Julio Zaccagni, 89, served on the ship in 1940 at age 18. He says that everyone knew the war was on its way, "We were at Casco Bay, Maine, when they announced Pearl Harbor. We were already set up for action we might encounter. The USS Texas had already been on "Neutrality Patrol" and monitoring the Atlantic half way to Great Britain.
Don Cade, 91m spent his time in the ship's office, "I was the only one who knew how to type."
Former crew members Lewis Morgan and Howard Mills also attended the event which was organized by the Texas Veterans Association and hosted by the Battleship Texas. It has taken place since the late 1980s.
Sadly, it won't be continuing with the veterans for much longer. The US Department of Veteran Affairs estimates that 850 of the two million World War II survivors die each day.
In May 2012, a celebration is planned for the 100th anniversary of the Texas' launch.
A Hundred Years Old is Mighty Long in Ship years. --Cooter
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