Boy Scout Troop 932 spends night on World War II Battleship Texas

Courtesy photo THE BATTLESHIP TEXAS was home to these swabbies from the Jasper Troop 932 Boy Scouts, who hung out with 40 other scouts aboard the historic ship last weekend. From left: Coley Persons, Joseph Tvrz, Dillon Smith, Zachrey Espinoza, Joaquin Verdin Jr. and Zackery Ferguson.

What boy wouldn't love to spend the night on a World War II battleship in the Gulf? Local Boy Scout Troop 932 visited the Battleship Texas over the weekend and spent 16 hours aboard learning and living its history.

Each scout (one by one) asked permission to come aboard the ship, where they toured areas normally locked away from the general public.

The Battleship Texas fought in both World War I and II. The scouts saw movies and actual footage of the ship filmed during its later years at war, and heard many stories of men who served on the battleship.

Some were surprised to see a barber shop, dentist office, surgery area and post office, but the ship was home to 1,700 men and had everything needed for long tours of duty.

After a movie and an educational scavenger hunt, it was time for lights out to the tune of taps. The boys slept in the actual bunks tiered fourhigh.

At reveille, they donned Navy gear and crawled through narrow passage ways and participated in flag ceremonies that included flying the Troop 932 flag.

At "graduation," they received a Battleship Texas patch from the ship's crew and congratulations from the captain.

Scouting is open to boys aged 11-17; contact scout master Jerry Smith at 384-6157 or committee chair Lloyd Persons at 384-8296.