SAM HOUSTON SSN 609

Ship Name and Designation History

This section lists the names and designations that the ship had during its lifetime. The list is in chronological order.

Ethan Allen Class Ballistic Missile Submarine Keel Laid 28 December 1959 - Launched 2 February 1961 USS SAM HOUSTON SSBN-609 Commissioned 6 March 1962 USS SAM HOUSTON SSN-609 Reclassified Attack Submarine (Nuclear) (SSN) 10 November 1980 Decommissioned 6 September 1991 Struck from Naval Register 6 September 1991 Disposed of 3 February 1992

Naval Covers

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1. USS Sam Houston SSBN-609 / SSN-609 Covers Page 1     (1962-1991)

 

Postmarks

This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Within each set, the postmarks should be listed in order of their classification type. If more than one postmark has the same classification, then they should be further sorted by date of earliest known usage.

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Postmark Type --- Killer Bar Text	Postmark Date	Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image	Thumbnail Link To Cover Image

NO Postal Facilities - NO Postmarks Reported

 

USPO Slogan Machine cancel Newport News VA

1962-03-06

N/A

First Day in Commission, ships cachet, cover by Joachim Dill.

 

Other Information

NAMESAKE - Sam Houston (2 March 1793 - 26 July 1863)
        Samuel Houston, generally known as Sam Houston, was born on 2 March 1793 at Timber Ridge Plantation in Rockbridge County, Va. After the death of his father in 1807, Sam's mother took him to eastern Tennessee where he learned the ways of the Cherokee Indians and became deeply committed to furthering Indian rights; a cause he served throughout his life. Houston enlisted in the 7th Infantry on 24 March 1813 for service in the war with England. He fought under General Andrew Jackson and, although severely wounded during the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, remained in the Army after the end of hostilities. He had attained the rank of First Lieutenant before he resigned on 1 March 1818 to study law.
         Soon after being admitted to the Tennessee bar, Houston was appointed prosecuting attorney for the Nashville District. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1823 to 1827. In the latter year, he was elected state governor and served as head of the Tennessee government until 1829 when he relinquished office and became a trader in Indian Territory (Oklahoma). Much of his time in the next few years was devoted to securing fair treatment of Indians by the Federal Government and to promoting peace among various Indian tribes.
         He visited Texas in 1832 to negotiate with the Comanche tribe on behalf of the Cherokees and, thereafter, became increasingly involved in that region. Soon after the outbreak of the Texas War for Independence, Houston was chosen Commander in Chief of the Texas Army. On 21 April 1836, his badly outnumbered force, which had been retreating before the Mexican Army, turned and decisively defeated their pursuers at San Jacinto. They captured the Mexican commander, Santa Anna, and his entire army, thereby winning independence for Texas.
         On 22 October 1836, Houston was inaugurated President of the Republic of Texas and held the office until December 1838. He then stepped down but again headed the new government from 1841 to 1844.
         When Texas was annexed to the United States, Houston was elected as one of the state's United States senators, and he served in the Senate until 1859, when displeasure over his loyalty to the Union prompted the Texas Legislature to replace him. However, his enduring popularity among the electorate won him the office of governor which he held until he was deposed on 18 March 1861 for refusing to swear allegiance to the Confederacy. He then retired to his farm where he died on 26 July 1863.

The ships sponsor was Mrs. Idanell Brill Connally, wife of John Connally, the 56th US Secretary of the Navy (1961).

Two ships of the US Navy have been named in his honor - USS Sam Houston (1861 Schooner) and USS Sam Houston SSBN-609.

 

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