From the Director's Chair

Newsletter of the Battleship Texas Foundation Spring 2019

In this issue . . . From The Director’s Chair The Directors Chair Pg1 I hope that you had a great holiday season Third Deck Re-Opened Pg2 and that you are off and running as the new year FTV Report Pg3 is underway.

OEP Report Pg5 It is my pleasure to share with you that on April Curators Corner Pg6 7, 2019 The Battleship Texas Foundation will In Memory Of Pg7 host its first ever Spirit of Texas Gala. The event Membership Forms Pg8 will take place on that Sunday and will begin at 4 PM and end at 8 PM. It will be held at the Armadillo Palace. It will Navy Poster . . . be a great night of music with Cory Morrow. We will be recognizing John Poindexter, Marcus Luttrell, and Shell Oil Deer Park for their contributions to our nation and to Texas. There will lots of great food and auction items. Please make your plans to come out and join us as we celebrate The Texas and our great state. Tickets and will be available on our website starting in early March. Seating is limited so make your plans to join us now.

Battleship TEXAS Foundation Battleship TEXAS Re-Opens Third Deck Advisory Directors Hon. James A. Baker, III Operation Full Steam Ahead, the final phase of repairs, 61st Secretary of State cleaning and safety upgrades to Battleship TEXAS’s third deck, ADM. James L. Holloway, III concluded Saturday, January 5. To commemorate the grand USN (Ret.), Former CNO re-opening, the Battleship Texas State Historic Site hosted a ribbon cutting by ship manager Andy Smith with special Ned S. Holmes Commissioner, Texas guests Mr. Darwin Harris and his son Ron Alan Harris along Transportation Commission with Shanda Perkins from the San Jacinto Advisory Committee and her husband Lance Perkins. Mr. Harris served aboard the Board of Trustees TEXAS from 1943-1946 as a Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Petty Anthony K. Gregory, Officer. Chairman Thomas J. Perich, In honor of the ship’s 104th “berth” year, the first 104 people Vice Chairman were granted free admission. The program began at 8:45 am with visitors lining up as early as 7:30 a.m. to get their hand Donald H. Fischer, Treasurer stamped receive their free ticket, along with a piece of salvaged Rey Gonzales, Jr., Secretary steel from the ship. Brad Bouillion For the first time in more than two years, visitors were able to Jimmy Burke tour the ship’s engine room, machine shop, brig, ammunition Penny H. Butler passageway and radio room, all of which have been closed for David Dewhurst major structural repairs. Theordore S. Hirtz The first round of critical structural repairs to the Battleship RADM. J. Weldon Koenig, Texas began in 2013 when the support structure under the USN (Ret.) ship’s Engine Room and areas of the stern were addressed. John O’Neil The project was completed in January 2015. Michael N. Pearson Later that year, the Texas Legislature allocated $25 million for CAPT. Clifford H. Royal, the second phase of structural repairs, which in-cluded the USN (Ret.) steering gear room, D-13 trimming tank, rear emergency diesel Thomas C. Wright generator room, dynamo condenser room, and miscellaneous Bruce D. Bramlett tanks, trunks and storerooms. This phase of repair work was Executive Director; completed in September 2018. [email protected] With both phases complete, majority of the most deteriorated TPWD Ship Staff structural elements of Battleship Texas behind the boiler rooms Andy Smith, have been addressed. The only remaining critical structural Ship Superintendent repairs will be the framing beneath the boiler rooms. Neither Stephanie Croatt, of the structural repair projects, however, have addressed Assistant Superintendent the fragile state of the ship’s hull. Permanent repairs to the Mike Stovall, hull can only be accomplished with the ship out of water in a Maintenance and Restoration permanent dry berth. Sarah Conlon, Curator

Page 2 By Don Fischer

Restoration While the holiday season slowed the restoration team, the succeeding cold weather did not. The work in the Combat Information Center (CIC) is moving along with a good tempo. As reported earlier, the compartment itself; that is the “box” consisting of the bulkheads, overhead, deck, frames, etc., has been completed. For the past quarter a lot of equipment (switches, status lights, speakers, various communications modules, etc.) have been restored to a like new condition. Much more is to be done, most specifically the major fixtures of plotting tables, radios and radar repeater and switchgear. Nevertheless, this has been an exciting and profitable six months of hard work. Work continues on the aft 40mm guns. Clearly, in this case the weather has been something of a controlling factor and has affected the progress of the team, yet, progress continues to be made.

Continued on next page

Page 3 By Don Fischer

Restoration Before & After Photos Hard Hat Tours The January Hard Hat Tour, conducted on a cold and windy Saturday the 19th, was a morale booster for our tour guides/interpreters after the slim turnout in December. Some 85% of available slots were filled for FTV’s standard Hard Hat Tour, plus another eleven (11) people who signed up for the specialty Normandy tour. Everyone seemed to enjoy the tours immensely and gave our tour leaders a 99% positive rating. This tour day earned over $2,200.00. Now that the 2nd phase of structural work has been completed, it was a pleasure for our tour guides to finally re-open the Boiler Room #3 as one of our destinations. Everyone looks forward to including Aft Steering shortly. The next Hard Hat Tour is scheduled for Saturday, February 16, 2019. For more information about reserving a slot, please see the First Texas Volunteers’ website at www.firsttexasvolunteers.org.

Page 4 Battleship TEXAS Overnight out of shells, yarn, and cotton balls. They Youth Education Program also participated in a Scavenger Hunt on the second deck. The winner won a Battleship By Kandace Trujillo TEXAS shaped ornament and a piece of steel We are having a busy Winter at the youth overnight from the ship. education program. We thank the 30 groups The participants also received goody bags. and 845 campers that participated through the The Christmas themed goody bags contained months of November through January. t-shirts, the San Jacinto and Battleship The Battleship TEXAS participated in its TEXAS holiday ornament, a Battleship TEXAS second annual Operation Santa on December bracelet, a Battleship TEXAS hat, and a flash 14, 2018. We continued our partnership with drive that contained their videos and pictures the Army base Fort Hood. We had 24 children with Santa. It also contained videos and and 4 adults from Fort Hood’s Child and articles on Battleship TEXAS. Youth Services division. We welcomed back 2 The shirts provided were designed with children and 3 adults who participated in the the help of one of our sponsors, Tactical program last year. The returning participants Tees. The program’s costs were covered by received their second tour patch for the Battleship TEXAS Foundation and our successfully completing the program twice. sponsors. Sponsors included Tactical Tees The program began at 6pm. We fed them and Thomas Wright. dinner of chicken nuggets, grilled chicken sandwiches, or wraps from Chick-fil-A. Fruit, chips, sweet tea, cookies, and brownies were also provided. After dinner, the participants made crafts and visited with Santa. Like last year Santa was a big hit. The kids were able to take pictures with him and tell him what they wanted for Christmas. Fun was had by all. The kids also created video messages to their families.

The kids toured areas of the ship normally We are booking into the year. If you would closed off to the public. They went into the like to book an overnight or would like more gun turret, up into the navigation bridge, and information, please contact Kandace Trujillo at: learned about the antiaircraft ammunition. They were able to tour the third deck of [email protected] the ship. This area had been closed for two or (281) 542-0684 (office) years. The made some holiday ornaments

Page 5 ByBy Stephanie Sarah Conlon, Croatt, Curator Curator

Whew! Things have certainly calmed down services to create high-quality scans of the Operationaround here after Full the Steam rush of Ahead special events ship’s historic photograph collection. These and holidays last quarter. Now that we are fi- scans are also uploaded to the Portal to Texas Between November 2016 and January 2019, ship’s 104 years, staff offered free admission nally able to catch our breath, we are taking a History (http://texashistory.unt.edu/explore/ thelook mostat the frequentyear to come, question and itthat looks visitors great! andcollections/BTXPC/), a souvenir piece whereof ship anyone steel to who the is first in- posedHere are to aBattleship few exciting TEXAS things staff on thewas horizon: “Why is 104terested visitors can in browseline on openingthrough day.the Asimages. Darwin A new batch of photos will be added to The Por- theStructural Engine RepairsRoom closed?” This question was Harris, a TEXAS veteran, performed the ribbon tal this summer. Sarah and ship’s staff are quicklyThe paperwork followed has by begun“When for will the it reopen?”next round cutting at 9 am, there were already more than also working on establishing a partnership of structural repairs, and we hope to have a one hundred individuals anxiously waiting When answering the first question, staff with the Texas Archive of the Moving Image to contractor begin work around the boiler toprofessionally board the ship digitize and experiencethe ship’s 1931the spaces. Lanni explainedrooms within that the Third year. DeckBut first, and we the will Engine need Visitorsfilm, which enjoyed is the a wide only variety remaining of educational film that Roomto survey were the temporarily areas identified closed tofor the work public to offeringsportrays lifeduring aboard thethe ship event, during herincluding active whileevaluate Taylor the scopeMarine and Construction details of the performed work to service. Once digitized, this film can be place be done. Then, we will go out to bid for a con- complimentary tours provided by First Texas critical repairs to the ship. This was not Taylor online for easy viewing for anyone who is in- tractor who can make those areas sounder. Volunteers, 1940s music performed by Maria Marine’s first extended project at Battleship terested. Audio Tours Thorne, and opportunities to interact with TEXAS. Between 2013 and 2015, Taylor Interpretive Training and Projects Speaking of paperwork, we are currently wait- members of the Lone Star Living History Marine worked to improve the structural The ship’s interpreter, Sarah Faulkner, has ing for our State Historic Preservation Office Crew. If you haven’t been aboard the ship stability and watertight integrity in the ship’s been selected to undergo Master Interpreter (Texas Historical Commission) and the Na- sinceTraining these through spaces TPWD’s reopened Interpretive in January, Services I sterntional andParks under Service her toengines. give us Thethe greenfirst phase light encourageProgram this you year. to visitShe willsoon. continue We’d tolove share to ofto beginrepairs producing ended when audio funds tours ranfor theout, ship. but welcomesome of youher aboard!interpretive wisdom with the theWe Texasreceived Legislature word last allocated summer anthat additional the Na- ship’s docents by presenting interpretive tional Parks Service awarded the ship a Mari- $25 million to support a second phase of trainings on Second Saturdays out at the ship. time Heritage Grant for a little less than repairs. The second phase of work began in Sarah will also hone her interpretive skills $50,000 for producing audio tours for adults during her Master Interpreter Training by 2017and children,and focused in English on the and after Spanish. portions Even of completing three projects that will benefit the thethough ship, we’ve most had notably to cool in ourthe heelsSteering the Gearpast ship. These projects will include creating the- Room,few months, D-13 Trimmingwe are still Tank, excited Aft about Emergency being matic travelling trunks that teachers can able to bring this new interpretive offering to Diesel Generator Room, Dynamo Condenser check out and use in their classrooms, and an the public. We are hoping these tours will help Room, and miscellaneous tanks, trunks and activity booklet for children to use when they the ship come alive for the ship’s prospective storerooms. The ship’s boilers were also visit. This activity booklet will engage kids in stewards and supporters. suspended during this period to reduce stress the ship’s story, and possibly dovetail with Bringing Our Collections to the People, on their structural foundations. The second the audio tour for kids. Digitization phaseSarah ofConlon, repairs the concluded ship’s collections in September manager, 2018 2016 is looking like an exciting year, and we andwill shipcontinue staff workingspent the behind next several the scenes months to certainly have our work cut out for us! We are cleaning,ensure the priming, safety and painting, accessibility and ofinstalling objects all looking forward to this labor of love, and welcome anyone who is interested in helping safetyin the ship’supgrades collections. to get these One ofspaces the major ready pro- for out. visitorsjects Sarah in 2019. will be tackling this year is collections digitization. Digital copies of all the pho- Ontos, Januarypostcards, 5, and2019, documents staff hosted in our an collec-event titledtion will “Operation make it easier Full forSteam staff, Aheadvolunteers,” to welcomeand researchers visitors to into get the informationnewly reopened they need from the collection. The University of EngineNorth Texas Room has and granted Third Deck. the ship In honor digitization of the Darwin Harris

Page 46 Vernon Lee Graham Ralph L. Ertman George E Carlson, Robert Plant Victor L. Afflerbach EM-2 U.S. Navy, Veteran WWII (deceased) Edwin C. Hartensteiner, Sr. Ray Hargrove George LaBelle USN WWI & WWII USS Nevada John Allen Amme LT Wesley Winkler CDR Raymond Miller US C.L. Wagner/ Jack Adams Chester Cole, survivor USS ASTORII Thomas Trott Robert Cantrell Feams RADM Robert M. Moore, USN (Ret.) Clyde Calvin Smith Bailey Salmon Arthur Loukas, Vet. WWII President George H.W. Bush Frank G Tinker Jr. Paul McLaughlin David Lee Dean Edward M. Ownby Sr. Norman Nossaman PFC 1953-1955

Page 7 One Riverway,Riverway, Suite 2200 Houston, TexasTexas 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” BATTLESHIP FOUNDATION and a free subscription to TPWD’s bi-weekly e-mail newsletter “The Battle TEXAS 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.