Oct. 23, 2017

Theodore Roosevelt and Navy Day

From John Paul Jones to Adm. Elmo R. Zumwalt, from Rear Adm. Grace Hopper to Master Chief Carl Brashear - when it comes to heroes and notable people in history, the list of names in naval history is nearly endless. One enormous personality people may not necessarily associate with the history of the U.S. Navy is the 26th President of the United

July 20, 2017

Thoughts on the Navy's Future From the Oldest Commissioned Warship Afloat in the World

As I stand on the quarterdeck of the great ship 'Constitution' I am often struck by the deep connections this mighty ship has with the past. She always seemed to keep turning up even after her front line service ended. Today though, I am not writing about the past so much as I am trying to think about the future, the future of the Constitution as

June 9, 2017

The Traditions of Ship Commissionings

The Navy's use of the word "commission" means the placing of a ship in active service. The commissioning ceremony is one of the most significant milestones in the life of a ship as it marks her acceptance as a unit of the operating forces of the United States Navy. Brought to life after ship naming, keel laying, christening and launching,

March 3, 2017

10 Things You Need to Know About Your Seabees!

Did you know March 5th marks the 75th anniversary of the Seabees? Celebrate with us! Seabees young and old are celebrating the birthday of this unique organization; here are 10 facts you probably didn't know about Navy's builders, who can fight!Since March 5, 1942, the U.S. Navy has employed an elite cadre of construction battalion Sailors, better

Feb. 9, 2017

Signalman Lorenzo DuFau and the Destroyer Escort Mason

We come across a lot of really great imagery while looking through our photo collection here at Naval History and Heritage Command. Some of the images are super historic because of their newsworthiness, some are great because they show the power and strength of the U.S. Navy, and others - even though they may not look like much - are unique because

Dec. 30, 2016

The Important Role of Naval History to Honor the Past, Inspire the Future

Editor's Note: As we look forward to the year 2017 and the opportunites our history offers to honor the past and inspire the future, we thought we'd share a recent article from our Director about why naval history is important and relevant to today's Navy, its Sailors, and the American public.Our ObligationIf we expect Sailors to fight and die for

Dec. 21, 2016

Change: The Only Historic Constant in Rating Names

When it comes to Navy enlisted ratings the only constant is change. Take a look at the Naval History and Heritage Command's online Compilation of Enlisted Ratings and Apprenticeships, U.S. Navy, 1775 to 1969 (Prepared by Charles A. Malin in December 1969). It clearly bears out that notion, listing more than 300 different enlisted rating names over

Oct. 3, 2016

Manning the Rails: A Navy Tradition

Manning the rail, like the ceremonial military gun salute, is a centuries old practice for rendering honors aboard naval vessels. According to Royal Connell and William Mack's "Naval Ceremonies, Customs, and Traditions," the custom of manning the rail evolves from "manning the yards" (the spars on a mast from which sails are set) and cheering the

Oct. 3, 2016

DING! DING! History and Heritage Blog on Ships' Bells, Arriving!

For centuries, bells have had a long tradition of use in the navies and merchant fleets around the world. From time-keeping, signaling, and sounding alarms to a wide variety of ceremonial uses, ships' bells have long occupied a place of importance in the U.S. Navy. Bells cast from metal were first developed in the Bronze Age.One of the earliest

June 23, 2016

Nautical Terms and Naval Expressions - Part Two

Have you ever wondered why a "peacoat" is called a peacoat? Why in the world is the bathroom called the "head?" How did the term  "ensign" come to be used to refer to both a flag and an officer? The language of the Navy can leave you wondering where Sailors came up with these terms and expressions. The second installment in our series explores five