Newsletter of the Foundation Winter 2015

A Piece of the USS Texas Goes Home In this issue . . . On Dec. 1, members of the Battleship Texas Foundation presented the A piece of Texas steel Newport News Shipbuilding with a piece of USS Texas (BB35), celebrating goes home Pg.1 100 years since the ship’s Commissioning. NNS President Matt Mulherin received the commemorative gift on behalf of the shipyard. Made of origi- From the Director Pg.2 nal riveted, salvaged steel from the old battleship, the piece measures 16” Exciting New Year Pg.3 by 16” and weighs 29 pounds.

FTV Report Pg.4 Andy Smith, the ship manager, was one of those presenting the steel

Dreadnought Update Pg.5 plate. “Today was all about giving a piece of this ship back to the ship- yard,” said Smith. “The Newport News shipbuilders here in 1912 to 1914 Chester Jackson Obit built a high quality ship, and we feel strongly that you should recognize the In Honor Of Pg.6 people who make things possible. It’s only fitting that this piece of steel In Honor Of Pg.7 comes back to the place where the ship was built. It’s is almost like a home- coming.” Supporters Pg.8

Words of the Crew Pg.9 USS Texas is one of six remaining ships to have served in both world wars. In World II, she shelled Axis-held beaches in , Nor- mandy, Cherbourg and Southern before being transferred to the Pacific theater were she would support the Battles of and Oki- nawa. She holds the distinction of being the first U.S. battleship to mount anti-aircraft guns, and to launch an aircraft.

Today she is the only remaining battleship in the world, a WWII Poster . . . testament to the craftsmanship of her builders. Texas was decommis- sioned in 1948, having earned a total of five battle stars for her service in World War II. The battleship is now a U.S. National Historic Landmark in LaPorte, TX

Inscription reads,

“Battleship TEXAS Built by Newport News Shipbuilding Dry-Dock Co. Laid April 17, 1911 Launched May 18, 1912”

Presentation photo on pg.2

Battleship TEXAS Foundation

From The Director’s Chair

Advisory Directors 2015 is off and running Texas is open every day from

and we believe that it will be 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM. If Hon. James A. Baker, III an exciting year for The you are interested in a more in 61st Secretary of State Battleship Texas. Having depth look at The Texas may I ADM. James L. Holloway, III completed our first round suggest you attend one of the USN (Ret.), Former CNO of repairs to The Mighty T Hard Hat Tours that we offer. we are poised to push for- You will need a reservation Ned S. Holmes ward and complete the re- and you can find all the infor- Commissioner, Texas maining repairs and to do Transportation Commission mation you need by visiting so is no small undertaking our website at :

and will require a significant www.battleshiptexas.org. Board of Trustees investment. I am happy to share with you that we are As long as we are talking Anthony K. Gregory, executing our strategy to about a visit, here is another Chairman secure additional funding to option you might want to consider. Our Overnight Edu- Thomas J. Perich, move forward. The next few months are critical to our cation Program has hosted Vice Chairman efforts but we are confident over 41,000 young people Donald H. Fischer, Treasurer that the will be worth since it started. Imagine giving Rey Gonzales, Jr., Secretary the effort. a youngster you know the op- portunity to spend the night In the meantime if you Charles A. Alcorn, on The Might T. Sleep in the have not paid a visit to The bunks just like the sailors did Chairman Emeritus Texas, I hope you will con- and get a great behind the Jimmy Burke sider doing so. Having com- scenes look at her. You can pleted so much work I can’t Penny H. Butler also find all the information think of a better time in re- Alfred Davis, IV by jumping on our website cent history to stop by. The above. Sylvia R. Garcia Theodore S. Hirtz

RADM. J. Weldon Koenig, USN (Ret.)

Michael N. Pearson CAPT. Clifford H. Royal, USN (Ret.)

Thomas C. Wright

Bruce D. Bramlett

Executive Director; [email protected]

Jeff Nelson, President Historical Naval Ships Association

Andy Smith, Manager Battleship Texas TPWD Ship Staff Matt Mulherin, President of Newport News Shipbuilding Company. Tony Gregory, Chairman of The Battleship Texas Foundation Andy Smith, Board of Directors. Stephanie Croatt, Curator Battleship Texas

Page 2 An Exciting New Year pletion is still several months played in the Wardroom for for the TEXAS away, the ship’s staff and vol- our visitors’ viewing pleas- unteers are really looking for- ure. By Stephanie Croatt ward to having a working sink in their break room! Ship’s staff is also working As the ship’s staff has been to improve collection organi- getting settled into the New On the interpretive front, zation, safety, and stability. Year, we’ve been taking a look there are a number of exciting Efforts are being made by the at what is on the horizon. It improvements slated to take collections manager, curator, certainly looks like 2015 is go- place early this year. The Bat- and ship custodian to clean ing to be exciting! For the first tleship TEXAS Foundation and exhibit and collections stor- time in a few years, the ship is Texas Parks and Wildlife spon- age spaces throughout the fully staffed, and we are sored two interactive exhibits ship. Keeping dust and de- thrilled to have all of our man that are currently under devel- bris off objects on display power in place. The mainte- opment. The first exhibit will and in storage not only keeps nance and restoration team is be of a ship “Navigation Sta- them looking as bright and working diligently on a few tion” that will allow visitors to clean as possible, but also projects, including restoring steer the ship at the helm and deters deterioration. Cura- one of the 40mm mounts on gear the engines up and down torial staff is also working to main (starboard). The to control speed. Visitors will furnish the newly opened idea is to restore the correct be able to see the ship moving ’s Pantry. With the appearance of the mount and through a virtual porthole, and BTF’s collection development make it so that visitors can will be able to steer around ob- stipend, we’ve been slowly point and train the guns. stacles. The second exhibit acquiring coffee and demi- features an interactive enlisted Maintenance staff is also tasse cups and a toaster that crew locker. Visitors will be working to relocate the ship’s is the correct appearance for able to touch the locker’s vir- break room to the Flag Office. the space. A coffee maker is tual contents in order to learn This move is part of a larger also among the items on the about the items TEXAS’s crew plan to expand the ship’s in- shopping list. kept in their lockers. Along frastructure to accommodate With all of these exciting with these exhibits, we will larger groups for the Over- events and new things to see also bring a temporary, travel- night Education Program. The on the horizon, we encourage ling exhibit called, “Images of new break room will feature everybody to come out and Valor: Latinos and Latinas in running water, plenty of cabi- take in the sights! World War II.” This exhibit will net space, and maybe a washer arrive in March and will be dis- and dryer. While project com-

Recent acquisition: A box made by a crewman to resemble a . Circa 1918

Page 3 First Texas Volunteers By Don Fischer

Restoration

After an exceedingly busy 2014, the First Texas Volunteers (FTV) straightened up and took a deep breath and used the winter months to collectively take stock and plan. Over the past cou- ple of months FTV has been tackling some routine, but necessary, work throughout the public areas of the ship. Included in these activities are the general cleaning and priming of the decks in the Butcher Shop and Brig. Similarly, the Galley and 2nd Deck bulkheads were scrubbed thor- oughly, eliminating several years’ grime and mildew.

Near future projects may include the re-painting of the Movie Locker, Post Office and a por- tion of 2nd Deck passageway. Some discussion has also been directed toward possible improve- ment work in the Combat Information Center and on a 40mm gun mount.

The Foundation also desires to expand its Overnight Program, so work will take place in pre- paring additional space for the kids to sleep. This work will also allow for additional restroom facilities for the program, and a relocation of office space for the regular ship staff. It remains unclear as to how much work will be done by contractor (abatement of lead paint cer- tainly) and how much by FTV.

Hard Hat Tours

The November Hard Hat Tour succeeded in making $2,020.00. Most importantly, all partici- pants thoroughly enjoyed the experience according to their comments and critiques. The Janu- ary Hard Hat Tour was a resounding success! Not only was our visitor participation up, but FTV earned a record $3,885.00 for use on future projects.

During this period, taking advantage of the interest in the 70th anniversary of the invasion, a “thematic” tour, focused on the Battleship TEXAS’ participation in Operation Neptune/ Overlord, was offered. General public interest has been limited, but through the Mu- seum of Natural Science, which has held a D-Day and Battleship TEXAS exhibit for the past six months, a special Normandy tour was presided over and conducted by FTV, which seemed to have been a real success. After this season, this is expected to wane, but the thematic concept seems to offer up some intriguing opportunities for the future.

The next Hard Hat Tour is scheduled for : Saturday, February 21

Contact the Foundation office at 713-827-9620 to make reservations.

Page 4 Dreadnought Update Battleship Texas The OEP continues to par- By Neil Thomas Overnight Education ticipate in outreach opportu- The work on board the Bat- Program nities. The OEP shared a booth with TPWD at the tleship TEXAS for the struc- By Kandace Trujillo tural repair project is com- Houston Museum of Natural plete. As of November 2014, We have had a busy last Science’s Educator Event on TPWD accepted the work couple of months at the January 24. Educators done by Taylor Marine Con- overnight program. We’ve learned more about our pro- struction, Inc. (TMC), and as hosted 624 campers gram. Hopefully, this will of January 2015 TPWD ac- throughout the months of lead to more school groups cepted the successful re- December and January. And participating in the overnight moval of all of the shore-side we have 305 campers sched- program. The Overnight Pro- support/staging area equip- uled for February. We are gram will also have a booth ment from TPWD property. also booking groups well in at an upcoming scout fair Therefore, TMC is completely to the summer. We have had and teacher workshop. The finished and demobilized groups from many different Overnight Program will also from the site and from the areas participate in our edu- participate in Houston His- ship. cation program. We hosted a panic Forum’s Education and Boy Scout Troop from Louisi- Career Fair. As I reported in the last ana and are hosting a Girl We are always looking for issue of the Dreadnought, all Scout group from Northeast- of the project funding allo- new tour guides for our pro- ern Oklahoma. cated for construction is ex- gram. If you are interested or hausted. We will have to wait The overnight program is want more information until additional funding be- in the process of adding new please contact Kandace comes available to do the ad- lessons to our current pro- Trujillo at: gram. On our January 10 pro- ditional critical structural work necessary on the ship. I gram, TPWD volunteer Jodi [email protected] would like to offer my per- Larson and Ship’s Interpreter or (281) 542- 0684 office. sonal thanks to the TPWD Sarah Faulkner assisted the staff, AECOM design team, overnight staff with a special the Battleship Texas Founda- math lesson. Pack 737 out of tion and all of the readers of Deer Park, TX used math to the Dreadnought for the sup- adjust real Navy recipes. port necessary to accomplish Their task was to turn reci- such an important project. I pes with portions for 100 hope we can continue the people to portions that great work soon. As news would feed 1700 sailors. The on possible additional fund- pack also created a healthy ing becomes available, I will menu from their recipe share it with you all in the choices. Their meal included pages of the Dreadnought. baked fish, fruit salad, prune Onward! whip, and lemonade. They did a great job and used their multiplication skills. We owe a special thanks to Jodi and Sarah. Thanks for all Kandace Trujillo Overnight Education your help! Program Manager Battleship TEXAS Foundation

Page 5 Chester "Earl" Jackson, In Honor Or Memory Of

Earl Jackson, 90, passed away on December 9, 2014 at the Banner Hospice in Sun Charles Edward O’Del Lt. Walter R. Clough, USN City West, Arizona. Earl was born April 4, 1924 in Great Francis O. Hallahan John Bellock, USN Falls, Montana. . DFC Robert T. Collins John C. Alberts Earl Jackson served our Maurice P Coakley, USN Lawrence E. Poorman country in World War II with remarkable and distinguished David Barnfather, EM2 Rueben B. Kihn service in the Navy. He par- James R. Doverspike LCDR James R Kay ticipated in some of the most significant events in World Matrix Harry F. Adler, M.D. War II. Aboard the U.S.S. Edward P McClearbt, USN RoseMarie Collender Susan B. Anthony, he was in- volved in the invasion of Sic- Fornie Edward Hartsell E. I. Bradley, USN ily in 1943. He was reassigned Lee M. Pierce Daniel E. Hyatt as a medical corpsman aboard the U.S.S. Texas for Robert McCutcheon H. Grant Stoddard the remainder of the war. On Charles A. Long Harold H. Kieselhorst D-Day, he was at for the U.S. led invasion John R. Theis, Jr CAPT John Gaston, USMC (Ret). of Normandy. After the sub- Capt W. G. Fisher, USN Ray White sequent invasion of southern Clarence Reed Allen, USN Michael C. Agresti, Sr. France

The U.S.S. Texas was repo- The Battleship Texas US Navy Veterans sitioned to the Pacific Thea- CPL William "Bill" Robert Seltzer, USAF ter. While there, Earl partici- pated in the mission to sup- Dominic Cenci Lawrence W. Hurdle port the Marines at Iwo Jima. Cmdr. William H. Porter ARM3 Henry G. Traylor Next, he was assigned to a William E. Finan Atlee M. Cunningham, Sr., USN battle station for 52 days as our forces battled the Japa- LTJG Paul D. Broussard, Jr., USN Anthony G. Tobie nese forces off of Okinawa. Erwin H. Scheel Bernard Allen Street, Sr. Earl and the U.S.S. Texas were reassigned to the defense of Capt. Harry Katz Harley Ploen Lloyd Osborn the until the end Albert P. Santos CPO Nevin Fidler of the war. On a date to be de- termined, in recognition of Howard McGee John F. Kennedy Earl Jackson's heroic military Bob Cook John Brickler Lawrence A. Tippen service, he will be honored with a military funeral cere- Capt. Karl T. Clebak, USNR (Ret) mony at the National Ceme- John Willman Barnes tery in Phoenix where his ashes will be interned.

Page 6 In Honor or Memory Of

Harry M. Henderson, S1 USN Oral C. "Buster" Teter Oscar M. "Andy" Anderson Andy Smith Carla Martin Vicki Langley and Art & Myla Corotan Alice Hass C. C. Miller, USCG John C. Mortimer Arthur Loukas John C. Alberts David Hawkins George Gwynn, USN Julius Wojciechowski Joseph Harris James H. Long Lt. William Davies YNC Harold E. Abernathy, Jr. Richard Marsh Raymond L. Fischer Carl Alvin Newman Vernon M. Burdick Josiah E. Mardre, USN Howard B. Tilley Lawrence Parisi Maurice Colman Edwin C. Hartenstein, Sr. Harry M. Henderson, S1 USN Carl E. Vogler, Sr. LCDR Robert Pederzani, USNR Capt. Frederick H. M. Kinley Kathryn Lusby, Kenneth Lusby, and Vincent Gordon Lusby, USN Colonel Matrix Kathleen Conway CWO1 Melvin C. Seffel, USN Thorleif Ellison, USN Bryson L. Ruff Bobby L. Wagoner Forest Wysong Minor N. Hardin Milan and Christopher Lakich Ervin D. Pupkes Billy F. Schmittou Oliver W. Smith B. A. Crain, Jr. James H. Lamb Edward G. Charnoki MSG Reese Jackson, USA Beierman family HTCM(CMC) Eddie Earl Dees, Jr., USN (Ret) GMGC Tommy Dale Dees, USN (Ret) SSgt Eddie Earl Dees, USA CAPT John Gaston, USMC (Ret) Capt. David R. Cozier, CEC, USN Clarence Reed Allen, USN Frank J. Benning Garland Hayes, Jr. RADM Robert M. Moore, SC, USN Hubert E. Griffith, Jr. Neil R. Zaccagni CDR Peter W. Wood, USN Jerome Feinstein James H. Tidwell, Sr. Lester Morgan, USNR Edward A. Kenavan, USNR Joe Wayne Davis Robert McCutcheon John W. Taylor Edward P. McClearbt, USN Elvin A. Kays John M. Myer, Jr., EOCS, USN (Ret.) Major William C. Coltman Dr. Emory Temple Adams, Jr., USNR Joe H. Adcock Janet and Oliver Starcke, USN Ronald V. Afflerbach, FTGCS (Ret.) Fornie Edward Hartsell E. I. Bradley, USN Daniel E. Hyatt William H. Luedecke W. I. Molesworth Charles B. Jackino, USN Joseph A. Lafalce USN Leon Larison CDR Nicholas Terrence Gansa, USNR CDR William R. Seidenstein, USN (Ret) United States Navy Memorial All who served on the Battleship Texas

Page 7

SUPPORTERS

Jerry W. Adcock Dr. Max F. Adler Curt M. Anderson

MSgt Daniel Attilio, USMC (Ret) Jimmy Barnett John J. Barnfather

Howard E. Bartholf Donald L. Boudreaux William T. Brockman

MSgt Richard E. Brown, Sr., USAF (Ret) Dr. Deborah D. Bryan

Marvin W. Butcher John and Roxanne Cabori Errol Callaway

Henry C. Carswell III Stephen L. Coffman Stanley Collender

CAPT David R. Cozier, CEC, USN Paul Crain N. Bruce Creswell Tom Dodson Amos R. Dreessen Earl O. Ellison Dr. Charles J. Farrow Nevin L. Fidler, Jr. Lloyd L. Fields James Fischer Randall S. McDaniel Robert and Nanette Galysh George H. Gould, Jr. Blake N. Hal Dennis J. Hallahan Michael J. Harris Alice Hass George S. Hausch Christopher O. Heikkila Mr. & Mrs. James G. Hill James E. Hudson III Thomas C. Hyatt Mark Johnson Doug Kays Clarence L. Landon Dr. A. Bernhard Kliefoth III Donald W. Krause, Sr. John J. Lafalce CAPT Ronald E. Lis, USN (Ret) LCDR Stewart Lindsay, Jr. USNR (Ret) Gerlinde H. Lakich Patricia A. Langa Terry L. Larison John E. Lewis Donna H. Legare Brad and Annette Long Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Loukas John C. Luedecke Gregory K. Lusby Clifford W. Martin Bill O'Neal Lt. Col. Harry B. Massingill, Jr., USAF (Ret) Barbara McCormick Richard S. Merrell Patrick A. Moore David R. Morgan Harley Ploen Dud and Melba Morris CAPT Robert B. Murphy, USN Jasper Northcutt George J. Narozonick Oscar J. Olson Robert S. Perkin Emil F. Saul Robert Perwas Bill R. Pierce William H. Porter Philip W. Reed John A. Roberts, Jr. Joe Rutherford Billy and Billie Schmittou Dr. John V. Scholes Perry and Sara Schwierzke Paul E. Stebelton CAPT Joel S. Seffel, USNR (Ret) Mr. & Mrs. Richard G. Stoddard Rex Teter Bryan Tilley James Troy Tucker Donald R. Wagoner William C. Whiteside W. Scott and Judith Williams Charles D. Wright Lt. Col. William A. White, USA (Ret)

Page 8 Page 7 Words of the Crew ...

Mr. Neil Bradley Telephone interview. Served on the TEXAS from November 1939 to October 1941.

Mr. Bradley came aboard right out of ever knew.” He took an interest in Mr. boot camp as an undesignated seaman. Bradley, told him to walk with the Ensign Became a radioman striker. Slept on the one night on the deck. Asked Mr. Bradley deck behind the foremast below the signal what he intended to do with his life. Mr. b r i d g e . O n c e t h e y Bradley said he wanted brought a body from an- to be an aviator but did- othe r ship onto the n’t have the college. En- TEXAS, and placed the sign Westcott re- casket right where Mr. searched and found out Bradley slept. Another about the enlisted pilot s a i lo r c am e u p an d program, and obtained asked, “Are you going to letters of recommenda- sleep there?” Mr. Brad- tion from officers up to ley replied, “No, are you and including Fleet Ad- crazy?” The other sailor miral King. Then they said, “If I sleep there found out Admiral King now, that’s my spot could send an enlisted from now on,” and slept man directly to the avia- on top of the casket. tion program, which he

They held a school for did. So Mr. Bradley be- radio strikers. The came an enlisted pilot teacher was an old chief and flew OS2U Kingfish- who had been retired, ers, but did not return to the TEXAS. then came back into the Navy from retirement. Ensign Westcott left The school was in the the TEXAS before Mr. passageway beside the Bradley. Just before he radio room. The chief left the ship, Ensign would send code, and Westcott came down to the strikers would copy the enlisted quarters, it with a pencil. looked up Mr. Bradley,

Mr. Bradley was not and told him goodbye. good enough at code to Then the ensign came to stand a watch. He attention and saluted mainly carried mes- the aviation radioman. sages. He would pick up Bradley returned the sa- the messages in the radio room, from the lute, the ensign left, and the two men window to the code room. He would take never saw each other again. the messages to Ensign Westcott, generally in his cabin. Then the ensign would tell Mr. Bradley where to take them next. Ensign Westcott was “the finest officer I

Page 9 One Riverway, Suite 2200 Houston, Texas 77056

Membership Application

I am pleased to support the USS TEXAS with my membership in the Battleship TEXAS Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) non profit organization.

Individual $35.00 Name

Family $45.00 Address

Supporting $150.00 City State Zip Benefactor $500.00

Corporate $2,000.00 Phone Fax

USS TEXAS Veteran $10.00 Email

Check here to receive your Dreadnought by email.

Membership Benefits Mail to: Individual. $35 Entry level membership entitles Member to receive a free subscription to the BTF quarterly e-mail newsletter “The Dreadnought” and a free subscription to TPWD’s bi-weekly e-mail newsletter “The Battle BATTLESHIP TEXAS FOUNDATION Report” (if you provide your e-mail address). One Riverway Family. $ 45 Everything above, plus invitations to San Jacinto Site Suite 2200 activities and special events. Houston, Texas 77056 Supporting $ 150 Everything above, plus one (1) Hard Hat Tour. Benefactor. $ 500 Everything above, plus two (2) Hard Hat Tours Corporate. $2,000 Everything above, plus publication of your firm’s name Phone 713-827-9620 in “The Dreadnought” and at special events held aboard the TEXAS. USS TEXAS Veterans. $10 Benefits the same as for Individual Member.