Cub Scouts In Action
Cub Scout Clayton Hicks, left, mans the guns aboard the Battleship Texas (USS Texas) while Kalin Christenberry, center waits his turn. Cub Scouts of Troop 226 visited the ship, which is located at the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site in La Porte. They also visited the Clayton Library in Houston where they explored information on their ancestors to earn the genealogy merit badge. By visiting the Battleship Texas, the group earned the American Heritage merit badge. The Texas is the second ship of the United States Navy named in honor of the U.S. state of Texas. During her career, Texas saw action in Mexican waters, escorted Allied convoys across the Atlantic Ocean in World War I and II, shelled Axis-held beaches for the North African campaign and the Normandy Landings before being transferred to the Pacific Theater late in 1944 to provide naval gunfire support during the Battle of Iwo Jima and Battle of Okinawa. Texas was decommissioned in 1946, having earned five battle stars for WWII. Texas is one of only two ships that served in both WWI and WWII. It is the first US battleship to mount anti-aircraft guns, control gunfire and launch an aircraft. It is the first to become a museum ship.

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