BATON ROUGE, La., July 28, 2006
Dan's Diary: End Of The Road
Adventures in Austin And Baton Rouge
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Play CBS Video Video Freys Headed To Wine Country Only On The Web: Thanks to a friend who appreciated the Freys charity work during Katrina, Becky and Keith are headed to Sonoma, Calif., as part of the "Great American Vacation."
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Video Price Visits An Alligator Farm While visiting the next stop in the "Great American Vacation" giveaway series, Dave Price decided to stop by an alligator farm in Baton Rouge, La.
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Video Waco Couple's Caribbean Cruise Only On The Web: Dave Price stopped in Waco, Texas, to present Sandie and Ronnie Paris with a "Great American Vacation."
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When will they learn? You shouldn’t encourage me, it just makes me bolder. CBS affiliate KEYE in Austin, Texas, took a chance and threw me on live TV, July 18, 2006. I’m clearly made for this. (CBS)
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A big crowd turned out in Austin, Texas, on July 19 for the "Great American Vacation "giveaway. (CBS/Dan Baruch)
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Dave Price kisses a new friend on July 26 in Baton Rouge, La. (CBS/Dan Baruch)
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Dave Price stirs a pot of Jambalaya with Andy Fontenot of the Jambalaya Shop looking on in Baton Rouge, La., on July 26. (CBS/Dan Baruch)
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Photos "Vacation" Photos See the places we've been and the people we've met during The Early Show's "Great American Vacation" tour.
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Video Archive 'Vacation' Video The Early Show's "Great American Vacation" recipients and stories from our road trip
The break in the weather made it all the better to see the real star of the morning, the 376-foot Fletcher-class World War II destroyer, the USS Kidd at the USS Kidd Veterans Memorial. Whether it was the history, the bravery or the sacrifice that the ship represented, it made for a majestic and metaphorically appropriate backdrop for our second-to-last giveaway — not to mention one heck of a conversation piece.
Baton Rouge photosThis was no showboat either. The Kidd saw missions in World War II that brought her to Wake Island, Rabaul, the Gilbert and Marshall Islands and landings on Bouganville, Aitape, Hollandia, Guam and the invasion of the Philippines. Her days as a destroyer were nearly destroyed when on April 11, 1945, in Okinawa, Japan, a lone Kamikaze penetrated the outer air defenses and struck the seasoned warship. Thirty-eight soldiers perished and the Kidd sustained a lot of damage — but she stayed afloat for another 18 years. She now rests on the banks of the mighty Mississippi, where Dave and crew struggled to contain the rowdy but affectionate citizens of Baton Rouge.
Dave gets giddy over gators in Baton Rouge.It’s absurd how much fun Dave manages to have first thing in the morning. He toured the Kidd, marched and danced with a marching band, made some outrageous jambalaya, kissed an alligator, signed about 200 autographs and celebrated "Dave Price" Day, which was officially decreed by Mayor Kip Holden.
The real highlight, as usual, was when Dave plucked the next recipient of a surprise vacation from the crowd. This was a heart-warmer if there ever were.
The Louisiana newlyweds were stunned by the surprise.Newlyweds Becky and Keith Frey were about to enjoy their honeymoon when a little thing called Hurricane Katrina rained on everyone's parade. Like so many, the Freys lost their home. But instead of focusing on their own plight, Becky dedicated her time to get friends and family out of harm's way. She even organized clothing drives in the midst of doing her real job placing LSU Medical Center interns and residents in other hospitals while finding them places to live.
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