Nomad News-Vol.6-No.132

TEA  BISCUITS ABOARD THE USS TEXAS: There was an item in the Crossville Chronicle a week or so ago about a World War II veteran named Jim McGonackle who served on the battleship USS Texas. The Texas was engaged in the Normandy D-Day operation and in the South Pacific. The Texas was commissioned in 1912, decommissioned in 1948 and is now a museum near Houston, Texas. In the 1920s and 30s my father's work took us to Owls Head, Maine in the summers. Owls Head is near the entrance to Rockland harbor. At that time the Navy had a trial course in Penobscot Bay where all new Naval ships and retrofitted ships ran trial runs in an area of the bay that was deep and calm. My brother and I were outside playing every day and we would see all kinds of navy ships enter Rockland harbor. One day a huge battleship sailed into the harbor and it turned out to be the USS Texas. Checking Google, I found out the captain at that time was Albert W. Grant. Captain Grant issued an unusual invitation to the local residents to come aboard and tour the ship. My father replied to the invitation and I can recall the ride out in the Captain's Gig, being amazed at the size of the 14-inch guns, and the highlight, having tea and biscuits with the captain.
     With the help of Jack Williams, member of the Crossville Rotary, I was able to contact Jim McGonackle, now residing in an assisted living unit in Louisville KY.  I called Jim and we had quite a chat.  I learned that the Texas had participated in the Normandy invasion on June 6, 1944 and then to the South Pacific where she was engaged in all the major landings until the end of the war.  (Copyright 2015-Andrew M. Dolan)