National Park Service National Mall and Memorial Parks U.S. Department of the Interior NEWSPAPER • FREE National Mall Winter 2010/2011 • Volume 4, Issue 2 and Memorial Parks DAILY INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS USS Houston: The Galloping Ghost of the Java Coast By Ranger Tim Olling the rest of the fleet, however, was convoys from Australia to the Dutch President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s East Indies. It would not be until “Enemy forces engaged.” fondness for the ship. From 1933 to Feb. 1942, when Houston would This message sent around 11:30 1940, Roosevelt joined the Houston finally sortie to intercept Japanese p.m. on Feb. 28, 1942, started USS four times on inter-ocean cruises warships. Houston’s final chapter in the Battle to inspect naval bases or review On the evening of Feb. 3, of the Java Sea. the fleet. For Roosevelt, these 1942, Houston, in company with The USS Houston was trips were as much for down time, three other Allied cruisers and eight Join National Park Service rangers launched Sept. 7, 1929, and was a chance to escape the pressures destroyers, sortied in an attempt to to learn more about the meaning, commissioned the following of the presidency, as they were for intercept a Japanese invasion fleet symbolism, and significance of the summer. After undergoing her official duties. in the Makassar Strait, north of park’s many memorials. No prior sea trials, Houston was sent to the In 1940, Houston returned to Java. Due to the lack of air cover sign-up is required, and all programs Philippines, where she served as the Philippines to serve as flagship and the distance involved, the are free. Program length varies. the flagship for the U.S. Asiatic Fleet of the U.S. Asiatic Fleet once again, Allied squadron attempted to make Contact a ranger at each memorial for more information. this time in a as much of the run under cover of world vastly darkness as possible. Programs are offered at the following d i f f e r e n t Unfortunately, the attempt memorials… than that came to naught. Without air • World War II Memorial of the early support, the Allied ships came • Lincoln Memorial 1930s. By under repeated Japanese air attacks • Thomas Jefferson Memorial November of the next day. USS Marblehead • Vietnam Veterans Memorial the following was straddled by bombs, with two • Korean War Veterans Memorial year, with war striking home, causing damage and • Franklin Delano Roosevelt with Japan casualties. Houston, masterfully Memorial i m m i n e n t , maneuvered by Captain Albert H. the Asiatic Rooks, managed to avoid all but Scheduled Programs are presented on Fleet was one bomb. The lone hit caused the hour from: 10 a.m. - 11 p.m., staff permitting. split up in extensive damage by detonating order to give near and causing a fire in Houston’s it a better aft main battery. As a result, the chance of ship lost the use of one-third of her survival. heavy guns and sustained nearly 70 CONTENTS The USS Houston ca. 1930 A f t e r casualties. In the face of the damage the Japanese sustained, the squadron returned to from 1931 to 1933. Always led by a attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, base without ever coming in contact Page 2... Winter Programs Page 3........... Ranger Article from page 1 battleship or heavy cruiser, the fleet 1941, as the situation in the Pacific with the Japanese fleet. Marblehead Eastern National was made up of a preponderance quickly worsened, the Allies pooled would be sent back to the United Bookstores, Park of gunboats and was to help their resources in an attempt to States for repair. Houston, in spite of Concessionaires protect American and European defend their Asian empires, with the damage, would not. Instead, the Page 4........... Ranger Article How to Visit the possessions in Asia. British Field Marshal Sir Archibald local dockyard would repair what Washington Monument Following her two-year stint Wavell in overall command of the it could, but her aft turret would Cell Phone Tours as flagship of the Asiatic Fleet, theatre. In spite of her crew’s desire remain useless. Page 5........... Kids’ Column Houston returned to the United for combat, Houston performed Over the next few weeks, Page 6........... Superintendent’s States to carry out usual peacetime the unglamorous yet necessary Houston resumed escorting convoys Message, Old Post Office Tower, Potomac Nature duties. What set Houston apart from job of escorting troop and supply from Darwin, Australia to the Dutch Packs, NPS Organic Act, Ranger Article from pg 4 USS Houston continued on page 3 Lincoln Memorial Webpage NATIONAL MALL HIGHLIGHTS INSIDE AND MEMORIAL PARKS 900 Ohio Drive, SW Washington, DC 20024 This newspaper is also Construction Scavenger Park Headquarters: 202-485-9880 available online. Visitor Information: 202-233-3520 Visit www.nps.gov/nama Projects on the Hunt! Park Websites: www.nps.gov/nama www.nps.gov/mall and click on NEWS. National Mall PAGE 5 4 5 National Mall Plan Website: Editors In Chief: Lee Vogtman & Susan Martin PAGE 4 www.nps.gov/nationalmallplan Editors: Brad Berger, Ruth Epstein & Mike Leard Radio: 1670 AM Winter 2010/2011, Volume 4 Issue 2 National Mall Times 1 Winter Programs Don’t Forget... Daily ranger programs presented at the memorials, every hour from 10 a.m. - 11 p.m., staff permitting. Wednesday, Dec 1,15; January 5,12 Saturday, December 18 Saturday, January 22 Where They Once Were: The Battle of the Bulge The Women of the Civil War The Korean War 5 to 6 p.m. 5 to 6 p.m. Lincoln Memorial Murals, “Freedom” 5 to 6 p.m. and “Unity” are a “City Beautiful Move- The Battle of the Bulge was Hitler’s last They tended soldiers and fought along- ment” work. Meet at the Lincoln Me- U.S. Military personnel went to a land offensive in the west in WWII. It was also side them. They supported President morial. Contact Jan Buerger at 202-497- they never knew to rescue a people they the U.S. Army’s largest campaign in its Lincoln and plotted against him. They 1397. never met, and many paid the ultimate history, and is recognized in the WWII were nurses and spies, heroines and trai- price. Learn about the battles of the Pu- Memorial. Why was this such an impor- tors. Come learn about the many ways Sunday, February 13 san Perimeter, Inchon and the Chosin, tant campaign in the war? Why did Hit- that women participated in the Civil War. Art at the Park: Halprin’s and the rugged conditions faced by U.S. ler order this attack? Meet at the World Meet at the Lincoln Memorial. Contact FDR Memorial troops. Meet at the Korean War Veterans War II Memorial. Contact Paul O’Brian Kathy Kagle or Susan Philpott at 202- 3 p.m. Memorial. Contact Victor Pillow at 202- at 202-438-7066. 438-5377. 841-1774. Remarkable city planners, architects, Sunday, January 2 Sunday, January 23 sculptors and painters, in the midst of po- Saturday, December 4 Art at the Park: Peter L’Enfant’s Art at the Park: litical quicksand, created an entire city to The Bedford Boys Plan Henry Bacon’s Lincoln Memorial remind us of our ideals. Lawrence Hal- 5 to 6 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. prin’s Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memo- rial broke the grip of the neoclassical on The rural town of Bedford, Virginia lost Remarkable city planners, architects, Remarkable city planners, architects, memorials. Meet at the Franklin Delano a greater percentage of its sons during sculptors and painters, in the midst of sculptors and painters, in the midst of Roosevelt Memorial. Contact Jan Buerg- World War II than any other place in the political quicksand, created an entire city political quicksand, created an entire city er at 202-497-1397. U.S. Most were killed in just one day. to remind us of our ideals. Start the year to remind us of our ideals. Henry Ba- Come hear their tragic story. Meet at the off with a Sunday talk series on “Art at the con’s Lincoln Memorial offers extensive Sunday, February 20 World War II Memorial. Contact Kathy Park” and explore! Meet at the Washing- symbolism that extends out into the land- Art at the Park: The Sculpture at Kagle at 202-438-5377. ton Monument. Contact Jan Buerger at scape. Meet at the Lincoln Memorial. FDR Memorial 202-497-1397. Contact Jan Buerger at 202-497-1397. 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec 5, 12, Jan 9, 30 Washington and His Monument Sunday, January 9 Saturday, January 29 Remarkable city planners, architects, 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m. Art at the Park: The Great Raid sculptors and painters, in the midst of The Washington Monument 5 to 6 p.m. political quicksand, created an entire city George Washington has many monu- 3 p.m. to remind us of our ideals. Tom Hardy, ments to his memory. Who was he, and When the Americans were liberating the Robert Graham, George Segal, Neil Es- why does his monument look the way it Remarkable city planners, architects, Philippine Islands there were American tern and Leonard Baskin enliven Hal- does? Learn the answers to these ques- sculptors and painters, in the midst of POWs that needed to be rescued. A dar- prin’s FDR Memorial. Meet at the Frank- tions and more, while enjoying the views political quicksand, created an entire city ing raid in January 1945 brought home lin Delano Roosevelt Memorial.