Navy Vet and Author James V. Lee Joins Ranks to Help Save Imperiled Battleship Texas
As crews scramble to pump out seawater from a new leak discovered this week in the 100-year old floating memorial, James V. Lee, author of Five Years at Sea, pledges to donate 50% of his June book sale proceeds to aid the Battleship Texas Foundation.
LA PORTE, Texas, June 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The ship that stoutly served our nation through World Wars I and II, including the Normandy invasion and the infamous battle at Iwo Jima, is now battling a more elusive enemy – the sea itself. Last Saturday, staff at the Battleship Texas State Historic Site noticed something very wrong. The 100-year old ship, now a floating memorial museum, was lower in the water and listing to the left.
All week long, crews have been franticly pumping out water in hopes of finding and repairing a new leak in the lower region of the hull. The water is entering areas that housed oil tanks used while the ship was in active duty.
This week's incident is only the latest in a string of repair and patch operations intent on preserving and keeping the proud ship afloat. Ambitious plans are already underway to dry berth the ship and keep her permanently dry. But until that $29 million dollar effort is realized, precious funds must be diverted to solve more pressing problems like this week's emergency hull breach.
Navy veteran and author James V. Lee has a passion for the ships that have come to symbolize the greatness of America and the bravery of our men and women in uniform. "The Battleship Texas is in peril and must be preserved," says Lee. "Now is the time to rally our support for saving one of our national treasures."
Lee's book, Five Years at Sea, chronicles his personal interaction with the crews of thirteen U.S. Navy warships as they traverse the oceans of the world, exploring the lands and cultures of thirty-six countries. According to retired US Navy Rear Admiral John Sigler, "James V. Lee has written the book that all of us who enjoyed our Navy careers wish that we had written."
Through June, The Battleship Texas Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, will benefit from the sale of Five Years at Sea plus four other books from Salado Press. Those books include Escape From Korea and When Surrender Was Not an Option. All are available at major book sellers like Barnes & Noble and Amazon. Autographed copies and e-publications for Nook, Sony, iPad and Kindle are available at http://www.saladopress.com.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eBfaz8bB0Q&feature=related
Contact:
Liz Silverman
214-499-0033
[email protected]
Photo(s):
http://www.prlog.org/11900370
SOURCE Salado Press
Share this article