Wars, Conflicts, and Operations

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

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.

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

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.

Feb. 23, 2023

Seaborne Evacuation of Iran

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

Japanese transport Kinugawa Maru beached by U.S. forces in November 1942, ca. 1943-1944. (NH 74773)

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

Admiral Nimitz assumes command of the US Pacific Fleet in a ceremony aboard USS Grayling (SS-209) on 31 December 1941.

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

Japanese Type 93, 24” Diameter Torpedo, ca. 1942-1945. On exhibit outside the main Navy/munitions building complex in Washington, D.C. during World War II. This torpedo was recovered from a reef off Point Cruz, Guadalcanal. (NH 94125)

Nov. 28, 2022

Daisy Chains and Torpedoes at Tassafaronga, 30 November 1942

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

Photographed from USS President Adams (AP-38), USS President Jackson (AP-37) maneuvers under Japanese air attack off Guadalcanal, 12 November 1942. In the center background is smoke from an enemy plane that had just crashed into the after superstructure of USS San Francisco (CA-38), which is steaming away in the right center. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. (80-G-32366)

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

The USS NEWPORT NEWS (CA-148) fires its big 8-inch/55 caliber gun to provide support for Allied Forces fighting the ground war in Vietnam just south of the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) during Operation Sea Dragon, October 1967.

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,

USS Augusta (CA-31). View taken off the “Bund” at Shanghai, China, being moved into position at the foot of "Man of War" row, during the Sino-Japanese hostilities there, 18 August 1937. Note American flags at fore, gaff, and flagstaff. Ship was then the flagship of Admiral H.E. Yarnell, USN, CINCAF (NH 84774).

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.

“We Stand By You” Banner from German Destroyer Lutjens

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.

The Navy and the Formation of NATO

The Long Road to NATO, 1917–1949

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

Seaborne Evacuation of Iran