D-Day: USS Texas and Omaha Beach
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ต.ค. 2024
- On June 6, 1944, the allies prepared one of the most ambitious operations in military history: the landing of over 156,000 troops in Nazi-occupied France. D-Day remains the largest seaborne invasion in history. In addition to the troops that landed, over 190,000 naval personnel and more than 6,900 ships were involved in the landing. Among them was the USS Texas. Commissioned in 1914, the Texas was one of seven battleships that took part in the landings, and played a key role providing fire support in the difficult landings at Omaha Beach.
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This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.
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All events are portrayed in historical context and for educational purposes. No images or content are primarily intended to shock and disgust. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Non censuram.
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Script by JCG
#history #thehistoryguy #USSTexas
Ah yes, the best counter sniper, *a battleship*
The Emperor Protects!
Am I the only one who is sorry that the Germans failed to send the Americans and their junk to the bottom of the sea?
Hitler jugen in ze comments.
@@andreasproteus1465 yes you are
Bigger guns
My grandfather was on board the Texas on D-Day🇺🇸🥰🇺🇸
As a Texan, I love our battleship and her history.
I went to visit it a long time ago, back when you could go all the way down to the bottom. It makes me sad that you can't still do that.
Same here, and it's really sad the condition she's in now.
She's in desperate need of major repairs & a dry berth if she's to survive much longer.
Thanks THG for posting this video, keep up the good work!
Maybe you'd consider doing one on her current plight to help raise awareness?
This is history that not only deserves to be remembered, it deserves to be saved.
She's a keeper for sure. glad she's getting a much needed refit
@@DRAGONSLAYER1220 She has a brighter future right now than she has in decades. Follow her progress and donate!
@@DRAGONSLAYER1220 I don't like the idea of a dry berth, she was meant to float. The USS Constitution still floats and is sailed, Texas should at least float and be maintained. It makes me angry that she has been so neglected.
My grandfather served aboard the USS Texas during this big one. He was there during this historic event
That's awesome. My grandfather was on the Montpelier.
That is super cool!
@Don2615 🤣🤣🤣
That’s awesome! Mine was stationed on Tinian for the bombings. He snapped a really cool picture of the Enola Gay once it returned.
Hallelujah. A party should be thrown every year -- on this date -- to celebrate the greatest hero the family will ever know. Hard to beat where he was and what he was doing on this date in history.
USS Texas. Yeeting shells farther than any ship has a right to do since 1914.
🔥🦅🇺🇸💪🏽
I’ve watched a lot of “The History Guy” and have read a lot of comments. This one, by far, is the best.
Rubbish! There were "monitors" who were shelling farther plus the Brit battleships could shoot farther on D-Day
@@TessTickles1 Y E S
Shooting over 200 spicy valvos to the enemy!
I grew up visiting the Texas and was able to take my son to her. If you haven't been, please do while the veterans that served on her and act as volunteer guides are still with us.
head down to the engine room. each drive is twice as large as an F-150 pickup.
I wish we were able to see it while we were down south, we were able to see the Lexington, but didnt have the time to see the Texas... dispite the time management negotiation my family worked on, it would be to long out of our way abt it was going to take two more days of a trip we didnt have
They'll have to wait for her to reopen. She is closed and heading for drydock sometime soon. Where she will be upon return is still yet to be announced. Either way she is due from much needed TLC.
Been on her three times.
I've been to the U.S.S. Iowa. I've donated to help replace the deck. It's a beautiful ship, and I assume the Texas is just as amazing.
My dad waded ashore on 7 June 1944. One of his memories was the Battleship Texas firing off the coast. He fought on to the Hurtgen Forrest where he was given a Medical Discharge for Battle Fatigue. One of many US hero's.
*heros. No apostrophe if your just pluralizing
@@GreenAppelPie why would he talk about fish? There are times when you do not worry about spelling or semantics,
Especially when you get the correction wrong.
To Aubrey, I am surprised that not everyone who fought in the Hurtgen didn't end up with battle fatigue.
The Hurtgen was as bad as it got over there, glad he made it.
My dad was in WW2 as well, he had a career over 20 plus years sorry to hear this dad had that as well it's now know as PTSD
Patton would have slapped him into shape.
The Texas is now in drydock in Galveston for restoration. For the last several years, until the ship closed to visitors, I served as an interpretive guide. Those were some of the best Saturdays I've ever had. I had the pleasure of meeting people from all over the world.
I recently zoomed in on it in that Galveston dry dock. I fell in love with it as a kid, playing on it in the early 1980s, (Saturday afternoons of course ;). The State of Texas will spit shine that Ship and I'll have to drive down there to see it again.
This is dixie from texas, my dad served on the battleship texas. Served all 4 yrs, he went in to the service at 17 my grandpop had to sign for my dad to be enlisted. My dad was assigned to a turret gun, and loaded powder into the guns, he was a shooter, he was in the 3rd division, he became coxswain carrying the captain of the ship, and carried wounded rangers back from the beach to the ship for medical treatment after dday. I was so proud of my father, he passed away 2022 at 97 yrs old, he received the french legion of honor medal, he wore it proudly for the last 3 yrs of his life. He was so proud, he liberated france and took on japan.
God bless him! RIP
As a sailor who came 2 generations later, I thank men and, women, like your dad for giving me the privilege of growing up in a free America!!
I salute 🫡 🫡🫡🫡 your dad!!
Thanks for this excellent video. My late uncle, Gunners Mate Rufus Henry Mock was one of those USS Texas guys delivering the 14 inch shells against the Nazi shore batteries. My father, itching for action against the Japanese, had to settle for spending the war aboard a PBY Catalina patrolling the Gulf of Mexico. Their youngest brother jumped into Normandy the night before. They all survived the war. May we all live as to be worthy of the Greatest Generation!
It is important to call these veterans names and service..My dad was a gunner in a TBF AVENGER torpedo bomber in the Pacific off of an escort carrier. My uncle was a bombardier on a B-24 LIBERATOR with the 15th Air Force hammering Berlin....any time their stories are mentioned, it is a good thing.
Hey! That P.B.Y. Catalina was the real deal!
Love the greatest generation. So sad we failed their legacy
She's the last of her kind and she's a real Beauty for being over a hundred and ten years old
One in a million girls but don't fall in love
Great comment!! BrandyF from West Texas.
@@cornbreadfedkirkpatrick9647 'Cause if ya do you'll find out she don't love you! :-) ^v^
Now why would I lie
@@garykarr3948 Now why would I lie but don't fall in love she's a beauty she's one in a million girl
About the almost-grounded destroyers, there was a Free France ship that did get grounded that night and radioed that they were very glad that the first ones touching french soil were them.
I thought that it was another ship that raidioed them saying that?
@@lightningwingdragon973 Maybe, I'm not 100% sure about that
The naval officer's "Three Kisses of Death:"
1. Never kiss another ship with your ship.
2. Never kiss the ground with your ship.
3. Never kiss an enlisted.
Reminds me a bit of the Polish Destroyer that harassed Bismarck the night before she was sunk - kept flashing “I am a Pole” with her signal lights, and randomly shelling the ship - apparently kept much sleep from being had by Bismarck’s crew.
@@cheddar2648 Running a US carrier ran aground near the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco Bay. Surefire career stopper. LOL Didn't realize there was 3 of them. link> www.sfchronicle.com/thetake/article/3-tales-of-gigantic-aircraft-carriers-getting-11248158.php
As a native Texan, I am honored that you chose to talk about Battleship Texas' role on D-Day.
Look after her, shes a historical treasure for more than one reason and I'd love to visit her one day, hopefully shes still floating when I can :)
Our beloved USS TEXAS❤️❤️
Just FYI, the unexpolded German shell that hit the ship and penetrated into an officer's stateroom was found laying on the bunk. That shell is now on display on board the ship.
It and the one that hit the pilot house are the only 2 times the USS TEXAS was ever hit by enemy fire in either world war.
How many times by friendly fire? The old saying still holds - when the Germans fired the Brits ducked, when the Brits fired the Germans ducked. When the Yanks fired - everyone ducked! :)
I thought I had remembered that the Texas was hit by a dud artillery round and that it was on display in the ship. But didn't the History Guy say that the Texas was not hit?
@@donhaywood6542
It WAS hit twice.
I thought the shell landed in the head (bathroom)
@leechjim8023
No, it was found on Warrant Officer M.A. Clark's bunk.
USS Texas (BB-35) - the United States and the Free World thanks you for your service!
USS Texas YW
I went to church with someone who served on the USS Texas. He has passed away, but told me that D-Day, Iwo Jima and Okinawa were 3 of the biggest battles that the Texas provided coverage for. I am still friends with his son, as we still go to the same church. His dad was a turret captain, being in charge 3 of the guns on the Texas.
A turret on the Texas only contains two guns.
@@shelbyseelbach9568 oh well, nobody's perfect. I have seen pictures of battleships with 3 guns in the turret.
@@steveroe6771 I never said anyone was perfect, and I never said other battleships didn't have 3 gun turrets. Lol.
As 4th Grader my Dad took me to USS Teas as it was pushed and pulled by 2 tugboats in to her resting canal spot. Note she still had an assortment of 30 & 50 cal machine gun station on her perimiter.
We stayed there until the tug boats left. The one thing I remember of that day was going up into the victory of San Jacinto tower and looking over to the battle ship. I was 1 foot taller than the main mast. God bless Texas
I grew up and live about 10 minutes from San Jacinto Park where the Battleship Texas was for decades. Recently she was floated down Buffalo Bayou, where she had been kept, to a dry dock in Galveston, Tx to start on the repairs that she has needed for a long time. I'm so glad that the work has finally started.
I lived across the street from the San Jacinto Battleground in LaPorte in the 60's and we rode our bikes over there all the time....been on the ship hundreds of times. I was born there off of hwy 225. I was at the Texas City Dike and watch her go by...it was awesome!!
The repair and restoration work is being down at a cost of thirty five million dollars and will finish in September 2023.
Excellent story! My father, Ssgt. Richard Hathaway, landed at Omaha Beach with the the 5th Ranger Battalion. He was one of the 23 Rangers of Company A under Lt. Charles Parker who successfully exited Omaha Beach up the Vierville Draw and took an overland route to reinforce the 2nd Rangers at Pointe du Hoc. As a Bangalore torpedo-man, my father was one of three Rangers who blew holes in the wire that allowed the Rangers to get off the beach. Their unit was the only unit to successfully achieve their mission from Omaha Beach on D-Day. Dad served with the Rangers until July 1945, finishing up his tour in the European Theater of Operations as a Tech Sergeant in Austria. He returned to active duty as an officer and served in Korea and Japan during the Korean War. He retired as a Major in 1970. My father's fighting position during the defense of Pointe du Hoc is noted on the official u.s. Army map of the defense of the Pointe. Dad sustained battle wounds 3 times in the ETO and was awarded the Purple Heart with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters. He was also awarded the Bronze Star. On the 50th Anniversary of D-Day in 1994, my father had the honor of introducing President Clinton for the ceremony at the Pointe. Although my father passed away on June 7th, 2006, I always pause every D-Day to reflect on the service that he and his brothers in arms gave to our nation. They were truly the greatest generation.
I met your Dad in 1994 and did even know just all he had done.
These men are worthy of being recognized and remembered for their service and exploits. My dad served with an Army AAA unit on Guadalcanal from 1943-44. I’ve had the very good fortune to meet and get to know a few of these men and could never grow tired of hearing their stories on those occasions when they open up and share them. Sadly all to soon the last of these men will leave us when there is yet so much to learn from them.
Yes! Battleship Texas!
Exactly my thought when seeing this.
Russian Badger: Imagine a battleship sinking one side of itself to dunk straight 3-pointers on the Germans during D-Day
Yeah, my dad though unaware that it was the Texas at the time, saw and heard the 'biggest damn guns he ever saw', and was awed at the rhythmic whooshing sounds of the huge shells as they spun, due to the rifling in the barrels, over his head as they fought the strong channel currents in British landing craft to try and make the beach at 'Dog sector' Omaha Beach with the rest of the 5th Rangers that morning, but was so thankful and grateful that someone was giving them the comfort of 'covering fire' by 'Bluejackets' of the U.S.NAVY..............
By the way, a long basketball shot is technically a 'swish' or 'swisher' all net!
I get the sense this wasn't standard practice - they were elevating the guns higher than designers had anticipate would ever be needed, otherwise they would have been able to elevate higher. But the crew saw a work-around, figuring if the guns couldn't raise any more they could just tilt the entire ship.
Standard practice for battleships and monitors when engaged in shore attacks
Kids nowadays call it the "Gangsta Lean".
The Texas: “It’s high noon”. *quickdraw her guns and lands very shot*
My Dad was a communication officer for three years during WWII. He was serving during the D Day invasion and during the Japanese conflict at the end of the shooting war. Thanks to those who post the historic videos. The greatest generation lives on.
As an add on fact, the USS Texas was the host for the founding of the First Marine Division in 1940 in Iceland.
Iceland was occupied by the 2nd Battalion Royal Marines, 2RM would be re-roled as 43 Commando Royal Marines in which my grandfather served in Italy and Yugoslavia
Thank you for posting this video. I appreciate hearing a human deliver this presentation rather than any synthetic “A.I.” voice!!!
My Uncle John Zelvis died on beach as an engineer first group to land there.
Europe and American youth seem to forget our sacrifices...
Shalom
My kids appreciate the sacrifice - and history shows that every generate steps up to the plate when called.
My condolendes
Sincerest condolences to your family. So many families lost loved one’s, what is tragic is that many of our WWII vets have passed, we must never forget their sacrifices. My own family had an Uncle who gave the ultimate and is buried in The U.K. More fortunate was another Uncle who was shot down over the Pacific, who was rescued and lived to fight again. My former Father-inLaw drove a Sherman Tank in The North Africa Campaign and The Battle of The Bulge, another signed up at 17 to fight in Pacific theater. My Great Uncle on my Mom’s side served behind enemy lines as a courier in WWI, he was the only one who would speak about what he saw and he shared this with us kids, like many he had hoped “The Great War would be the war to end all wars.”
So does the current resident at 1600 Pennsylvania ave
@@johnhancock1739 Testify Brother
I've been on the ship before they still have the German shell that hit the ship at cherbourg and it's on display
My uncle Fran works on that ship helping to restore it. I got to tour that ship in places the public isn't allowed to go. It is one awesome ship, and you can feel the history of the ship when you're on it.
My dad fought along side the USS Texas on the USS Arkansas. He turned 18 off Omaha beach on 06/11/44.
The Texas had sleepovers for the scouts in the past and I was fortunate to be involved in 2 of them. It provided a great experience sleeping in the bunks and a tour of many off limit places during normal tours. The history of the ship that was covered was impressive.
When I was a kid the family toured it and a board showing the battles listed Okinawa and my dad a Marine WWII veterans pointed to it and said I was there.
Yeah, but did you skin the absolute shit out of your knees on the stairs? If not, then I don’t believe you.
@@Rays326 your clumsiness has nothing to do with my honesty.
As a volunteer on the Texas and a huge fan of your channel bravo sir! Appreciate the video and the appreciation for our lady.
The Texas is the last link to my great grandfather Homer Wells who was a D Day participant and survivor. Seeing her being repaired brings tremendous joy to my heart and my wifes who shares love for history. I have been aboard her twice and each time i feel the history of her. Seeing her move for the first time in nearly 33 years my heart skipped. She deserves to be fixed and keep history alive for younger generations. Come on Texas may you live forever!
My grandfather served on this ship throughout the whole war. Was on it on D-Day and through Iwo Jima and Okinawa as well. He was a radarman. I got to visit the ship with him twice.
20 years ago, I had a chance to meet a Texas crewman. While talking about the Normandy campaign he was in the firefighting team that ran the fire hoses up to the pilot house. Also about a few weeks after talking to him, I found out the girl I went to prom with her grandpa was one of the sailors wounded and lost a leg from that German gunfire.
I’ve been on the “Hard hat tour” on USS TEXAS when it was docked at San Jacinto. Awesome tour, I accidentally stood at the spot where the only casualty on TEXAS was standing when he was killed in the wheelhouse.
Thanks for sharing the history of our grand dame of the Lone Star State!!!
USS Texas vs Snipers and flooding her torpedo blisters to reach farther targets at D-Day
I imagine any sniper would be rather startled to have a 5" or 14" shell interrupt their party.
@@TheHistoryGuyChannel that’s what Drachinifel said in one his Drydock questions about USS Texas
@@TheHistoryGuyChannel I like the Chieftain's line about "having a signification emotion event." 😅
And thank you sir, for all the work that you do.
An amazing and innovative solution!
@@TheHistoryGuyChannel
The fact is after a 5 or 14 inch shell that sniper ain't gonna be in any condition to be startled, or anything else for that matter.
I never tire of the History Guy’s telling of history and of the history of our services in the great battles of Europe, the Pacific and the East. My Father and Mother served in the British armed and medical services as did my wife’s father flying a Mitchel. We will remember. We also Remember the generation of the RED POPPY. WE WILL REMEMBER. We remember The road to Mandalay. The road from Burma, from Sydney, from Christchurch. Those who carry the burdens up and down the mountains through swamps fighting the enemy sickness carrying the wounded Islands Fought over twice, how proud we are, we remember, yes, we know the few today. We remember, like we breathe.
Love this video. With Texas safe in drydock in Galveston right now it was a good time to rewatch. Can't wait to see her after repairs.
Come on Texas!!
I drove by her the other day. She may have hundreds of holes, she may be a rust bucket, but she will be saved. I love that old ship.
In 1991 I was driving east through Texas on Hwy 10 (I think) when, many miles away, the Texas battleship began materializing on the horizon of an otherwise blank landscape. Very Striking and formidable. I visited her, but she was very run down even then. We MUST save her, though, somehow. Your video clearly shows why. P.S. I was a machinist mate in the after engineroom of the USS Kearsarge, CVA33 in 1958.
Glad to see Battleship Texas in the spotlight. You can keep up with their current progress in dry dock on their TH-cam channel. 👍
Yes!
More History about the Battleship Texas that deserves to be remembered!
Once again the History Guy comes through!!
Like many on here, I've been on the Texas although it was decades ago. Moored near Houston, Texas. I understand she needs a lot of work.
Yeah, she was to sail for major repairs in Alabama, but COVID, postponed that. She still remains at her home in La Porte, but still slatted for repairs. Upon her repairs, she will relocate from Houston (La Porte) presumably to Galveston (though no confirmation as of yet).
@@cameraman655 Thanks for the info cameraman. I wasn't aware they had repairs scheduled. She was in pretty decent shape when I was on her back in the 1980's, but I understand she has deteriorated considerably since then.
@@stevedietrich8936 Yeah, she was recently closed to visitors (pre-COVID) in the run-up for the move. That is the big mystery around here, when is she departing, the powers that be are very tight-lipped.
You all probably know this, but those boats need continued maintenance. Old and new, but especially the older ones. Like people I suppose.
It’s a crying shame our government has completed the funding for her care and upkeep. England has set a fine example of maintaining war relics.
i remember when such celebrations were started by "It was TWENTY years ago today that US and Allied Troops landed on D-Day..." How time flies.
At 20 years I would have been less than a year old; always assuming I make it, I'll be 58 this Fall. Yeah, time flies, and it seems to get faster every year.
What the hell are you making up. SHEESH!!! SMDH!!!!
@@richbarr5959 At 20 years my mother wasn't even a thought in my grandmothers mind. I'm so glad I was able to make it to the 100 year anniversary of the USS Texas and it's amazing that she is still fighting on against time. And now I'm sitting here the same age as many of those who severed on her but in a totally different world. Kind of eerie to think about.
My Dad was a B-26 Marauder Pilot flying out of the south of England. He flew three missions on D-Day twenty days before his twenty second birthday. He told me a story about flying over the Texas with his bomb bay doors open. The crew of the Texas sent him a memo stating that he shouldn't do that again. It was a .30 caliber memo. He said a few days before Overlord you couldn't tell that anything was about to happen. The day of you could walk across the channel for all the vessels on the water. Thank you for this excellent documentary.
Director, John Ford was on the beach that day. He lead a crew of men who filmed everything they could. All of the film was saved and brought back for review by Military leaders. There was a story that all of the film was lost in the sea.. did not happen. The film was so gruesome and bloody that they could, would not show the public. The creators of Saving Private Ryan were given permission to view some of the film for historical accuracy. The part where it shows a young man picking up his arm. that was captured in real life. all those scenes were inspired from the battle footage. Perhaps in 2044 they will release a version for the public to view.
There was a batch of film lost. It was color and taken by one of the combat camera men from the USS Samuel Chase(an attack transport). Some of the B&W film was saved and is often used in videos of D Day. My father was damage control officer for the Chase. Whenever we watched film of D Day he could pick out his boats by the big numbers on the sides and engine hatch of each boat.
Do you have an references/links for this information? I've only ever heard that all but a few photos and shots were lost in the sea water.
@@JohnyG29 John Ford did some interviews decades ago about his military service. Not sure if they are still up on the internet. I first learned about it on a discussion board in the early 2000's where they were talking about it.
I personally hope that footage is never released. The death and dismemberment of those brave heroes should NEVER be shown for public amusement.
Wasn't the "official" story that the film was developed improperly by a tech who was in too big a hurry to get the film over to Ike? The decision to not show the film to avoid hurting morale holds merit. Ike didn't want any veterans of the prior amphibious landings in the Mediterranean to participate in the first wave on D-Day because he felt they would hesitate due to what they had seen before.
My favorite thing to watch on TH-cam
Thank You so much. My Dad was on the Arkansas and I am so very proud of him. He and his compatriots SAVED THE WORLD!
My dad served on the Arkie from 38 to 45.
The USS Texas was successfully towed to drydock in Galveston! She will undergo restoration there for about a year. My grandfather took me to see her in 1961. I hope to show her to my grandsons.
To visit the USS Texas , has been on my list of historic places to see first hand.
WE visited the beach two years ago. If you think the description of Point du Hoc is scary...... you should see it in person. I have the greatest respect for those men and all who enjoy the freedom of this country should kneel down and give thanks for them.
As a limey Id love to visit USS TEXAS
For me she is the most important 20th century warship still around.
Shes the last Dreadnaught and had a very long and illustrious career and demonstrates just what a leap forward the Dreadnaught was .
PS my old man was Royal navy assault landing craft and landed US Rangers on DDay amoung many others both UK and US troops.
Nice that she's getting a chance via the current drydocking to continue to show us our history.
Thank you for telling the story of the Battleship Texas. Living in Houston for the past 39 years has provided my wife and I numerous opportunities to visit this proud vessel. I bring our all our visiting Michigan family members to see 3 very special sites in the Houston area. NASA Johnson Space Center, the Battleship Texas and the San Jacinto Monument. They are each important pieces of American history that deserve to be remembered. Your video presentation did our Battleship proud. Thank you History Guy!
Seawolf park is also pretty good
I've donated a few times, but the USS Texas is history worth saving. She's a big beautiful beast, and I hope she's able to stay around a few more centuries.
My father spoke of a battleship's broadsides being fascinating to watch that day. The tin cans really saved that day.
Dad said that later in the day, the water off of Bloody Omaha was full of bodies floating. They looked like you could use them for stepping stones to walk from ship to ship.
He was probably talking about USS Frankford who almost ran his destroyer aground then turned broadside exposing his flank to the 88, layed down massive broadside in order to help pinned down us military on the beach.
@@hugoseguin8040 There were several tin cans that went in close to shoot it out with shore bunkers. You are right, they all risked running aground. Some have said that if the tin cans hadn't gone in, the landing at Bloody Omaha might not have gotten off of of the beach.
My son and I visited the Texas a few years back. We were the only people there and got an amazing personal tour of the ship.
I grew up touring this ship in the San Jacinto Battlefield Park. It's quite a sight to see!
I would love a series from THG on museum ships in the US!
Great show! It wouldn’t have been as successful without the Texas and all the supporting ships!!
Hi you are the best historian I know
Thank you for your support of the Battleship Texas.
Proud to say I've been on board that great ship that bares the name of my home state. Thankfully there is on going efforts to bring her back to the glorious ship she once was. It's fantastic to know the history of the last remaining ship of her class and the role she played on D-Day
Thank you for honoring our old Battleship Texas! Even just as a kid visiting the old ship at berth, she was awe inspiring! A dreadnaught, well past her prime, that stood in close to support our Greatest Generation in their "great and noble undertaking." No amount of words will ever do justice to the events of June 6, 1944. God Bless our old battlewagon! God Bless our Greatest Generation! THANK YOU for what you do!!!
Endless thanks to the Allied forces veterans. May God bless them always!!! ✝️🇺🇸🇬🇧🇨🇦🇫🇷
Thanks for doing this video about this specific ship. As a born-and-raised Texan, we are still proud of this might ship.
Thank you for the lesson.
May those who gave their lives rest in peace.
Bless our Vets. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
There is a public TH-cam channel that is showing the restoration of the USS Texas, she is now afloat.
Thank you for sharing, I immensely enjoy your program.
Sincerely, Joe BARTOLOTTA
cannot imagine the firing effect of 14" guns, both on those aboard the ship and those recieving such withering fire. Using aerial spotters must have allowed for dramatic accuracy from away offshore. Range is such an asset for a large vessel with a deep draft. Another great episode. Thanks HG
The History Guy is an EXCELLENT historical vehicle. Very informative on a plethora of not very often historical subjects. He deserves some kind of award!
Thank you for reminding us of the service of the USS Texas. You had video of the Texas at Normandy I'd never before seen. She is a wonderful historic ship that deserves to be saved. She can also teach valuable lessons about preserving and protecting the other museum ships. It is important to not allow what happened to Texas to happen to the other museum ships.
They're doing it now....
Man first I started watching TheFatElectrician for war history and here I am watching you now, I am most definetly gonna be watching your videos for a long time. I love history, the development of everything, especially war history. I love getting to know more about the incredible machines that were made by different countries for different military duties.
Thank you so much for bringing the plight of Texas's preservation to your subscriber's attention. I hate to see this great piece of history just rotting away.
I, as many others have fond memories of visiting the Texas as a child, but not knowing of her incredible history. Wonderful tribute to her and her crew.
Since I live in Houston, Texas, I've been on her a few times. I don't remember learning that when she was launched she was the largest warship in the world. New reverence.
It has been a gathering place for D-Day veterans for many decades as it actually participated in the invasion.
Again you did a fantastic job for Battleship Texas
I actually went camping at Omaha Beach with my family when I was a kid in the early 60’s. We went into one of the old German cement pill boxes. It was creepy. Wonder if you can still do so. We lived in France then.
I was there two years ago. You could still enter the pill boxes then. I found the shell craters interesting, and still enormous after all these years. I also found the French people in Normandy to be extremely grateful towards Americans (and I presume Brits and Canadians as well).
@@stevedietrich8936, Wow, thanks. That is good to know that things are still much as I remember them. It seems like a long time ago perhaps, but I know it was not. And the war was over only ~12 years or so when we living there in Orleans. In many ways I realize they were still recovering from WWII. Japan showed it’s scars to us as well when I lived in Okinawa a few years later. Yet another reluctant historical battle ground. Hello from TX.
I visited Dunkirk some years ago and there were a lot of German fortifications still in place. The fortifications at Dunkirk were more extensive than they were at Normandy, so it was almost like a small city. There were big bunkers along the beach, smaller bunkers in between the big ones with well protected support buildings for the troops to the rear. The support buildings were built out of brick or concrete with earth berms up the walls. Some were intact enough to where one could figure out what their likely purpose was when the Germans were using them. One looked to be a bakery, another showers, still another the likely office of some brass.
One could climb into the bunkers and have a look around. One still had the thick steel blast doors laying inside and I could clearly see the mounts for the cannons they once held. Looking out the firing embrasure down the beach and considering the field of fire made my blood run cold at the thought of any allied troops trying to cross that beach.
Normandy was the right choice!
The French were working on demolishing many of the bunkers as they'd been hastily built on poor foundations by the Germans. Over the years some had started to topple over and become a hazard. But, demolishing the big bunkers is a huge task in it's own right and I don't know how far along they've gotten since I was there.
It was a very educational experience.
@@stevedietrich8936 yes many Europeans are. My grandad was shot down in Holland as a RCAF and can say first hand of their gratitude.
Five years. ago, visited Ste Mere Eglise, La Fiere , and other locations specific to my uncle’s service that day , as a member of the 82nd’s 505 PIR that day. My B and B, built in 1350, host was part of a local commemoration group and showed me a number of sites that hadn’t been mentioned in the books I’d read on the fighting at LaFiere. So many sites of heroism.
Very interesting to learn some history and operations of ships offshore at Normandy.
Being American's we hear so much about the landing of the troops on the beaches that it's refreshing to get a poke in the side and told to turn 180 degrees to learn what was happening offshore.
My two sons and I visited USS Texas during a visit to my daughter in Houston. She (the vessel) is very impressive for an old lady who’s now 107 years old. I hope they raise sufficient funds to get her the preservation she deserves. Regards.
They did and they are now.
My father took me on a tour of the Texas at her present berth when I was a child. The last time he had seen her previous to that was on the morning of June 6th, 1944. He was a 20 year old combat engineer with HHC, 147th Combat Engineer Battalion, 6th Engineer Special Brigade. He was the only member of his team not killed on Omaha beach. He said salvos fired by the Texas rumbled right over his head, sounding like freight trains.
A video on the critique of insufficient naval firepower against Omaha beach sounds like a worthy follow-up to this fine video. And thanks for mentioning that the Texas exists still and can be visited! Love your channel!
I don't think you can visit right now they moved it 5-6 months or so ago to repair her she was taking on water and some of the structural beams where corroded badly i think they are looking for a new site to place her also so probably a year or more till we can visit her again.
She was let go so bad they where worried she would sink when they moved her!
Nice 4:00 of drone footage of the battleship in 2020 you can see pumps are pumping a lot of water out of her nice looking ship th-cam.com/video/KpxXtTNg3Ko/w-d-xo.html
My dad served on the Texas.His name was Donald McElwain.he was a gunners mate.Loved the video.He would have loved this footage.Thankyou
I popped down to San Jacinto to see the museum when I was there on a training course a few years ago. There were tripods looming over the trees...
Not only does he tell history, he helps save history! Thanks history guy!
As a native Texan and as someone who has visited the USS Texas many time, I gotta say I loved this video. Well done!
I toured the USS Texas 21 years ago. To step on her deck was breathtaking! At the time she was over 100 years old and as solid as the day the keel was first laid. She is an awesome ship with an outstanding history!
Sadly, Battleship Texas is no longer solid. Decades of resting in the brackish water of the Houston Ship Channel has eaten away large parts of the hull and the water that leaked inside has eaten away structural steel that suppports the weight of the ship. I've read that the supports under the engines are severely compromised.
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For your information and for others posting on this site -- and please understand that I'm not trying to be obnoxious or a nazi here -- the ship is properly the Battleship Texas. There is only ONE USS Texas and that is a Virginia class nuclear attack submarine. Battleship Texas ceased being USS Texas when the US Navy ceded her to the state as the museum ship and struck her from the list of active vessels of the Navy.
I’ve visited the USS Texas BB-35 three times. The first visit was in the early 80s, mid 90s, and again in the late 90s. Each time, was an amazing visit. I visited every compartment allowed. In those days, the engine room was closed to visitors. I’d sure like to make the trip one more time! I’ll have to check THG’s videos to see if a video has been done about the San Jacinto Park and memorial too. That too is history worth remembering!
I took my then 80 year old grandmother to the top of that ship in the 70's. It was great.
cmon big tex and also history deserves to be remembered and its you i like and i like you just the way you are you make everyday special by just your being you and D-day deserves to be remembered!
The USS Oregon was the first preserved US battleship, however it was removed from it's status during WW2 because it was deamed more inportant for it's steel for the war effort though ultimately it's hull was saved for a differnt task.
7:00 I'm glad you mentioned the part played at Omaha by the destroyers. It was crucial.
Communication arrangements between the troops on the beach and the fire support ships broke down completely, for various reasons. There were only a few armored vehicles ashore in the early hours, and one of the destroyer captains noticed they all seemed to be firing on a target up on the cliffs that was too well camouflaged for him to see. So he directed his guns to the spot where he could see shells from the tanks exploding-and his 5" guns silenced it. Soon the tanks were shooting at another target he could not make out, so again he used their shell bursts as target markers, and destroyed that target as well. The tank men ashore grasped what was happening, and began to use their guns even against fortifications too heavy for them, so that the dds would know where to shoot. The dd captain alerted other fire support dds to what he was doing, and soon the fire from the dds was taking out the German gun positions that had immobilized most of the landing force, and they were able to get sufficiently organized to force their way through the obstacle blocking one of the exits and begin to move inland and mop up the beach defenses from behind. The commanding general said, "The Navy saved our bacon at Omaha."
The DD's were ordered to stand 5000 yards off the beach. They ignored that order and came as close as they could without running aground. In so doing they subjected themselves to the threat of German artillery fire.
I’m a huge fan of history and the truth, here I get both. Outstanding
I regularly support the Battleship Texas Foundation, and visit the ship. The ship may be closed to visitors at this time. She is currently being fitted for tow to a maintenance yard for hull repair and refurbishment. Museum volunteers are refurbishing deck mounts, guns and appurtenances. The Foundation is looking ahead for perhaps another location that would receive more visitation. There were plans at one point to dry dock her at the San Jacinto Battleground Monument where she is currently located, and that may still be an option. I believe they would like to select a better location. Thank you for producing this video and teaching us more about Texas' actions.
We appreciate your support!
One of those great stories that I cant stop but to listen every time I see
I know the vast majority of those who took part in D-day have now passed into history but I would still like to say thank you, to the children and grandchildren of those who took part, for all that their relatives did to liberate Europe in its time of great need. Truly there were Giants then...
I've donated and hope to keep the old girl afloat :)
My grandfather served on the Texas from 1914 to 1920 and was very proud of his time on her. I was able to visit the ship and received a special tour as a relative of one of her sailors.
Love that ole ship. She has a special place in my heart. Toured her many times when I was a kid. Can’t wait till she ready for viewing again. Great video sir
Thank you for this. Come on, Texas!!!!!!
I believe it was the USS Texas that got close enough to the beach at Omaha to work in concert with one of the two DD tanks that had made it ashore there. The tank was firing on a German emplacement, trying to clear it. When the Texas' observers saw what the tank's crew was trying to accomplish, they shifted fire to the same target. The tank crew caught on, and would direct Texas' fire by shooting at an emplacement, and the Texas would follow up with a volley on the same target. I could be mis-remembering, though, it might have been another smaller ship that got closer. I'll go dig out my copy of _D-Day_ and report back.
It was not the Texas. The battleships were thousands of yards offshore. I believe you are thinking about the destroyer USS Satterlee.
over the past 60 some years i have been on the Texas a number of times . its quite an experience. some of the firsts of naval history such as ship board radar, a.a. guns, floatplanes with catapult. e.c.m. . its also the last surviving dreadnought battleship.
"...breathing paint chips and dust." Given the time period, probably lead paint and asbestos dust. -.-
I was thinking the same. Likely disabled the sailors after they returned home.
Exactly right, my old boss served aboard Texas, he said the pipes throughout the ship were wrapped in asbestos and when big guns fired they breathed the dust. He lived into his 80s, did not smoke and questioned the legitimacy of the giant lawsuit against Monsanto . ( Has a study of asbestosis among Texas vets been done?) I read that Monsanto attorney said most as asbestosis victims were heavy smokers with associated lung disease.
Anybody care to take a guess how many thousands of lives asbestos saved ?
@@nunyabusiness6746 Yes, but now we know that it also kills in disproportionate numbers, compared to other options. It saved people at the moment, in combat, yet it also doomed others to a long, slow, agonizing death. Even those who never saw combat but rather worked in shipyards and other trades were killed by it.