Wars, Conflicts, and Operations
The Combined Chiefs of Staff meet in October 1943. (Courtesy of the National Archives)

The Navy and the Formation of NATO

Blog
Apr. 09, 2024

Continued Navy cooperation with coalition partners after World War II helped facilitate a smooth transition...
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President Franklin Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill aboard the Royal Navy battleship HMS Prince of Wales during the Atlantic Conference in August 1941. (Naval History and Heritage Command Photo)

The Long Road to NATO, 1917–1949

Blog
Mar. 29, 2024

The signing of the North Atlantic Treaty on 4 April 1949 and the subsequent creation of the North Atlantic...
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Painting of USS Brooklyn, Schley’s flagship, and USS Oregon pursuing Spanish cruiser Cristóbal Colón in the final hours of the Battle of Santiago Bay.

The “Unhappy Controversy”: Admiral Sampson, Comm...

Blog
Jun. 06, 2023

During World War II, Admiral Chester Nimitz famously kept his opinions of his fellow officers to himself. On...
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Persian Gulf, Evacuees from Iran relax as they wait for processing on USS La Salle (AGF-3). About 267 people departed Bandar Abbas, Iran, on British survey ships which transferred them to La Salle in international waters. About 130 of the evacuees are U.S. citizens Photographed by JO1 Tim Lewis/PH2 J. F. Bishop, February 22, 1979. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Seaborne Evacuation of Iran

Blog
Feb. 23, 2023

Almost one year after Jimmy Carter became president of the United States a revolution erupted in Iran that...
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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

June 6, 2023

The “Unhappy Controversy”: Admiral Sampson, Commodore Schley, and the Santiago Campaign of 1898

During World War II, Admiral Chester Nimitz famously kept his opinions of his fellow officers to

Feb. 23, 2023

Seaborne Evacuation of Iran

Almost one year after Jimmy Carter became president of the United States a revolution erupted in

Jan. 26, 2023

"Reduced to Starvation”: The Japanese Evacuation of Guadalcanal, January-February 1943

Over the course of the Solomon Islands campaigns, which began in August 1942 with landings on

Dec. 12, 2022

Admiral Chester Nimitz Takes Command in the Aftermath of Pearl Harbor

On the morning of 16 December 1941, nine days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Rear

Nov. 28, 2022

Daisy Chains and Torpedoes at Tassafaronga, 30 November 1942

Fatigue, dehydration, and starvation plagued thousands of Imperial Japanese ground troops scattered

Nov. 2, 2022

Radio over Radar: Night Fighting Chaos at Guadalcanal (12-13 November 1942)

The tropical evening sun fell beyond the horizon in the southern Solomon Islands, showering the area

Aug. 24, 2022

“Shoot ‘Em Up”: Operation Lion’s Den, 27 August 1972

“Another experience as Command of Seventh Fleet was the fact that the Joint Chiefs of Staff,

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. 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.