'03 Springfield Picture of the Day

USS Texas summer 1941.
The photos were taken by the TEXAS Gunnery Officer, LCDR Charles W. Moses.

America was becoming a world power when TEXAS was authorized on 24 June 1910, almost 100 years ago. This coming of age included the US Navy transitioning from coastal defense to an ocean going fleet.

As a US Navy ship from 1914 to 1948, BB35 sailed 728,000 miles ranging north to Iceland, south to Chile, east to Italy and west to the Philippines. Crossed the Panama Canal 16 times.

The ship's longevity gives BB35 an extensive and diverse operational history. Only ARKANSAS has a longer operational history of the 57 commissioned US battleships. BB35 is the only surviving USN vessel that fought in WWI and WWII. In WWII, TEXAS was the only US battleship to see combat in Europe, Africa and the Pacific. TEXAS was also a test ship for naval aviation, in 1919 and radar, in 1939. The ship's last operational mission returned 4,267 troops from the Pacific to California in time for Christmas - 1945.

The ship's 34 years and 6 weeks as a United States Navy vessel reflects changes of technology and new ideas. There were seventeen different gun configurations (type, quantity and-or location) with most to counteract improvements to air attack. Energy creation is reflected in the change from coal to fuel oil in 1925, During World War II electronics were installed - LORAN, degaussing, and several radars; air, surface and gunfire control. But new additions to old technology could not keep up with new developments rendering TEXAS obsolete by the end of World War II.

On the other hand, much of TEXAS is still the same today as it was in 1914. The Engine Rooms, Turrets, Steering Room, and Ice Machine Room are virtually time capsules. Officer Staterooms on 2nd deck have the same 1914 berths, wardrobes, chiffoniers, etc.
courtesy USS Texas Foundation

Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal

The Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal was created General Orders of the Navy Department and approved by Congress to recognize naval operations in Nicaragua between the dates of August 27, 1926 and January 2, 1933.
To be awarded the Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal, a service member must have either served on a United States ship, or as an embarked Marine, in the waters or land territory of Nicaragua during the aforementioned dates.
The Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal appeared as a medal suspended from a red ribbon with several white stripes. The medal displayed a woman, armed with sword, defending two other figures with a cloak. The medal bore the words "Second Nicaraguan Campaign" with the dates “1926 – 1930” displayed on the medal’s edges (although the medal was authorized until 1933).
The Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal was considered a separate award from the first version of the medal and Navy regulations permitted the receipt and wear of both decorations, if so authorized. Admiral W.H.H. Sutherland, who had been in overall command of both Nicaraguan campaigns, was the first recipient of both versions of the Nicaraguan Campaign Medal.