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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTHC Medallion, WWII Special Edition was a global event that in fected every family in evelY mmunity. Transformations ut by the war - on both tl home fronts - also forever e character of Texas. The communities of the state, s ocke )y world events into a com- pletely new way of life, did not return to their pre-war existence, but instead were catapulted into a new era follow- ing the war. Nothing was the same after monumental events o~ the world stage brought the war home to every community in Texas. Through its special Texas in World \'<1.'lr II initiative, the Texas Historical Commission (THC) will commemorate not only Sept. 2, 2005, the 60th anniversary of the end of the war 01+60), but also is developing plans to recog- nize and interpret the people and places significant in the history of World War II within our borders. "During the war, Texans came together for a specific cause," said THC Commissioner Shirley Caldwell, "and now is the time to come together again topreserve the sites and stories of that important era in our history. Members of the \Xlorld War II generation experi- enced a time unlike any other, and we need to act now to capture those memories to ensure a lasting legacy for current and future generations." Still reeling from the devastation and hardships of the Great Depression, Texas was largely an agrarian state at the outbreak of World War II. Few families owned automobiles, telephones or evel~ radios; the majority of women Children and a helpful donkey, at left, lend a hand to the war effirt by collecting scrap metal. Rosie the Riveter, below, inspired women to do their part in support of the WaI: **** worked in the home or on family farms; only about 40 percent of the population had a high school education; and ethnic minorities, most notably Hispanics and Mrican Americans, continued to suffer the injustices of segregation. With the United States' entry into the war in December 1941, the wheels were set in motion, and drastic changes came quickly to the Lone Star State, One hundred seventy-five major military installations in Texas were either built or enlarged for the war. In addi- tion to the Texans who served both at home and overseas, nearly 1.5 million II TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Texas troops played a pivotal role in (ltta;n;ng victory in WOrld war If . DaUJart Army Air Field, 1942 * * * *. * * * * * * * *.* * * service men and women trained or were stationed at Texas military installations between 194 I and 1945. In more than 70 counties around the state, the government established 65 Army airfields, 35 Army posts, nine naval installations and eventually more than 70 prisoner of war camps that held mostly German, but also some Italian prisoners. In addition, the U.S. Department of Justice operated three alien detention camps in Texas - in Kenedy, Seagoville and Crystal City- which housed citizens of Japanese, German and Italian ethnicity from the U.S. as well as from South and Central America. More than 750,000 Texans served in uniform during the war. Although Texas represented about five percent of the country's population at that time, Texans accounted for more than seven percent of military personnel. Many famous World War II military personalities were either from Texas or had strong Texas connections. Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower and Pacific Fleet Commander Adm. Chester W Nimitz were both born in Texas, Gen. Douglas MacArthur attended a military high school in TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION San Antonio. Co!. Oveta Culp Hobby, commander of the Women's Army Corps, hailed from Bell County. The war's most decorated soldier, Audie Murphy, grew up in Hunt County, and Gen. Claire Chennault, commander of the famous Flying Tigers, was from Commerce, also in Hunt County. Lt. Col. James Earl Rudder, a native of Eden and mayor of Brady afte~ the war, commanded the Army's Second Ranger Battalion and led his "Rudder's Rangers" in the D-Day invasion at Pointe du Hoc, famously scaling 1 OO-foot cliffs under heavy fire to destroy German gun batteries. Countless other Texans, perhaps lesser known but no less significant, made major contributions to the war effort. Waco native Doris (Dorie) Miller, an African American mess attendant in the U.S. Navy, performed heroically during the attack on Pearl Harbor and earned the Navy Cross. Leonard Roy Harmon, a native of Cuero, also a mess attendant in the Navy, died while help- ing rescue injured shipmates during the 1942 Battle of Guadalcanal and was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross. The destroyer escort USS Harmon, christened by Harmon's mother and II launched in 1943, was the first U.S. warship named for an African American. Jose Mendoza Lopez, who died earlier this year in San Antonio, was one of five Hispanic Texans who earned the Meda] of Honor during World War II. Texas was home to the legendary Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) who trained at Avenger Field in Sweetwater. The WASP flew more than 60 million miles performing s~ch duties as towing targets for live gunnery practice, ferrying military planes to air bases throughout the U.S., and test- flying new or damaged aircraft. Thirty- eight WASP lost their lives in service to the war effort, and the survivors, officially classified as civilian rather than military personnel, had to wait until special legislation was passed in 1977 to receive proper recognition and veteran benefits. But the military history of Texas in \Vorld War II is only part of the story. Located throughout the state are reminders of the impact on the lives of those who supported the war effort on the home front. Nearly a half-million civilians, many who relocated to Texas, worked in war-related industries, and manufacturing in the state increased four-fold from 1940 to 1945, - Continued on page 4 In particular, the Texas oil industry and southeast Texas shipbuilding activi- ties had a tremendous impact on the war effort. Tens of thousands of Texans moved from rural areas into cities seeking war work, and the resulting population shift continued to affect the demographics of Texas for decades after the war. \X!omen and minorities, although still experiencing unequal treatment, gained berter employment opportunities through war work. A unified home front brought communities together to find \vays for everyone to make a difference. With a shared sense of purpose, all segme the population - men, women children - participated in ind and organized efforts to help war. Popular slogans such as " wear it out, make it do, or do f spurred citizens to patrioticallf e government rationing of food' meat, coffee, burter) an /oth (rubber, silk, gasoline, er) tize these items for t op and community gro ga drives to collect ma e the military, i'oclu form of tin cans, brass lipstick ru old tires, garden bathing caps; a manufacturing War bond Students in San Augustine County sit in the shadow ofa war bond poster, April 1943, celebrity sales pitches, raised millions of dollars. Volunteers rolled bandages for the Red Cross, served sandwiches, coffee and doughnuts to soldiers traveling through their towns on troop trains, and entertained troops at dances and canteens sponsored by local United Service Organizations or other philan- thropic clubs. Countless families, both rural and , tilled individual and community ry gardens" so commercial crops e devoted to the military. They he rest of the country in changing ler modes of dress to accommo- ortages in wool and other fabrics. , ,dresses sported narrower, 'i,t d simpler styles to elim- leats; men's suits no ts, patch pockets, exan Stanley Marcus atriotic chic." ort through exans weathered ry, determina- heir legacy enerations In appreciation and recognition of that legacy, and through the generosity of charitable foundations, corporate sponsors and individual donors, the THe is planning a wide array of programs and projects to id~ntify, interpret and preserve the sites and stories of Texas in World War II. The following list provides an overview of the THC's three-year plan: . Texas in World War II initiative featur- ing a special celebration on Sept. 2,2005, the 60th anniversary of the war's end - A festive V +60 event at the State Capitol in Austin will honor World War II veterans; two new Official Texas Historical Markers will be dedicated; military bands and bagpipes will provide musical entertainment; and World War II-vintage airplanes will fly over the crowd. . Texas in World Wltr II brochure - A full-color brochure, highlighting numerous historic and cultural sites related to the war, will be launched at the Sept. 2, 2005 event in Austin and will be distributed free of charge throughout (he state. TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION II World War II sites identification - Each county historical commission has been asked to provide information regarding World War II military and home front sites in their counties, and volunteers - including members of the Texas Archeological Stewardship Network and student interns - have been gathering data on sites throughout the state. In additio-o-, the THe-hopes to obtain funding for.a comprehensive statewide survey of World War 11- related sites and structures. .. Vignettes of Wartime Texas historical marker program - A series of 15 new historical markers for significant World War II topics not yet adequately interpreted will be placed across the state. The marker series will reflect the regional and cultural diversity of Texas and tell important stories of life on the home front and the role of business. . Texas in World \Var II online ~ Additions to the THC web site will provide features for students and veterans, general information regarding the war in Texas, and links to oral history collections, veterans organizations, historic sites, museums and other World War II-related sites. II Here and There: Recollections of Texas in World War II oral history project - THe staff will coordi- nate an oral history training program centering on stories from the home front as well as war experiences of Texans. A series of workshops will be conducted around the state to train local volunteers to gather oral histories relating to the war years in their home communities. According to Commissioner Caldwell, these projects will playa significant role in docu- menting Texas' contribu- tion to World War II. "The Texas in World War II initiative is excit- ing because it gives county historical commissions and local preservationists opportunities to tell their parts of the bigger story," she said. "We encourage everyone to join us and rally to the task at hand - documenting the legacy of wartime Texas and ensur- ing its preservation for future generations." * This article WflS written by Cynthia Beeman. director of the THes HiSTOry Programs Divisioll. RIge 4photo of students: Libral)' ofColIgresJ. Prints & Photographs Division, FSA-OW'! Collection (LC- USF35-/326) TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION II I DISCOVERY SHOWCASES PALESTINE'S WORLD WAR II COMMUNITY SERVICE "~~-.:-:.: While siftfngthrqllgh long-foigo'tteri . items in the Anders~n County Historical Commission office, Palestine resident ]iri11ny Odom ~iscovered a treasure nove~i A ,:"ornbox oFWorld War II . .' memorabilia-:::-scrapbooks, newspap.er :rticles,photos of local servicemen, 1~a,9azin~~rticles and 'l~rters -.~oritained ren1~cll~~?:~,r~ ri(:~ eraoflocalhistoV' :o"_..;,Odo1J1wasri't exactly sure about . . ~h;~"?~~'~prigim; but he isno~~q~tlderit ',itcamefrolTlthe attic.oflongti me Palestine.'re~iden:t Rose Pbisance. Since Hfi~dingi:hebox nearly si~ ydars ag9, Od()mh~s used the artifacts to piec~ together the story of a cal1teen (a military' "recreational. fadli9') Jor servicemen opera~ed by local volunteers during wartIme.. ' ..' . "Thishas':intrigued me sO~tlchJ?r years.'L~~lVe thought about it with every project~~tf've,done," O?01J1. said, apciihg t~~~he-plans tOS~l~pile:hisresearch for 'c>thei-~i:"to. use andenJo);, ' '>, Qoiens o(Palestine-area women 'YWked ar the Canteen,kno\vn as the _. Palesti11.e S,ervic~ Men's Club, from April . .' :9~~'WEo~gh D~celnber 1945.1~s~eaci ()fS()I1~ributil1g 't() theU~ited Service;' ';'9rgfni~~tions'.tfffc>rts;at military ~ases, ," t~.e:'S?TVlUnity\yant5d t() dosolTlethjng 19ca11y. .Theyr~i~ed hlnds and.created the'S~.iIb.'on th~.g~o~J1d f1ooroL~h~ O'Neil1-Hotel,across..th~ streetJrom the rraindepot. . '. " .'. _ Club proprietor Zula'Hanks ran.a tight ship: the,re'Yas' ~o alcoh()l and no sid~door for unseemly exits."During a timepf ratioilirig and fo()d stamps, the Pale~i:ine community provided refresh- mehtsfor several troop naifls each day~ Th~y also offereci a letter-writing desk, a piano and a stack of records for a jitterbug 9r twO.' Most trains only stopped for approximately 30 minutes. When troops didn't have time to go across the tracks ," - ' The Pa/~stine Se-"~ice Men'sClubprovided refi-eshments for the }tOopspassing through tOUln. At right: Servicemen recorded spoken 'm.essllges on phonogrtph recordsfor loved ones at home. , ~ the canteen, the volunteers ran over. a~.,~)l~ndeda sandwiCh or a statkof co'9~e~ to the soldiers hanging o~t <?f dIe ttaih:windoyJs/:.i ,i' " ..,'... ',' .... .". ,... i. While.e~ploring this era of Palest~~e's J . hist~ry,.~. time mar~ed py f~ar for troops ~~r6ad~nd reassuring smil~s to service , ..personnel passing' through town, Odom '. . interviewed several of the women who once\votked atthe canteen: "Th~ thing I remember r,nostis that.the people at home went through .'an awful lot -,- the concern of all of Ollr -', '.: :', ,.' . . :' :',' :' '.: ~ loyed ones in battle," said CeliaSinith, ~ho'fsa'YOll,ng bride, worked. at rhe binteenalong \vith her mother. "This motivated tis to do something for these ~oldierson the trains, They represented our loved ones. Most were coming from boot c'amp or basic training and headed straight on into battle." II Smith, whoselmsband and 'two brptherS,,\vere stationed overseas, said she 'and the other women wanted to do what~ ~vertheycould to.make the troops' trip 'll1ore enjoyable. "YOll felt like you were doing some- thingin.a way - in a very small way," she said. The Palestine Service Men's Club continued operating for se~eral months , afterrhe war officially ended, providing for troops coming through town on their way . home, where happier times awaited them. Today, only a single wall of the club remains, painted with a mural honoring the men and.women from Palestine who served the nation during World War II and other military conflicts,' * This llI;iicle was written by Lindtl C Henderson. a historian with the THC, His(01) Programs Division. TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION I *** -When World War II hit us, I was proud to see Texans swarm to the 'enlistment offices, I was proud to be a Texan in uniform to serve with the other Texans that fought so well for Texas and the United States. Our family got into World War II with both feet. Our dad, a World War I combat veteran, raised vegetables for the military and the public after trying to re- enlist. Mother joined the WAACs at 44 years of age; my brother and I were in armored divisions, and our teenage sister worked with the usa, I was a second year cadet at Texas A&M when I joined the Army at ' 19 with five years of ROTC behind me. Texas A&M furnished more officers for the military than West Point and seven Aggies received the Medal of Honor, The Texas National Guard Troops !!lade a big difference everywhere they fought. The Army was glad to have the 36th Infantry Division with its field artillery, engineers, medical, quartermaster and obser- vation squadron. The 112th Cavalry, changed to amphibious infantry, made five invasions in the South Pacific and the 124th Cavalry served as mule packers and infantry in Burma, My duty was a Buck Sergeant Tank Commander, 92nd Cavalry Recon, 12th Armored Division. We received three battle stars and served in the 7th Army, the 3rd Army and the French First. One of my tank gunners was Fred Rosales of EI Paso, and I want to say that all Texans of Mexican descent were great fighters and never held back, One great example is Sgt. Manuel Gonzales of Fort Davis. When the 36th T-Patches hit the beach at Salerno, September 9, 1943, Manuel and his company were pinned down by German fire. Manuel crawled, under fire alone, and knocked out four machine gun nests, one mortar squad and 88 with its crew. All of this in his first day of combat. He received the Distinguished Service Cross; but it should have been the Medal of Honor. My art career started when I waS five. I've been drawing, painting and sculpting ever since. My subjects have been the life I've led. Military, Texas A&M, cowboying in Texas and two years in Mexico for the Foot-and-Mouth Commission. Whatever I was doing, I did art at nights and weekends and have been a full-time artist since 1975. My largest bronze is a six-foot sculpture of Audie Murphy at Camp Mabry. I made a life-sized bronze of Reveille I and designed the interior displays for the Corps Center at Texas A&M. Living in Texas has been my reward. It's the best. Siempre, 3 ill J~ft-\H i c.f1 - Bil! Leftwich, pictUl'ed at top in Gernltlny in 1.945. and recently with IJis wife Mary Alice. Bill Leftwich World War II veteran TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION II INTERPRETING WORLD WAR II A[ROSS THE GENERATIONS -'--- TEXANS INVITED TO TRANSFORM MEMORY TO HISTORY Each generation must analyze and under- stand the past for itself based on its own system of values. History is notstaticj it is dynamic and ever changing. Although some basic elements of any historical event way be indisputable, many more ilre?pen to conjecture, subject to the "'frai-r1es'M reference of individual partici- , pants or observers. People with first-hand knowledge of historical events are, in effect, the first editors of the story. How they pass their memories to the next generation is the basis of preservation, The more informa- tion bequeathed from one generation to another, the better the chances of accu- rare interpretation. Because history is alive and current, its movement continues on a sliding scale of time, A perfect example of that phe- nomenon is World War II. A finite event in our collective past, it continues to have an intluence on our society and even our geographical landscape. Since the formal conclusion of the war on Sept. 2, 1945, though, the available elements of that event have diminished. The fIrst to disap- pear were the war materiel and supplies, followed by more artifacts, archival records and architecture. Then, over time, we have lost the associated memories on a grand scale. Gone is the government leadership of the era, and most of the oHicer class. Time has also taken its toll on the military rank and file. Within a generation, the avail- able stories to be collected will be those dealing with the home front and the children of World War II. And then, as the scale slides on, only the interpretation of past memories will remain. Two important components of the Texas Historical Commission's (THC) Texas in World War II initiative speak directly to the preservation and interpre- tation of memories. The first is an oral history project that will focus on collect- ing stories at the local level throughout the state. Currently, more than 300,000 World War II veterans live in Texas, but that number decreases significantly each year. No one agency or group can find all those individuals and record the remaining stories, but with a joint effort of multiple partners - the county historical commissions (CHCs) central to that effort - there will be more information to pass along. Through the oral history component of the initiative, THC staff will conduct workshops in each region of the state, training family members, friends, students, historians and others in creative ways to capture the remaining stories. There will ' be special emphasis on developing depth within interviews through focused questioning, on understanding the layers of the home front story and on the need to be inclusive and comprehensiv~ in the approach. As Baylor University oral historian Thomas L. Charlton observed, "The II strength of oral history is in the individual dimension it brings to an understanding, of our past, It allows us to share common, universal emotions and perspectives that help us view history in a personal way from the bottom up and from the inside out." Teaching individuals how to record and preserve those added dimensions to the broad story of Texas in World W'lr II will be the primary objective of the THC oral history workshops. It is not enough, however, to, merely collect the stories. History must be shared to remain alive. It is important that the generations who did not experience the World War II era weave those stories together so they can be understood and appreciated by those who will follow. One important way to accomplish that objective is through the placement of OHlcial Texas Historical Markers. Since the early 1960s, the THC has marked sites and histories associated with the war. Much has been told through that venue, but much more remains to be told about the bases and fidel.., the units, the heroes, the home front efforts and countless other relevant stories. Through the Texas in World War II initiative, the THC will place 15 special markers around the state during the next three years to commemorate the wartime years. The Vignettes of Wartime Texas marker project is made possible through the generosity of the Hoblitzelie Foundation of Dallas, longtime friends of the state marker program. Special marker topics have been selected, and the associated CHCs will be notified soon of their involvement, However, these markers represent only a sample of what should be interpreted and shared. THC Commissioner Tom Alexander, who is providing leadership for the initia- tive, noted, "The war affected every TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION county in the state in some significant way, and as the appointed guardians of the past it is important the CHCs do what they can to share those stories." Alexander suggests the CH Cs survey their unique stories and then assess where markers might be most effective in' educating the public about war-related stories and places. He added, "The markers should be promoted as integral compo- , nents of local heritage tourism efforts." Memories are at the core of the Texas in World War II initiative. Oral history and Official Texas Historical Markers are two means of utilizing those memories and turning them into histories, bringing generations together to discuss within a broad forum the impact of ' the war on our state. They are also a means of ensuring future generations will have a more complete story to interpret and understand in their own fashion and then, as history dictates, to pass it along once agam. For more information on the various componeiltS of the Texas in \Vorld War II initiative, visit the THC web site at www.thc.state.tx.us. * This ar,tic!e WITS written by Dan K Utle;\ chi~f historian with the THC's HistOl)' Programs Dil,ision. Opposite: An Aftican American soldier in World \~1r 11. Photo courtesy National Archives. Clockwise from top: Texas J\1edal of HOllo I' winner, Oeto Rodriquez. Marine volunteers departing 5,111 Antonio ftom the Southern Pacific Depot. Photo credit: lnstitllte of Texan Cllltur'es. Students in .s,m Augwtine County (April 1943). Photo credit: Lib/'tlr)' of Congress. hints & Photographs Division. FSA-OWl Collection (LC-USf35-1326). This AjriCtln Amaican gun Cft.w received the Nal'] Cross for distinguished service. Photo courte~y National Archives. TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION RELIVE THE LEGACY []F TEXAS' POWERFUL CONNECTION TO THE WAR ENDURES AT HER ve a 500-pounder (bomb) se-down in the back shackle." is grisly announcement from flight engineer sent shivers down ident Mike Porter's spine as his B-24 over the Adriatic 4. Bm it didn't stop him ling his duty, He vowed to situation. d the co-pilot; 'Hold this baby steady,' and I grabbed the fire axe," Porter says. The catwalk to the rear of the plane was a tight fit, so Porter had to remove his parachute. When he finally got to the bomb bay doors to cut the missile loose, things went south. "I thought I had a real good grasp on the axe, but the next thing you know, the bomb fell, the axe fell and Mike fell," Porter recalls. Somehow, miraculously, his old A-2 bomber jacket got caught on the plane and jerked him back upward. Porter proceeded to crawl back to his pilot's seat and safely land the plane. "It's just one of those things that happened," he understatedl)' claims. "I tell you what, though - \ a few hours after that I completely went to pieces. It finally hit me what had happened." Porter's incredible story comes to life at Freedom Museum USA, where his bomber jacket - complete with the tear across the back where it caught on the plane - resides along with count- less other World War II- related memorabilia. Porter is curator of this Pampa museum, which is featured in the Texas Historical Commission's (THC) new Texas in TX'orld war 11 brochure, along with dozens of other sites across the state with ties to the war. Porter's Texas connection is undoubtedly similar to some of the nearly 300,000 World War II veterans still residing in the Lone Star State. He trained at Pampa Army Air Field, where he learned to operate twin-engine planes (AT-17s, AT-l Os and AT-9s), and returned to Pampa after the war to raise a family and make a living. "Texas has had an enormous impact on my life as a soldier, husband, father and businessman," 'Porter said. ''I've always appreciated being in the Panhandle. Everybody around here treats you like family - they'll reach out to you whenever you need a hand. That really made an impression on me." Mike Porter of Pampfl holds the flight jacket that sm'l!d his lift. IllI For decades, Pampa Army Air Field hosted reunions for U.S. Army Air Corps servicemen, and by the late 1980s, discussion turned to preserving their legacy by opening a museum, In 1995, Porter was named interim director, a tide he retains to this day, and the Freedom Museum USA went on to amass a significant collection of military artifacts. They include: a B-25 bomber, a personnel carrier, a German uniform from a nearby prisoner of war camp and a wedding dress made from a parachute. To learn more about other World War II-relited heritage tourism destina- tions, order a free copy of Texas in World war II by calling 866/276-6219. In the meantime, consider visiting the following sites around the state. TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION WORLD WAR II ITAGE TOURISM SITES Visitors pause at the Japanese Garden of Peace at the Admim/ Nimitz State Historic Site in Fredericksburg. FREDERICKSBURG After guiding Allied forces to victory over Japan, U.S. Navy Adm. Chester W. Nimitz was among those who signed the 1945 instrument of surrender that formally ended World War II. He was a native of this Hill Country town that honors his life and times at the Admiral Nimitz State Historic Site and National Museum of the Pacific War. The museum's George Bush Gallery provides a powerful overview of the war, and an exhibit on pre-attack Pearl Harbor features a Japanese two-man midget submarine (the only one on display in the continental U.S,). The museum also includes the Japanese Garden of Peace, a gift from Japan as'a symbol of reconciliation. TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION GREENVILLE The Audie Murphy/ American Cotton Museum combines stories of Hunt County's most historic crop, cotton, and its most famous native son, Audie Murphy, World War II's most decorated soldier. The museum grounds include a working cotton patch, picnic areas, and native grass and herb gardens. Artifacts from Murphy's military experience intermingle with items from his post-war career in the entertainment industry. One exhibit displays the control panel of the crashed civilian plane in which he died in 1971 while on a business rrip. The museum also hosts an annual Audie Murphy Days celebration. - Condnued on page 12 III HARLINGEN Harlingen's Marine Military Academy is home to the original full-scale working model of the famous lwo Jima statue at Arlington National Cemetery. In February 1945, five U.S. Marines and a U.S. Navy corps- man raised a giant American flag atol) rheiSland of Iwo Jima after a vicious batrle. Joe Rosenthal's Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph of the event became one of World War II's most enduring il'nages, and artist Felix de Weldon's model allows Texans to experience this lasting legacy. An adjacent museum features Marine Corps memorabilia, a 30- minure film dedicated to the Batrle oflwo Jima, and a veterans hall of fame. The monument and museum are next to Valley International Airport, built on the site of Harlingen Army Air Field, a World War II installation. **** lA PORTE The only surviving pre-World War I dreadnought battleship, the USS Texas is now permanently anchored in the Houston Ship Channel as part of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site. During World War II, this esteemed vessel served as the flagship for the 1944 D-Day invasion of Europe, commanded by Texas native Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower. The USS Texas was the first U.S. battleship equipped with anti-aircraft guns and commercial radar, and the first to launch an aircraft. Visitors can climb up to the flying bridge or explore deep into below-deck areas. The USS Texas is listed as a National Historic Landmark and a National Mechanical Engineering Landmark. "t^ for more information visit www.thc.state.tx.us. SWEETWATER In 1942, the U.S. Army Air Forces launched the civilian Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program after women started taking home-front jobs once considered exclusively for males. From 1942 to 1944, these first women to fly U.S. military planes logged 60 million miles, ferrying military aircraft to bases nationwide. The pilots trained at Sweetwater Army Air Field (Avenger Field) which currently serves as a municipal airfield and campus of Texas State Technical College. A monument bears the names of 1 ,074 women pilots who received their WASP silver wings here, and a memorial sculpture honors the 38 women pilots who died in service. A 1929 hangar near campus is the home of the National WASP WWII Museum, where exhibits tell the pioneer pilots' stories. * II The USS Texas, anchored in La Porte, served as the flagship for the 1944 D-Day invtlSion of Cllrope. ***** Americans showed their patriotism with !Jictory pins. These sites represent a sampling of the communities profiled in Texas in World ~r II, a heritage tourism brochure produced by the THe's Texas Heritage Trails Program. It highlights Texas' vital connections to the war on both the home front and overseas, and showcases count- less heritage tourism attractions in 34 cities across the state. Order a free brochure today to begin your journey across Texas' remarkable and enduring World War II legacy. This article was written by Anc{}' Rhodes, managing editor of The Medallion. TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN Former POW Camp Captures Interest of Several Generations Peopl~ are often surprised to learn that during}'Vorld War II Texas had more: pris- - ;-~o'iier :6f~ltr <POW) canl ps than any other state and the . highest number of de~<I}nees,. Thf nUn1ber~tell the story: an estin1a~ed 50;000'PqWS,ITIOStly Gern~ans and some It:Jians and Japanese, inhabited more than 70 camps across Texas. One site wason the outskirts of' Hearne, in Robertson C?unty near Bryan. " With so many men seivi'rig in the arm~d forces, farmersaroimd Hearne desperately necde~workcrs, andi:hcy saw POWs as" the answer, accordingt~)CathyLazar~s.' chairbf the R~bertson~buntY His.todcal C()IpmissiOli ~ndpresident ofB,olt ~all: , Fri~I1..M of Camp Hearne..Jn e.'irly 1942, l:I~ainc,ciyiclcadcrs bcg~n thcca~lpaign fOl:il"gqW camp, and in June ,1943 the ,'; firs~wave of prisoncrs arrived. TO<:la,y the town is aga.in taking the initiative this timeby turnin e site of n' es ance to the w er, the Brazo istor}r in Ery . e . t Camp Hearne, a , , Gcrman POW prcscncc in Amcrica, with sornebf the displays later transferring to the Hearne Chamber of Commerce. ,,'The exhibit promises a'fascinating look at c::'~mp Hearne, onc of the first,and biggcs.r PO\'(! carnps inthcU,S,~, housing' m()r~than4,800 German s~ldiers, mainly noric-o~missioned officcrs in Field Marshall, Erwin Rommel's battle-weary AfrikaKorps. 'Now, thanks i~ large part to thc histori~al and a~chcological work of Dr. Michael Waters and his students at Texas A&M University, it is one of the most thoroughly studied camps in the state. As pan of his research, Waters inter- viewcd formcr Camp Hearnc PO\X1s and made an intriguing discovery, By and , large, the Germans remembcred their time in captivity with fondness. Officers were not required to work, and noncommissioned TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION (lerman'pOWs leamed about wood carving at Camp Hearne, " The D said. In treated decently. A lit'de too decenrly, some Americans thought, as they endured rationing. But 'theU.S. military was operating according to the GencvaPrisoncr of War Convention 0[1929, which required that POWsbe treated exacdythe same as u.s. soldie~s; Waters ~xplained. ' "They also wanted to show thePOWs that this is what Amcrica is likc, , this is thc way we are," he said. "They wanted to win them over with kindness," And perhaps just as important, the U.S. hoped the , Germans would reciprocate in their treat- mcnt oF-Amcrican soldicrs held overseas. Shortly after the war, the camp was dismantled. Some buildings werc sold and moved, the rest demolished. Nevertheless, remnants of camp life survived, hidden beneath thc wecds and bramblcs. Waters' archeological team: located fountains the Germans built, remains of other srr'ucturcs and approximately 1,400 artifacts--:including military insignia, button~, cig~rette lighters and hair-tonic bottles - some of which will be on display at the Brazos Valley Museum and later at the Hcarnc Chamber of ' Commerce. This brief, previously obscure chapter in Texas history is now better documented than ever in \'V'aters' reccntly published book, Lone Star Sttdag. Additional news about the site is available at www.camphearne.info. * This article was written by Molly Gardner, editor with the THe's Archeology Division. III aluable . Lessons from RECYCLE BUILDINGS, CONSERVE MATERIALS nd of \X1orld War g of a fascinating rney. military installations countless structures turned to original p, donated to the state or sold, uildings from deactivated camps ersed and relocated for use e as schools, churches and hous- ing. \X1hat remains of World War II in Texas varies from recognizable military facilities to eerie ruins visible from remote highways. Texas hosted every type of military installation and related facilities during the war, including Army Air Forces, prisoner of war (POW) camps, United Service Organizations (USO) facilities and hospitals. Many of these sites were constructed just prior to or during World \X1ar II, whereas other. facilities already existed, such as Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio and Fort Bliss in EI Paso. Preserving Texas' war-related structures, in their various current uses or states of neglect, depends heavily on citizens conducting surveys documenting sites for official records. Gen. Franco DiBello, an officer in the Italian army who became a prisoner of war housed in a Hereford camp in April 1943, returned to the town in 1981 to celebrate the restoration of a chapel built by the prisoners. "There is no sign of what was here," DiBello said. "All is covered by wheat; this is a symbol of peace and prosperous future over the mistakes of humanity." Fort D.A. Russell (formerly Camp Marfa) in Brewster and Presidio Counties serves as an excellent example of a closed military installation with many original structures still in use. The city of Marfa acquired much of the fort after its deacti- vation; now former barracks serve as local residences, and the former headquarters building is the Marra National Bank. Artist and sculptor Donald Judd, who transformed many of the remaining structures into gallery space and offices for the Chinati Foundation's internation- ally renowned art installations, purchased the remainder of the abandoned post in the late 1960s: Painted signs in German for POWs remain on the walls of the former storage warehouses alongside Judd's rows of stainless steel cubes. Murals painted by German POWs still adorn the walls in Building 98, which was recently designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. On the other side of the state along the Houston Ship Channel, the Hitchcock Naval Air Station was commissioned in 1943 to protect the area from invasion by Axis submarines in the Gulf of Mexico. Hitchcock had a massive timber-frame structure (more than 300,000 square feet of floor space) built specifically to house approximately six blimps, also known as "Iighter-than-air craft." After redesignation as a naval air facility, the hangar was used for storing rice, and, according to the Handbook of Texas Online, the state could have stored its entire rice harvest in the building. Hurricane Carla damaged most of the hangar in 1961, and it was eventually demolished. Nearby, Fort Travis on the Bolivar Peninsula contains structures from both World War I and World War II. The Republic of Texas established the fort in 1836, and during World War II the site housed German POWs. The barracks are gone now, but gun revetments (gun emplacements) remain. Fort Travis is currently part of the Galveston County Parks System. Many deactivated military bases were dispersed when public and private III entities purchased the buildings for relo- cation and reuse as schools and churches. Bartlett school trustees purchased four buildings from Bastrop County's Camp Swift in November 1949 to accommodate growing enrollment at the African American campus; however, the school complex has since been demolished. In addition, Austin's Hyde Park Presbyterian Church incorporated bar- racks from Camp Swift into its parish hall. Likewise, when its 19th-century Lutheran church was destroyed by a hurricane in 1945, the commu~ity of Danevang, the heart of Texas' Danish ' settlement, rallied and bought the chapel from Camp Hulen in nearby Palacios; the church continues to keep Danish tradition alive. In La Grange, a former barrack from Camp Swift Inf.'l11try Base is now an espresso bar and live music venue called the Bugle Boy, in tribute to the World War II-era hit by the Andrew Sisters ("Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"). Another un usual conversion is a former underground concrete revetment turned into to a hotel spa at San Luis Resort in Galveston, though its original purpose * is hardly ~ecognizable from the interior. Many structures in use during the war have also been converted to museums. The Rattlesnake Bomber Base Museum is in Pyote, and the National WASP WWII Museum in Sweetwater is at nearby Avenger Field, where the Women Airforce Service Pilots trained. One or more World War II hangars from Bryan Army Air Field are now being used at Texas A&M University to conserve and reassemble the Belle, the French ship that wrecked in 1686 under the command of Robert Cavelier Sieur de la Salle. In San Marcos, the original 1873 Hays County Jail became a World War II usa center for black servicemen, and now has new TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION World War II An ttircraft hangar at former Fort D.A. Russell in lvla/fa now contaim modem art swlptures as part of the Chinati Foundation. At right: The restored POW chapel in Hereford stands ill a cornfield. ******** life as the Calaboose African American History Museum. Interesting from a military stand- point, Amarillo's Pantex Ordnance Plant, authorized in early 1942 following the Dec. 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, is still in business. The plant, built in nine months, transformed a 16,OOO-acre wheat field into a bomb factory site. Its use reversed course over the years, moving from an initial mission of assembly to one of disassembly. Many other decommissioned World War II buildings and structures are a part TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION of the rich story of Texas' wartime experience, and each serves as a trib~te to the men and women whose dedication to the war effort is remembered across the state today. The architectural remnants of this era are appropriately being used in a way that World War II taught its generation - in the true spirit of conservation and reuse. * This article was written by Amy Lambert and Susan Tietz of the THCf Architecture Dizlisioll. ILl lavaca County Markers Honor Downed World War II Aviators People could hear the explosiOl1- from miles away. Houses shook "as if by an earthquake," a local newspaper reported. The B-25 Mitchell bomber with engine trouble, carrying at least 500 gallons of gasoline, gouged a crater in a field near Hope, Texas that is still visible today, more than '60 years after the crash that killed six young aviators. This was the first of seven fatal Army Air Corps crashes in Lavaca County during World War II, The loss of life affected the residents so deeply they took up a collec- tion to place a marker at the exact spot the B-25 went down, and they continued to set up markers as more airmen died in their county. Each marker bears the Army Air Corps insignia, the aviator's name, the date of his death and an inscription that reads, "Lost his life in Army Air Corps in the performance of duty." The small tomb- stone-like monuments dot the fields and pastures of these rolling coastal plains about halfway between Houston and San Antonio. "It 'was strictly a grassroots effort, a response to the deaths of these young men in defense of their country," said Brenda Lincke-Fisseler, Lavaca County Historical Commission member. No government entity or official organization prompted the initiative. By the end of the war, county residents had volunteered to honor 13 aviators. Most had been based at nearby Army air- fields, where they were taking advanced training in single-engine AT-6s. In the rush to get pilots into combat as quickly as possible, this instruction would be their last before shipping overseas. "Bam! The next thing they knew, they were in battle," said Doug Kubicek, chair of the Lavaca County Historical Commission. Student pilots at Foster Army Air Field, a few miles away in Victoria, were learning how to navigate by using just a compass, and the spiral atop the Lavaca County Courthouse served as a reference point signifying when to return. According to official crash reports, pilot error likely caused the majority of accidents. The fliers, mostly in their early 20s - some even younger - often got lost, or "just plain ran out of gas," Lincke-Fisseler said. The Lavaca County markers appear to be unique in Texas, and possibly in the nation. U.S. Air Force historian Dr. Bruce Ashcroft said he knows of no other com- munity in which citizens contributed their own funds to mark the locations where aviators died during World War II, And Lincke-Fisseler, despite years of research and hundreds of pages of notes, reports and clippings, did not find any evidence of a similar phenomenon elsewhere. m A statistic miglifhelp explain the strong feelings of those Lavaca County residents of the 1940s. "About 90 percent of the men of fighting , aue in the county were in service during b . the war, so almost every family had a son or husband or brother in the military," Kubicek said. "There was such a feeling of helplessness. They couldn't do anything to help their family members, but they thought, 'Here is something I can do.' " Lavaca County will honor the downed fliers again this year at a special event in Hallettsville on October 22. Organizers hope some of the men's relatives will be able to attend, but it is sometimes difficult to locate family members, said Lincke- Fisseler. Many of the dead were so young they did not have wives or children, Before the October event, the Lavaca County Historical Commission will place a finall~arker for a pilot who died toward the end of the war, but was somehow overlooked. This memorial will be exactly the same as the others, chiseled in the same lettering by the same monument company. All the markers, and the memories of the sacrifices they represent, are expected to last far into the future because of the efforts of Lavaca County residents. "In evelY case, someone has taken the trouble to mow around the markers, " Kubicek said. "I know of a man who weeds around one in his field, and another who puts flowers on his." Oil company employees working in the area even built a small fence around one to protect it, he said. "These markers arc like hallowed ground." * This itrtic1e UltlJ written by Molly Gardner, an editor in the THC's Archeology Dit'ISioll. TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION Earning Her Wings Maxine Flournoy Recalls Experience as a WASP over Texas Skies A.<; a member of ~ Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), Ma.xine Flournoy deftIymaneu- vered AT~ 7s, tIle standard trainer planes for naviga- tors during Worl,d Warll. She never imagined that 60 years later she would once again find herself in the cockpit of an AT- 7. The opportunity arose dUling a WASP reunion earlier this year at Avenger Field in Sweetwater, where these pioneering pilots trained from 1942 to 1944. Thirty-one alumnae of the program were in attendance, and Flournoy wore the biggest smile of them alL ' "When you're 84 years old, flying one of those planes is quite a treat," she says, adding that she researched the AT- Ts flight instrument<; to re-acclimate herself with the aircraft. "It felt wonderful- everything was right there just the way I remembered. It was such a thrill. I was really grateful for the opportunity to do that." Flournoy logged hundred') of flight hours over the past six decades as a private' ,pilot andfor recreation. As a Texas Historical Commission (THC) commissioner in the 1980s, she flew her Cessna 337 to meetings, andshe took pride in flying to WA.~P reunions across the country. "111Cre's satisfaction in getting from point AIO point B without someone else doing the flying for you," she says. "When I couldn't fly my own plane, I had to take the airlines for awhile, and that really hurt my feelings." Flournoy's interest in aviation took off at Joplin Juruor College (Missouri) in the early 1940s. A friend was enthusiastically discussing her recent experience doing aerial spins and stalls in a small plane, and her stOlies inspired Flournoy to eventually seek a pilot's license, TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION In 1943, a WASP recruiter contaCted ,Flournoy about serving in the group; she accepted, and spent the rest of tIle year train- ing in Sweetwater. After graduation she was assigned to training command in Hondo, Texas, for navigation school. Her duty was routine tesrflying-:- slow-timing new engines, checking throttle settihgs,and recording instrument flight gauges. It was , the WASP's job to fly the planes for two hours over Hond(); but sometimes they veered a bit off course. "This was before radar was being used extensively, so they , couldn't track us. Occasionally, I'd go over to San Antonio just to take a look at Randolph Field or the Kelly base," Flournoy recalls ' With a chuckle. "We flew just high enough so people couldn't see our tail numbers, and we always got back to Hondo in two hours. 1\vo hours is two hours - we did our job and did it well, but we also had a good time." Flournoy says the thought of flying combatmissions never ' entered the WASP's. minds; they , did not expect to take those jobs from malepilot~.But their patriotism was strong, and they viewed their duty as fulfilling an important mission for their country. "That was why most of us were flying - we wanted to do our part," Flournoy says. "Other people wered{)ing whatever they could to help by rationing supplies or growing vegetables, We were flying airplanes instead." After the WASP disbanded in 1944, Flournoy tooka job as a company pilot in Alice, Texas. There, she met her husband Lucien, a prominent oilman, and rehlained on the ground for 15 years while she raised their family. Eventually, she took to the skies again in her own Beech Baron for leisure and to attend THC meetings. m Maxine Flournoy is happy , to be in the cockpit after 60 years of flying. Left: Flournoy during training in 1944. ' Far left: The official WASP logo. Avenger Field in SweetUJtltl'/' It is her WASP experience, however, tharkeeps her head in the clouds. , "It was a wonderful time, but we're all over 80 now, and many have made their last flights," Flournoy says, adding thatshehas continued to' be involved v..itllthe group by recently serving as president of the alumnae organization. "I consider myself velY fortunate to have experienced the sisterhood of being a WASP." * This article was wT"itten by Andy Rhodes, 1Tl,maging editor l!rrhe Medallion, ~_'\~~ t&q~$' ~ "f0~ """~~~,,",x~~,,, ;~~%0A~~~ "~,, ~,,~ ~~"0 '1"'~~";~~ ",">;;; ~"&;;)~ ><~ 'ff!B\!A%'sZ' sF ' 1. !'I" H K ~, x ,,~ f~:~~\"~~i~JnST~OR;YH~.1 E MA lNG"'};' ~': NOW YOU KNOW Airplanes played a very important role in World War II. In fact, the war started and ended with aircraft action - the Germans attacked Poland by air in 1939, and the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Japan from a plane in 1945. During the war, many different kinds of planes tookJo the skies, and a lot of them had colorful nicknames, such as the C-47 "Gooney Bird," the C-119 "Flying Boxcar," the P-61 "Black Widow" and the p-63 "King Cobra." Here are a few of the best -knmvn World War II planes: AT-6 TEXAN M:U1Y U.S. pilots in World War II flew the AT-6 Texan at some point, and most Army Air Forces' fighter pilots trained in the AT-6 before graduating from flying school. Many of the Royal Air Force pilots who flew Spitfire and Hurricane planes trained in the British version of the AT-6. 8-17 FLYING FORTRESS The B-17 Flying Fortress is one of the most famous airplanes ever built. It served in every World War II combat zone, but it's best known for long da)iight bombing raids over Europe, The B-17 became famous because it usually brought crew members back to base even if the plane was damaged in battle. With up to 13 machine guns on it, the B-17 was con- sidered a flying "fortress in the sky." 8-24 U8ERATOR The B-24 Uberator was one of the most abundant of all of the U.S. planes in World War II. It served in different kinds of combat, delivering large bomb loads over long distances. Its oval-shaped rudders were onc of a kind, :md it had specia!' "roller-shutter" doors that pulled back into the plane when bombs were dropped. 8-29 SUPERFORTRESS The B-29 Superfortress came onto the sccne in the later years of World War II to serve as the long- awaited "magic weapon" in the war against Japan. The B-29 was known for its great r:UJge, which came ' in handy for the long flights to attack]apan from bases in China and the Pacific Islands. P-51 MUSTANG The P-51 Mustang is considered to be one of grcatest single-seat fighters used in World War II. lts ability to fly great distances made it famous during the long missions to Germany and over thc cndlcss stretches of the Pacific Ocean. By the end of the war, pilots in P-51s had destroyed 4,950 enemy aircraft in thc air, more than any other fighter in Europe. Photos courtesy National Museum of the u.s. Air Force. II TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION " ~ ~ ~:~ ~ ~;~~~~~~~ ~fl\~~ ~}~$s~~~ ~:~_,,~ t ~ :: ~~~: ;~~ ~~*:!~'~~~~~~\&~ \< ,'~" WH ERE~ ONREAQtH.. ::,N ~JEXIS ~ ~~~: here on Earth? You tell us! WIite to the Texas Historical Commission, P.Q, Box 12276, Austin, TX 78711-2276. You also may fax your answer to 512/463-6374 or email ittomedallion@thc.state.tx.us. The first three people who correctly guess the site will be named with the am;wer in the November/December issue of The Medallion. The first correct mail answer will be counted, even if correct emails and fa.xes arrive first. Want a clue? The World War II soldier depicted in this statue is the focal point of an annual festival in this northeast Texas community. Answer to the photo from the last issue: The Nazareth Academy building is in downtown Victoria. Designed in 1904 by noted South TextL.'i arcltitect Jules Leffland, this Alsatian-design Rococo Revival building housed students until 1951. Congratulations to Debbie Curti of Lubbock, ~U1d Shirley Melvin and Peter Riesz of Victoria. Winners receive prizes from our TextL.'i Hetitage Trails Program, the TextL.'i Histotical Comntission's regional tourism initiative, as tokens of our appreciation for taking part in the fun. Thanks to all pmticipanl'i! TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION m TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION TIle lvfedtJllio!l Texas Historical Commission EO. Box 12276 Austin, TX 78711-2276 PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAlD AUSTIN, TX PER1\1IT NO.1938, Tbe State Agency for lIlstorlc PresenJaJion EO. BOX 12276. AUSTIN, TX 78711-2276 PHONE 5]2/463-6100. FAX 512/475-4872 www.thc.state.tx.us Our Mission Te) protect and preserve the state's historic and prehistoric resources for the use, education, enjoyment and economic benefIt of presenr and future generations,