Newsletter of the Battleship Texas 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 North Africa, Nor- mandy, Cherbourg and Southern France before being transferred to the Pacific theater were she would support the Battles of Iwo Jima and Oki- nawa. She holds the distinction of being the first U.S. battleship to mount anti-aircraft guns, radar and to launch an aircraft. Today she is the only remaining dreadnought 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. Keel 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 mation you need by visiting Transportation Commission 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 result 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 deck (starboard). The to control speed. Visitors will furnish the newly opened idea is to restore the correct be able to see the ship moving Admiral’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 gun turret. 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 casemate 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.