Texas still exists and is worth a visit. Currently it is undergoing dockyard restoration in Galveston, TX. It should be on display again after that, either at Galveston or Baytown. (I am hoping for Baytown, even though it would be a longer trip. The fresh water would be better for the hull.)
If my memory serves, the British did not want us to send our newest ships, because they were all oil burners, and oil was limited in the UK at the time. The ships sent were older, coal powered types.
You're still hang'in in there. And it's appreciated. BZ. I'm back to daily CS review now that Rush, Ol'e Remus and Gerrard Vanderleun broke their flags for good. Carry on.
Whether or not the USA should have gotten involved in the Great War earlier is an interesting debate. It's entirely plausible that the threat of American intervention in 1914 would have stopped the Austro-Serbian war from exploding into a larger conflict. On the other hand, what was OUR national interest in a European war? The Zimmermann telegram exposed German plans to pull Mexico into the war if the USA intervened in Europe, giving us a causus belli. But earlier? Much harder to make the case.
Both my granddads were too old for WWI. But in WWII had 3 uncles (Don, Dale, John) on a small repair ship, destroyer and battleship & destroyer in the Pacific. 1 uncle (Kenny) in the Atlantic on two destroyers (one was sunk). Another uncle, a Naval officer (Paul) on the Manhattan Project. My dad was a USAAF pilot in North Africa and the ETO. Uncle Reese was an Army grunt in the ETO. Uncle John and my dad were the only two to make the military a career. Both served in the Korean War too. Uncle John was also in Vietnam. Of the offspring, in my generation, 8 (7 cousins & my older brother) of us served, all in the Navy, all from the paternal side of the family. 6 men, 2 women, 5 for 4 years, 3 for a 24, 24 and 26 year career. The maternal side's kids were raised in California and had no interest in the Services. I know of only 1 in the next generation who served, one 4 years in the USMC and another now in the Army in another generation removed.
These traditions are why so many young men and women have been willing to go. The insulting of that memory has been part of the recruiting problem. My grandfathers were both Korean era veterans; one USAF enlisted and in theater, the other an aviation psychologist who says he spent the least amount of time on a ship possible for a Naval officer. Lest we forget them.
First ship was an AKA, newest in the fleet. Problem was steaming in formation required 15 knots, solo we could run at 20 knots with a flank of 23. Loved standing on the flybridge with saltwater spray in your face coming over the bow a long way away, running from Guam to Yokohama in a storm. Gators rule.
My Uncle served aboard the MARYLAND. His favorite sea story was getting up in the crows nest during typhoons. Just because it was a thriller. A veterans support group arranged for him to pilot a glider at 90 years old. He left the ships ball cap to one of his 13 children.
He passed at age 92. Tough old salt he was. Miss him.
I had a Maternal Uncle who was in the Merchant Marine during WW2 My Dad was Army so he ribbed him about being on a supply ship, crossing the Atlantic in style instead of suffering like the real men in the Army did.
He would just laugh and shake his head. See Uncle Buford served on a Tanker, Oil, Av Gas, Petroleum delivering heating fuel and such to Britain. Crossing the sea filled with German Wolf Packs.
Just a common merchant seaman and more of a Hero than my Dad knew.
He joined before the war started so saw a lot of ports that became occupied land later.
He told me when I asked what he did he said oh we sailed around and waited for that Torpedo, a floating target.
His Uniform looked like the Uniforms in your pictures.
No apologies necessary, great post. What a terriffic famly connection to a great ship. I am entering a bit of a writing doldrum myself because of a trip I'm taking. We are finally getting to bury my grandmother's brother next weekend, almost 80 years after he was lost in OP Tidal Wave.
I tell them that and yes I served with guys who liked guys, they kept it low profile not flagrant and if they did their jobs, had your back and were good Marines hey who cared.
I have a friend who runs a store in the town close to us who is a real normal gay guy. Never put moves on me or gets militant. He even has Religion and is a Christian.
The Grandsons are growing up, learning the hard way and easy way that is the way of life.
I think the youngest may just try for an aviation job after high school he is taking College courses now, His Dad was a multiple tour Marine S/Sgt in a HMLA in the sandboxes, went contractor, got out and turned that training he got at Millington and special schools into a six figure salary owns his own business and did good, the youngest has more rapport than the oldest. He has mentioned the Air Force more than once.
Concerning your second to last paragraph: throughout the course of time our allies paid multiple generations to war. Us? Not so much.
Feel ya. My grandfather (the Auld Soldier's Auld Soldier), was being a forward observer in France at the time your Pops was out cruising the briny.
Texas still exists and is worth a visit. Currently it is undergoing dockyard restoration in Galveston, TX. It should be on display again after that, either at Galveston or Baytown. (I am hoping for Baytown, even though it would be a longer trip. The fresh water would be better for the hull.)
If my memory serves, the British did not want us to send our newest ships, because they were all oil burners, and oil was limited in the UK at the time. The ships sent were older, coal powered types.
Sal,
You're still hang'in in there. And it's appreciated. BZ. I'm back to daily CS review now that Rush, Ol'e Remus and Gerrard Vanderleun broke their flags for good. Carry on.
Whether or not the USA should have gotten involved in the Great War earlier is an interesting debate. It's entirely plausible that the threat of American intervention in 1914 would have stopped the Austro-Serbian war from exploding into a larger conflict. On the other hand, what was OUR national interest in a European war? The Zimmermann telegram exposed German plans to pull Mexico into the war if the USA intervened in Europe, giving us a causus belli. But earlier? Much harder to make the case.
Both my granddads were too old for WWI. But in WWII had 3 uncles (Don, Dale, John) on a small repair ship, destroyer and battleship & destroyer in the Pacific. 1 uncle (Kenny) in the Atlantic on two destroyers (one was sunk). Another uncle, a Naval officer (Paul) on the Manhattan Project. My dad was a USAAF pilot in North Africa and the ETO. Uncle Reese was an Army grunt in the ETO. Uncle John and my dad were the only two to make the military a career. Both served in the Korean War too. Uncle John was also in Vietnam. Of the offspring, in my generation, 8 (7 cousins & my older brother) of us served, all in the Navy, all from the paternal side of the family. 6 men, 2 women, 5 for 4 years, 3 for a 24, 24 and 26 year career. The maternal side's kids were raised in California and had no interest in the Services. I know of only 1 in the next generation who served, one 4 years in the USMC and another now in the Army in another generation removed.
These traditions are why so many young men and women have been willing to go. The insulting of that memory has been part of the recruiting problem. My grandfathers were both Korean era veterans; one USAF enlisted and in theater, the other an aviation psychologist who says he spent the least amount of time on a ship possible for a Naval officer. Lest we forget them.
First ship was an AKA, newest in the fleet. Problem was steaming in formation required 15 knots, solo we could run at 20 knots with a flank of 23. Loved standing on the flybridge with saltwater spray in your face coming over the bow a long way away, running from Guam to Yokohama in a storm. Gators rule.
My Uncle served aboard the MARYLAND. His favorite sea story was getting up in the crows nest during typhoons. Just because it was a thriller. A veterans support group arranged for him to pilot a glider at 90 years old. He left the ships ball cap to one of his 13 children.
He passed at age 92. Tough old salt he was. Miss him.
I had a Maternal Uncle who was in the Merchant Marine during WW2 My Dad was Army so he ribbed him about being on a supply ship, crossing the Atlantic in style instead of suffering like the real men in the Army did.
He would just laugh and shake his head. See Uncle Buford served on a Tanker, Oil, Av Gas, Petroleum delivering heating fuel and such to Britain. Crossing the sea filled with German Wolf Packs.
Just a common merchant seaman and more of a Hero than my Dad knew.
He joined before the war started so saw a lot of ports that became occupied land later.
He told me when I asked what he did he said oh we sailed around and waited for that Torpedo, a floating target.
His Uniform looked like the Uniforms in your pictures.
No apologies necessary, great post. What a terriffic famly connection to a great ship. I am entering a bit of a writing doldrum myself because of a trip I'm taking. We are finally getting to bury my grandmother's brother next weekend, almost 80 years after he was lost in OP Tidal Wave.
I tell them that and yes I served with guys who liked guys, they kept it low profile not flagrant and if they did their jobs, had your back and were good Marines hey who cared.
I have a friend who runs a store in the town close to us who is a real normal gay guy. Never put moves on me or gets militant. He even has Religion and is a Christian.
The Grandsons are growing up, learning the hard way and easy way that is the way of life.
I think the youngest may just try for an aviation job after high school he is taking College courses now, His Dad was a multiple tour Marine S/Sgt in a HMLA in the sandboxes, went contractor, got out and turned that training he got at Millington and special schools into a six figure salary owns his own business and did good, the youngest has more rapport than the oldest. He has mentioned the Air Force more than once.
They may just be picking on Paw Paw LOL