On 11 May 2017, the Rotary Club of Flatonia sponsored the Flatonia High School Junior Class on a special tour of the USS Lexington Museum, located in Corpus Christi Texas. During the tour they were privileged to meet and converse with three WWII Fighter Pilots. Bob Batterson, 94, is a Pearl Harbor Survivor and was an F6F Hellcat Fighter Pilot. Merton Bobo, 92, was a Gunner on then Avenger Fighter Bomber and flew multiple missions over Iwo Jima. Joe Sassman, 96, was an F4F Wildcat Fighter Pilot who shot down 3 enemy Zero’s. He also survived a kamikaze attack on the Lexington in 1944. The students listened to their stories of heroism and patriotism, and what it was like to serve during this most challenging time in United States history.
The students toured the entire ship from the engine room to the bridge. They were instructed by veteran volunteer tour guides in the inner workings of a WWII Aircraft Carrier and the realities of life on board a war ship.
Robert Rannebarger, vice president of the Flatonia Rotary Club and Director of Service Projects, commented, “It was with great pride that I accompanied this stellar group of high school juniors and learn, along with them, about our country’s greatest generation and the sacrifices they made for us.”
The students toured the entire ship from the engine room to the bridge. They were instructed by veteran volunteer tour guides in the inner workings of a WWII Aircraft Carrier and the realities of life on board a war ship.
Robert Rannebarger, vice president of the Flatonia Rotary Club and Director of Service Projects, commented, “It was with great pride that I accompanied this stellar group of high school juniors and learn, along with them, about our country’s greatest generation and the sacrifices they made for us.”