USO Canteen FReeper Style....Chaplain Corps We Thank you....June 2,2002

A Special Tribute by SpookBrat and Snow Bunny and FRiends of the USO Canteen FReeper Style

[Bigoleelephant]

I have a friend going to the Chaplain boot camp today in South Carolina for 6 weeks. Somehow I think you knew these guys were leaving today to take on this tremendous challenge. I pray for them all.

[aomagrat]

Today's classic warship, by special request, USS Texas (BB-35)

New York class (New York Class!?!?!? Say it ain't so!!!!)
Displacement. 27,000
Length. 573'0"
Beam. 95'2 1/2"
Draft. 29'7"
Speed. 21.05 k.
Complement. 954
Armament. 10 14", 21 5", 4 3-pdrs., 4 21" torpedo tubes
Commissioned on 12 March 1914
Decommissioned on 21 April 1948 and turned over to the state of Texas to serve as a permanent memorial

USS Texas, a 27,000-ton New York class battleship built at Newport News, Virginia, was commissioned in March 1914. In May, she steamed to Vera Cruz to support the occupation of that Mexican city. Regular operations with the Atlantic Fleet began in mid-year and continued to January 1918. The battleship then crossed the ocean to join the Grand Fleet in the North Sea, where she remained to the end the First World War. Texas returned to the United States in late December 1918 and again took up her duties with the Atlantic Fleet.

Reassigned to the Pacific Fleet in mid-1919, Texas came back to the Atlantic in 1924, when she again visited Europe on a training cruise. The ship received new oil-fired boilers and many improvements to her combat systems in a major modernization that began in 1925. With her appearance transformed, Texas' operations alternated between the Atlantic and the Pacific until 1931, when her base was shifted to California. For the next six years, she served as a fleet and division flagship during regular U.S. Fleet exercises. Texas briefly revisited the Atlantic in 1936 and was sent back to that ocean in 1937 for service that would last until late in 1944.

During 1937-39, Texas kept busy training the Navy's officers and men. When the Second World War began in September 1939, she joined other Atlantic Squadron ships in maintaining a Neutrality Patrol, an activity that became increasingly warlike when the U.S. Navy began convoying western Atlantic shiping in 1941. The next year, with the Nation now formally at war, Texas escorted troops and supplies to Panama, West Africa and the British Isles. A change in mission took place in October and November 1942, when she provided heavy gunfire support during the invasion of North Africa. Texas continued her Atlantic convoy escort duties through 1943 and beyond. In April 1944 she began preparations for the Normandy landings, which began on 6 June 1944, with Texas' 14-inch and 5-inch guns firing on German positions ashore for several days.

On the morning of 26 June, Texas closed in on the vital port of Cherbourg and, with Arkansas (BB-33), opened fire upon various fortifications and batteries surrounding the town. The guns on shore returned fire immediately and, at about 1230, succeeded in straddling Texas. The battleship, however, continued her firing runs in spite of shell geysers blossoming about her. The enemy gunners were stubborn and good. At 1316 a 280-millimeter shell slammed into her fire control tower, killed the helmsman, and wounded nearly everyone on the navigation bridge. Texas' commanding officer, Capt. Baker, miraculously escaped unhurt and quickly had the bridge cleared, The warship herself continued to deliver her 14-inch shells in spite of damage and casualties. Some time later, another shell struck the battleship. That one, a 240-millimeter armor-piercing shell, crashed through the port bow, entered a compartment located below the wardroom, but failed to explode. Throughout the three-hour duel, the Germans straddled and near-missed Texas over 65 times, but she continued her mission until 1600 when, upon orders to that effect, she retired. Her heavy guns were again active in August, this time in the Mediterranean Sea in support of landings in Southern France.

After an overhaul, Texas went to the Pacific, arriving in the war zone in time to take part in the February 1945 Iwo Jima invasion. From late March to late May, she operated off Okinawa, firing her guns against Japanese positions and helping to fight off suicide plane attacks. Texas was preparing for the invasion of Japan when the war ended in August 1945. She left the Western Pacific in late September and spent the next three months transporting veterans home. Returning to the Atlantic coast in February 1946, Texas was inactive until April 1948, when she was placed out of commission and turned over to the State of Texas. She has been maintained as a memorial at San Jacinto ever since.

The USS Texas is the oldest surviving US Battleship.

[tomkow6]

Good morning, Snow Bunny! Good morning, all!

Here's a picture to add to today's thread:

[mountaineer]

Thank you for today's beautiful Canteen thread. I've been out of town and away from my 'puter for a week, and it's great to be able to visit FR's USO Canteen again.

[COB1]

Beautiful thread, dear Snow Bunny, as always.
Thanks, Spookie, for the well written information.
Check y'all later.
Have a great day!

[Aquamarine]

Good morning all. This thread is beautiful, you write so well Spook.

Cick on the pic

[Aquamarine]

Cick = Click
(note to self: put your glasses on when you do this)

[Diver Dave]

Thanks for the morning message in song. I have to imagine the sound since I can't seem to get midi's to play on this machine. All other type sound files are okay, just a problem with midi.

Shouldn't be hard to imagine the song though. That was the first solo I ever sang in church - way back when I was 15. Now, only the dog is audience to my solos. I think he's checking to see if I'm in pain, or he's in pain and wants me to stop.

[Scuttlebutt]

A salute to the Chaplain Corps.

If you're not too busy this Sunday morning, come join the thread and tell us a few of your stories when you were serving as a Chaplain during WWII, Korea, and 'Nam.

[Diver Dave]

Mornin' Bunny. Nice tribute to the Military Chaplains.

One of the many duties of our chaplain way back then was to pass on the sad information of a death in the family to crew members when he had been notified by the Red Cross.

I received two such messages in a three month period concerning Mrs. DD's two grandmothers. He and his office would make all the necessary arrangements for emergency leave. Because these deaths were not immediate family, I wasn't allowed emergency leave, but he did help with sending a telegram back to the family. Nowdays, with the internet, the old method is probably obsolete.

[SassyMom]

This precious baby will be in my prayers. God bless and comfort you and your family.

[SassyMom]

Thank you so much for this wonderful thread today.

[SassyMom]

Thank you for finding this info on the USS Texas.

[SAMWolf]

Another great thread and on a topic that is often overlooked when we talk about our Military. Thanks.

[Pippin]

Hey! Good Morning! Sassy, You missed a great party last night. We sacrificed Sam to the volcano, Pele! LOL

[CIApilot]

Chief of Chaplains
Military Chaplains Ass'n

[CIApilot]

Darn those frames...Chief of Chaplains

[SAMWolf]

Day Two - The In-Laws Invade Oregon.

My son tried to win the pool by starting an arguement. He was reminded by the remaing pool entrants that the rules specifically state the in-laws have to start the arguement.

One more attempt and he is disqualified. He still has a chance to win. He picked 24 hours and that won't be up until about 2pm our time.

The offering of rye bread has sort of appeased me for now, but eating the first loaf already did not make up for my lost Canteen time. I will start the second loaf this morning. Rye and SPAM sandwiches for breakfast. Yummm!

[SassyMom]

I was at a party last night. Ummmmmm, I was wondering if everyone could whisper in the Canteen today. *giggle*

You sacrificed Sam to a volcano????? I think I may have to go back and read last nights thread.

Hey Sam, are you ok?????

[SAMWolf]

U.S soldiers arrive for the annual Cooperation Afloat and Readiness Training (CARAT) mission in Situbondo, East Java, Indonesia, Sunday, June 2, 2002. 1,400 U.S servicemen in Indonesia are taking part in a joint humanitarian exercise with the Indonesian navy, sparking criticism from human rights activist who oppose Washington's policy of limited contact with the Indonesian forces. (AP Photo/Guntur Alphin)

U.S. servicemen take part in the annual Cooperation Afloat and Readiness Training (CARAT) mission in Situbondo, East Java, Indonesia, Sunday, June 2, 2002. 1,400 U.S servicemen in Indonesia are taking part in a joint humanitarian exercise with the Indonesian navy, sparking criticism from human rights activist who oppose Washington's policy of limited contact with the Indonesian forces. (AP Photo/Guntur Alphin)

U.S servicemen park an armored personnel carrier during the annual Cooperation Afloat and Readiness Training (CARAT) mission in Situbondo, East Java, Indonesia, Sunday, June 2, 2002. 1,400 U.S servicemen in Indonesia are taking part in a joint humanitarian exercise with the Indonesian navy, sparking criticism from human rights activist who oppose Washington's policy of limited contact with the Indonesian forces. (AP Photo/Guntur Alphin)