Nov. 21, 2023

In Memoriam: Rear Admiral Morton E. Toole, USN

It is with deep regret I inform you of the passing of Rear Admiral Morton Egner “Jim” Toole on 12 November 2023 at age 86. Rear Admiral Toole entered the U.S. Navy as a midshipman in the U.S. Naval Reserve in September 1954 and served as a surface line officer until his retirement in July 1987 as chief of staff of the U.S. Readiness Command

Nov. 20, 2023

In Memoriam: Rear Admiral H. James T. Sears, USN

It is with deep regret I inform you of the passing of Rear Admiral Henry James Tipper “Jim” Sears in November 2023 at age 86. Rear Admiral Sears entered the U.S. Naval Reserve in June 1964 and served in the Medical Corps with a specialty in psychiatry until his retirement in November 1989 as Commander, Naval Medical Command, and deputy surgeon

Nov. 1, 2023

“No Comparable Period of Activity”: Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron FIFTEEN’s Actions After Operation Avalanche

 Author’s Note: During this 80th anniversary cycle of World War II, I hope to correct, at least in some small way through multiple weblog posts, the incomplete historical scholarship given to the U.S. Navy’s missions and activities in the European and Mediterranean Theaters of Operation, compared with those in the Pacific Theater. By utilizing

Oct. 31, 2023

In Memoriam: Rear Admiral George N. “Nick” Gee, USN

It is with deep regret I inform you of the passing of Rear Admiral George Nicholas “Nick” Gee on 1 August 2023 at age 84. Rear Admiral Gee enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve in July 1961 and served as a surface line officer until his retirement in October 1994 as Commander, Joint Task Force FOUR (JTF-4). His commands included Limpkin (MSC-195),

Oct. 31, 2023

In Memoriam: Rear Admiral Mark P. Frudden, USN

It is with deep regret I inform you of the passing of Rear Admiral Mark Perrin Frudden on 9 January 2023 at age 95. Rear Admiral Frudden entered the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1946 and served as a surface line officer until his retirement in September 1980 as Commander, Naval Surface Group Western Pacific (CTF-73). His commands included Quapaw

Sept. 6, 2023

Disaster at Honda Point

One hundred years ago, on 8 September 1923, seven U.S. Navy destroyers ran aground at Honda Point, California, killing 23 sailors in the worst peacetime disaster in the history of the service.

Aug. 31, 2023

In Memoriam: Rear Admiral Ronald L. Christenson, USN

It is with deep regret that I inform you of the passing of Rear Admiral (lower half) Ronald Lee “Rabbit” Christenson on 24 August 2023 at age 75. Rear Admiral Christenson entered the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1965 and served as a naval aviator until his retirement in February 2000 as head of Aviation Manpower and Training (N889) in the Office of

Aug. 30, 2023

“Without a Single Day’s Upkeep”: USS Benson (DD-421) During Operation Husky

Author’s Note: During this 80th anniversary cycle of World War II, I hope to correct, at least in some small way through multiple weblog posts, the incomplete scholarship given to the U.S. Navy’s missions and activities in the European and Mediterranean Theaters of Operation, compared with those in the Pacific Theater. By utilizing little known

Aug. 14, 2023

The Global Impact of the Spanish-American War

Though the brief Spanish-American War of 1898 is often overshadowed in American public memory by the world wars that followed it, the impact of that earlier conflict reverberated far beyond the shores of its primary battlegrounds in Cuba and the Philippines. The peoples of those two nations on opposite sides of the world suffered the brunt of the

Aug. 14, 2023

In Memoriam: Rear Admiral James H. Scott, USN (Ret).

It is with deep regret that I inform you of the passing of Rear Admiral James Hernandez Scott on 23 February 2023 at age 96. Rear Admiral Scott entered the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1945 and served as a naval aviator until his retirement in September 1980 as Commander Naval Base Norfolk/Commandant Fifth Naval District. His commands included Attack