Invading Texas

CK at Battleship Texas 

On October 31st we arrived in the "lonestar" state for a book signing event on board the Battleship Texas (http://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/battleship-texas).

Battleship Texas (BB-35)
La Porte, TX

This ship, BB-35, was first launched in 1912 and served in both World Wars.  She is the last dreadnought class ship in the world that is still afloat.  During WWI she provided escorted convoys heading across the Atlantic.  Over 2 million members of the American Expeditionary Force crossed the Atlantic to fight the Kaiser's army.

The Eyes of Texas are upon you!

In World War II the big 14" guns of the Texas provided shore bombardment for the D-day landings on June 6, 1944, just over 70 years ago.

In our recently published America Invades we mention the role Texas played that day and its lasting impact...

Pointe du Hoc
Normandy, France

Bloody Omaha had received an abbreviated naval bombardment from ships such as the battleship Texas lasting only thirty-five minutes. Its bare beaches offered no cover for the American invaders as German machine guns from fortified gun emplacements swept the beaches. The US Rangers, who had trained earlier on the cliffs of Dorset, scaled the sheer cliffs of Pointe Du Hoc while being shot at by German soldiers; their mission was to destroy artillery pieces that threatened to sweep the landing zones. Their commander that day was Lieutenant Colonel James Rudder. Unknown to Rudder’s Rangers, most of the artillery had already been moved by the Germans. They held the position for two days in the face of fierce counterattacks by the 916th Grenadiers. At the Ranger memorial at Pointe du Hoc, one can still see massive craters created by Allied naval bombardment on D-Day. 

Source: America Invades, www.amzn.com/1940598427

AI + Battleship Texas
La Porte, TX

In 1945, having passed through the Panama canal, she would provide shore bombardment for the Marine landings on Iwo Jima.

CK on board the Texas

We had a great time meeting tourists on board the ship as well as a dedicated group of volunteers and professionals that keep the ship open and available to the public.  The non profit Battleship Texas Foundation does a terrific job of preserving our naval history (http://battleshiptexas.org/).

Welcome to Texas

Thanks for your service Texas!

Special thanks to Jim and Maria Hooper of Houston, TX.  Thanks for the Texas hospitality.

www.americainvades.com

www.amzn.com/1940598427