Submarine Month 2023

I have been involved with the Pittsburgh Council of the US Navy League for about ten years. It’s a great organization that reflects the connection between Pittsburgh and the Navy and in particular, the submarine service. Most people who are not fully aware of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania probably would not know how much the […]

A Navy Day to Remember – but not everyone was on board

When the Navy League first advocated for a special day to bring focus to the US Navy, there were many who joined along with them in their enthusiasm. After all, the idea of a strong navy was something that many believed would hep protect the nation in future conflicts. Despite all of the treaties that […]

Navy Day in 1922 – The Thrill of a Lifetime

The weather on October 26, 1922 off the coast of New England was cold with fresh to strong northwest winds The Celebration of Navy Day was in full swing but two incidents were noted in the local paper. The first was a launch fire that endangered the lives of fifteen people who were shuttling out […]

Navy Day in Bridgeport 1922 – Welcoming a Namesake

During the month of October 1922, many cities around the nation welcomed units of the naval service to celebrate Navy Day. These widespread celebrations took many shapes, but one of the more unique celebrations was held in the city of Bridgeport Connecticut. The navy had a ship named USS Bridgeport and by good fortune, she […]

Navy Day 1922 – Opportunities for Young Men

In 1922, the United States Navy was in a quandary. The civilian leadership had recently completed its goal of limiting the growth of the civilized world’s naval forces. This dream of lasting peace was certainly an admirable one by the Harding administration. Diplomacy seemed to be an answer to the endless wars that had plagued […]

1923 – Someday all submarines will carry airplanes

You sunk my battleship! Growing up, we had a game called battleship. It was definitely old school and involved two plastic boards with a lid and an “ocean” that was punctuated by many small holes. Two players would sit across from each other and arrange their plastic ships and submarine at random places on their […]

April 10, 1963 -“Experiencing minor difficulty. Have positive up angle. Attempting to blow.”

“Experiencing minor difficulty. Have positive up angle. Attempting to blow.” I wasn’t quite nine years old when the USS Thresher went down for its final dive on April 10, 1963. I am sure I remember the news but I am also sure the significance of the tragedy did not reach all the way inside of […]

The Three Plane Navy – The Story of Rear Admiral Fullam’s Vision

A little bit longer of a post than normal, but I found this to be an interesting story about a visionary man who played a key role in the Navy in the early 1900’s. Twenty years before the attack on Pearl Harbor, many voices were actively trying to warn about the narrow-minded vision of naval […]

2022 Fast Attack Submarine Report – Defending Freedom from Beneath the Waves

Fast Attack Submarines Defending a nation like the United States has never been an easy task. From the very beginning of the country, we have faced extreme challenges from powerful ocean going powers like Great Britain at it’s zenith, to the Imperial Japanese Navy that emerged from Pearl Harbor in December 1941 as the most […]

Wreaths Across America 2021

Wreaths Across America From the web site: “Each December on National Wreaths Across America Day, our mission to Remember, Honor and Teach is carried out by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as at more than 2,500 additional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea and abroad.” Over the past few […]