Newsletter of the Battleship Texas Foundation Spring 2015 In this issue . From The Director’s Chair From The Director’s We are blessed in Texas to have some of the greatest Chair Pg1 historical iconic symbols one could ever want to see and Repair Funds Pg2 visit. Each of us has our favorites. As a child I was a freak First TX Volunteers Pg3 for all things Alamo. In my mind it did not get any better Capt. Alcorn Pg4 than Davey Crockett. I still remember the first time as a lit- tle boy my family made the trip to San Antonio and I had Grants, Summer Camp Pg5 the opportunity to see the Alamo in person. That trip A Ship of Many Colors Pg6 opened my eyes and my mind to so much more of the full Overnight Program story of the Alamo and those who served there and gave Howard Mills Pg7 their life there. It is a story that still stays with me a life- In Honor Of Pg8 time later. I must confess that growing up as a North Texas resident I heard much more about the Alamo than any other In Honor Of continued Battleship Supporters Pg9 historic place in Texas. Membership Forms Pg10 It was not until years later that I began to learn more about other places like Washington on The Brazos, The San Jacinto Battleground, and The Battleship Texas. You could look long and hard to find anyone that would not agree that the unique history of Texas is indeed special. Navy Poster . When I first began to learn about The Texas and Just as importantly, those, who served on her, my imagination re- acted in the same way that it did when I first heard the Alamo story. I have visited where The Texas was built and spent many hours with the men that served on her. The seeds of freedom that were planted at places like Goliad and The Alamo carried forward to places like San Ja- cinto. When the freedom won in these great places, was challenged years later, The Texas and her crew met that challenge. I believe that The Texas and the men who served on her deserve our very best efforts to meet the challenges they now face, to preserve the very images that represent their sacrifice. Continued on Page 3 Battleship TEXAS Foundation “Battleship TEXAS Could Gain Repair Funds in Advisory Directors Senate Budget” Hon. James A. Baker, III 61st Secretary of State Story line by Madlin Mekelburg – Houston Chron.com ADM. James L. Holloway, III USN (Ret.), Former CNO The Battleship Texas could be in line for some much needed funding after the Senate Finance Committee on Ned S. Holmes Wednesday voted to allocate $25 million for repairs to the Commissioner, Texas aging vessel. If approved in the final budget, it would Transportation Commission mark the second time in eight years that the deteriorating Board of Trustees ship parked adJacent to the San Jacinto Battlefield State Anthony K. Gregory, Historic Site has been the beneficiary of public funds. Texas voters in 2007 approved a $25 million bond pro- Chairman posal to help preserve the ship. Thomas J. Perich, Vice Chairman Andy Smith, Manager of Battleship Texas, said the bond funds already have been utilized, but the ship still Donald H. Fischer, Treasurer has major repair needs vital to maintaining the integrity Rey Gonzales, Jr., Secretary of the vessel. Smith said the long-term goal of the repairs Jimmy Burke is to ensure the ship is structurally sound enough to be Penny H. Butler moved to a dry berth to improve the likelihood of preser- vation. According to Smith, some parts on the ship are en- Sylvia R. Garcia danger of deteriorating and potentially collapsing if they Theodore S. Hirtz do not receive repairs – although he said he could not pre- RADM. J. Weldon Koenig, dict the exact timetable. "They've lasted 100 years, could USN (Ret.) they last a year more? Five years more?" Smith said. Michael N. Pearson "These repairs, they have to be done if we want to save CAPT. Clifford H. Royal, the ship." Bruce Bramlett, executive director of the Battle- USN (Ret.) ship Texas Foundation, said one danger of waiting to allot Thomas C. Wright funds for repairs is an inevitable increase in the cost of the work. "To me, the biggest issue is that the ship is 101 Bruce D. Bramlett years old and for a long time there has been a lot of de- ferred maintenance that needs to be done," Bramlett said. Executive Director; [email protected] "The longer you defer things ... it doesn't get cheaper, it gets more expensive." TPWD Ship Staff The battleship, which participated in both world wars Andy Smith, and has been docked at the San Jacinto Battleground site Ship Manager as a museum ship since 1948, developed a series of de- bilitating leaks in the summer of 2012. More than $2 mil- Travis Davis, lion was spent on repairs. Is it worth another $25M in tax- Maintenance / Restoration payer money to preserve the Battleship TEXAS? If you Stephanie Croatt, think so please take the time to vote "YES" to show your Curator love for Battleship TEXAS in KHOU's poll. You can vote by Sarah Conlon, going to; Collections Manager https://www.facebook.com/questions/10153790009769062/?qa_ref=pp. Kandace Trujillo, Overnight Education Director Page 2 First Texas Volunteers importantly, the visitors The Directors Chair continued By Don Fischer will see a large staff en- gaged in all aspects of work There can no disputing the and have the ability to inter- Restoration fact that those who went act with all – learn about before us, often during dif- Currently, a small team work underway and how it ficult times, made the sac- of First Texas Volunteers fits in the overall restora- rifices necessary to main- (FTV) is busy working in the tion, engage in conversation tain these great milestones Combat Information Center with docents and learn of history. These icons (CIC) to clear away miscella- more about the ship mark the time and remind neous storage, performing through their interpretation us all of our history and some structural restorative of ship functions, opera- the sacrifices made for work and cleaning and tional history, equipment Texas and the nation. They painting as necessary to and compartments. are not Just symbols for bring the compartment to Texans but they are also Hard Hat Tours national symbols. exhibition condition. Other teams will be focusing on The February Hard Hat refinishing the Movie Locker Tour succeeded in making Axis Posters, WWII and Post Office, and miscel- $2,355.00. Most impor- laneous painting projects tantly, all participants re- on specific pieces of equip- sponded that they thor- ment on the Main and Sec- oughly enJoyed the experi- ond Decks. ence. On March 14, the ini- As mentioned in the last tial Spring Hard Hat Tour Dreadnought, additional was conducted, earning the FTV team $2,500.00. casemate space will be re- stored to their berthing During these two tours, space configuration for use an alternative “Normandy” by the Overnight Program. tour was also conducted in the afternoon. While the New FTV Days participation was limited, The FTV is also establish- the tours were received with ing “FTV Days” to be held the same enthusiasm by on the second Saturday of their participants as the each month. The idea is standard tour. These tours that rather than, or more will continue for the bal- properly, in addition to in- ance of this season, but its future is unclear. dividuals or small restora- tion and docent teams work- The next Hard Hat Tour is ing aboard ship on some- scheduled for ; what irregular schedules, this day will bring all mem- Saturday, May 2. bers together to work in all disciplines. The results for Contact the Foundation the members should be office greater teamwork, expan- at 713-827-9620 to make sion of skill sets, and in- reservations. creased camaraderie. More Page 3 “Passing of Captain Charles Alcorn” It is with sad heart that we announce the passing of Captain Charles Alexander Alcorn. Captain Alcorn of Coppell, formerly of Houston, passed away on March 18, 2015. He was born on Dec 29, 1924 in Philadelphia, Pa. to David Alcorn and Emily Stewart. Charles had two brothers, David Stewart Alcorn and Samuel Alcorn and a sister, Margaret Sarah Alcorn. Charles married Patricia Blanche Mayer on March 29, 1958 in Philadelphia. Together they had two children, Elaine Ruth and Linda Anne. He was blessed with five grandchildren, Donald Alexan- der Storch, Robert Benjamin Storch, Jennifer Elise Storch, Christopher Jason Mays, and Allison Nichole Mays. He also had two great grandchildren, Charles and James McMorris. He entered college as an accounting student at the University of Pennsylvania but World War II changed his plans. At the urg- ing of his brother, David, he entered Kings Point Maritime Acad- emy at Kings Point New York. The Navy, being short of sailors for WWII, called his entire class of mid-shipmen into service. He served as an ensign and saw service at D-Day aboard a Liberty Ship. After the war, he saw service in the merchant marine, pro- gressing up to first mate of the SS Independence. He then made Captain and took command of his own vessel. His career plans were changed again by his marriage in 1958. At the urging of his bride, he then "retired" from active sea duty and took a job with McGrath Corporation in the stevedoring industry.