and World War 2!
There a number of WW II battleships still around.
The first time I saw The USS TEXAS was when visiting the San Jacinto Battlefield in 1970- I was 9 and it was the first time I ever saw a Warship in person.
She had holes rusted through at the waterline and was in the need of repairs and general maintenance but one could “feel” the history and weirdly the feel of Battle and Triumph or the Good and Bad times that occurred on the Ship would be closer to the feeling I had as a 9 year old kid.
I remember going below Deck and it was Texas in summer so in the high 90’s-low 100’s and I was surprised to find it was not as hot as I expected. There was a big industrial stand fan in one compartment moving the air around and there was a mixed smell of metal/paint/rust/petroleum: Fuel oil, grease, etc.
I lived in Texas for 36+ years and never made it back to the USS TEXAS. Next trip back will have to include a revisit.