June 2, 2017

The Battle of Midway Still Teaches the Value of Intelligence, Decisive Action

Heavy smoke rolls from stack of the USS Yorktown after the aircraft carrier was damaged heavily by Japanese aircraft June 4 in The Battle of Midway...

May 31, 2017

Innovation and Victory at the Battle of Midway

When I take a look at the arc of history in the Pacific, in particular the history of the Pacific Fleet, one of the things I find most compelling is the immense shift that took place at the Battle of Midway. For decades prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, our Navy was centered around our battleships. By the time we fought at Midway just six months

May 26, 2017

NHHC Recovers Cannon from possible Revenge Wreck Site

The Naval History and Heritage Command's (NHHC) Underwater Archaeology Branch (UAB) returned to Rhode Island this week in order to recover a cannon from the suspected wreck site of the 14-gun naval schooner Revenge, which struck a reef and sank off Watch Hill in 1811. Captained by then-Lt. Oliver Hazard Perry, on Jan. 9, 1811, she encountered thick

May 26, 2017

100 Years of Underway Replenishments

Everyone likes "firsts."These moments represent transformation and progress and change our understanding about what we are capable of. The Navy also keeps track of its "firsts." One "first" of great pride deals with the underway refueling of a United States warship, an operation that the Navy would later perfect during World War II. Underway

May 25, 2017

Ensign George H. Gay's Fateful Day, June 4, 1942

For Ensign George H. Gay, Jr. of Waco, Texas, the morning of June 4, 1942 began with groggy trepidation. With knowledge of a large Japanese invasion fleet moving towards Midway Island outnumbering the assembled American naval force, Gay did not sleep well. He and his fellow aviators of Torpedo Squadron 8 (VT-8) aboard the carrier Hornet (CV-8)

May 25, 2017

Why Naval History Matters to New York

If you asked anyone around the world to name one of the fifty states that belongs to the United States of America, the answer you'd most likely get is New York. The New York state motto is "Excelsior" and New Yorkers definitely believe that they move "ever upward" just like their 229-year relationship with the U.S. Navy. New York was the 11th state

May 25, 2017

"LOST BACK END CREW"

The letter landed on my desk after I'd been at Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron (VQ) TWO maybe three months, with the suggestion to "see what you can do with this." A new NFO, I had been given the collateral duty of Public Affairs Officer, which meant occasionally getting requests from retirees for a command ball cap or working with the base PAO

May 23, 2017

Naval History of Oregon

Oregon has more ties to the U.S. Navy than one might initially think.For starters, Oregon's state colors are Navy blue and gold. At least 30 ships have been named after the state of Oregon, its cities, places and people. Three ships bear the state's name, including the future USS Oregon (SSN 793), a Virginia-class attack submarine. The first Oregon

May 17, 2017

Visit a U.S. Navy Museum Near You

Sharing the history and heritage of our Navy honors the past and inspires the future. It builds esprit de corps within the ranks and it can offer valuable strategic and tactical lessons learned - keeping us well ahead of potential adversaries. Headquartered on the historic Washington Navy Yard, D.C., the Naval History and Heritage command includes

May 10, 2017

Naval History of Washington State

The state of Washington is named after President George Washington, who was an early proponent of sea power. He's quoted as saying, "It follows then as certain as that night succeeds the day, that without a decisive naval force we can do nothing definitive, and with it, everything honorable and glorious."Washington was the 42nd state admitted to