HISTORY ON TAP
Join The Heritage Society’s free Community Outreach Program for adults: a monthly lecture series at New Magnolia Brewing Co, located at 1616 Bevis Street. Every second Thursday of the month, expert speakers bring Houston’s rich history and culture to life in a relaxed brewery setting. Mingle with fellow history enthusiasts, enjoy craft brews, and deepen your connection to the city you love.
Raise Your Glass to This!
🍻 History on Tap: The Story of the USS Houston (CA‑30)
Thursday, May 14, 2026 • 6:30 PM New Magnolia Brewing Co. 1616 Bevis Street, Houston, TX 77008
Presented by The Heritage Society at Sam Houston Park
Join us for a special edition of History on Tap featuring Donald M. Kehn Jr., one of the nation’s leading historians on the USS Houston (CA‑30) and the U.S. Asiatic Fleet. A native Houstonian and longtime researcher of the ship, Kehn brings more than four decades of scholarship to this compelling program about one of the most storied vessels of World War II.
The USS Houston, known as “The Galloping Ghost of the Java Coast,” served as the flagship of the U.S. Asiatic Fleet and fought with extraordinary resilience during the opening months of the Pacific War. Her loss in the Battle of Sunda Strait in 1942—and the fate of her crew—remains one of the most powerful chapters in American naval history.
This program also highlights The Heritage Society’s stewardship of the USS Houston Monument, which honors the ship and the men who served aboard her.
⚓ About the Program
Don Kehn will explore:
The USS Houston’s service in the Asiatic Fleet
The ship’s final battle and the experiences of her crew
New insights from decades of archival research
How the USS Houston Survivors Association preserves this legacy
The importance of the USS Houston Monument at The Heritage Society
Kehn’s work is known for uncovering long‑standing mysteries, correcting the historical record, and bringing forward the human stories behind the ship’s dramatic final months.
🎙️ Featured Speaker: Donald M. Kehn Jr.
Donald M. Kehn Jr. is the official historian for the USS Houston (CA‑30) Survivors Association and the official historian of the Naval Order of the United States, Texas Commandery.
An independent scholar specializing in U.S. Navy operations in the Pacific during World War II, Kehn has spent more than 40 years researching the USS Houston and the Asiatic Fleet.
He is the author of several major works, including:
A Blue Sea of Blood (2008), which solved long‑standing mysteries surrounding the disappearance of the destroyer USS Edsall (DD‑219).
In the Highest Degree Tragic (2017), the most comprehensive study of the Asiatic Fleet’s campaign in the Dutch East Indies.
Kehn’s research is widely respected for its depth, accuracy, and use of rare firsthand accounts. His work has provided many families with the first clear understanding of what happened to loved ones lost in the early months of the Pacific War.
🍺 Venue & Atmosphere
Enjoy an evening of history, conversation, and community at New Magnolia Brewing Co., where craft beer and storytelling come together in a relaxed, welcoming setting.
📅 Event Details
Date: Thursday, May 14, 2026 Time: 6:30 PM Location: New Magnolia Brewing Co., 1616 Bevis Street, Houston, TX 77008 Admission: Free and open to the public
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