llrhen the heavy CA-30 was Thg Cruiser chicago,ches,er,No*hdm?,.n, Y Y launched in 1929 , she was not the Louisuilk, and Sab Lake Ci4t. Eighry first ship, nor the last, to boast the name , I cities vied for naming righti to .L. * ^ - - -I - #ff*;,ix.1#ffi,*'J'f"*T n0USI0n: ffiii::-;,Hx;#;*:l;',1;Jfi", ;*':ix'**ilffi"i.Ti:*'.i*i governor of two states-f Texas. He was the victoric Pe o ceti m e I c0 n, iix'ru$i:i::i m, the Battle of San Jacinto, ' shed'rhe Republic "'*.*1*";1* the history of the U.S. an, Wo rli m e Mo ever a ship carried a rlyi prour ffi***'i:if#I"dH:Bernrieder, took the lead in organizing the cruiser . Tr r. cr By Saye for the campaign. Late in the twentieth cenrury Jim cityt ^ A committee involving all segrnents nationally acclaimed professional foot- ba11teamfromanotherGxascity,theofthecirywasformedtotakebold action to p-ersuade the Navl to name Dallas Cowboys, was popularly W,:':,',,', ,,gn ,,W manner the cruiser Houstoncarght thepublicfavorinthe1930sanf,wereCol.Ih.iTBalI,chairmanof ;H::i'+ffiI';;i:[#l'; b..,,...America,sShip.,,Shecarried*.,.o.:n.::;MayorOscar thistrniqueeSteem'thisspecialcharis-Y&..Ho1combe;City{ouncilmanH. m",throughouthercareer.AntnT,n. Hffi,::J"oo*?ft'.t."1f* end, like Crockett and Bo Wi;W.'....:,,..;,,., lllll.,i.irmff: ffi-r fl ctuiserHoustongtnranteed'herselfaWxffi#.'.$r;*#fft,i,x;:'ffi:...'"",'f:ff:;;,,.. place in history. Chroruicle, General Maurice Hirsch; BACK TO THE BECINNINC Wffl 7-.W and\wiliam Bernrieder., \7orld War I, 'the war to end all V,,, ,: Over a period of nine months, 11thhourofthe11thdayofthe11thbehindthiseffort.Schoolchildren month,November11,l918.Thevic-VryW..MW*Wdraftedandmailedhundredsof1et- toriousLeagueofNationspromised^.mters.Itwasreportedthatthepas- newworldofeverlastingpeace.W*..;..:W;i;XSagewayoutsidetheofficeofNar,y Tieatiesboundthenationstorestric-We.;1;|;1...:.;W:$.SecretaryCurtisD..s7ilburwas tionsonthesizeofarmiesandW;.7W%.'...... WcIoggedwithmaiIbagspackedwith n2yig5-ug21|esthatwereeasi1yand:..|.,.|...|WlettersfromHoustonschoolchiI. frequentlycircumvented,WwW:7:,::::;..dren.Peoplefromallovertxas IntheU'S.,the..Roaring.:",w{*',gavetheirSuPPort.Glegramsfrom USSHouston (CA-30) was launched on September 192! a Twenties,,were carefree, wlthjittle I/r (, in prominer,t people flood.d I thoughtror miritarya.* N"l.",r- ff:!;;;{#:,ytry:"';;:!}!;!ilra;,fi;;;;E;g;;r, \washington. Legisratures orrhe ble politician would think of propos- "j,ro ' states of , birthplace of Sam i1ri" 7o, lrer abikTy to euade the Japanese drr;rg it , *rb, ing increased funds for the neglected months of tie war Gifi ofWilliam A. Birnreidzr. Houston, and Tennessee, where military. Houston had been governor, passed Still, there were a few far-sighted states- .'Tiaditionally, cruisers are named resolutions supporting the ciry of men who knew that the preseiwation of lib- for cities, just as are named for Houston. Bernrieder worked diligently to 'W'hen erry required eternal vigilance. This was states. the new cruisers were author- keep the enthusiasm high. especially notable in the Nary, where the ized, a fierce contest began among cities In early September, Bernrieder concept of a two-ocean deGnse force obvi- across the nation who wanted to put their received notice that Nary Secretary'Wilbur ously demanded a large modern fleet. name on a powerful new ship that would had scheduled a stop in Houston during a In 1925, Congress was persuaded by uavel over the seven seas. railroad journey. "\7e hastily summoned a the arguments of the Navy and authorized Even before construction was stafied, delegation of the committee, ciry officials funds for the construction of eight new six of the cruisers were named by the and civic leaders to meet the secretary at Secretary of the Nary. These were Pensacola, Union Station," remembered Bernrieder.

1:*;1*';;1' 1"?:t 1 L:,'"t;.t.>* 1.llt;tt:*--;q:121:z:;',1. *c. )- Crew of the L/SS Houston Corriesy Houslon Melropo ilon Reseorch Center, Houslon Pub ic Librory

"He was traveling on the Sunset Limited was a hard-fought victory," said Bernrieder.' young ladies. Miss Elisabeth Holcombe was with his wife and Naval aide." the sponsor of the cruiser Houston. She was CRUISER HOUSTON COES TO SEA On 'Mednesday, September 7, 1927, a the daughter of Mayor Oscar Holcombe. Houston large crowd waited in eager anticipation for Designated CA-30, rhe was built in Miss Mary Ellen Bute was the Maid of at News the arrival of the Nar,y Secretary. There was Virginia Newport Shipbuilding & Honor. Miss Charlotte \Tilliams, the great- a loud cheer when he stepped down from Dry Dock Co. at a cost of $17 million. By granddaughter of General Sam Houston, rhe rrain and began shaking hands. Secrerary September 1929, she was ready to go in the was an honored member of the official Wilbur paused when he came to Mayor water. William Bernrieder scrambled to con- party. Holcombe, and announced to the mayor tact governors of many states, government Music for the occasion was by the newspapers throughout and to the assembled crowd that one of the officials, and the Nar,y Band under the direc- new cruisers would be the Houston. nation to spread awareness of the launching tion of Charles Benter. Music included "The Applause shook the station. and draw national attention to this event. Star Spangled Banneq" 'Anchors Aweigh," Houstonians "\7e celebrated, the whole town cele- A large group of traveled "Stars and Stripes Forever," "Texas C)ur to Newport News to attend the launching brated. The newspapers carried the story on Texas," "The Eyes oftxas fue Upon You," the front pages the next day. We all felt it on Saturday, September 7, 1.929. Among the and a march, "U.S. Cruiser Houston," com- official were Texas delegation Governor Dan posed by Charles Benter for this special Moody; Congressman Daniel Carrett; Col. occasion.5 Thomas Ball, H. chairman of the naming As the official sponsot Elisabeth committee; Col. R. C. Kuldell, president of Holcombe christened the cruiser Houston.lt ABOUTTHE AUTHOR: During the the Houston Chamber of Commerce; Rear was reported that she also broke a bottle of Korean War,.f im Saye (LtJG, USNR) Admiral A. Marshall, Commandant, \(I water from Buffalo Bayou on the shipt bow. served two years at sea. The Eighth Naval Col. R. \M District; After fitting out and sea trials, the Houston noted in his service record/ "Saye has Humphreys, Coliector of Customs in was commissioned on June 17, 1930.n a flare (sic) for writing." This "flare" Galveston; B. Bates, School Board; William The cruiser Houston had a displacement carried him through a four-decade .{l E. Monteith, Mayor of Houston; and of 9,050 tons. She was 600 feet long, with a career in advertising, and now spurs Villiam Bernrieder, aide to the mayor. beam width of 66 feet. Her main battery his passion for writing. Also in the official party were several was nine S-inch guns in three turrets, two forward and one aft. These guns could "SHOWBOAT" OF THE FLEET Iengthy cruises. From this high-profile throw a heavy projectile more than fifteen exposure, the cruiser became the "poster Following her two years of dury on the miles. Her secondary battery was eight 5- child" for the Navy. She was featured Asiatic Station, Houston crossed the Pacific in inchl25 caliber guns in single mounts. She newsreels, newspapers, and magazines to base in . Here when bristled she gained a with numerous 50 and 30 caliber she was hosting the president, the secretary reputation for 'tpit and polish' and exem- machine guns. The speed of this cruiser was of the Nary, the Chief of Naval Operations, plary seamanship in training maneuvers. knots 33 and she carried a crew ofaround and other important persons. She was a The Navy singled o:ut Houston to carry one thousand officers and men. very impressive symbol of the President Franklin D. Roosevelt on an Nary when Originally, Hourton was equipped with she participated the extended voyage. in celebration marking a six-tube 2l-inch torpedo mounr. This was the opening of the on In the 1930s, presidents did not have removed early on. Prevailing Naly theory May 28,1937. Air Force One for lengthy trips. FDR, para- maintained cruisers that could expect to On April 7 1939, the cruiser returned lfzed from the waist down by polio, faced , fight at long distances, with their big guns. to her namesake ciry for a brief visit. \Var obvious difficulties in traveling on any of the Torpedo tubes were mounted on , clouds were hanging over all of the world, aircraft available at the time. The fast, pow- PT boats, and other small craft for striking but the people ofTexas and the people erful, impressive Houston was admirably of crippling blows at very close range. Removal the United States felt secure, protected by suited for presidential travel. An elevator was of the torpedo weapon was ro prove very two great oceans and a Naly with mighty installed to lift FDR in his wheelchair from costly in the final analysis., warships such as Houston. stateroom to quarterdeck or bridge. The Houston had rwo aircraft cata- FLACSHIP pults and four pontoon-rigged planes. The OF THE ASIATIC FLEET bulky pontoons were necessary to float the Back through the Panama Catd., Houston planes as they took position alongside, steamed to a west coast shipyard for over- under the crane to be lifted aboard ship. In haul and was then posted to Southeast Asia. the air, the pontoons reduced air speed to Arriving in on November 19,1940, the point where rhe planes were sitting Houston became the flagship ofAdmiral ducks for fighter craft, such as the agile Thomas C. Hart. Captain Jesse B. Japanese "Zero."

PEACE-TI M E S E RVI CE, 1930_1941

Shakedown cruises in the Atlantic occupied President Franklin D. Rooseaeh, shown hae with Hoaston for several months after commis- a Marine guard, made four uolages olt the tlSS sioning. Then she made her first visit to Houston. The ship was fitted with special ebuaurs and handraik Houston, on Naty Day, October 27,1930. to accommodate the presidznt's disability. At the time, she was the largest ship to navi- Courtesy Speciol Collections, Archives Division, gate up the winding ship channel to the Nimitz librory, U.S. Novol Acodemy Port of Houston. More than 250,000 visi- tors went aboard the Houston while she was Fresh paint and polished brightwork docked in her namesake city. Houstonians greeted FDR when he boarded Houston at presented the ship a $15,000 silver service Annapolis, Maryland on July l,1934. for the wardroom during this visit. Then the Covering almost 12,000 miles, FDR's first ship steamed to and the voyage in the cruiser Houston steamed down Norfolk Naval Base ro assume duties with the east coast, meandered through the the Adantic Fleet. , made the transit through the .! On January 10, 1931, Horutonwas , sped through the open Pacific to Honolulu, and ended in Portland, 1 reassigned to the Pacific Fleet and depaned Capain Albert H. Rooks commandzd the USS to transit the Panama Canal, pause briefly in Oregon. FDR gloried in the Nar.y traditions Houston duing the Battb of . He was the Hawaiian lslands, and reach Manila. On and the careful attention to his needs. awarded seueral medak posthumously including the Congressional and arrival in Manila, Houston became the flag- One of FDR's well-known eccenrricities the 'Cross of the Bronze Lion. ship of the fuiatic Station. She participated was his habit of reading mysrery novels until Gift of USS Houslon Survivors Associotion in training exercises for the next year. all hours of the night. As a rule, he would \X4-ren fighting consume two or three paperbacla each broke our berween Oldendorf was the skipper of the Hownn at night. So, Houston was well stocked Japan and China in 1932, Houston led the with this time. U.S. military mystery novels. Every time she made port, a to . She landed Navy Ensign \fl G. \Tinslow was transferred and Marine sailor was assigned to seek out a bootseller Corps rifle platoons to prorecr to the cruiser on August 25,1941. He was and buy a fresh stock. American lives and properry. She remained one of five officers who flew the scout/obser- in FDR cruised on Houston whenever the this uoubled area until relieved by the vation seaplanes carried on the cruiser. In opportunity arose. In 1935,1938, and crriser Augusta in November 1933.8 later years, \Tinslow attained the rank of 1939 he commandeered Houston for Corutinued on page 53 'lht V'ag* 1 * t7*r*trx l3*:r-ir:w-vrAt.utt* 2, itcl" 2- Cruiser Houston Darwin, , and Surabaja, on the northeast coast ofJava. This dury consisted page'10 continued from mainly of convoying tankers and troopships, offering protection from enemy captain. He wrote an important book in and aircraft. 1984 about the cruiser. Captain Albert H. Rooks arrived on BATTLE STATIONS! August 30, 1941, to relieve Captain THE FLORES SEA Oldendorf In October, Houton went into Since December 10, when Japanese aircra{i fie shipyard at Cavite For emergenry repairs sank the vaunted British bamleship Prince of and installation offour new anti-aircraft This photo uas taken through the sight of an Allied Wales andthe battle cruiser HMS Repul"re, guns. The ship took on a capacity load of gun, just days before the Battle ofSunda Strait, b is Allied naval power in Southeast Asia was not fuel and ammunition. On November 28, the kst hnown photo taken of the USS Houston before its sinking on March I, 1942. a significant threat to Japan. Yet when most Admiral Hart moved his flag ashore and Gift of Be\ Botchelor Miles of the remaining vessels were combined into ordered Captain Rooks to uke ton to Ho a strike force under the command of Rear might of arsenal America sea as quickly as possible. Then the admiral industrial to Admiral of the Dutch Navy, dispersed his small fleet to makeshift ports train and arm a new fighting force to roll they represented a serious potential for dis- in remote locations among the chain of back the invaders. rupting Japanese invasion strategy. Philippine Islands. Houston was dispatched On the day after the bombing of Pearl Admiral Doorman was under orders to Iloilo on the south coast of Panay Island.' Harbor, Houston was rushing preparations to to attack the enemy. On February get under way, out of the restricting harbor 4, 1942, he gathered a strike force and set out to DAY OF INFAMY_ at Iloilo, when a message was received order- engage a invasion fleet. Steaming WAR STRIKES AMERICA ing the ship to await the arrival of Rear Japanese \i7illiam near BaIi in the Flores Sea, the Allied ships Sunday, December 7, 1941. The Japanese Admiral A. Glassford, Jr., were attacked by waves of Mitsubishi sneak attack on the U.S. Pacific fleet, peace- Commander ofGsk Force Five. \Taiting 'S7hen bombers. the bombs began to fall, fi.rlly anchored in the bosom of the great was anxious. L,ookouts scanned the sky for the ships maneuvered independently, send- Pearl Harbor, crippled Americas strength in Japanese bombers. Finally, late in the after- ing up a wall of anti-aircraft fire. The light the Pacific. Swiftly, the Empire ofJapan noon, a PBY flying boat brought in the cruiser USS Marblehead was hit by two moved to exploit its success. fell: A admiral and his staff They were hastily bombs and disabled. Houston, seeking to tiny force of Marines on lWake Island held transferred to the Hoilston, and she wasted shield Marblehead, was on the after out until December 23. Hong Kong surren- no time in speeding out to the relative safery hit tur- ret. The three- was blown apart dered on December 25. Manila was cap- of the open sea. and engulfed by fire. Forry-eight sailors tured after a few days on January 2, 1942. l,ookouts reported anti-aircraft bursts were killed. The invincible British fortress of Singapore over Iloilo, then a ship on fire in the harbor. The strike force limped into Tjilatjap surrendered on February 15. This Japanese air raid was directed at the harbor in Once again Tokyo Radio The Allies were reduced ro our-num- Houston, but missed her by about an hour. . announced that the cruiser Houston had bered, out-gunned rear guard tactics. Still, Radio Tokyo reported that night that been sunk. So many reports told of the General Douglas MacArthur retreated to the hear,y cntiser Houstonhadbeen sunk in sinking of this ship that the Houston Bataan and Corregidor. The overall strate- Iloilo Harbor. gained the nickname- "The Galloping gy was to hold the line where possible, for During the remainder of December Ghost of the Coast."'n as long as possible, buying time for the and most ofJanuary Houston operated from Java

Touring Houston's History Visil the two USS Hoaslonmemotiols in downtowlt...

Starting at Allent Landing at the north end of downtown on Buffalo Bayou, tour participants will alternate between riding the Metro light rail and walking up the reiuvenated Main Street. They will see particular places of interest along Main Street and in the heart of downtown. Featured on the tour are stops at the two IJSS Houston memorials in downtown. The first is located outside the Reliant Energy building on Main Sueet, once the site of the Loews movie house, where in May 1942, 1,000 men volunteered to enlist as the crew for the replacement USS Houston, which had been sunk in March of that year. The second memorial, located on the grounds of Houstont Heritage Society, commemorates the sailors lost on the original USS Houston. Topping the monument is the original shipt bell, which was recovered from the wreckage after \7orld \Var II.

For more information or to schedule a tou! call 713-864-3875, or email Andrew Groocock at [email protected].

'1"1u:1r1'.zt:srz:n l4:yit:w--o;*1z..ut:t: )-, r:<:. 7- yagr. i 3 On Memorial Da1 1942, nearly 150,000 Houstonians f lled Main Street doutntown to wdtch as 1,000 "" were sworn into dutry in the LI.S. ltraul Courlesy Houslon Photoorophic ond Archltecturc FourC:ilor lrusj

THE BATTLE OF THE short, and the Allied cruisers held their fire ordered Perth and Houston to steam north Beginning about February 75, Houston catne untii the nvo fleets closed. Then the big along the north coast ofJava. Aerial recon- under air attack almost daily. Tokyo report- guns of Exeter and Houston boomed a naissance reported that the Sunda Strair was ed again that she had been sunk. Damaged response of accurate salvos. clear of enemyvessels. This appeared to "The and battle-weary, Gailoping Ghost of Two Japanese light cruisers and thirteen offer the rwo Allied ships an escape route ro the Java Coast" continued to carry our her destroyers joined the battle. In a salvo-to- the Indian Ocean, and thence to Australia." assigned missions. salvo slugfest, Houston damaged one of the THE Receiving information that a major enemy hear'y cruisers, forcing it to retire Japanese invasion force was approaching from the batie. Exeter sustained severe dam- About midnight on February 28, just as it Java, Admiral Doorman gathered his ships age and was ordered to return to port. Allied seemed escape was in their hands, Perth tnd and steamed out of the Surabaja harbor, destroyers laid a smokescreen arotnd Exeter Houston ran right into a ]apanese fleet stag- resolved to intercept and engage the to protect her. Japanese destroyers laid ing a fuIl-scale invasion of the Island ofJava. enemy fleet. The Allied flotilla steamed in smokescreens to veil their movemenrs as Some sixry troop transports were screened line with Admiral Doorman in his Dutch they maneuveled to launch torpedo attacks. by an , seven cruisers, and DeRuyter in the lead, followed Using their newly-developed "1ong lance" twenry destroyers. Exchanging gunfire with by the British hear,y cruiser HMS Exerer, torpedoes, the Japanese gained the upper ships on all sides and frantically dodging then Houston, the Australian light cruiser hand. The Dutch light cruisers DeRuyter torpedoes, Perth and Houttzn surged at flank Perth, the Dutch light cluiser Jaua, and a andJaua were blown out of the water by speed into the Sunda Strait. In the darkness screen of nine American, British, and these torpedoes. Admiral Doorman went and confusion of the melee, Houstonlost tW/hen Dutch destroyers. down with his ship. Before losing contact, sight of Perth. she was sighted again, The was opened the admiral ordered Perth and Houston to it was obvious that Perth was dead in the when rwo Japanese heary cruisert came redre from the engagement. water and sinking. ov€r the horizon and began firing broad- Captain Hector M.L. \faller of the Houston continued alone, surrounded sides at Exeter and Houston. These fell Perth was the senior officer present. He by enemy destroyers, evading killer torpe- does by using her speed and maneuverabiliry Hamill and his wife Marie, this bond drive sary, and still another USS Houston, as long to maximum advantage. Just after midnight, was unusually successful. as American ideals are in jeopardy." a torpedo struck the porr beam, destroying At the same rime, a recruiting cam- Then the "Houston Volunteers," plus the after engine room, curting the cruisert paign began to replace the sailors lost 500 additional volunteers who joined too speed. Then a second torpedo hit the star- when the Houston was sunk. AII of this late to be a part of the ceremony, were board side. Number 2 turet took a direct patriotic activity reached a climax on marched to Union Station where five special hit and blew up. Another torpedo exploded Memorial Day, 1942. trains waited to carry the men to Naval in the ship as she lost way and became a sta- Main Street was closed to ffamc for sev- bases.t' tionary target. eral blocks on either side of the Loew's State MAIN STREET MONUMENT \7ith enemy destroyers circling Theater. A speakers' stand and a large wood- Houston and firing at point blank range, en replica of the Houston were erected in A bronze plaque was set in the sidewalk to Captain Rooks ordered the bugler to sound front of the Loews and Metropolitan commemorate the "Houston Volunteers." It "abandon ship." As he descended from the Theaters. Some 150,000 Houstonians filled reads: "On this site on May 30, 1942, 1,000 signal bridge, Captain Rooks was killed by a the street and sidewalls and hung out of the Houston volunteers took the oath of service shell that exploded nearby. Sheils and torpe- windows of downtown buildings. in the United States Nary and dedicated does pounded the valiant Howton until she A Nary honor guard marched up, as their lives to avenging the cruiser USS sank beneath the sea. Even then, the ranks of young Texans formed for a mass Houston and her valiant crew lost in the destroyers and small vessels machine-gunned swearing-in ceremony. One thousand Batde ofthe Java Sea." sailors in the sea. ln 1974, this plaque was Of the 1100-man crew removed from the sidewalk of the Houston, only 368 sur- and mounted on a pink gran- vived the sinking. These men ite pedestal. Its location, at were captured by the Japanese 1000 Main Street, has been and became prisoners of war designated a Texas Historical until their liberation in Site. This is now adjacent to September 1945. Their treat- the Main Street entrance to ment was inhumane. They the Reliant Energy Building, were subjected to torture, dis- which was built on the block ease, and starvation. Seventy- previously occupied by the nine died in captiviry. Lamar Hotel and the Many of the POVs from Metropolitan and Loewt State the Howton were forced t

l'?*: 1 lt:u:tt:;xt lt *itt,,.-vtiz.:t*tt: 2, ntt. 2';;tgt: i i including Mayor and Mrs. Otis Massey and on April 16, 1944. Houston (CL-81) joined The cruiser Houston (CL-81) was Mr. and Mrs. Claud Hamill and son Vice Admiral Mitschert fast carrier task decommissioned December 15, 1947, and Garrett. Joining them were Secretary of force on May 31. The task force participat- finally scrapped in March 1959. The next Commerce Jesse Jones, Texas Senator Tom ed in the amphibious assault of the Naly vessel named "Houston' was the

Connally, Gxas Governor Coke Stevenson, Marianas and the decisive naval battle of the nuclear Houston (SN-7 1 3). and various Nary officials. Philippine Sea. Launched on March 21,1981, this subma- Mrs. C. B. Hamill, the official sponsor In a subsequent battle off Formosa, rine was christened by Barbara Bush, wife of ofthe cruiser, christened the vessel "on Houston was struck by two powerful torpe- then Vice President George Bush. A Navy behalf of the people of Houston who does. Temporary repairs enabled the ship pilot in \(orld \[ar II, Bush crashed in the ensured the perpetuation of a beloved to return to the U.S. for overhaul in a Pacific and was rescued by a submarine. American name in a great fighting ship."'r shipyard. \Var II ended while the 'World USS HOUSION (CA-30) Houston was commissioned extensive repairs. on ship was undergoing MEMORIAL MONUMENT December 20,1943, with Captain \fl \({ Leaving the yard, Houston made a series of Behrens commanding. After a shakedown "Goodwill Tours" in and the A fifteen-foot obelisk ofpolished red granite cruise, she departed for dury in the Pacific Caribbean.'u stands in Sam Houston Park as a memorial to the cruiser Houston (CA-30) and to her

Texatu at U.S. CruiserHotston Launching-Mayor Otis MasEr is shown at the microphone speahing at the launching of the new ctaiseri Houston, June 19, 1943, at Neu?ort Neas Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Newport Netas, Virginia. Behind him is Gouernor Cobe Steuenson of To^, and to the speaber's rigbt is Senator Tom Connally of Tixas. Seated on is To rail Jesse Jones, Secretary of Commerce. the lefi of Mr Jones are Mr. and Mrs. Ckwd Hamill and in font of them, their son, Garyett. (Officio U.S. Ncrvy Photo) Courtesy Greoter Houston Portnership

, : ,.-. { :' i .,:.:... :J. . i\ r:i;l::. .;t., .' crew. The monument is capped with a shiny impressive monument. This monument July 4, is always a good time to remember brass shipt bell. This bell was salvaged from was built under the sponsorship of the those who gave us our nation, and rallied the sunken cruiser by divers in the Sunda USS Houston (CA-30) Foundation, a proj- when needed to preserve it. Strait between and Java. ect of the Naval Order of the United Victory over Japan, V-J Day is August Captain Carl V. Ragsdale (USN, States, Texas Commandery.'' 15. On this day, one can do well to recall RET), Chairman of the USS Houston Each year the USS Houston Survivors how grim our prospects appeared in the (CA-30) Foundation, led the ceremonies Association and the Next Generation hold a winter of 194142. On February 23, 1942, on November 11,1995, when the memo- ceremony at the monument in memory of President Roosevelt gave a short -Washingtont rial was dedicated. Captain Ragsdale intro- the cruiser and her crew. The ceremony is Birthday address over national

<< duced distinguished guests, who gave brief held on or near the anniversary of the ship's radio. He said, in part . . . Speaking for the comments about the occasion. Houston sinking, and features speeches from repre- United States ofAmerica, let me say once Mayor Bob Lanier spoke, followed by Vice sentatives of the four Allied nations who and for all to t'he people of the world: \7e Admiral David B. Robinson, Commander fought together in the Battle of the Java Sea. Americans have been compelled to yield Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. In addition to the ceremony at the ground, but we will regain it...\7e are daily Next, representatives of the Allies involved obelisk held each March, there are a num- increasing our strength. Soon, we and not in the Battle of the Java Sea were intro- ber ofother special days throughout the our enemies, will have the offensive; we, not duced and spoke. They were Consul year when it would be appropriare to visit they, will win the final battles, and we, not General Graham A. McHugh of Australia, the cruiser Houston monuments and per- they will make the final peace..."'u Consul General Helmut N. Buisman of petuate the memory of those young men And so we did. The formal surrender The Netherlands, and Consul General who lost their life on this ship. Memorial was signed on September 2, 1945, appropri- Peter J. Bacon of the . Day is observed on the last Monday in ately on the deck of the Missouri, Historian and television personality May. D-Day is Monday, June 6, and Flag because the war in the Pacific was in large Ron Stone gave the principal address, Day is on Jrne 14.Independence Day, part a "Nary-Marine Corps War." recounting the heroic \7orld \Var II service If you are downtown for the parades of the cruiser Houston in on Veterans Day, November the Battle of rhe Java Sea 11, pause a moment at the and in the Battle of Sunda cr riser H o us t o n p edestal Strait. Chief Boatswain monument on Main Street Mate Otto C. Schwarz, in front of the Reliant founder of the USS Energy Building. Remember Houston Survivors the one thousand young Association, joined Mayor men who volunteered on Lanier in unveiling the that spot in 1942 and the ciry that so strongly rallied behind them. *

119.9 Houston Monument