Rook’s Park in Walla Walla is a beautiful spot for residents and guests alike to spend time. But have you ever wondered why there is a Navy anchor in the memorial of an Army Corps of Engineers park? And what of the story behind the park’s name? Welcome Gary Lentz, retired Washington State Park Ranger, who will answer these questions and more.

The USS Houston, under the command of Capt. Rooks, fought a valiant battle against overwhelming odds before being sunk in the Sunda Strait early in 1942. Survivors were sent to Japanese prison camps and forced to work in the jungles of Burma building a railroad. Two of the survivors lived in Walla Walla and its vicinity after the war.

We invite you to find out more about Captain Albert Rooks, the USS Houston, and their impact on the park we know and love.