Dec. 23, 2021

H-001-3/2021: Navy Valor at Pearl Harbor

This revision to my original H-Gram 001 corrects errors in the rank of several awardees, provides some additional context, and adds a brief synopsis of ships named in honor of the awardees. Fifteen Medals of Honor were awarded to U.S. Navy personnel for valorous action during the 7 December 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor; 10 of the awards

Dec. 23, 2021

H-001-2/2021: USS Ward, Warning and Operation “Divine Turtle” No. 1

Operation Shinki No. 1 Operation Shinki (Divine Turtle Operation No. 1) was the Japanese midget submarine component of the larger “Plan Z” surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. The midget submarine operation was a relatively late add-on to the plan, approved by the commander in chief of the Combined Fleet, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, during a planning

Dec. 23, 2021

H-001-1/2021: Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941

(This is a revised and updated version of H-Gram 001/H-001-1 from 2016) The following is not intended to be a comprehensive account of the Pearl Harbor attack, nor to whitewash the numerous errors of judgment and failures of process that occurred on all levels of the U.S. chain of command from the President to the tactical level. Over time, the

Nov. 16, 2021

A Unique Artifact Goes Virtual: Digitizing NR-1’s Control Room

It’s a challenge museums will always face: fulfilling our missions means collecting more artifacts than we have room to display. The advent of online platforms like social media, websites, and photo-sharing sites has substantially increased virtual access to artifact collections, to the delight of curators and educators. But there’s a catch —

Nov. 2, 2021

Bearcat in the Chesapeake: Navy’s underwater investigation of a prototype fighter aircraft

Grumman’s F8F Bearcat was lightweight fighter designed to operate from smaller naval aircraft carriers and had a higher rate of climb than its predecessor, the F6F Hellcat. Prototypes were tested starting in 1944, but they were not ready in time to see action in World War II. Noted for their speed and agility, postwar Bearcats became a significant

Sept. 3, 2021

Seaman First Class Freddie Falgout: First Military Casualty of World War II

On the evening of August 20, 1937, on the eve of his 21st birthday, Seaman First Class Freddie Falgout was searching for a seat for movie night on the well deck of USS Augusta (CL-31). Augusta had arrived off Shanghai a week earlier, on August 14, 1937, and was moored on the Huangpu River. A humanitarian crisis was underway as hostilities between Chinese and Japanese military forces had resulted in the death of hundreds of civilians, including four Americans, and the ship and her crew were evacuating American citizens and refugees from Shanghai. 

Aug. 30, 2021

A Sept. 11 Pentagon survivor 20 years later

Sept. 11, 2001, is one of those specific moments in time when everyone in the entire generation recalls exactly where they were, much like previous generations knowing where they were for the first reports of the attack on Pearl Harbor or when President John Kennedy was shot.

Aug. 26, 2021

Unique bedsheet in Navy’s collection tells a story of hope

In August of 2020, Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) was offered a rather unique and spectacular artifact -- a bedsheet. A common sheet is not very astounding, but the story behind this one explains why this bedsheet is different.

Aug. 20, 2021

Heroism at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001

Twenty years ago, on Sept. 11, 2001, news networks shared live reporting as terrorists launched a series of deadly attacks against targets in America. While the world struggled to come to terms and understand what was happening, there were men and women on the ground struggling to save lives. Among the many stories of heroism from that day is Lt. Cmdr. David Tarantino and Navy Capt. David Thomas who worked together to help multiple people escape the wreckage of the Pentagon.

June 11, 2021

Perry's Revenge — A Continued Look at the Wreck of an Early 19th-Century Naval Schooner off the Coast of Rhode Island

Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) archaeologists collaborated with Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) engineers during the second half of May 2021 to continue documenting the remains of Oliver Hazard Perry's schooner Revenge, which wrecked off of Watch Hill, Rhode Island in 1811. The team, along with local site discoverers, Charles Buffum

June 10, 2021

Birth of the Blues

"It's always about the money" goes the old saying and that was certainly true 75 years ago when Chief of Naval Operations Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz ordered the establishment of an exhibition flight team, the birth of today's famed Blue Angels. Having led the Navy to victory in the Pacific during World War II, Nimitz ascended to the sea

June 10, 2021

Blue Angels Scrapbook

Most people define the Blue Angels by graceful formations soaring in the sky overhead, but life in the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron is much more than the time spent in the cockpit or on the flight line.  Enjoy the scrapbook of images taken through the years that provides a portrait of the Blue Angels experience.The 1953 team pictured in front

May 6, 2021

The Establishment of NECC

Fifteen years ago, on January 13, 2006, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) formally stood up as the Navy's Type Commander (TYCOM) for expeditionary forces.

April 26, 2021

NHHC Archaeology by Land and By Sea (and Now by Air)

Naval History and Heritage Command's Underwater Archaeology Branch (UA) collaborated with NAVAIR UX-24 last week to complete an aerial magnetometer survey over a marshy section of the Patuxent River, where it is thought remains of naval vessels from the War of 1812 are buried.

Feb. 2, 2021

Immunization and the Fight against Disease: A Short History of Vaccines in the U.S. Navy

On December 14, 2020 the Naval Medical Center San Diego became one of the first US military installations to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Over the next days photographs of Sailors, and Marines getting the "shot in the arm" became more widespread and with it the prospect of a post-COVID-19 world became all the more real. The administration

Jan. 22, 2021

Passing of Vice Adm. Bernard M. Kauderer, USN (Ret.)

Vice Adm. Bernard M. KaudererIt is with deep regret I inform you of the passing of Vice Admiral Bernard Marvin "Bud" Kauderer, U.S. Navy (Retired) on January 19, 2021 at age 89.  Bud Kauderer entered the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1949 and served as a submarine officer until his retirement in 1986 as the Commander, Submarine Force U.S. Atlantic

Jan. 19, 2021

Navy History Matters - January 19, 2021

Welcome to Navy History Matters, our weekly compilation of articles, commentaries, and blogs related to history and heritage. Every week we'll gather the top-interest items from a variety of media and social media sources and then link you to related content at NHHC's website (history.navy.mil), your authoritative source for Navy history.SECNAV

Jan. 15, 2021

Bridging the Gap between Sea and Shore

Celebrating 15 Years of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command through Pictures.

Jan. 13, 2021

Passing of Adm. Ronald J. Hays, USN (Ret.)

It is with deep regret I inform you of the passing of Admiral Ronald Jackson "Ron" Hays, U.S. Navy (Retired) on January 10, 2021 at age 92. Ron Hays entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1946 and served as a Naval Aviator until his retirement in 1988 as the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Command.  His commands included Attack Squadron VA-85, Naval

Jan. 12, 2021

Navy History Matters - January 12, 2021

Welcome to Navy History Matters, our weekly compilation of articles, commentaries, and blogs related to history and heritage. Every week we'll gather the top-interest items from a variety of media and social media sources and then link you to related content at NHHC's website (history.navy.mil), your authoritative source for Navy history.