As a retired Sailor and native Texan, USS Texas holds a special place in my heart. Toured her in 1998 and 2003. I'm happy to see her getting the TLC she has earned. May she live on for another 100+ years.
I'm so happy that she's finally getting the needed care before she became unrepairable. My uncle served on the USS Oklahoma (BB-37) at was on board during Pearl. Uncle John was too tough and a great swimmer who could hold his breath for a long time.
@@ullr1159 Served on USS Semmes DDG 18 1983-84, USS Cape Cod AD 43 1984-86, USS Kinkaid DD 965 1987-89, USS Whidbey Island LSD 41 1993-96 and USS Wasp LHD 1 2000-03...
She's the only Dreadnought-type battleship left in the world and is therefore a very significant ship. It's a great shame the British battleship HMS Warspite was scrapped, but post-WW2 austerity meant the money to preserve her was simply unavailable.
Of the dreadnought era battleships, like the type that clashed at the battle of Jutland, the Texas is the last. Just about every film crew shooting a modern documentary about that period of naval warfare makes an almost obligatory pilgrimage to the Texas. Living history on the scale represented by Texas is rare, special, and worth preserving for the betterment of future generations. Thank you for this video!
Texas isn't just historic because of the sole surviving dreadnought battleships honor but she was the only Allied battleship to serve at Torch, D-Day (at OMAHA BEACH!), Iwo Jima, and Okinawa! Not bad for a washed up dinosaur who was supposed to be scrapped twice in the 1930s. Some genius admiral in the Navy had a crazy idea to keep Texas in reserve just in case the whole Battleship Fleet was knocked out of the war in one attack. She was able to do what she did because she wasn't at Pearl Harbor in Dec 1941.
I toured The Texas back in the mid 70’s in San Jacinto Texas as a typical tourist, civilian. Bought a Tee shirt, cap and other items and stood in Awe at what she stood for, been through. I’m an Apache with so much honor in my ancestry and I know respect, honor and loyalty. Battle Ship Texas received my Total Respect.
Great to see more USS Texas content as she gets her long-awaited repairs in drydock. History fans need to understand how important the last dreadnought really is.
I keep scanning the drone footage for two large bronze screws dockside, waiting to be installed. I know I'll never see it, but I'd probably prolapse watching Texas sail out to sea under her own power.
Battleship Texas -- flagship of the Texas Navy -- is truly an important part of the history of the US Navy. I'm 74 years old and my hope is that I live long enough to once again walk the decks of the Texas after her rebuilding. I'd like to believe that I'm just ornery enough to do that. COME ON, TEXAS!!!
As a retired sailor who served on the CGN-39 USS Texas I really appreciate your recognition of this honorable ship. We just had our reunion and your channel was watched. Thank you very much.
That’s cool. My brother was a nuke EM1 on the Texas in ‘88 around the time the Vincennes accidentally downed that Iranian airliner that wasn’t using its IFF transmitter. The Texas took her place in the Gulf.
One of the most touching documentaries on the USS Texas I’ve ever heard. Being a native Texan and history buff myself and living only 10 miles from where it had been, this fortress of metal and fortitude is a true living legend. Thank you for all you do to preserve her legacy.
I was born & raised in the within an hour’s drive from the Texas. My degree is in history, so the proud ship will always hold a special place in my heart. Even my child has walked her decks after a morning at nearby San Jacinto. I appreciate the History Guy doing this documentary.
Agreed I live in Pasadena and am around five to ten minutes from San Jacinto where she use to be birthed. I was on her as often as I could and took pictures nearly once a week of her during the pandemic as I watched them get her ready.
Thank you for another great story of the battleship Texas. Most of my family is from Texas. My Father-in-Law earned a Bronze Star at Okinawa. I hope the Texas will find a good home after her restoration. "Come On Texas"!
Dad was at the invasion of Okinawa as a USN 1st Class Petty Officer and Coxswain of a 120 foot LCT landing craft so I liked this story of the USS Texas and her role in that invasion . Dad always said the real heroes were the ones who died in combat and never returned .
You're Dad was absolutely right, he would say he was just doing his job I'm sure but he also was a hero, that's what made them the greatest generation they weren't in it for glory or heroism they were just doing their jobs to protect this country
I've lived in Texas most of my life and visited the USS Texas BB35 years ago at Buffalo Bayou. This post is the best description I've seen of her service during WWII. She served at North Africa and the major European battles before deploying to the Pacific. Her first base of operations in the Pacific was Ulithi, a western Caroline Island near Palau. My ship patrolled Ulithi in 1964. Texas set a record for serving for the most number of continuous days at battle stations.
My Dad landed on Okinawa on April 1, 1945. He survived the battle and was sent to China to prepare for the planned invasion of Japan. If that invasion had taken place he may have been among those killed or wounded. The prognosis was grim and the Allied forces hoped for an end before that invasion would be carried out. What most people don't know is that a group within the Japanese military tried to stop the surrender and vowed to fight on. It would have been a massive blood-bath with a casualty rate in the millions.
You are 100% correct. US Marines would have had to gun down 8 year olds in the street the slaughter of the Japanese would have been horrific. The atomic bombs were the right decision
Having been aboard USS Texas to tour her decks and spaces, something that has never been lost on me is the fact that I was walking the same decks that has seen so much history. Of special note to me was the activation of the First Marine Division onboard USS Texas. I served with 1st MarDiv in 1981. Was also stationed at Okinawa in 1987 at Camp Hansen. Glad to see that the Texas is getting the care and attention she so richly deserves.
My Dad participated in the Battle of Okinawa. His ship was the USS Valencia, AKA-81. It was a Tolland Class Attack Cargo Ship, carrying equipment, supplies and soldiers. Fortunately for my Dad, while the Valencia played an important role as all ships did, it wasn’t the type of vessel to be a high priority for the Kamikazes.
Mine was there on a similar ship, USS Edgecombe, APA-164. They carried troops into the battle and wounded back out. Dad was a pharmacists mate, a medic. He didn't talk about that last part.
My grandfather, whom I’m named after, was on the sister ship, USS Trousdale AKA-79. He told me a few stories about Okinawa. He said that to help prevent night attacks a P-61 would fly CAP but guys were so jumpy they’d fire on it by mistake so it would have to drop colored flares when it arrived on station.
@@Trebuchet48 Thank you for sharing! I see the Edgecombe had a very similar late war experience as the Valencia. My Dad had gotten a deferment to finish college before beginning his Navy service, he was forced to complete 4 years of school in 3. The Valencia’s Captain wrote very detailed shop diaries, so I can trace everything it accomplished from shakedown to bringing troops home to the West Coast! Like the Edgecombe, they received one battle star for Okinawa. Cheers my friend!
@@johnbeauvais3159 Thank you for sharing! Wow, AKA-79 was only two away from AKA-81! Pardon my ignorance but what is “flying CAP?” All the best! I love sharing this stuff!
Both of the New York class ( New York and Texas) were scheduled to be sold for scrap in 1938 when the two North Carolina class Battleships were commissioned but the worsening overseas conflicts stayed the cutters torches and kept both ships on duty. Both served throughout the war with Texas becoming a museum ship in 1948. Her sister was expened as a target for atom bomb tests at project Crossroads.
The New York's were considered obsolete by many in WW2, but both proved otherwise in shore bombardment roles. The old 21 knot Standards and British Revenge-class battleships were all sorely needed, especially later in the war, as the Allies undertook numerous amphibious landings in Europe and the Pacific. A small correction, mind you: the two North Carolina's were commissioned in 1941 and only began operations in 1942.
I dont know if that is entirely true considering there were drawn up plans as early as 1937 to upgrade her to turbine powered propulsion but ultimately was canceled as it would have taken her out of service way too long to do the upgrade. Thats what kept her from getting many of the upgrades proposed such as modifying her main artillery so her guns could elevate more to gain more range. That was planned as well in early '42 but was canceled as well due to the time she would be in dock vs the need of having her on convoy escort duty in the early days.
@@Milner62 There were many plans made to upgrade many of the older ships but cost and time but if you put an old ship in dock you have to pay an opertunity cost. That old ship takes up space that could build X number of cruisers or Y number of destroyers or due repairs on other battle damaged ships. The New York class were very slow due to their reciprocating engines but they still gave good service as shore bombardment ships and as convoy escorts......nothing says go away little man to a commerce raider like Graff Spey than a battleship.
@@jollyjohnthepirate3168, but that's the thing, she wouldn't have prevented ships from being built. Repairs and upgrades were done either dock side or in dry dock. When Texas had her barrels removed and replaced after D-day, Cherbourg, and southern France the barrels were removed while she was dock side not in dry dock and not in a slipway where ships are built. Like wise we had multiple dry docks for repairs that putting her in dry dock for a period of time wouldn't have hindered servicing ships that badly. The biggest issue was how long she would be out of commission and that was a bad thing as it reduced our navy down by one ship at a time when we needed every ship we had. As far as her service goes, yes she provided a great service and in fact she was more fuel efficient at a higher speed than more modern battleships like the south dakotas and iowas which had a higher top end but for their most economical speed it was slower than Texas. That was a big reason why she was built the way she was over turbines, turbines are not efficient when it comes to fuel economy and it would drastically limit how far she could travel. This is also why the newest battleships were kept state side during WWI, there was a lack of fuel oil in england and england told the US to leave her modern oil fired ships home and only send the coal powered ships.
Thank you for your support of the Battleship Texas! While being towed to dry dock, a commentator remarked that "Today, she is the fastest battleship anywhere in the world." God bless Texas.
As a volunteer on battleship New Jersey I’m a little envious…but of course that comment is 100% true! I did follow Texas on her journey…and was thrilled that none of the contingency plans were needed. It was a smooth and exhilarating journey, thanks to crew (staff, volunteers and underwriters). Here’s hoping that New Jersey is the next battleship to dry dock by 2025…though her expected journey would be about 6 miles.
@@tonyInPA Thank you for your volunteer work on the New Jersey! Coincidentally, I think it was your own Ryan Szimanski that made the speed observation about the Texas... :-)
Absolutely wonderful, thank you so much for helping let the rest of the world know of our beautiful ole gal. I have been making pilgrimages to see her all of my life. Have taken my children and now my grandchildren, we all say, "Come on Texas!"
Spent a couple nights 'billeted' on the Texas at San Jancinto Battleground when I was in the TX State Guard ~2010. So glad to see her getting the attention she deserves. C'mon Texas! The eyes of Texas are upon you!
I have twice had the opportunity to do a turret crawl on the Texas. The 14" magazine spaces are reasonably open, but there are some really tight and claustrophobic spaces as you work your way up from the magazines to the turret you see on deck. I cannot imagine being at general quarters hour after hour, day after day in those restricted compartments. I am in awe of the crew that did so. Come on Texas!
The USS Texas is the pride of my state. I cannot tell you how many Summers I spent as a child and an adult walking on the deck of that old girl. My grandfather ship served in two battle groups with the USS Texas being a Texas man himself he always said he felt safer when she was around. Coincidentally enough every bad accident or situation my grandfather's ship would get into was always when they were not near the Texas. She will always represent our state for her bravery and dedication to her sailors. I was never in the military but every time I hear anything about her or see her pride and a warm feeling fills my heart. Long Live the USS Texas!
I toured the Texas in 2001 in Houston. We learned the only combat deaths of Texas were injured Army Rangers who were evacuated to Texas' sick baby at Normandy. This brief history would have served her well. We were able to go up partially into the forward tripod. We also were able to go into the medical and living spaces, The machinery on board may be the oldest and largest triple expansion piston machinery in the world. Triple expansion preceded steam turbine propulsion. Triple expansion as complex and slow compared to steam turbines, but it did give great economy of each btu of steam heated as compared to turbine battleships. When Texas is finished being repaired and restored, I highly recommend going to see it, and get an appreciation of how our young heroes lived and worked to save our way of life 76 years ago.
My grandfather was a pacific sailor in WW2 and I was during the Iraq war. We both toured this vessel together before he passed. I will always have a strong nostalgia for it. I took photos of it before it left it’s berth in San Jacinto. I hope Galveston brings it many more visitors, for years to come.
My grandfather's ship USS Idaho was awarded 7 battle stars. Texas got 5. Idaho fought in the Aleutians, Gilberts, Marshalls, Marianas, Guam. The Battle of the Philippine Sea, Guadalcanal, Battle of Peleliu,, Iwo Jima. the invasion of Okinawa, and was present in Tokyo Bay when the Japanese signed the surrender papers. Her end was a sad one. I believe the USS Idaho, BB-42, is history that deserves to be remembered.
Myself and one of my sons are Native Texans and another son toured the USS TEXAS. She’s a source of immense pride. My Grandfather was a Sailor aboard the USS MAKIN ISLAND Escort Carrier for Iwo Jima and Okinawa as part of that task force and was on station for 69 days. He hated the Kamakazis
just a word about another ship of the era, the super-dreadnought HMS WARSPITE, launched in 1913 which fought at Jutland in 1916, served through out the inter-war period around the world. served in Norwegian campaign in 1940, then the Mediterranean then , where she was badly damaged off Crete by enemy aircraft. repaired in USA she next sailed to the Far East in early 1942. then back to the Mediterranean and action off Italy. in 1943 attacked by German aircraft again using new radio-controlled anti-ship missiles, she survived 2 such hits. ( Italian bb Roma was sunk by the same weapons ) sent home for repairs, she took part in D-Day and then operated in fire support for Normandy and the later Walcheren Island. sadly after ww2 the old warriors were put into reserve and/or later scrapped. the grand old lady was decommissioned in 1945 , 2 years later she put up her last fight - running aground under tow to be scrapped in 1947 on rocks near Prussia Cove, Cornwall. she was broken up nearby. sad that such ships as her were not kept as Texas has been, but UK was in dire straits after 2 world wars and there was little room for sentiment.
Texas, which is a super dreadnought herself as well is always glossed over on her history during the invasion of France. She was a prime target for the Nazis and they declared her sunk numerous times some for propaganda and some from legit thoughts of the bombs hitting their target when they in fact missed. Another thing skipped over is that after the war she was slated to be given to China and New York was offered to the State of New York which they refused. She would go on to be a test ship in the atom bomb tests and politicians from Texas approached the US Government about taking Texas which is what saved her from being passed off to China.
Thanks for another wonderful THG episode. My uncle was a sailor, who served on the USS Texas. My dad (an Army medic) was in the Okinawa campaign, first on the off-shore island of Ie Shima (pronounced "eye-yee shee-ma", not "lay shee-ma" as in the THG video) and later on Okinawa itself until he came home in November 1945. Both of them proudly served their country, one for 14 years and the other for 28 years. A big "Thank You!" to all who have served, are currently serving, or who will serve.
Thank You "The History Guy"! My mom who would have been 84 this year always shared the story of how all the school children in her time raised money across the state in Texas to make the ship a museum. It was the last of the "Dreadnaught" battleships.
Thanks for the spotlight on my ship! I served 5 years on the USS TEXAS CGN39. Since it has been cut up and sold for scrap we TEXAS sailors (CGN39) have now taken the Battleship TEXAS as our ship since it is still around and needs our help. Great video, keep it up!
My father made sure that we climbed aboard and walked around on the great ship the U.S. Texas. I was even allowed below decks and also I was allowed to go into one of her Main Gun Torrent's. This was around 1972 and I think it was Galveston or perhaps Huston. I was young at the time. My father had been a Merchant Sailor since before he was 16 and he was in our Navy during WWII and later was a U.S. Merchant Marine until he died around 1973. A year earlier I flew to Galveston Texas to visit him in the Merchant Marine Hospital. He told me the story that the night before he had to eat a lot of bananas to make the weight the day he enlisted into the Navy and he lied about his age to get in. He was a Sailor all his life. He was born while his father was out at Sea working a shrimp boat. The named my father "Signal" because when he was born my grandfather received the signal informing him of his fathers birth on May 7, 1920. God Bless you Dad and Grandpa! You know what, I miss my Father! He was honest and had good morels and set an excellent example, yes he had his problems when he was a young man but he overcame them and had a family. I still miss my Father! I am proud of our Navy and of the U.S.S. Texas and all the brave me who served on her. Sailors sacrifice a lot to do their job, please remember this. -Peter age 72
Great video. I toured the USS Texas around 2015. It was the favorite part of my vacation. I can't even imagine what the sailors has to endure being at battle stations for almost 2 months straight.
Those sailors endured surviving. Something that many did not do. The USS Texas was and remains a charmed ship. The whole battle and no one died. That's amazing.
My great-uncle Chuck was a USMC night fighter pilot who flew nighttime patrols over Okinawa. Almost died on takeoff one evening after crashing during a Japanese bombing. Hit a crater with one of his wheels and careened into a C-47. Spent the rest of the war in hospital recovering from burns.
Seen her in dry dock Sunday. Texas kids gathered penny's to buy her from the navy. She is ours. Massive ship. She will be our monument forever. Hull looks good actually. Blisters have deteriorated but hull good. We love her.
When my Dad joined the Navy in 1937 he was assigned to the USS Texas for training. He always talked fondly of that time saying how much he loved that ship and especially her crew. From Texas he was assigned to the USS Lexington just in time for the Battle Of Coral Sea where he was seriously wounded and ended up being medically discharged and sent home...very disappointed.
Battleship Texas -- no longer USS Texas; that name now belongs to a nuclear submarine -- is the flagship of the Texas Navy. The needed repairs she's receiving now will cost more than the cost to build her more than a century ago. The grand old lady still has a lot of life in her but will need to be cared for if she's to last another hundred years. Thank you for remembering her service and the sacrifices of her crew.
@@oldsguy354 not every artifact is destined to be an integral part of history. The Texas made its mark though. Though it took a while to do it. when I think of all of the programs we waste money on everything invested into the Texas is money well spent as far as I'm concerned. We spent 40 million dollars buying junkies crack pipes. That could have bought some nice armor plate.
@@1pcfred Hell, $40 million would go a good way towards new boilers and triple expansion steam engine repairs to make Texas self propelled again. Color me crazy, but I'd rather spend tax money on that rather than crack pipes. I know that not all (or even many) historically significant things make it to museum. Most are lost or destroyed long before their significance is realized. That's why when we find items on a Civil War battlefield, or they find Roman artifacts in Britain, we recognize them as historically significant eventhough they were likely thrown away or abandoned as thrash when they were lost to history. Caring for an artifact as large as a battleship is difficult and expensive, never mind that it had significant value as scrap when Texans took on the chore. I'm just glad it was, and is recognized as something worth preserving. I wouldn't melt down gold Roman coins either. There value as an artifact is greater than their gold weight value, but it wasn't always like that, untold amounts of them were melted down to create other gold things when they had more value as melt than as old coins. A huge pile of gold coins is easier to preserve than a huge battleship made of ferrous materials floating in the ocean, so the feat is quite impressive to me.
i had the opportunity to tour the Texas in Nov, 2008. At the time, she had sprung a few leaks but nothing too bad. Still, the Curator knew she needed major work and soon. They had the plans for the work and was trying to raise money for the dry dock repairs at the time. I was EXTREMELY fortunate to have the opportunity to actually see her engines at a time when the area was closed off to the public due to leak repair. It turns out that the ENGINES are a National Landmark in and of themselves. Amazing history and significance, thanks for telling her story - one chapter at a time.
We Texans love our battleship. My friends and I would visit her practically every weekend. That is until girls came into our lives. Some of us had girlfriends that would visit Texas with us. Fun times, great memories.
My Dad was on the USS Laws, a Fletcher class destroyer at the same time. His ship ran the picket line to spot aircraft trying to take out the larger ships. I applaud all those who served so faithfully during this battle. Like the Texas, the Laws did not loose a single person in the battle.
Saw an update on the boat just the other day, nearly finished. Surely was a fact, the men serving on the ole girl were certainly men of steel! Great job Guy!
For so long I thought that the Dreadnaught USS Texas would be lost due to the ignorance and selfishness of politicians and bureaucrats, but now she may well get the comprehensive repair that will save her. She needs to be installed in a well designed berth where she can continue to educate and inspire. Great job, History Guy, on an excellent documentary.
Being a Texan, my heart beats a little faster when I read or see anything about this grand old lady. I toured her in the late "70s and felt only the tiniest bit of what the sailors might have felt. They made the Texas great but then the name of Texas makes about anything great!! Really enjoyed your clip on this. My uncle was on Okinawa after the fighting stopped. He had to reconnoiter the caves where the Japanese soldiers were holed up. He did this after all the naplam , etc. had been used; he had to find the bodies or the live soldiers. He told my mother about it one time and didn't speak of it again. He couldn't, it made him sick.
So true and that was the reason he was so loved by the men. He talked in their language and didn't write many stories about grand battles but about the little guy and how he was doing.
Indeed. One of the most shocking deaths I’ve read of in combat, the other being Naval Surgeon Lieutenant Peter Arioli. In the last stand of Fox company by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin, About Fox company of the second battalion of the seventh Marines in Korea at the Chosin Reservoir. When he learned of how badly off the company was and how many Corpsmen where dead and those left overwhelmed with casualties, the Lieutenant volunteered to accompany a helicopter pilot who was making a battery supply run, in and of itself it perilous undertaking due to the stupendously cold conditions and the failure rate of lubrication and helicopter transmissions. Lt. Arioli was shot in the head and killed by a Chinese sniper within a couple of days of arriving. There wasn’t even an engagement at the moment, he stepped out of the medical tent do you have a word with CO Captain Barber, opened his mouth to speak and was shot dead.
Thanks for more History on WW2 MY uncle was on the TEXAS at this battle he did not talk much about the war. Thanks again how i know more about want they did for your FREEDOM we have today.
I have a close and rather unusual relationship and tie to the USS Texas and The San Jacinto monument. They are normally in the same spot. The Texas is not there currently because she's in dry dock. Anyway, My Pawpaw was a merchant marine and welder as a profession. When Grandma wanted him home and not at sea, he welded. He did some work out there for the park service and welded my initials in a couple inconspicuous places. So that whole place has a special place in my heart. He was taken from me prematurity while docked in New Orleans. He drowned there after being ordered by the ship's captain to unfoul a prop. The only equipment he was provided was some goggles and a rope around his waist. They found his body three days later. I'm almost 50 now. I miss him just as much today as back then. There's more but just typing this hurts to much. maybe i'll be able to finish this later. I Love you Pawpaw It's been a few days since I first typed the above part. I do apologize for getting a bit emotionally of topic. May seem a bit childish at the age of 49. But as a child my Pawpaw was the only adult that wasn't abusive towards me. He was the only family member to get me after I was abandoned by my mother at 6 months old. As well as doing his best to protect me from my father, after being forced to give me to my father by the courts. So losing him was extremely difficult and very painful. And still is, obviously, from time to time. So If you've made it this far. I do thank you for taking the time to read all this. Again, my apologies for the emotional sidetrack. Y'all have the best day possible and more importantly, be safe out there.
I can see the ship right now out my window here in Galveston, TX. Viewers should note that there is a campaign underway right now to keep the ship permanently docked here in Galveston after repairs are finished.
I spent an entire day aboard the USS Texas about 10 years ago as a tourist. I also served as an LT(jg) on board the USS Guadalcanal, LPH-7, and did a tour on board the USS Independence, CV-62 at a LT. My primary battle station was as a damage control Division leader, on the hanger and flight decks. You know, where most of the things that go Boom, the JP5, the diesel, and other aviation gases are kept for ready flight ops. I have spent hours upon hours at sea at "battle stations", and that is draining in every sense of the word. But 50 days ! That is insane. Despite being a battleship the USS Texas really is not that large. My heart goes out to those poor SOB'S that had to stand that duty. It makes the hardest days I had in the North Atlantic look like a pleasure cruise. Not sure I could have done what those brave men did so well. Bravo Zulu men. Bravo Zulu.
Being a native of Houston, we went to see the USS Texas many times. As a 14yr Army Vet, I have incredible respect for those “men of iron” that crewed the Texas & was at Battle Stations for 50+ days. Thank You History Guy for your documentation of the Greatest Generation that staffed this mighty ship! Go USS Texas!
I visited the Texas as a child on a 3rd grade field trip in 1977. Took a lot of photos with my little Kodak camera. I need to see if I can find them. Thanks for the history lesson and the memories.
Thanks for highlighting this remarkable service by that crew; doubtless no matter how hard it was maintaining battle stations for so long, they all knew they had to give all they could for their comrades on the invasion beaches, and they most certainly did.
Thanks for the the USS Texas plug. We have been fighting for years to help keep her afloat. It would be disrespectful to let he go away after what her crew did in WWII!
My grandfathers ship was on the radar picket line at Okinawa. Managed to survive with only very minor damage to the mast. That was the most costly battle for the USN in the war without doubt.
And for clarification are you using the term yellow rose in the correct sense or in a beauty sense cause people often don't know what yellow rose of Texas really means.
To all of the men and women, past as well as present, whom have served our country in the cause of freedom, my fond admiration and gratitude far surpasses my written words. Thank you.
Great episode. I have memories of walking the decks of the Texas while moored in the Galveston in the 70's. I am glad that it is being saved from the ravages of the sea and time.
My dad was a gunners mate in the USS Texas before the war started. He said one time they fired a broadside while he was on mess duty and in the onion locker. He said dozens of onions literally burst apart and it was like an instant onion blizzard around him.
Sorry if I'm writing only now but I want to congratulate you on this excellent video on the USS Texas (BB-35) that provided great service since the the start of 2nd WW until the final shooting at Okinawa. Possibly the most decorated US battleship of the war. Yes, USS Texas and the crew deserve to be remembered...
My Dad served on the USS Texas in the Pacific. Being assigned to here after basic and as she cross from Atlantic to pacific. I don't know allot of details. Cause as you know, our parents from WW2 didn't talk much. I do know he was on a 5 inch gunner. Something about aiming it and pulling the trigger when told. Or something like that. He did tell me about picking up a downed Japanese pilot. And he spoke very highly of the Captain. They were definitely the greatest generation.
As a retired Sailor and native Texan, USS Texas holds a special place in my heart. Toured her in 1998 and 2003. I'm happy to see her getting the TLC she has earned. May she live on for another 100+ years.
I'm so happy that she's finally getting the needed care before she became unrepairable. My uncle served on the USS Oklahoma (BB-37) at was on board during Pearl. Uncle John was too tough and a great swimmer who could hold his breath for a long time.
Same, shipmate. Come on Texas!
@@ullr1159 Served on USS Semmes DDG 18 1983-84, USS Cape Cod AD 43 1984-86, USS Kinkaid DD 965 1987-89, USS Whidbey Island LSD 41 1993-96 and USS Wasp LHD 1 2000-03...
Beautiful old War Horse. May she live forever.
She's the only Dreadnought-type battleship left in the world and is therefore a very significant ship. It's a great shame the British battleship HMS Warspite was scrapped, but post-WW2 austerity meant the money to preserve her was simply unavailable.
Of the dreadnought era battleships, like the type that clashed at the battle of Jutland, the Texas is the last. Just about every film crew shooting a modern documentary about that period of naval warfare makes an almost obligatory pilgrimage to the Texas. Living history on the scale represented by Texas is rare, special, and worth preserving for the betterment of future generations. Thank you for this video!
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Very well worth preserving, especially since Texas is the only Dreadnought Era Battleship to exist in America.
We also notice that the bridge and tower of the Texas looks like some of the Star Wars Galactic Cruisers...hmmm
Texas isn't just historic because of the sole surviving dreadnought battleships honor but she was the only Allied battleship to serve at Torch, D-Day (at OMAHA BEACH!), Iwo Jima, and Okinawa! Not bad for a washed up dinosaur who was supposed to be scrapped twice in the 1930s. Some genius admiral in the Navy had a crazy idea to keep Texas in reserve just in case the whole Battleship Fleet was knocked out of the war in one attack. She was able to do what she did because she wasn't at Pearl Harbor in Dec 1941.
I toured The Texas back in the mid 70’s in San Jacinto Texas as a typical tourist, civilian. Bought a Tee shirt, cap and other items and stood in Awe at what she stood for, been through. I’m an Apache with so much honor in my ancestry and I know respect, honor and loyalty. Battle Ship Texas received my Total Respect.
Great to see more USS Texas content as she gets her long-awaited repairs in drydock. History fans need to understand how important the last dreadnought really is.
I’ve been watching the restoration videos they upload almost daily. Amazing ship.
I keep scanning the drone footage for two large bronze screws dockside, waiting to be installed. I know I'll never see it, but I'd probably prolapse watching Texas sail out to sea under her own power.
Battleship Texas -- flagship of the Texas Navy -- is truly an important part of the history of the US Navy. I'm 74 years old and my hope is that I live long enough to once again walk the decks of the Texas after her rebuilding. I'd like to believe that I'm just ornery enough to do that. COME ON, TEXAS!!!
As a retired sailor who served on the CGN-39 USS Texas I really appreciate your recognition of this honorable ship. We just had our reunion and your channel was watched. Thank you very much.
Very cool…but I thought it was a destroyer? I understand the difference is moot, so it’s whatever.😊 It was pre-VLS, right?
That’s cool. My brother was a nuke EM1 on the Texas in ‘88 around the time the Vincennes accidentally downed that Iranian airliner that wasn’t using its IFF transmitter. The Texas took her place in the Gulf.
Thank you for your service brother !
One of the most touching documentaries on the USS Texas I’ve ever heard. Being a native Texan and history buff myself and living only 10 miles from where it had been, this fortress of metal and fortitude is a true living legend.
Thank you for all you do to preserve her legacy.
I was born & raised in the within an hour’s drive from the Texas. My degree is in history, so the proud ship will always hold a special place in my heart. Even my child has walked her decks after a morning at nearby San Jacinto.
I appreciate the History Guy doing this documentary.
Agreed I live in Pasadena and am around five to ten minutes from San Jacinto where she use to be birthed. I was on her as often as I could and took pictures nearly once a week of her during the pandemic as I watched them get her ready.
Thank you for another great story of the battleship Texas. Most of my family is from Texas. My Father-in-Law earned a Bronze Star at Okinawa. I hope the Texas will find a good home after her restoration. "Come On Texas"!
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Dad was at the invasion of Okinawa as a USN 1st Class Petty Officer and Coxswain of a 120 foot LCT landing craft so I liked this story of the USS Texas and her role in that invasion . Dad always said the real heroes were the ones who died in combat and never returned .
You're Dad was absolutely right, he would say he was just doing his job I'm sure but he also was a hero, that's what made them the greatest generation they weren't in it for glory or heroism they were just doing their jobs to protect this country
My Old Man said the same thing.
I ❤ USS TEXAS & TEXAS!!
My great uncle was a Montford Point Marine and he fought in the battle of Okinawa. As well as the battle of Peleliu.
Thanks to his family for his service. Being black in the service wasn't an easy thing.
COME ON TEXAS!! As a Texan and a vet these stories make my heart glow. All honor be to those ironmen.
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TEXAS OUR TEXAS!!!
I ain't Texan, but I can FEEL the pride!😃😃😃
I can't wait to be able to see Texas when she's out of drydock. Such a grand ol' dame.
I've lived in Texas most of my life and visited the USS Texas BB35 years ago at Buffalo Bayou. This post is the best description I've seen of her service during WWII. She served at North Africa and the major European battles before deploying to the Pacific. Her first base of operations in the Pacific was Ulithi, a western Caroline Island near Palau. My ship patrolled Ulithi in 1964.
Texas set a record for serving for the most number of continuous days at battle stations.
My Dad landed on Okinawa on April 1, 1945. He survived the battle and was sent to China to prepare for the planned invasion of Japan. If that invasion had taken place he may have been among those killed or wounded. The prognosis was grim and the Allied forces hoped for an end before that invasion would be carried out. What most people don't know is that a group within the Japanese military tried to stop the surrender and vowed to fight on. It would have been a massive blood-bath with a casualty rate in the millions.
You are 100% correct. US Marines would have had to gun down 8 year olds in the street the slaughter of the Japanese would have been horrific. The atomic bombs were the right decision
Having been aboard USS Texas to tour her decks and spaces, something that has never been lost on me is the fact that I was walking the same decks that has seen so much history. Of special note to me was the activation of the First Marine Division onboard USS Texas. I served with 1st MarDiv in 1981. Was also stationed at Okinawa in 1987 at Camp Hansen. Glad to see that the Texas is getting the care and attention she so richly deserves.
My Dad participated in the Battle of Okinawa. His ship was the USS Valencia, AKA-81. It was a Tolland Class Attack Cargo Ship, carrying
equipment, supplies and soldiers. Fortunately for my Dad, while the Valencia played an important role as all ships did, it wasn’t the type
of vessel to be a high priority for the Kamikazes.
Mine was there on a similar ship, USS Edgecombe, APA-164. They carried troops into the battle and wounded back out. Dad was a pharmacists mate, a medic. He didn't talk about that last part.
My grandfather, whom I’m named after, was on the sister ship, USS Trousdale AKA-79. He told me a few stories about Okinawa. He said that to help prevent night attacks a P-61 would fly CAP but guys were so jumpy they’d fire on it by mistake so it would have to drop colored flares when it arrived on station.
@@Trebuchet48 Thank you for sharing! I see the Edgecombe had a very similar late war experience as the Valencia. My Dad had gotten a deferment to finish college before beginning his Navy service, he was forced to complete 4 years of school in 3. The Valencia’s Captain wrote very detailed shop diaries, so I can trace everything it accomplished from shakedown to bringing troops home to the West Coast!
Like the Edgecombe, they received one battle star for Okinawa. Cheers my friend!
@@johnbeauvais3159 Thank you for sharing! Wow, AKA-79 was only two away from AKA-81! Pardon my ignorance but what is “flying CAP?”
All the best! I love sharing this stuff!
Both of the New York class ( New York and Texas) were scheduled to be sold for scrap in 1938 when the two North Carolina class Battleships were commissioned but the worsening overseas conflicts stayed the cutters torches and kept both ships on duty. Both served throughout the war with Texas becoming a museum ship in 1948. Her sister was expened as a target for atom bomb tests at project Crossroads.
The New York's were considered obsolete by many in WW2, but both proved otherwise in shore bombardment roles. The old 21 knot Standards and British Revenge-class battleships were all sorely needed, especially later in the war, as the Allies undertook numerous amphibious landings in Europe and the Pacific. A small correction, mind you: the two North Carolina's were commissioned in 1941 and only began operations in 1942.
I dont know if that is entirely true considering there were drawn up plans as early as 1937 to upgrade her to turbine powered propulsion but ultimately was canceled as it would have taken her out of service way too long to do the upgrade.
Thats what kept her from getting many of the upgrades proposed such as modifying her main artillery so her guns could elevate more to gain more range. That was planned as well in early '42 but was canceled as well due to the time she would be in dock vs the need of having her on convoy escort duty in the early days.
@@Milner62 There were many plans made to upgrade many of the older ships but cost and time but if you put an old ship in dock you have to pay an opertunity cost. That old ship takes up space that could build X number of cruisers or Y number of destroyers or due repairs on other battle damaged ships.
The New York class were very slow due to their reciprocating engines but they still gave good service as shore bombardment ships and as convoy escorts......nothing says go away little man to a commerce raider like Graff Spey than a battleship.
@@jollyjohnthepirate3168, but that's the thing, she wouldn't have prevented ships from being built. Repairs and upgrades were done either dock side or in dry dock. When Texas had her barrels removed and replaced after D-day, Cherbourg, and southern France the barrels were removed while she was dock side not in dry dock and not in a slipway where ships are built. Like wise we had multiple dry docks for repairs that putting her in dry dock for a period of time wouldn't have hindered servicing ships that badly. The biggest issue was how long she would be out of commission and that was a bad thing as it reduced our navy down by one ship at a time when we needed every ship we had.
As far as her service goes, yes she provided a great service and in fact she was more fuel efficient at a higher speed than more modern battleships like the south dakotas and iowas which had a higher top end but for their most economical speed it was slower than Texas. That was a big reason why she was built the way she was over turbines, turbines are not efficient when it comes to fuel economy and it would drastically limit how far she could travel. This is also why the newest battleships were kept state side during WWI, there was a lack of fuel oil in england and england told the US to leave her modern oil fired ships home and only send the coal powered ships.
Thank you for your support of the Battleship Texas! While being towed to dry dock, a commentator remarked that "Today, she is the fastest battleship anywhere in the world." God bless Texas.
As a volunteer on battleship New Jersey I’m a little envious…but of course that comment is 100% true! I did follow Texas on her journey…and was thrilled that none of the contingency plans were needed. It was a smooth and exhilarating journey, thanks to crew (staff, volunteers and underwriters).
Here’s hoping that New Jersey is the next battleship to dry dock by 2025…though her expected journey would be about 6 miles.
@@tonyInPA Thank you for your volunteer work on the New Jersey! Coincidentally, I think it was your own Ryan Szimanski that made the speed observation about the Texas... :-)
Good morning, fellow classmates!
Absolutely wonderful, thank you so much for helping let the rest of the world know of our beautiful ole gal. I have been making pilgrimages to see her all of my life. Have taken my children and now my grandchildren, we all say, "Come on Texas!"
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Spent a couple nights 'billeted' on the Texas at San Jancinto Battleground when I was in the TX State Guard ~2010. So glad to see her getting the attention she deserves. C'mon Texas! The eyes of Texas are upon you!
I have twice had the opportunity to do a turret crawl on the Texas. The 14" magazine spaces are reasonably open, but there are some really tight and claustrophobic spaces as you work your way up from the magazines to the turret you see on deck. I cannot imagine being at general quarters hour after hour, day after day in those restricted compartments. I am in awe of the crew that did so. Come on Texas!
The USS Texas is the pride of my state. I cannot tell you how many Summers I spent as a child and an adult walking on the deck of that old girl. My grandfather ship served in two battle groups with the USS Texas being a Texas man himself he always said he felt safer when she was around. Coincidentally enough every bad accident or situation my grandfather's ship would get into was always when they were not near the Texas. She will always represent our state for her bravery and dedication to her sailors. I was never in the military but every time I hear anything about her or see her pride and a warm feeling fills my heart. Long Live the USS Texas!
I toured the Texas in 2001 in Houston. We learned the only combat deaths of Texas were injured Army Rangers who were evacuated to Texas' sick baby at Normandy. This brief history would have served her well. We were able to go up partially into the forward tripod. We also were able to go into the medical and living spaces, The machinery on board may be the oldest and largest triple expansion piston machinery in the world. Triple expansion preceded steam turbine propulsion. Triple expansion as complex and slow compared to steam turbines, but it did give great economy of each btu of steam heated as compared to turbine battleships. When Texas is finished being repaired and restored, I highly recommend going to see it, and get an appreciation of how our young heroes lived and worked to save our way of life 76 years ago.
My grandfather was a pacific sailor in WW2 and I was during the Iraq war. We both toured this vessel together before he passed. I will always have a strong nostalgia for it. I took photos of it before it left it’s berth in San Jacinto. I hope Galveston brings it many more visitors, for years to come.
My grandfather's ship USS Idaho was awarded 7 battle stars. Texas got 5. Idaho fought in the Aleutians, Gilberts, Marshalls, Marianas, Guam. The Battle of the Philippine Sea, Guadalcanal, Battle of Peleliu,, Iwo Jima. the invasion of Okinawa, and was present in Tokyo Bay when the Japanese signed the surrender papers. Her end was a sad one. I believe the USS Idaho, BB-42, is history that deserves to be remembered.
It's incredible that the Texas fought in Europe and then went the Pacific and fought there.
Myself and one of my sons are Native Texans and another son toured the USS TEXAS. She’s a source of immense pride. My Grandfather was a Sailor aboard the USS MAKIN ISLAND Escort Carrier for Iwo Jima and Okinawa as part of that task force and was on station for 69 days. He hated the Kamakazis
just a word about another ship of the era, the super-dreadnought HMS WARSPITE, launched in 1913 which fought at Jutland in 1916, served through out the inter-war period around the world. served in Norwegian campaign in 1940, then the Mediterranean then , where she was badly damaged off Crete by enemy aircraft. repaired in USA she next sailed to the Far East in early 1942. then back to the Mediterranean and action off Italy. in 1943 attacked by German aircraft again using new radio-controlled anti-ship missiles, she survived 2 such hits. ( Italian bb Roma was sunk by the same weapons ) sent home for repairs, she took part in D-Day and then operated in fire support for Normandy and the later Walcheren Island. sadly after ww2 the old warriors were put into reserve and/or later scrapped. the grand old lady was decommissioned in 1945 , 2 years later she put up her last fight - running aground under tow to be scrapped in 1947 on rocks near Prussia Cove, Cornwall. she was broken up nearby. sad that such ships as her were not kept as Texas has been, but UK was in dire straits after 2 world wars and there was little room for sentiment.
Texas, which is a super dreadnought herself as well is always glossed over on her history during the invasion of France. She was a prime target for the Nazis and they declared her sunk numerous times some for propaganda and some from legit thoughts of the bombs hitting their target when they in fact missed.
Another thing skipped over is that after the war she was slated to be given to China and New York was offered to the State of New York which they refused. She would go on to be a test ship in the atom bomb tests and politicians from Texas approached the US Government about taking Texas which is what saved her from being passed off to China.
Worth every penny.
Come On Texas!
Thanks for another wonderful THG episode. My uncle was a sailor, who served on the USS Texas. My dad (an Army medic) was in the Okinawa campaign, first on the off-shore island of Ie Shima (pronounced "eye-yee shee-ma", not "lay shee-ma" as in the THG video) and later on Okinawa itself until he came home in November 1945. Both of them proudly served their country, one for 14 years and the other for 28 years. A big "Thank You!" to all who have served, are currently serving, or who will serve.
Thank You "The History Guy"! My mom who would have been 84 this year always shared the story of how all the school children in her time raised money across the state in Texas to make the ship a museum. It was the last of the "Dreadnaught" battleships.
I couldn't imagine what that would be like in real life. Great story telling as usual!
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What a wonderful video. My father served onboard Texas from 1930 to 1938. I was fortunate to be able to tour her when my ship visited Houston in 1993.
The history of the USS Texas is incredible
Thanks
That picture of the dry-docked Texas is wonderful. She really is a beautiful ship, even out of the water.
Thanks for the spotlight on my ship! I served 5 years on the USS TEXAS CGN39. Since it has been cut up and sold for scrap we TEXAS sailors (CGN39) have now taken the Battleship TEXAS as our ship since it is still around and needs our help. Great video, keep it up!
My favorite on going topic 😎 my dear dreadnought.
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My father made sure that we climbed aboard and walked around on the great ship the U.S. Texas. I was even allowed below decks and also I was allowed to go into one of her Main Gun Torrent's. This was around 1972 and I think it was Galveston or perhaps Huston. I was young at the time. My father had been a Merchant Sailor since before he was 16 and he was in our Navy during WWII and later was a U.S. Merchant Marine until he died around 1973. A year earlier I flew to Galveston Texas to visit him in the Merchant Marine Hospital. He told me the story that the night before he had to eat a lot of bananas to make the weight the day he enlisted into the Navy and he lied about his age to get in. He was a Sailor all his life. He was born while his father was out at Sea working a shrimp boat. The named my father "Signal" because when he was born my grandfather received the signal informing him of his fathers birth on May 7, 1920. God Bless you Dad and Grandpa! You know what, I miss my Father! He was honest and had good morels and set an excellent example, yes he had his problems when he was a young man but he overcame them and had a family. I still miss my Father!
I am proud of our Navy and of the U.S.S. Texas and all the brave me who served on her. Sailors sacrifice a lot to do their job, please remember this. -Peter age 72
Great video. I toured the USS Texas around 2015. It was the favorite part of my vacation. I can't even imagine what the sailors has to endure being at battle stations for almost 2 months straight.
Those sailors endured surviving. Something that many did not do. The USS Texas was and remains a charmed ship. The whole battle and no one died. That's amazing.
50 days of battle quarters.. Any grunt in the mud and wet of the front lines would have traded places any time.
My great-uncle Chuck was a USMC night fighter pilot who flew nighttime patrols over Okinawa. Almost died on takeoff one evening after crashing during a Japanese bombing. Hit a crater with one of his wheels and careened into a C-47. Spent the rest of the war in hospital recovering from burns.
Seen her in dry dock Sunday. Texas kids gathered penny's to buy her from the navy. She is ours. Massive ship. She will be our monument forever. Hull looks good actually. Blisters have deteriorated but hull good. We love her.
Great state and even better battleship. Right next to my Arkansas.
I'll be in Galveston soon and get another chance to see her again
My brother lives on the island.
Honestly it for the next couple years your best bet for seeing her is right here on CZcams
This is the last pre world war one dreadnought class battleship in the world. This is a piece of history that should be preserved as long as we can.
thanks
Thank You for the newfound respect/admiration for the Battleship Texas!
When my Dad joined the Navy in 1937 he was assigned to the USS Texas for training. He always talked fondly of that time saying how much he loved that ship and especially her crew. From Texas he was assigned to the USS Lexington just in time for the Battle Of Coral Sea where he was seriously wounded and ended up being medically discharged and sent home...very disappointed.
Battleship Texas -- no longer USS Texas; that name now belongs to a nuclear submarine -- is the flagship of the Texas Navy. The needed repairs she's receiving now will cost more than the cost to build her more than a century ago. The grand old lady still has a lot of life in her but will need to be cared for if she's to last another hundred years. Thank you for remembering her service and the sacrifices of her crew.
0% inflation!
@@oldsguy354 not every artifact is destined to be an integral part of history. The Texas made its mark though. Though it took a while to do it. when I think of all of the programs we waste money on everything invested into the Texas is money well spent as far as I'm concerned. We spent 40 million dollars buying junkies crack pipes. That could have bought some nice armor plate.
@@1pcfred Hell, $40 million would go a good way towards new boilers and triple expansion steam engine repairs to make Texas self propelled again. Color me crazy, but I'd rather spend tax money on that rather than crack pipes.
I know that not all (or even many) historically significant things make it to museum. Most are lost or destroyed long before their significance is realized. That's why when we find items on a Civil War battlefield, or they find Roman artifacts in Britain, we recognize them as historically significant eventhough they were likely thrown away or abandoned as thrash when they were lost to history. Caring for an artifact as large as a battleship is difficult and expensive, never mind that it had significant value as scrap when Texans took on the chore. I'm just glad it was, and is recognized as something worth preserving. I wouldn't melt down gold Roman coins either. There value as an artifact is greater than their gold weight value, but it wasn't always like that, untold amounts of them were melted down to create other gold things when they had more value as melt than as old coins. A huge pile of gold coins is easier to preserve than a huge battleship made of ferrous materials floating in the ocean, so the feat is quite impressive to me.
@@oldsguy354 the Texas doesn't have to steam under its own power anymore. Especially if it means changing the original engines.
Thanks for supporting the battleship Texas. She is the only dreadnought or standard type battleship left and I am glad she is being preserved.
i had the opportunity to tour the Texas in Nov, 2008. At the time, she had sprung a few leaks but nothing too bad. Still, the Curator knew she needed major work and soon. They had the plans for the work and was trying to raise money for the dry dock repairs at the time. I was EXTREMELY fortunate to have the opportunity to actually see her engines at a time when the area was closed off to the public due to leak repair. It turns out that the ENGINES are a National Landmark in and of themselves. Amazing history and significance, thanks for telling her story - one chapter at a time.
We Texans love our battleship. My friends and I would visit her practically every weekend. That is until girls came into our lives. Some of us had girlfriends that would visit Texas with us. Fun times, great memories.
Thank you for such a great and important remembrance.
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My Dad was on the USS Laws, a Fletcher class destroyer at the same time. His ship ran the picket line to spot aircraft trying to take out the larger ships. I applaud all those who served so faithfully during this battle. Like the Texas, the Laws did not loose a single person in the battle.
Saw an update on the boat just the other day, nearly finished.
Surely was a fact, the men serving on the ole girl were certainly men of steel!
Great job Guy!
For so long I thought that the Dreadnaught USS Texas would be lost due to the ignorance and selfishness of politicians and bureaucrats, but now she may well get the comprehensive repair that will save her. She needs to be installed in a well designed berth where she can continue to educate and inspire. Great job, History Guy, on an excellent documentary.
Being a Texan, my heart beats a little faster when I read or see anything about this grand old lady. I toured her in the late "70s and felt only the tiniest bit of what the sailors might have felt. They made the Texas great but then the name of Texas makes about anything great!! Really enjoyed your clip on this. My uncle was on Okinawa after the fighting stopped. He had to reconnoiter the caves where the Japanese soldiers were holed up. He did this after all the naplam , etc. had been used; he had to find the bodies or the live soldiers. He told my mother about it one time and didn't speak of it again. He couldn't, it made him sick.
I have read Ernie Pyle's WWII writing. I am impressed with how naturally he worked in the names and hometowns and units of the average G.I.
So true and that was the reason he was so loved by the men. He talked in their language and didn't write many stories about grand battles but about the little guy and how he was doing.
@@korbell1089 absolutely, true, I don't know how many times I have read Guadalcanal Diary.
Indeed. One of the most shocking deaths I’ve read of in combat, the other being Naval Surgeon Lieutenant Peter Arioli. In the last stand of Fox company by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin, About Fox company of the second battalion of the seventh Marines in Korea at the Chosin Reservoir. When he learned of how badly off the company was and how many Corpsmen where dead and those left overwhelmed with casualties, the Lieutenant volunteered to accompany a helicopter pilot who was making a battery supply run, in and of itself it perilous undertaking due to the stupendously cold conditions and the failure rate of lubrication and helicopter transmissions.
Lt. Arioli was shot in the head and killed by a Chinese sniper within a couple of days of arriving. There wasn’t even an engagement at the moment, he stepped out of the medical tent do you have a word with CO Captain Barber, opened his mouth to speak and was shot dead.
Thanks for more History on WW2 MY uncle was on the TEXAS at this battle he did not talk much about the war. Thanks again how i know more about want they did for your FREEDOM we have today.
I have a close and rather unusual relationship and tie to the USS Texas and The San Jacinto monument. They are normally in the same spot. The Texas is not there currently because she's in dry dock. Anyway, My Pawpaw was a merchant marine and welder as a profession. When Grandma wanted him home and not at sea, he welded. He did some work out there for the park service and welded my initials in a couple inconspicuous places. So that whole place has a special place in my heart. He was taken from me prematurity while docked in New Orleans.
He drowned there after being ordered by the ship's captain to unfoul a prop. The only equipment he was provided was some goggles and a rope around his waist. They found his body three days later. I'm almost 50 now. I miss him just as much today as back then. There's more but just typing this hurts to much. maybe i'll be able to finish this later. I Love you Pawpaw
It's been a few days since I first typed the above part. I do apologize for getting a bit emotionally of topic. May seem a bit childish at the age of 49. But as a child my Pawpaw was the only adult that wasn't abusive towards me. He was the only family member to get me after I was abandoned by my mother at 6 months old. As well as doing his best to protect me from my father, after being forced to give me to my father by the courts. So losing him was extremely difficult and very painful.
And still is, obviously, from time to time.
So If you've made it this far. I do thank you for taking the time to read all this. Again, my apologies for the emotional sidetrack. Y'all have the best day possible and more importantly, be safe out there.
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Very much appreciated. Well done.
I follow the repairs on the Texas and really appreciate this story on her history.
Canuck here. No wonder the USS Texas is so revered by Americans! What a legacy!
I love how they are giving her the attention she needs!!
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It's great that some of these ships have been saved.
Good video.
Thank you.
This just about completes your Battleship Texas series.
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I can see the ship right now out my window here in Galveston, TX. Viewers should note that there is a campaign underway right now to keep the ship permanently docked here in Galveston after repairs are finished.
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My brothers are all BOIs. One lives on 67th St.
This ship was already on my bucket list when I retire in the next 10 years, fitting for this story at this time, thank you History Guy!
I spent an entire day aboard the USS Texas about 10 years ago as a tourist. I also served as an LT(jg) on board the USS Guadalcanal, LPH-7, and did a tour on board the USS Independence, CV-62 at a LT. My primary battle station was as a damage control Division leader, on the hanger and flight decks. You know, where most of the things that go Boom, the JP5, the diesel, and other aviation gases are kept for ready flight ops. I have spent hours upon hours at sea at "battle stations", and that is draining in every sense of the word. But 50 days ! That is insane. Despite being a battleship the USS Texas really is not that large. My heart goes out to those poor SOB'S that had to stand that duty. It makes the hardest days I had in the North Atlantic look like a pleasure cruise. Not sure I could have done what those brave men did so well. Bravo Zulu men. Bravo Zulu.
I had the pleasure of touring USS Texas in 1962, would really love see Her again !
Being a native of Houston, we went to see the USS Texas many times. As a 14yr Army Vet, I have incredible respect for those “men of iron” that crewed the Texas & was at Battle Stations for 50+ days.
Thank You History Guy for your documentation of the Greatest Generation that staffed this mighty ship!
Go USS Texas!
This must be your 3rd? video about USS Texas? You rock! Love my hometown BB-35
l have been watching the work being done to the USS TEXAS.....Thanks very much to THG🎀......Shoe🇺🇸
I visited the Texas as a child on a 3rd grade field trip in 1977. Took a lot of photos with my little Kodak camera. I need to see if I can find them. Thanks for the history lesson and the memories.
Thanks for highlighting this remarkable service by that crew; doubtless no matter how hard it was maintaining battle stations for so long, they all knew they had to give all they could for their comrades on the invasion beaches, and they most certainly did.
THG I love all the history you bring each week. Simply amazing and passionate is your delivery. It's as if you were there yourself!
The History Guy is the best at telling War stories. He's fast and he gets lots of info. out.
Thanks for the the USS Texas plug. We have been fighting for years to help keep her afloat. It would be disrespectful to let he go away after what her crew did in WWII!
My grandfathers ship was on the radar picket line at Okinawa. Managed to survive with only very minor damage to the mast. That was the most costly battle for the USN in the war without doubt.
Two of the best things to come out of the state; the USS Texas and my wife, my own yellow rose of Texas for the last 43 years!
And for clarification are you using the term yellow rose in the correct sense or in a beauty sense cause people often don't know what yellow rose of Texas really means.
@@Milner62 She's a beauty!!
And good clarification request, married in '79.
@@tracytrawick322, Ok just wondering cause I hate to make an wrong assumption by what you mean.
Long live Battleship Texas.
I just donated to the Battleship Texas Foundation. Let's do our part so that she will be around for future generations.
To all of the men and women, past as well as present, whom have served our country in the cause of freedom, my fond admiration and gratitude far surpasses my written words. Thank you.
Watching her move through the water to dry dock, this video and this comment section are wonderfully heartwarming!!!
As an old salt, these are some of my favorite stories. :)
Makes my heart swell to hear praise of the USS Texas.
Great episode. I have memories of walking the decks of the Texas while moored in the Galveston in the 70's. I am glad that it is being saved from the ravages of the sea and time.
That end photo is magnificent - glad to see the old girl getting some well deserved love.
Great episode!! Come on Texas !!
Thank you to the greatest generation. We are indebted to you.
My dad was a gunners mate in the USS Texas before the war started. He said one time they fired a broadside while he was on mess duty and in the onion locker. He said dozens of onions literally burst apart and it was like an instant onion blizzard around him.
If you are reading this, pls know that falling down is an accident....but staying down is a choice... but I rather choose to stand up☺️❤️
Fall Five Times, Rise Six
Sorry if I'm writing only now but I want to congratulate you on this excellent video on the USS Texas (BB-35) that provided great service since the the start of 2nd WW until the final shooting at Okinawa. Possibly the most decorated US battleship of the war. Yes, USS Texas and the crew deserve to be remembered...
THG is a national treasure. Thank you for doing what you do sir. DD214 USN 1986 NEC 3383/3393
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My Dad served on the USS Texas in the Pacific. Being assigned to here after basic and as she cross from Atlantic to pacific. I don't know allot of details. Cause as you know, our parents from WW2 didn't talk much. I do know he was on a 5 inch gunner. Something about aiming it and pulling the trigger when told. Or something like that. He did tell me about picking up a downed Japanese pilot. And he spoke very highly of the Captain. They were definitely the greatest generation.
I am currently following the repairs on the Texas. Very nice to see this!
Really great story .... ‘67-69 E-5 Navy corpsman Abilene , texas
I am glad that the Texas is still around.
Wow that’s amazing and at general quarters for 50 days that’s nuts. Great story
So cool it's being preserved, what an awesome career she had!
Thanks History Guy and History Research Team. She's an amazing old ship.
Thanks for another great video!
Thank you Lance , for another wonderful trip to the past !