April 7, 2025

In Memoriam: Vice Admiral George R. Sterner, USN (Ret.)

It is with deep regret I inform you of the passing of Vice Admiral George Rudolph Sterner on 29 November 2024 at age 84. Vice Admiral Sterner entered the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) in September 1958 and served as a submarine officer until his retirement in May 1998 as Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). His other

March 5, 2025

In Memoriam: Rear Admiral Everette D. Stumbaugh, JAG, USN (Ret.)

It is with deep regret that I inform you of the passing of Rear Admiral Everette Don Stumbaugh on 27 February 2025 at age 87. Rear Admiral Stumbaugh enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve in March 1955 and served in the Judge Advocate General Corps until his retirement in November 1990 as the 32nd Judge Advocate General of the Navy. He also previously

March 3, 2025

In Memoriam: Rear Admiral William J. Finneran, USN (Ret.)

It is with deep regret that I inform you of the passing of Rear Admiral William John “Bill” Finneran on 24 January 2025 at age 94. Rear Admiral Finneran enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve in August 1952 and served as a naval aviator and in aviation engineering/systems until his retirement in July 1988 as vice commander, Naval Air Systems Command.

Feb. 28, 2025

In Memoriam: Rear Admiral Mark L. Tidd, USN, CHC (Ret.)

It is with deep regret I inform you of the passing of Rear Admiral Mark Luzerne Tidd on 22 February 2025, at the age of 69. Rear Admiral Tidd was commissioned an ensign on 11 May 1981 and served in the Chaplain Corps until his retirement in September 2014 as the 25th Chief of Navy Chaplains. He served with the 2nd Marine Division, deployed to Saudi

Feb. 10, 2025

In Memoriam: Rear Admiral James E. McCardell, Jr., USN (Ret.)

I regret the extreme tardiness of this note; however, this was yet another case of Navy Flag Matters and me finding out only very recently. There is no formal system of notification, so if you hear of the passing of a Navy flag officer, please do not assume we already know. I get a lot of notes that say, “You probably already know” when I don’t

Feb. 7, 2025

In Memoriam: Rear Admiral Joseph T. Horgan, MC, USN (Ret.)

It is with deep regret that I inform you of the passing of Rear Admiral Joseph Thomas Horgan on 7 August 2024 at age 99. Rear Admiral Horgan enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve in December 1943, serving as a corpsman/pharmacist’s mate in the Pacific Theater. Following medical school, he was commissioned as a lieutenant (junior grade) in June 1952

Feb. 7, 2025

In Memoriam: Rear Admiral Peter G. Chabot, USN (Ret.)

It is with deep regret that I inform you of the passing of Rear Admiral (lower half) Peter Gordon Chabot on 27 May 2024 at age 86. Rear Admiral Chabot entered the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1956 and served as a submarine officer until his retirement in August 1990 as inspector general for U.S. Atlantic Command/U.S. Atlantic Fleet. His commands

Feb. 5, 2025

In Memoriam: Vice Admiral Nils R. Thunman, USN (Ret.)

It is with deep regret that I inform you of the passing of Vice Admiral Nils Ronald “Ron” Thunman on 27 January 2025 at age 92. Vice Admiral Thunman entered the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1950 and served as a submarine officer until his retirement in 1988 as Chief of Naval Education and Training. His commands included USS Marysville (EPCE[R]-857),

Feb. 4, 2025

Passing of a Navy Hero: Captain Richard A. Stratton, USN (Ret.), Vietnam War POW

It is with deep regret that I inform you of the passing of Captain Richard Allen “The Beak” Stratton on 18 January 2025 at the age of 93. Captain Stratton entered the U.S. Naval Reserve in June 1955, serving as a naval aviator until his retirement in July 1986 as the director of the Naval Academy Preparatory School. In January 1967, he was forced

Jan. 21, 2025

In Memoriam: Rear Admiral Robert B. Halder, MC, USN (Ret.)

It is with deep regret that I inform you of the passing of Rear Admiral Robert Benson “Bo” Halder on 6 January 2025 at age 81. Rear Admiral Halder entered the U.S. Navy in December 1968 and served in the Medical Corps until his retirement in July 1992 as commanding officer, Naval Hospital San Diego. His other commands included Naval Hospital

Jan. 8, 2025

In Memoriam: Admiral James R. Hogg, USN (Ret.)

It is with deep regret that I inform you of the passing of Admiral James Robert Hogg on 2 January 2025 at age 90. Admiral Hogg entered the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1952 and served as a surface warfare officer until his retirement in May 1991 as the U.S. military representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Military Committee.

Dec. 29, 2024

Passing of President Jimmy Carter

It is with deep regret I inform you of the passing of President James Earl “Jimmy” Carter Jr. on 29 December 2024 at age 100. President Carter entered the U.S. Naval Academy in July 1943 and graduated with distinction in June 1946 with the wartime-accelerated class of 1947. He served as a surface line officer before transferring to submarine duty

Nov. 26, 2024

In Memoriam: Rear Admiral Thomas C. “Tom” Watson Jr., USN

It is with deep regret that I inform you of the passing of Rear Admiral Thomas Campbell “Tom” Watson, Jr., on 1 November 2024 at age 93. Rear Admiral Watson entered the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1950 and served as a naval aviator until his retirement in December 1982 as deputy director of planning and resources (J4) on the staff of the Joint

Nov. 26, 2024

In Memoriam: Rear Admiral Paul L. Foster, SC, USN

It is with deep regret that I inform you of the passing of Rear Admiral Paul Lowe Foster on 2 November 2024 at age 95. Rear Admiral Foster enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve in May 1948 and served in the Supply Corps until his retirement in July 1979 as commanding officer of Naval Aviation Supply Office (NASO), Philadelphia. His previous command as

Nov. 4, 2024

In Memoriam: Rear Admiral Bernard J. Smith, USN (Ret.)

It is with deep regret I inform you of the passing of Rear Admiral Bernard John “Bernie” “B. J.” Smith on 1 November 2024 at age 83. Rear Admiral Smith enlisted in the U.S. Navy in August 1959, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1965, and served as a naval aviator until his retirement in July 2000 as the first commander of Navy Warfare

Sept. 30, 2024

In Memoriam: Rear Admiral Mark W. Balmert, USN (Ret.)

It is with deep regret that I inform you of the passing of Rear Admiral (lower half) Mark William Balmert on 13 September 2024 at age 70. Rear Admiral Balmert was commissioned in December 1977 from the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) program at the University of Notre Dame and served as a surface warfare officer until his retirement in

Sept. 23, 2024

In Memoriam: Robert L. Hanley, USN – Last Living Survivor of USS Houston (CA-30)

It is with deep regret I inform you of the passing of Robert L. “Bob” Hanley on 12 September 2024 at age 102. Enlisting in the Navy before the war in January 1941, Hanley was a seaman second class aboard heavy cruiser USS Houston (CA-30), lost along with light cruiser HMAS Perth in a valiant battle against overwhelming odds in Sunda Strait, Dutch

Sept. 11, 2024

In Memoriam: Rear Admiral Virgil L. Hill Jr., USN (Ret.)

It is with deep regret that I inform you of the passing of Rear Admiral Virgil Lusk “Hap” Hill Jr., on 6 September 2024 at age 86. Rear Admiral Hill entered the U.S. Naval Academy in July 1957 and served as a submarine officer until his retirement in September 1993 as Commander, Operational Test and Evaluation Force (OPTEVFOR). His commands

Aug. 28, 2024

In Memoriam: Rear Admiral Danelle M. Barrett, USN (Ret.)

It is with deep regret I inform you of the passing of Rear Admiral (lower half) Danelle Marie Barrett on 26 August 2024 at age 57. Rear Admiral Barrett entered the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) at Boston University and was commissioned an ensign in August 1989, serving as an information professional until her retirement in October

Aug. 22, 2024

In Memoriam: Rear Admiral Richard L. Becker, USNR (Ret.)

It is with deep regret that I inform you of the passing of Rear Admiral Richard Lee Becker on 23 July 2024 at age 81. Rear Admiral Becker was commissioned an ensign in 1965 and served as a special duty officer (public affairs) until his retirement in July 1996. He served in the Vietnam War aboard USS Harold J. Ellison (DD-864). Dick Becker