Getting ready to travel again.

I'm making time to update, life has been a little hectic since my last post. A promotion, new kid, and lots of work and family issues, but these are really excuses given the amount of time I spend on FaceBook. I'm getting ready for another adventure across America. Joey and the rest of the Family are already in California visiting Grandparents for the summer but I'll be surprising them with a visit and driving back home with them. So this time it'll be the whole family!

I'm taking a method of travel not used as much by folks anymore, the Greyhound bus. Should be interesting to say the least. My journey will take me from Baton Rouge, LA west to Manteca, CA of the course of two days and about four dozen stops. The most exciting part for me will be meeting new people. I love to meet new people and hear their stories. Maybe I will be able to share them here? As always I will be posting pictures of the journey and some occasional commentary. I should probably post some pictures of more recent adventures in Louisiana. Well, y'all stay safe. -Mike, still traveling America

The USS Kidd

This is the USS Kidd DD-661 located in Baton Rouge Louisiana. The USS Kidd is a Fletcher Class Destroyer that began it's service on February 28, 1943.  Leaving it's dry dock in New Jersey flying the Jolly Roger flag. The Kidd served admirably during World War Two, serving first in the North Atlantic where it protected Allied shipping lanes then in the Pacific Theater. Participating in operations near New Guinea, Tarawa, the Marshall Islands, Leyte Gulf and the liberation of the Philippines, and the Invasion of Okinawa. It was near Okinawa that the Kidd suffered her worst attack during the war. On April 11, 1945 the USS Kidd was struck by a Kamikaze and took dozens of casualties and was horribly damaged as a result. She was sent back to Hunters Point Naval Shipyard for repairs. The USS Kidd was enroute to participate in the invasion of the Japanese hon islands when the war ended with the Japanese surrender.

The USS Kidd was named after Rear Admiral Isaac Kidd, Sr., killed in action while commanding the defense of Pearl Harbor from His Flagship, the USS Arizona during the Japanese surprise attack on December 7th, 1941. RADM Kidd was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions that day. Quoted Directly from the Citation;


"For conspicuous devotion to duty, extraordinary courage, and complete disregard of his own life, during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, by Japanese Forces on December 7, 1941. He immediately went to the bridge and as Commander Battleship Division ONE, courageously discharged his duties as Senior Officer Present Afloat until the USS Arizona, his Flagship, blew up from magazine explosions and a direct bomb hit on the bridge, which resulted in the loss of his life."

The body of Rear Admiral Kidd has never been recovered and he is officially listed as Missing In Action.
  

 Twin .50 caliber AA guns.

 Shipboard firefighting equipment.

 The Galley, where the meals are prepared.

 Those are coal burning stoves.

 The Officer's Dining area.

 A view of the 5-inch guns at the bow the the ship.

 A view toward the stern from the bow.

 A torpedo launcher.

 Anybody need a shower?

 Shells for the 5-inch guns.

More torpedoes

 Twin-barreled 40mm Anti-Aircraft gun.

 I'd hate to be on the other end of those sights.

 Narrow, steep staircases. A tall chubby guy like me would have been in trouble his first few weeks on the Kidd.

 Such spacious accommodations for the Officers!

 The Crew Quarters, all total there is room for about 1/3 of the Kidd's total enlisted compliment in the birthing area, bunks for around 90 enlisted men. The practice of hot bunking was common, with 2/3 of the crew on duty and the other 1/3 asleep, being rotated on a regular basis. so the bunks were always warm from the crewman sleeping in them.

 Enlisted dining area. Note the bunks in the background...

 From the bow. More AA and 5-inch guns.

 Depth charges for destroying those pesky submarines.

I hope you have enjoyed my adventure aboard the USS Kidd. If you have any questions please feel free to ask. -Mike, still traveling...

Forts Randolph and Buhlow, Pineville, LA Feb 2013

Good weekend! Visited the Forts Randolph and Buhlow State Historic Site in Pineville, LA this weekend. Met some wonderful people and had a great lunch at the site.

Lots of living history at the site. For a bit of background the twin Forts Randolph and Buhlow were built after the disastrous Union Red River Campaign. After sacking Alexandria and being defeated near Mansfield to the north, the Union Army, under command of Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Banks retreated along the Red Red River toward Simmesport, burning and looting every building they passed along the way. To ensure the LA capitol at Shreveport was protected against another invasion the Forts near Alexandria were constructed to stop Union Naval forces from advancing. Each fort had large artillery pieces emplaced with a commanding view of the Red River. These heavy guns could stop any boats sent up river by Union Naval forces. To protect the forts from a direct infantry assault, two regiments of cavalry were assigned to the forts. Confederate forces between the two garrisons totaled just over 800 soldiers. After the Red River Campaign and construction of the forts, no further invasions of the Red River Valley occurred. The forts were either quite a deterrent or a waste of badly needed cavalry and artillery forces. Either way the ruined Red River Valley did not face occupation until the Department of Louisiana surrendered a few weeks after Lees surrender at Appomattox. The Soldiers at the forts were among the last in the Confederacy to surrender.

 This is the community garden grown by the staff. All the vegetables served at the living history lunches (served the first Saturday of each month) come from here. All excess produce is donated to local shelters and food closets.

 Saw a few snapping turtles around the pond.

 This is were I had a fine lunch of rabbit, venison, fried radishes, and cabbage. The food was tasty.

 Winter quarters for the soldiers stationed here. Winter in Pineville sucks. I've been here three weeks and I've seen snow and freezing rain one week. Temps in the 80s the following week then another week of freezing temps at night and 70 degree days. Very thankful for my accommodations.

 The guns of Forts Randolf and Buhlow commanded an excellent view of the Red River and the City of Alexandria. The heavy guns could have stopped any Union Naval advances up the river and the Cavalry and Militia near the forts protected against a sizable Union ground assault.

 Given the nature of cavalry and artillery units, shorter weapons, such as this Enfield musketoon would have been a common sight at the forts. Although many Confederate cavalrymen were rather fond of sawed off double barreled shotguns. At this stage of the war though southern troops were thrilled to have any kind of weapon that went bang.

This weekend was a great little escape, I met lots of very nice people and got to see many historically important sites. I will be visiting Forts Randolph and Buhlow again for sure.