Charles J Lundgren (New York, Connecticut, 1911 - 1988) "U.S.S. Nebraska" Signed lower right. Oil on Masonite. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood Commemorative Cover for the U.S.S. Nebraska. Completed in time to participate in the Great White Fleet, U.S.S. Nebraska was commissioned on 1 July 1907 with Captain Reginald F. Nicholson in command. She joined the Fleet in San Francisco on 6 May 1908. Departing for the Pacific on 7 July, the Fleet circumnavigated the globe, arriving at Hampton Roads, Virginia on 22 February 1908 to be reviewed by President Theodore Roosevelt. Upon her return, U.S.S. Nebraska served with the Atlantic Fleet. She attended the Hudson-Fulton Celebration in 1910 and the Louisiana Centennial in 1912. She earned a Mexican Service Medal for operations at Vera Cruz from 1 May to 21 June 1914 and 1 June to 13 October 1916. When America entered the First World War, U.S.S. Nebraska was attached to the 3rd Division, Battleship Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. She operated off the eastern seaboard, training armed guard crews for American merchant ships. On 16 May 1918, she received the body of the late Carlos M. DePena, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary from Uruguay, arriving in Montevideo, Uruguay on 10 June. On 17 September 1918, the battleship served as principal escort for a fast merchant convoy of eighteen ships to an eastern Atlantic rendezvous. Before the war ended, she made two more convoy voyages. Following the Armistice, she transported troops back to the United States from France. Image Size: 13.75 x 15.75 in. Overall Size: 21.5 x 21.75 in. Unframed. (B09849)