March 9, 2018

Newly Discovered Wreck of USS Lexington Reveals Rare F4F Wildcat

With the discovery of the wreck of Lexington (CV 2) in the depths of the Coral Sea, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and his team on board the research vessel Petrel, added another chapter to their recent record of discoveries of U.S. Navy and Imperial Japanese Navy vessels lost during World War II.This particular expedition brought the added bonus

March 1, 2018

The Plan to Attack Pearl Harbor - Again

Emboldened by a string of victories across the Pacific in the early months of World War II, the Japanese empire launched a bold and unorthodox attack that is seldom remembered today. Though a tactical victory, the December 7 attack on Pearl Harbor was also a strategic blunder, as the Japanese failed one of their most critical objectives: destroy

Feb. 6, 2018

Remembering PhM3c John Andrew Haskins, Hero of Port Chicago

Located on the southern banks of Suisun Bay, just over six miles outside of Martinez, California, Port Chicago was one of the Navy's busiest and most vital munitions magazines during the Second World War. Each day, tons of munitions destined for the Pacific Theater were received in Port Chicago by rail and packed aboard ships moored pierside. This

Jan. 9, 2018

Commanding the Waves: The Legacy of Surface Warfare Officers

The United States Navy is known for a colorful and illustrious history with opportunities in numerous warfare communities. But since its inception, the Navy has been known for fighting on the high-seas, and surface warfare remains our heart and soul. Much like it was 242 years ago, sea control is the precondition to all other Navy

Jan. 9, 2018

Theodore Roosevelt and Naval Aviation: Then and Now

Examine into this flying machineThere is a letter framed in the commanding officer's in port cabin aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). The letter is from the ship's namesake, written in 1898 when Roosevelt was the Assistant Secretary of the Navy. The foresight of the author in regards to aviation and the importance he

Jan. 4, 2018

Naval War College Museum Exhibit - To Win or Lose All

In 1902, a young lieutenant in the United States Navy told a friend about his struggle to convince his superiors to adopt new gunnery methods: "I am playing this game to win or lose all. If I win (and success is assured), I will only claim as my reward the privilege of being left alone. I am not looking for anything; and I will not get in anybody's

Dec. 28, 2017

The Navy's Tradition of the New Year's Day Deck Log

Well, this is the watch on that special night,When the OD writes poetry by gangway lightTis the 1st of January, 1968 And I've the watch that runs quite late.USS Agerholm (DD 826)The naval service, by its very nature, thrives on rules and regulations. Above all else, a ship and her crew must promote self-reliance, discipline, and teamwork to

Dec. 21, 2017

U.S. Navy History Crossword Puzzle

Like crosswords? Love the U.S. Navy? Fancy yourself a history buff? Then try your luck at the Naval History and Heritage Command's crossword puzzle! Invented by New York journalist Arthur Wynne in 1913, these puzzles have engaged and enraged generations. In celebration of this classic American game, we've created a puzzle inspired by key figures

Nov. 19, 2017

Destroyer Hudner Remembers MOH Recipient Thomas Hudner

 At 10:01 a.m. on Nov. 13, 2017, Capt. Thomas J. Hudner Jr., USN (Ret.) took his last breath and passed into the afterlife surrounded by his daughter Shannon, his son Tommy, and his wife Georgea. He was 93 years old.My journey with Capt. Hudner began July 25, 2015. I received his home phone number from Naval Sea Systems Command during my one week

Nov. 17, 2017

Commemorating Peace with Allies: Honoring Battle Monuments from Paris to Tunis

 In honor of Armistice, Remembrance, and Veterans Day, leaders from Naval Forces Europe/Africa and Allied Joint Forces Command Naples, Italy, participated in commemorations across Europe and Africa. U.S. Navy flag officers spoke in American Battle Monuments and historic sites in France, and the Naval Forces Europe/Africa band played at the North

Nov. 6, 2017

The Brothers of Waterloo

When it comes to the history of our Navy - or the history of our nation for that matter - there are not too many families that have sacrificed more than the Sullivans. Shortly after the devastating Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor, the family would send all 5 of their sons to sea to serve their country together. Not one of the sons - Albert,

Nov. 6, 2017

The Burden of Command: The Experience of Captain Charles Butler McVay, III

The heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA 35) was struck by two Japanese torpedoes in the first minutes of July 30, 1945. She sank in less than fifteen minutes. Several hundred Sailors and Marines went down with their ship; the rest drifted at sea for four days with few or no supplies until a patrol plane found them by chance and the Navy organized a

Nov. 3, 2017

Ships named for U.S. Marines

Since its creation in 1775, the United States Marines Corps has created its own unique history and culture that has garnered a world-wide reputation for the service as an elite fighting force. The Navy and Marine Corps share similar cultures, customs and traditions, and have formed a winning team that can project power from the sea that is

Oct. 25, 2017

John S. McCain III - Lessons from a "Biased" Son on Legacy, Service, Sacrifice

Editor's note: Anyone who has ever worn a military uniform is no stranger to sacrifice; their normal is weeks and months of long working hours under arduous conditions in sometimes inhospitable locations while separated from loved ones. People who have worn military uniforms also understand that, despite those day-to-day sacrifices, they, like many

Oct. 23, 2017

Theodore Roosevelt and Navy Day

From John Paul Jones to Adm. Elmo R. Zumwalt, from Rear Adm. Grace Hopper to Master Chief Carl Brashear - when it comes to heroes and notable people in history, the list of names in naval history is nearly endless. One enormous personality people may not necessarily associate with the history of the U.S. Navy is the 26th President of the United

Sept. 22, 2017

Honoring Gold Star Families

The fate of the Sullivan Brothers is known by many as story of heroism, service and sacrifice. All five were killed in action when their ship, the USS Juneau (CL-52), was sunk by an enemy torpedo on November 13, 1942 during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. As a direct result the U.S. War Department adopted the "Sole Survivor Policy," designed to

Sept. 13, 2017

Finding USS Indianapolis - After 70 Years, What Changed?

For Memorial Day 2015, Mackinaw City businessman John Murdick decided to honor the World War II service of his father Francis Murdick on the website of his family business by sharing a story his dad told about his tank landing ship being passed by USS Indianapolis (CA 35) on the cruiser's final day.What the younger Murdick couldn't have known was

Sept. 13, 2017

Surveying Sunken WWI Ship USS San Diego

"You're holding onto a $500,000 sonar head. Don't drop it."These were the words of encouragement I received from Tim Pilegard, a graduate student at the University of Delaware. At that moment, Tim and I were struggling to bolt the sonar onto the side of the R/V Joanne Daiber, University of Delaware's 46 foot research vessel.After several failed

Aug. 24, 2017

Lest We Forget: USS Indianapolis and Her Sailors

Why should the U.S. Navy and the American people remember the Indianapolis (CA 35); a ship that sank in the last days of World War II? Why remember one of the worst defeats and a tragic moment in U.S. Navy's history? Beyond the defeat of the sinking itself, USS Indianapolis' story is compounded by grave errors in U.S. Navy command, control, and

Aug. 24, 2017

NHHC Underwater Archaeologist to Assist with Deep Sea Exploration

Dr. Robert Neyland, Naval History and Heritage Command Underwater Archaeology Branch Head, along with scientists from NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, the Ocean Exploration Trust, will provide expertise and commentary as USS Bugara is surveyed via a remotely operated vehicle dive from the Exploration Vessel (E/V) Nautilus on August