke.
He lives in Evansville with his wife, Samantha, and their two children, AJ and Ellie.
For more information, contact the Owensboro Area World Affairs Council at [email protected] or visit their Facebook page.
