The Battleship Texas Is Moving
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PAGE 2 | HUDSPETH COUNTY HERALD February 28, 2020 SUBSCRIBE TODAY!! You’ll get 52 issues of the Hudspeth County Herald for only $20.00. That is a savings of $6.00 off the news- stand price. Name Address Email Address Date Subscribed or Date Renewed Hudspeth County Herald PO Box 128 Fort Hancock, TX 79839 E-mail: [email protected] earning five battle stars for active hundred years old and time, rust, who show the most interest, service the battleship Texas was wind, all those things have taken residents who say ‘yes, we love decommissioned in 1948 and was a toll on the old girl.” her and she needs to be here. put into service as a museum Other cities along the Here’s my pledge.’ We’re in a near Houston. Texas coast have expressed pledge drive mode. We have the The USS Texas was the interest in permanently berthing heavy hitters, of course, the ones first US battleship to mount the ship, among them Corpus who are donating big money. But antiaircraft guns, the first ship to Christi and Galveston. The ship we’re also starting a program control gunfire with directions, is owned by the Battleship Texas asking the kids to donate a dollar the first battleship to launch Foundation, which has sent out or two so that when the battleship THE BATTLESHIP an aircraft and the first to use RFPs (Request for Proposals) to gets here little Johnny and Susie sophisticated radar. It is the cities that have indicated they can say, ‘you know what, I gave TEXAS IS MOVING first US battleship to become would like to have the ship. A my lunch money and that ship is a museum ship and the first decision will be made soon. part mine and I’m so proud to be The battleship USS Texas battleship declared a National “We think Baytown is from Baytown.’” was launched May 18, 1912 and Historic Landmark. It is only one a preferred location. We are Before the ship gets to commissioned on March 12, 1914. of seven remaining ships that proposing to put her on Bayland its final destination, it is due Just after her commission she served in both World Wars. Island off the ship channel. It’s for extensive repairs. The saw action in Mexican waters The ship is moving. a lot more protected than sitting Foundation will choose a home and the North Sea during World “It will no longer be in the La on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico. before she leaves for repairs. War One. During World War Two Porte-Deer Park area by the San I’ve just started a Facebook site Russell has a history site called she escorted convoys across the Jacinto Monument,” says Russell called Bring the Battleship to Baytown History with a Twist. Atlantic and was active in battles Hamman of Baytown, one of the Baytown, the BBB Foundation. He started it 3 years ago and it in North Africa and Normandy. cities that want the ship. “The We signed up 1,800 members in already has 16,000 members, In1944 she was transferred to state had a 99 year lease on the four days. some of them living in foreign the Pacific and provided naval ship and just washed their hands “The Battleship Texas countries. Many of them have gunfire during the battles of with it. It became a liability Foundation is looking for the Baytown connections. Iwo Jima and Okinawa. After instead of an asset. It’s over a town and the spirit of the people .