llrhen the heavy cruiser 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$i:i::i m, the Battle of San Jacinto, ' shed'rhe Republic "'*.*1*";1* the history of the U.S. an, Wo rli m e Mo ever a ship carried a rlyi prour ffi***'i:if#I"dH:Bernrieder, took the lead in organizing the cruiser Houston. Tr r. cr By Saye for the campaign. Late in the twentieth cenrury Jim cityt ^ A committee involving all segrnents nationally acclaimed professional foot- ba11teamfromanotherGxascity,theofthecirywasformedtotakebold action to p-ersuade the Navl to name Dallas Cowboys, was popularly W,:':,',,', ,,gn ,,W manner the cruiser Houstoncarght thepublicfavorinthe1930sanf,wereCol.Ih.iTBalI,chairmanof ;H::i'+ffiI';;i:[#l'; b..,,...America,sShip.,,Shecarried*.,.o.:n.::;MayorOscar thistrniqueeSteem'thisspecialcharis-Y&..Ho1combe;City{ouncilmanH. m",throughouthercareer.AntnT,n. Hffi,::J"oo*?ft'.t."1f* end, like Crockett and Bo Wi;W.'....:,,..;,,., lllll.,i.irmff: ffi-r fl ctuiserHoustongtnranteed'herselfaWxffi#.'.$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 Virginia, 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- cruisers.'Tiaditionally, cruisers are named resolutions supporting the ciry of men who knew that the preseiwation of lib- for cities, just as battleships 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 United States 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 captain 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 San Francisco. 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 Golden Gate Bridge 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 destroyers, 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 Manila 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.