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The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department works cooperatively with the San Jacinto Historical Advisory Board, Battleship Texas Foundation and San Jacinto Museum of History Association, to manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of this important site. Those col-lective efforts are showcased in these pages for the benefit of our devoted constituents – enjoy your newsletter – and thanks for your support!

24 November 2014

San Jacinto Battleground Battleship TEXAS SHS

7 December 2014

“Pearl Harbor Ceremony aboard the TEXAS” photos by LTjg Barry Barlow, USNSCC and courtesy of Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle

The Battleship TEXAS was privileged again this year to host the 29th Annual commemoration Pearl Harbor Cere-mony Saturday, December 6th. This ceremony paid tribute to both those who perished and those who survived the horrendous attack on Pearl Harbor seventy-three years ago on December 7, 1941. The early Sunday morning surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by the Imperial Japanese Navy served as the catalyst for the United States entry into World War II in both the Pacific and European theaters. Over 2,300 Americans were killed, and more than 1,200 were wounded when over 350 Japanese planes struck U.S. soil. The Texas Commandery of the Naval Order of the United States and First TEXAS Volunteer Tom Gillette, along with representatives from the sons and daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors , Naval Sea Cadets, Sea Scouts, Civil Air Patrol Cadets, the South East Texas Patriot Guard Riders, students of the National Social Studies Honor Society at Clear Falls High School, Eagle Band of Liberty, Air Force, the U.S. Marine Corps and many family and friends gathered on the bow of the ship to remember the thousands of sailors, marines, soldiers and civilians that died or survived the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941.

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Former Navy officer Thomas Gillette recalls being ten-years-old and living near

the Pear Harbor Naval Station as the Japanese attack planes flew over his house

in route to attack the base.

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Keynote speaker Tom Gillette’s father, Rear Admiral Claude Gillette, was manager of Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard responsible for fleet repairs in Hawaii. On December 7, 1941, Tom was in the sixth grade and the family lived a few hundred yards from Battleship Row directly in the path of the incoming Japanese attack on the shipyard. Fortunately, none of his family was injured during the attack. Tom served in the Navy from 1952 to 1955 as a ship repair officer. The sons and daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors read the names of survivors who have passed in the last two years and assisted in throwing a lei into the water as a memorial to the survivors and those who lost their lives. A four-plane flyby was performed by the Commemorative Air Force and the U.S. Marine Corps Honor Guard gave a gun salute. The Naval Order of the United States is the oldest American hereditary exclusive naval society. The mission of the Naval Order is to preserve, promote, celebrate, and enjoy our Nation’s sea service history and heritage through com-memorating important historical events, supporting the study of naval history, and the preservation of sea service his-torical artifacts, documents, and monuments.

Pearl Harbor survivors children Lori LaGesse, (right) and Jeff Smith Lori LaGesse Cento, tosses a wreath off the deck of the TEXAS

Sea Cadets South East Texas Patriot Guard Riders

Left: Civil Air Patrol Cadets

Center: US Naval Cadet Blake Lieb of Sugar Land holds the American flag as the cadets present the colors

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“Newly Elected 2015 FTV Officers” photo by Terry McIntire

Please join me in congratulating the new First TEXAS Volunteer (FTV) officers for 2015, President Lee McIntire, Vice-President of Restoration, Tony Adams, Secretary Suzanne Riggenbach, Vice President of Docents, Tom Scott and Master at Arms, Stan Adams. The FTV plays a very important role at the Battleship TEXAS. The man hours they put in during restoration projects, special events, those unique behind the scenes hard hat tours, as-sisting with school groups and other guided tours not to mention the time and devotion they spend daily just helping to promote the ship and why we have to protect this valuable piece of history. We thank them all year long for all their hard work but it never

seems like enough thank you’s can be given for this very special group of folks who donate their time and their money for no other reason than the love of the Battleship TEXAS. From all the staff at San Jacinto State Historic Site and the Battleship TEXAS State Historic Site we salute you, say thank you and we look forward to working with each and every one of you in another year. Kudos!!!!! ……………

L-R: Lee, Tony, Suzanne, Tom and Stan

“Fynn and the Quisenberry’s” photo courtesy of Ian Quisenberry

This week we want to feature another outstanding member of the First TEXAS Volunteers, Ryan Flynn. Ryan came out to the ship this week and gave a guided tour to Ms. Bev Quisenberry and her family. His love of the TEXAS shows in each email we receive telling our staff what a great job our volunteers do and we agree with them 100%.

“We had a great time and found the tour extremely interest-ing. Ryan was very knowledgeable and shared many interesting anecdotes with us. My husband absolutely loved the whole expe-

rience. I, too, am very interested in all things historical and am still talking about the tour! Thank you for your part in preserving such a historical treasure as the USS Texas, and making available to the public. Our country is rich in his-tory and this ship tour is a great way to experience a piece of the past! Bev Quisenberry.

“Welcome Lollar” photo by Katelyn Shaver

This week we welcome our sixth set of park hosts to San Jacinto Terry & Brenda Lollar. This is the couples first time to park host here in the park. Originally from Northeast Texas around Sulpher Springs but calls Greenville, Texas home. Terry is currently working for Explorer Pipeline and has been on their payroll f or 17 years now. Brenda is retired administrator for an Assisted Living in Dallas. Brenda loves photography, crafting, and Terry fishing, hiking and hunting. They both share the same common goal and that is to travel the world park host-

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“A Piece of USS TEXAS Comes Home” photo by Chris Oxley

On December 1st, members of the Battleship TEXAS Foundation presented Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) with a piece of the USS TEXAS (BB-35), celebrating 100 years since the ship’s commissioning. NNS President Matt Mulherin received the commemorative gift on behalf of the shipyard. Made of origi-nal riveted, salvaged steel from the old battle-ship, the piece measures 16” by 16” and weighs 29 pounds. Andy Smith, the ship manager, was one of those presenting the steel plate. “Today was all about giving a piece of the ship back to the shipyard,” said Smith. “The Newport News shipbuilders here in 1912 to 1914 built a high-quality ship, and we feel strongly that you should recognize the people who make things possible. It’s only fitting that this piece of

steel comes back to the place where the ship was built. It’s almost like a homecoming”. USS TEXAS is one of six remaining ships to have served in both world wars. In World War II, she shelled Axis-held beaches in Normandy before being transferred to the Pacific Theater where she would support the Battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. She holds the distinction of being the first U.S. battleship to mount anti-aircraft guns and the first U.S. battleship to launch an aircraft and the first battleship to become a U.S. National Historic Landmark. Today she is the only remaining dreadnought battleship in the world, a testament to the craftsmanship of her ship-builders. TEXAS was decommissioned in 1948, having earned a total of five battle stars for her service in World War II.

L-R: Jeff Nilsson, Andy Smith, Matt Mulherin, Anthony Gregory and Stephanie Croatt

“Congrats Faulkner & Shaver” photo courtesy of Chris Holmes

Please join us in congratulating our two newest “Certified Interpretive Guides”, ship’s curator assistant Sarah Faulkner and park interpreter Katelyn Shaver.

The ladies just completed a week long training course at Lake Brownwood State Park just a few short six hours from La Porte in Brownwood, Texas. Did they pass? Why of course they did and with flying colors! Congrats!

I know its hard to tell who’s who but Sarah is in a blue shirt on the stairs closet to the bottom and Katelyn is in the front row third from the left in green. Yea I know they are all in green. Look for the green vested one.

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“Texas State Parks Offer Gifts, Events for the Holidays” TPWD media contacts: Stephanie Salinas and Thomas Wilhelm

With Christmas only a few weeks away, take time to get away from the craze of gift shopping and other holiday mad-ness at a Texas state park. “State parks have long been associated with the summer holidays, but some of the best programming for the entire year happens around Thanksgiving and Christmas,” says Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Thomas Wilhelm, market-ing and branding manager for Texas State Parks. In the spirit of the season, state parks will be hosting more than 50 holiday- themed events from Dec. 1 until after Christmas at more than 40 parks across the state. A new brochure is available at all state parks and Texas Travel Information Centers with details of each event. The 12-page booklet includes images of past events and a map of all parks offering holiday happenings. The brochure is also available online at www.texasstateparks.org/holiday. Can’t make it to a park or want to take home something to commemorate the holidays? Take a piece of the parks home with you by purchasing a Texas state park ornament. For the past 13 years, TPWD has offered Christmas ornaments featuring some of the most recognizable landscapes from the Texas state park system. This year the ornaments are showcasing Independence Hall at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site, the Texas state bison herd at Caprock Canyons State Park and a horseback rider gazing at the majesty of Big Bend Ranch State Park. All of the ornaments can be found and purchased at: texasstateparks.org/ornament. The ornaments are $8.95 each, or $19.95 for the set of three. During the month of December, if you purchase a Texas State Park gift card valued at $75 or more, you can receive a free 2014 ornament.

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December Has Been Declared Children's Safe Toys Awareness Month

Quote of the Week

Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt (October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919) The 26th President of the United States (1901–1909). Morris Michtom, owner of a Brooklyn toy store, was inspired to make a stuffed bear cub and name it after President Roosevelt, and the “Teddy Bear” was born.

Quote: Old age is like everything else. To make a success of it, you've got to start young.

This Day in Texas History

Nov 24 Joseph F. Glidden patents barbed wire in DeK-alb, Texas in 1874 . Nov 25 The Texas Navy is created in 1835. Nov 26 Kit Carson and his men defeat a band of Kio-wa's and Comanche's in a battle at Adobe Walls in 1864. Nov 27 Macario Garcia of Sugarland, Texas is award-ed the Medal of Honor in 1944. Nov 28 “Holiday” a labor-union at Galveston docks protests black laborers & begins a segregation war in 1882. Nov 29 John Magruder “Prince John” arrives in TX to take command of the Confederate forces in 1862. Nov 30General Sam Houston welcomed David N. Burke's Mobile Grays to San Antonio in 1835. Dec 1 Bids for Battleship TEXAS construction are opened in 1910 . Dec 2 Sam Houston first sets foot on Texas soil, at the Jonesboro Crossing on the Red River in 1832. Dec 3 100 Polish families arrive in Galveston, mark-ing the start of major Polish immigration to Texas in 1854. Dec 4 Carl G. (the Big Swede) Cromwell drilled the world's deepest oil well at the University of Texas land in Reagan County in 1928.

Dec 5 Texas revolutionary army began its assault on the Mexican garrison at San Antonio de Béxar in 1835.

Dec 6 Ben Boynton the first native Texan to achieve All-American football status is born in Waco in 1898. Dec 7 The bombing of Pearl Harbor plunges the U.S. into WWII in 1941.

Upcoming Events Dec 13 Yuletide TEXAS “A Sailors Christmas” Dec 13 Dr. Who Event ( Battleship TEXAS) Dec 13 Chuck E. Cheese Visits the TEXAS

Picture from the Past

Battleship TEXAS - 1945

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“Man Verses Beast” photos by Jason Starek

This week we bring you a heart warming story of man verses beast, a tale of intrigue, mystery, suspense, and a little excitement all wrapped up in one, well that’s the way this little girl might have seen it anyway. It started on a cold wet morning, when our maintenance mechanic Jason Starek spotted something trapped in one of the feral hog traps we keep stored over behind the maintenance area we call the “Retreat”. Why this little girl choose to go in is the mystery part, and why she choose to stick her head through a hole that is obvi-ously way to small for her head is the intriguing part and why she didn’t take Jason’s hand off at the wrist is the sus-penseful part and the exciting part well that was wrapped together with the intriguing part of how to keep this scared and very angry little lady from removing his hand or at least a few fingers. Jason finally managed to encourage her with a little probing and pushing with a VERY long stick to get this quite beau-tiful but very tired, cold, wet, hungry and extremely upset little ladies head out from between the cage bars. Well upset might be a kind word MAD was more like it according to Jason. But free she was and free she will remain if she can keep her nose out of TPWD business. Congratulations to Jason for a job well done, for keeping all his fingers, and for rescuing one of Gods creatures.