Cruiser Houston

Items

• Leonard "Dutch" Kooper and Sean Ellerbee
  Young friend Sean Ellerbee embraces Houston survivor Leonard "Dutch" Kooper at the 1999 U.S.S. Houston Survivors Association Reunion.
• William A. Bernrieder and Albert Rooks with USS Houston ship's bell
  William A. Bernrieder (left) and Albert Rooks stand beside a bell from the U.S.S. Houston that was removed from the ship before the war due to a crack. Bernreider was a member of the original Cruiser Houston Committee, and Albert Rooks was the son of Captain Rooks. Photograph by Captain Carter Conlin.
• Survivors viewing Cruiser Houston model
  Members of the U.S.S. Houston Survivors Association view a model of the Cruiser Houston on display in the George R. Brown room at a reunion in 1985.
• Otto Schwarz
  The heart and soul behind the U.S.S. Houston Survivors Association, Otto Schwarz told the story of the U.S.S. Houston and kept the survivors and their families in touch for over 60 years.
• USS Houston Monument
  The U.S.S. Houston Foundation of the Texas Commandery of the Naval Order of the United States dedicated this monument to the U.S.S. Houston and her crew in 1995. The monument is located in Sam Houston Park in downtown Houston.
• USS Houston Survivors Association/Next Generation Reunion
  This group photograph taken at the 1999 U.S.S. Houston Survivors Association/Next Generation Reunion includes survivors of the Houston, and kneeling in front, Val Roberts-Poss and Lin Drees of the Next Generation.
• POW's belongings, Rat Buri, Thailand
  The belongings of this prisoner of war were photographed upon the release of POWs from Rat Buri, Thailand, in 1945.
• Men gathered for group photo, evacuation of POWs
  In August 1945, POWs learned that the war was over and they were soon to be released after 3 1/2 years as prisoners of war.
• Burma-Thai Railway spike
  This spike was recovered from the site of the Burma-Thai Railway many years after the war. Nearly 13,000 Allied POWs died building the "Death Railway."
• George Detre's spoon
  A Japanese infantry sergeant gave this spoon to POW George Detre when he was captured. For many months Detre was the only person who had a utensil, and he used the spoon for 2 1/2 years.
• POW camp
  Allied prisoners-of-war helped to build the Burma-Thai Railway amid primitive living conditions like these.
• POW camp near Ohasi, Japan
  Prisoners of war in a POW camp near Ohasi, Japan. The prisoners include a dozen men from the U.S.S. Houston, several Americans from the 131st Field Artillery, and Australians from the Australian Imperial Forces and the HMAS Perth.
• Page from H.A. Levitt's diary
  In handwritten notes, Communications Officer H.A. Levitt describes his experiences swimming to shore after the sinking of the Houston off the Java coast.
• "21 Warships Sunk"
  This headline appeared in the Los Angeles Evening Herald and Express on March 14, 1942. The article reported that the U.S.S. Houston had not been heard from since heading for the Sunda Strait the night of February 28th.
• HMAS Perth
  The Australian cruiser H.M.A.S. Perth went down just before the Houston on the night of February 28, 1942. The two Allied ships were attempting to make it to safety when they were surprised by a Japanese fleet in Sunda Strait.
• Sailors at Cavite Naval Yard
  Sailors relax at the Marine Barracks of Cavite Naval Yard, in the Philippines. The Houston was undergoing repairs at Cavite when she got the call to prepare for war following the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
• Photograph of USS Houston taken through gunsight
  This photo was taken through the sight of an Allied gun, just days before the Battle of Sunda Strait. It is the last known photo taken of the U.S.S. Houston before its sinking on March 1, 1942.
• Capt. Albert H. Rooks assuming command of the USS Houston (CA-30)
  Captain Albert H. Rooks commanded the USS Houston during the Battle of Sunda Strait. He was awarded several medals posthumously, including the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Netherlands' Cross of the Bronze Lion.
• USS Houston (CA-30) passing San Jacinto Monument and Battleground
  The USS Houston passes in front of the San Jacinto Monument on one of the ship's visits to her honorary home port of Houston.
• Boxer Frank L.H. "Butch" Pistole (left) and Joe Lewdanski (right)
  Frank "Goldie" Pistole, light heavyweight champ of the Asiatic Fleet, with his trainer, Chief Boatswain Mate McCabee, and heavyweight champ of the Asiatic Fleet Joe Lewdanski in Manila, 1941.
• The Blue Bonnet, Vol. 7, No. 4
  The ship's newspaper, the Blue Bonnet, contained news of the ship, upcoming events, naval lore, and other things of interest to the ship's crew.
• Santa Claus and Mickey Mouse on deck
  Santa Claus, assisted by Mickey Mouse, passes out gifts at the Children's Christmas Party in 1936.
• USS Houston baseball team, Manila, Philippines
  The USS Houston's baseball team, "the Ramblers," played against crew members from other ships in their division.
• Photograph of coffee urn and cups from the ship's silver service
  This silver service decorated with Texas motifs was presented to the ship by the citizens of Houston during her first trip to the city in 1930. The service was removed from the ship in the Philippines at the beginning of World War II and never recovered.
• USS Houston (CL-81) launching ceremony, Newport News, Virginia
  The new cruiser, Houston, slides down the ways at the Newport News Ship Building and Dry Dock Co. The USS Houston (CL-81) was launched on June 19, 1943 from the same Virginia shipyard as the first cruiser. Like her namesake, she earned several battle stars for her valor.