Newsletter of the Foundation Winter 2014

THE BATTLESHIP TEXAS CELEBRATES 100th

COMMISSIONING ANNIVERSARY

Two Centennial Celebration Events Honor the Past, Present and Future

The Battleship Texas Foundation (BTF) working in partnership with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the commissioning of the Battleship TEXAS with two events: a private final crew reunion aboard the TEXAS on Wednesday, March 12 and a public family festival at the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site on Saturday, March 15, 2014.

Both events will honor the Battleship TEXAS, her legendary history and pay tribute to the surviving crew members who proudly served on the during World War II. Commis- sioned on March 12, 1914, the TEXAS served in both world wars and is the last remain- ing “”. She is a beloved icon who was part of many firsts including the first US battleship to launch an airplane and to house anti-aircraft . She was awarded five battle stars during WWII.

Battleship TEXAS Centennial Festival

Saturday, March 15, 2014 Noon – 10pm San Jacinto Battleground State Historical Site La Porte, Texas

This family friendly festival will honor the Battleship TEXAS, her legendary history and the men who served on her. This is an opportunity to pay homage to the last remaining dreadnought to have served in both world wars and the living crew members from "The Greatest Generation."

The festival will be held on the grounds surrounding the Battleship TEXAS and will fea- ture educational exhibits, fun activities, concessions and live musical entertainment for people of all ages. Pre-sale tickets are available now for $14 at www.battleshiptexas.org through the day of the festival or at the gate for $20. VIP ship event tickets are also available for purchase. Children 12 and under are free. Discounted prices are available for veterans, $8 pre-sale and $15 at the gate.

Battleship TEXAS Foundation Saturday’s Centennial Celebration will also feature:

Tours of the TEXAS from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Headliner musical entertainment 12:30 – 2 p.m. Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison

3 – 4:30 p.m. Charlie Robison 5:30 – 7 p.m. Reckless Kelly 8 – 9:30 p.m. Robert Earl Keen

A ceremony honoring TEXAS crewmembers at approximately 2 p.m. Dedication of donated house to US veteran by the Texas Sentinels Organization TPWD interactive booths for all ages WWII vintage aircraft flyovers Historical zones highlighting WWI and WWII including military artifacts Battleship TEXAS Walk of History

“The Battleship TEXAS is an enduring symbol of strength and we want to celebrate her ser- vice and honor the men who served and risked their lives for our freedom,” said Bruce Bram- lett, executive director of the Battleship Texas Foundation. “Throwing the TEXAS a 100th com- missioning celebration is the least we can do and we know it will be an incredible and memo- rable day for former crew members, our local community and for our state. The community has been very supportive of the celebrations and we have received generous sponsorships from multiple corporations including HEB, Exxon, Centerpoint, Patriot Bank, Vopak and many local municipalities.”

The Battleship Texas Foundation (BTF) formerly the Battleship Texas Commission, founded in 1948, was established in 1998 with the mission to work in partnership with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to preserve and enhance the Battleship TEXAS, and to help develop the historic ship into a premier hands-on museum and world class visitor attraction. For more information, please visit www.battleshiptexas.org.

In addition to publicly acknowledging and commemorating the ship’s 100th commissioning anniversary, the Centennial Festival will help build awareness of this iconic piece of history, help highlight the urgent need to complete ongoing ship repairs and build support to ensure that the iconic ship is preserved for future generations.

All funds raised for this one-time event will: Underwrite the cost of hosting this event for the community Support the Battleship Texas Foundation’s mission to preserve and enhance the Battleship TEXAS. Fund the Wednesday, March 12, 2014 Battleship TEXAS final crew reunion and commissioning celebration. To learn more or to purchase tickets, visit battleshiptexas.org

MEDIA INFO: Madison Longust Jessica Manning [email protected] [email protected] 832-754-5856 713-398-2525

Page 2

since the spring of 2012 to In this issue . . . execute critical structural re-

pairs to the Battleship Texas. Advisory Directors Centennial Celebration Pg.1 Similarly to what was re- Hon. James A. Baker, III Centennial Highlights Pg.2 ported in the last update, the repairs remain focused in aft 61st Secretary of State

Repair Update Pg.3 trimming tank D-12 and in the ADM. James L. Holloway, III Directors Chair Pg.4 tanks underneath both the USN (Ret.), Former CNO port and starboard engines. Caleb Loring Obit Pg.5 Ned S. Holmes The replacement of the Commissioner, Texas Donald R. Cabe Obit steel framing just outboard of Transportation Commission FTV Update Pg.6 the engine rooms on both the

In Memory Of Pg.7 port and starboard side is Board of Trustees

complete! The new tank tops The Texas Was There Pg.8 have been installed, along Anthony K. Gregory, with new hatches that match Texas Supporters Pg.9 Chairman the historic hatches that per- Thomas J. Perich, Membership Info Pg.10 mitted access to the tanks, Vice Chairman and everything has been Donald H. Fischer, Treasurer primed and painted. The Rey Gonzales, Jr., Secretary spaces look great, and are much stronger than they have been in decades! Charles A. Alcorn, Chairman Emeritus WWII Poster . . . The overall structural re- Jimmy Burke pair project is about 40% com- Penny H. Butler plete, but the ship continues to be plagued by numerous Alfred Davis, IV leaks in the areas near the Sylvia R. Garcia

work zones. Several leaks Theodore S. Hirtz plagued the ship over the RADM. J. Weldon Koenig, holiday season, but all were USN (Ret.) quickly and effectively ad- Michael N. Pearson dressed by the TPWD\TPWD CAPT. Clifford H. Royal, team. USN (Ret.) I will continue to update Thomas C. Wright

the project website

(www.dryberthtexas.com) as Bruce D. Bramlett

often as I can with brief pro- Executive Director; gress notes, so check the site [email protected] to get the latest news. I look forward to seeing everyone at Battleship Repair the Battleship Texas Centen-

Update nial Celebration in March! TPWD Ship Staff By Neil Thomas, TPWD Project Mgr.

Taylor Marine Construction, Andy Smith, Inc. (TMC) has been working Ship Manager

under contract to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Depart- ment (TPWD)

Page 3 From The Director’s Chair

When I was a kid I always liked Superman. My brother and I would never miss a show. I loved the opening, “faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Look, up in the sky, it’s a bird, it’s a plane. No, it’s Superman.”

We knew he wasn’t real but that did not matter to us. He was great and he worked so hard to make sure things turned out as they should. We could use more Supermen these days. Thank goodness there are still some su- permen and women around. I wanted to take my time and space, to say thank to a whole army of supermen and super women. Space does not let me list them all but I believe you will get the idea.

Let me start with Andy Smith and Travis Davis and their staff onboard The Texas. These guys do superman type work and give a mighty effort every day to keep The Texas in the best shape possible. Their effort and devotion to her are truly remarkable. To all of you that work on The Texas, thank you.

The First Texas Volunteers are another group I would like to thank. These men and women lead the Hard Hat Tours of the ship as well as spend countless hours restoring and maintaining the Texas. To Ryan Flynn, Lee McIntire, Tony Adams, Don Fisher, and so many others, you are truly super. If you have been looking for whatever happened to Superman, I can tell you that his spirit is alive and well and lives in the hearts and souls of the men and women who work hard to keep The Texas going.

Thank you all form all of us that get to enjoy your work and effort.

What is a Dreadnought?

By the end of 2014 the Overnight Program will have accommodated 40,000 campers. Before the campers leave the program and salute off the ship, one of the most important con- cept taught in the program is the definition of a dreadnought. Before the HMS Dreadnought, launched by the British in 1906, were slow, lightly armored, and were bristled with many size guns. These guns were all aimed at the target and fired “at will”, reloaded and fired again and again. Gunners could see splashes around the target, but could not judge which made which splash. They reloaded and fired at the target over and over hoping to hit the target. This was called a “storm of fire”. Only one in three hundred shells would hit the target. Then came the HMS DREADNOUGHT, a fast ship, she was, with thick armor, and all the main battery guns the same caliber. They aimed all the main battery guns in the same direction at the target and fired one half of them, while these were reloaded, the other one half were fired. They could keep up with the target better this way. Gunners could see a cluster of splashes near the target and move the cluster to the target. With this this new way of aiming and firing the guns, one in fifteen shells would hit the target. This made a considerable improvement in ammunition saving and efficiency. The Battleship USS TEXAS is the last dreadnought. By, Jerry Irwin

Page 4 Caleb Loring Jr. Jima, and Okinawa. fessed, was the key to his good 1921- 2013 Years later, as his civilian health. He lettered in football, career was coming to an end, ice hockey, and baseball at he returned to those docks in Harvard. He felt that doing Boston as President of the team sports taught him many Board of the USS Constitution lessons, including how to take Museum and, for a time, Di- hits from many directions. rector. He said his working Tennis and sailing were life- career had come full circle. long interests and he was able Caleb began his business/ to do both until his most sen- corporate career at Gaston, ior years. Snow, Ely & Bartlett as a litiga- Those who knew Caleb most Died peacefully at home in tor and corporate attorney. often mention his wonderful Prides Crossing, Mass. on No- One of his corporate clients character and disposition: vember 24, 2013. He had been was Fidelity Management kind, generous, appreciative, tenderly cared for by his staff Trust Company which soon honest, and humble. He was a and family. He was the beloved hired him to be their first in- gentleman who loved his fel- husband of Rosemary Merrill ternal corporate counsel. He low man and whose stated Loring who predeceased him remained at Fidelity for the wish in the last months of his after 60 years of marriage. He balance of his professional life was that people learn to was also predeceased by two life, but also maintained an live in peace and get along of his brothers, David and Jo- office as a trustee with Loring, with one another, despite their seph. He is survived by his Wolcott & Coolidge. differences. Caleb enjoyed the four children: Caleb Loring His volunteer and philan- companionship of friends, 3rd, David Loring, Rosemary thropic endeavors were nu- family, and his care givers. He Loring, Keith Loring, and their merous: supporting and en- observed nature, listened to respective spouses: Bronwyn dowing a textile gallery at the favorite music, accessed sub- Loring, Janet Loring, Dr. David Museum of Fine Arts with his jects on the computer and Byrne, and Karen Koenig; by wife, Rosemary; working with shared humorous exchanges. four grandchildren: Dr. Caleb the Salvation Army, for which Caleb brought love and laugh- Loring 4th, Caitlyn Loring Tho- he received the "Others" ter to his every day. How he , William Campbell, and award; generously supporting will be missed! Suzanne Campbell; by six great the Boston Athenaeum, where A memorial service will be grandchildren, Alayna, Emma, he endowed two research fel- held at the A. J. Gordon Memo- Adam, Blair, Merrill, and Jane; lowships as well as acting as rial Chapel, Gordon College, and by his sister, Susan Loring, the honorary curator of Civil 255 Grapevine Road, Wenham and brother, George Loring. War collections. Caleb's ser- (Rt. 128 exit 17), on December Caleb was born to Suzanne vice on Boston boards in- 22 at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, Bailey Loring and Caleb Loring cluded the Executive Service gifts in his memory may be at home, 20 Hereford St., Bos- Corps, Operation Able, and sent to the Salvation Army (PO ton, Mass. on February 5, 1921. Freedom House. A few of his Box 408, Salem, MA 01970), St. He grew up in Chestnut Hill, local community efforts in- John's Episcopal Church (PO and graduated from Dexter cluded the North Shore United Box 5610, Beverly Farms, MA School, Milton Academy, Har- Way, Hospice of the North 01915), or the USS Constitu- vard College ('43), and Harvard Shore, North Shore YMCA, tion Museum (PO Box 291812, Law School ('48). Upon gradua- Beverly Historical Society, Boston, MA 02129). Arrange- tion from Harvard, he began Wenham Museum, Project Ad- ments by the Campbell - Lee, his working career leaving the venture and St. John's Episco- Moody, Russell Funeral Home, docks of Boston to serve pal Church. He served on a 525 Cabot Street, NORTH BEV- aboard the battleship USS number of local boards in- ERLY. For information, direc- Texas. He served in WW II as a cluding Beverly Hospital and tions, or to send condolences : commissioned line officer and Shore Country Day School. www.campbellfuneral.com saw battle in Normandy, Iwo Physical exercise, Caleb pro-

Page 5 Donald R. Cade Work on the forecastle has been Oct. 28, 1919, Dec. 30, 2013 especially difficult as the wood here is extremely weathered. Donald R. Cade, was born Many areas have rot, especially October 28, 1919, in Willams- around the steel pins, holding burg, Kansas. His parents were the planks in place. In the areas Craton Murphy and Belle Irene so far completed, rot has been Cade. Preceding him in death removed, the voids filled with an were his parents, sister epoxy filler, or areas routed out Eunice, brothers Glenn, and and filled with a wood fillet. It is Harold, and daughter Deborah questionable at this time Ellen Cade. whether the forecastle can be completed properly before the Don, graduated from Wil- centennial. In addition to de- lamsburg High School in 1939. vouring huge numbers of man- He attended aircraft wood- Catbackers. hours in the best of situations, working school in Topeka and They are the proud parents the current winter is wreaking Wichita, before going to work of Norman, Donna, Lynn vengeance and interfering with at an aircraft plant. He (Gambrell), and Diane the efforts. In a worst case sce- enlisted in the U.S. in (Carnoali) and nine grandchil- nario, any remaining square 1942 and spent several years dren: Tammy, Jennifer (Burns), footage will be sanded, trip haz- aboard the Battleship USS Adam Cade, Joshua, Taylor, ards will be repaired, and the Texas in the invasion of North Jordan Gambrell, Nicholas, surface painted. Africa and during World Chelsea, Sophie Carnoali, and To make the most of weather War II. He was assigned to the ten great grandchildren. RPIO (Register Publish Issued issues, for example, when the Office) in Oran, Africa, where In lieu of flowers the family wood is too wet to work with, he worked with Top Secret ma- asks for donations be made to: members have assisted the terial for the coded com- In Honor of Donald R. Cade , regular staff in “busting rust” munications. He was honora- Battleship Texas Foundation, and priming equipment on bly discharged in February, One Riverway, Ste. 2200 Hous- the forecastle in preparation for 1946. ton, TX. 77056. painting.

Don graduated Kansas State Condolences may be sent to Texas Parks & Wildlife has begun University in 1949. He was a www.davisfuneralchapelinc.com prepping the for repainting. high school industrial arts teacher in Reading, Allen, Americus, and Leavenworth, Hard Hat Tours First Texas Volunteers Kansas. He was a coach and The Third Hard Hat Tour of assistant coach in basketball By Don Fischer the 2013 – 2014 season was and football. He officiated held Saturday, January 11 with a The First Texas Volunteers (FTV) basketball for 25 years and smaller than nominal turnout, moved from the Air Castles to football for 35 years. He re- which appears to be due to the Forecastle in its effort to re- tired as counselor at West Jun- some scheduling and internal finish the wood deck in time for ior High. issues. Nevertheless, everyone the ship’s commissioning cen- participating had a great time. On July 9, 1950 he married tennial and the crew’s final re- A total of $1,640 was earned Miriam Phyllis Dunbar from union in March. Following sand- during this tour. The next Hard Richmond, Kansas. Don and ing, filling and caulking, the Hat Tour is scheduled for Satur- Miriam celebrated 63 years of decking in the air castles was day, March 29. Please contact marriage in July. They were left with a primer coat and a sin- the Foundation office at (713) both long time members of gle finish coat applied to protect 827-9620 to make reservations. The First United Methodist the wood and give a finished

Church, active with the Heri- look. An additional coat will be tage Senior Center and K-State applied prior to the centennial.

Page 6 In Honor or Memory Of Caleb Loring, Jr. and Donald R. Cade

Andy Smith Arthur Loukas Barney Gatlin Ben H. Macon, Sr. Admiral Chester Nimitz

Bernard Allen Street, Sr. Bill Stamps Bill Swisher Bruce M. Cameron, MD

Caleb Loring, Jr. Capt. Katz Capt. William C. Coltman Carl A. Newman

Carl E. Vogler, Sr. CDR Stewart Lindsay USNR Cdr. Nevin Kennedy III, USN

Charles B. Jackino, USN Charles D. Granger, USCG Charles D. Holland

Charles W. Bachmann Chief Geronimo Clarence N. Flanagan Clem R. Thrift

Col. R. W. Cook Collis Macon, USMC Colonel Matrix Conley L. Pierce

Corbin Brent Shelton D. G. Merritt Donald Gordon Merritt Donald R. Cade

Dorothy Frances Eastin E. I. Bradley, USN E. W. Rhoden, E. D. Rhoden, C. A. Rhoden,

D. C. Rhoden and D. D. Rhoden Earl V. Harrell Eddie H. Jahnke Andrew D. Milne

Edwin Hartensteiner, Sr. Ervin Dewaine Pupkes Erwin H. Scheel, USCG

Everett Angus Cooke F. A. (Fritz) Epps Floyd Linney & Clarence Wolfshohl

Frank J. Russell George A. Rosenthal, USN George A. Schroeders, Sr.

George M. Crisp H. Grant Stoddard Harold H. Kieselhorst Harvey L. Holley

Henry Carter Summy, Herman W. Gullett Herold E. Jervies Howard McGee

J. J. Hemmen Jack B. Buckley, USNR James H. Lamb James Long

James T. Haines James W. Hogan Janet and Oliver Starcke Jesse Pettey

Jim Cieszinski Jim Lamb Joe A. Vardeman Joe Don Jones William H. Moss

John C. Alberts and Donald Laya John Dow, Jr. John Jay Neukomm, Jr.

John LaFayette Massey, USN John Simpson Randall John Slifer Wilkinson

John Wayne Watkins Joseph Bertrand Joseph, George, and Walter Tasonis

Josiah E. Mardre Lee M. Pierce, USN Lora Basham Lt. Wesley P. Winkler

Lt. Marvin E. Neal, USN Lt. Arthur Mayle, USN LtJg. John J. Adams, Sr.

Marshall M. Platt Mathew Floyd and Giles Casey Maynard White Robert Molen

MSgt. Samuel E. Thompson (Ret.) Neil R. Zaccagni Robert Collins, PFC WWII

Paul D. Broussard, Jr. PHM2/C Richard Good, USNR PM4 Robert Obrien

RADM Robert M. Moore, SC, USN (Ret) RADM Sheldon H. Kinney Robert W. McLaughlin

Ralph W. Naas Ray White Reuben B. Kihn, USN Richard G. Goodson, USN

Richard H. Stephens Robert B. Berkley and Jack B. Berkley Robert Bowden

Robert Cronin Roger Bouffard Roy W. Wileman S. W. Etheridge AD Clarence W. Ferguson

Ruskin H. Meyer and Adrian E. Stockton Sec. Gordon England Walter Ress

SGT Leroy Wetzel, USAAF Sgt. Charles E. Waters, Sr., USAAC William T. Isaac

Sgt. Jack Scott Theron Leo Brown Wm. G. Cook William B. Potter

Walter Temerowski and Charles Fritz William Eugene Smith WO1 Melvin C. Seffel

Page 7

The Texas Was There . . .

North Africa, The Allies first offensive

Normandy, D Day Ships, Men and Machines Storm Ashore

Cherbourg, Bombarding the German shore batteries as shells bracket the ship

Southern Supporting the Southern attack on Fortress Europe

Iwo Jima and Okinawa Pacific action, blasting away at Japanese defenses

Painting by Tom W. Freeman

Page 8 Battleship Texas Supporters

John R. Adcock William H. Barnes Curtis Basham David L. Bright

Donald L. Boudreaux Andrew Bouffard G. W. Brock James S. Buckley

Dr. Deborah D. Bryan Marvin W. Butcher James Paul Collins

John and Roxanne Cabori Gary Conner

Errol Callaway Will Allen Courtney Mr. & Mrs. Ben and Virginia Culp

Mack Neal Gen. James L. Crouch, USAF (Ret.) Lou Ann Everett

Frederick Conlin, Jr. Walter H. Hill Wendell N. Courville

Charles L. Roedema Amos R. Dreessen Michael Edmonds

Dr. John H. Fain Dr. Charles Farrow John R. Foreman Lee Gleghorn

Robert Garritano Helen F. Gordon George Gould Michael Hanson

Dolores Hemmen Michael G. Cook, USMC Leslie W. John Mark Johnson

Mr. & Mrs. Raleigh W. Johnson Patricia A. Langa

Carl B. Long Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Loukas Mitzi Maceo John Meyer

Capt. Ben H. Macon, USN (Ret.) Angela Cochran Mahmarian

Lcdr. Robert A. Maiellaro, USN (Ret.) Dr. Patrick A. Moore

Lt. Col. Harry B. Massingill, USAF (Ret.) Gene Moss

Col. Joseph N. Mueller, USMC (Ret.) Jack M. Platt

Joseph H. Murphey Frank Mustachia Davd F.C. Newman Paul M. Pierce

Jeffrey M. Patterson John G. Pedersen Virginia Robinson

George A. Schroeders Capt. Joel S. Seffel, USN (Ret.) Mary E. Stamps

Dennis S. Sterosky Mr. & Mrs. Richard G. Stoddard B. Phillip Taylor

Samuel E. Thompson Bryan Tilley Mike and Patricia Tilton

George F. Urbancik Roy Don Vardeman Donald R. Wagoner

Luther White Albert B. Washington Charles E. Waters Julio Zaccagni

Cdr. Michael Winkler, USN (Ret.) Clarence and Janis Wolfshohl

Lcdr. Stewart Lindsay, USN (Ret.)

Page 9 One Riverway, Suite 2200 , 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 in “The Dreadnought” and at special events held aboard the TEXAS. Phone 713-827-9620 USS TEXAS Veterans. $10 Benefits the same as for Individual Member.