June 4, 2019

Operation Neptune: Innovating on the Spot Made D-Day a Success

Editor's note: Planning is critical to success, but innovation and initiative during battle is a necessary part of combat. As part of CNO's effort to apply lessons from our history to better prepare today's Sailors for battle, we explore Operation Neptune and how Destroyer captains' quick thinking and decisive actions helped secure victory at

June 3, 2019

The Naval History of Alaska

While Alaska may seem far removed from the rest of the United States, the great state was an important factor during World War II. Many American military bases built on "Alaskan" territory were vital in protecting America's vulnerable western coast. Because of its location, it was believed that the nation who controlled Alaska's Aleutian Islands

May 31, 2019

Norfolk Naval Shipyard Supported D-Day With Building, Modernizing Five Different Types Of Ships

A 50-mile stretch of beaches determined the fate of the western world. Many know the fundamental facts about D-Day, marking its 75th anniversary this year. It was the day more than 155,000 American, British and Canadian forces stormed five beaches along 50 miles of heavily fortified coast in France's Normandy region. D-Day spurred the critical

May 21, 2019

The Workhorse of Normandy: Remembering the Role of LSTs in Medical Evacuation

June 6, 1944, Normandy Coast, France. Pharmacist's Mate 1st Class Stephen Cromwell stood on the bow of the LST-280 watching the Higgins Boats transporting troops to the beachhead. "The fire was quite intense," Cromwell later recalled. "In fact, before we went in there, you really couldn't see beyond the bluffs because there was so much smoke and

May 8, 2019

100th Anniversary of the World's First Transatlantic Flight

Editor's note: on May 8, 2019, Rear Adm. John B. Mustin, Deputy Commander of U.S. Second Fleet and Naval Surface Force Atlantic, spoke at an event hosted by New York City Council Member Eric Ulrich. The event commemorated the 100th anniversary of the first transatlantic flight and renamed a street in New York City, "US Navy Seaplane Division One

May 6, 2019

Even When All Seems Lost, Sailor Toughness and Resilience Make All the Difference

The Battle of the Coral Sea (May 4-8, 1942) was the first carrier vs. carrier battle in history - the opposing Australian-American and Japanese fleets never sighted each other. Though tactically inconclusive, the battle blunted a Japanese offensive aimed at capturing Port Moresby on the island of New Guinea, a position that would have threated

May 6, 2019

A Royal Collection

In celebration of the recent royal birth, and in honor of the cherished Anglo-American relationship (as exemplified in the Duke and Duchess of Sussex), we would like to highlight some of the "royal babies" from our collections!There are a number of letters between the British royals and Admiral Harold Stark that have been preserved in his personal

April 23, 2019

Union Victory in New Orleans Disrupts Confederate Sea Lines of Communication

In April 1862, during the Civil War, a US Navy force under the command of Flag-Officer David G. Farragut captured the Confederate city of New Orleans, Louisiana, thereby securing access to the mouth of the Mississippi River and disrupting Confederate sea lines of communication. Initial attempts to bombard defenders into submission failed, and with

April 17, 2019

Bud Elliott and USS Wasp

My dad was descending a ladder on the starboard stern of USS Wasp (CV 7) when he was rocked by the concussion from three torpedoes hitting the aircraft carrier in rapid succession. Just 35 minutes later the captain ordered abandon ship and my dad slid down a fire hose into the warm water of the Coral Sea.Arles Edward "Bud" Elliott, was a

April 12, 2019

When Heritage Meets Initiative - The Story of Samuel B. Roberts FFG-58

On the late afternoon of 14 April 1988, the frigate USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG-58) was fighting for her life after striking a deliberately-laid Iranian moored contact mine in the central Arabian Gulf. As the fire raged seemingly out of control and the ship was slowly but inexorably sinking, crewmen who were battling to save their ship were seen to