Cold War Stories – Homecoming 1946

Homecoming 1946 Nearly eight million men and women served in the United States Armed Forces during the second world war. Many recent articles in various news outlets and television stories highlight the hundred plus years the few remaining survivors are celebrating this year. But the numbers are diminished greatly with the passing of time. They […]

Every Moment Mattered – The Life and Death of Cassin Young, Captain, USN MOH Recipient – Chapter Eighteen: Every Moment Mattered … Saving the Vestal

Chapter Eighteen: Every Moment Mattered… Saving the Vestal Navy Regulations Article 0802 Commanding Officer’s responsibility The responsibility of the commanding officer for his or her command is absolute, except when, and to the extent to which, he or she has been relieved therefrom by competent authority, or as provided otherwise in these regulations. The authority of […]

Every Moment Mattered – The Life and Death of Cassin Young, Captain, USN MOH Recipient – Chapter Seventeen: Sometimes course changes have unintended consequences

Chapter Seventeen: Sometimes course changes have unintended consequences On January 31, 1938, Admiral Leahy would report to the Congress on the preparedness of the Navy in anticipation of increased funding requests. HEARINGS ON H. R. 9218 TO ESTABLISH THE COMPOSITION OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY, TO AUTHORIZE THE CONSTRUC TION OF CERTAIN NAVAL VESSELS, AND FOR […]

Every Moment Mattered – The Life and Death of Cassin Young, Captain, USN MOH Recipient – Chapter Ten: She married a Submariner

Chapter Ten: She married a Submariner There was a custom that existed when ships were at sea to drink a toast at dinner on Saturday night to officer’s wives and sweethearts. The second stanza to one of those toasts (that dated back to the Royal Navy) said: Sweethearts and wives, those precious names That make […]

There will be wars and rumors of wars – What if the losing side wrote the history books?

There will be wars and rumors of wars Matthew 24:6-8 (King James Version) 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: […]

Happy Navy Day 2024 – The 75th Anniversary of one of the worst bureaucratical decisions in history

I’ve written a lot about the history of Navy Day in the past including this article from 2019 The Last Navy Day – How Truman almost killed the US Navy This is the 75th anniversary of that last Navy Day and the criticality of having a strong navy is becoming clearer with every passing day. […]

“You’re gonna miss the ferry if you don’t get moving” : Tales From Ford Island

I was digging around some old files today and ran across an article in an old ALL HANDS magazine from 1954. Seventy years ago, the Navy was still recovering from its role in Korea. After the second World War, peace was supposed to be a thing but somehow the Communist Incursion in Korea pushed that […]

Not for glory, but for victory – The need for Auxiliary Ships

Not for glory, but for victory Submarine tenders are near and dear to my heart. My seagoing career was launched and finished on the decks of two Cold War era tenders (USS Proteus and USS Hunley). Although Proteus was actually built as a World War 2 era tender, she was later converted to support the […]

A Sense of Belonging – USSVI Charleston Base 2024

I have always liked Charleston. Ever since I went to Submarine Auxiliary Package Course at the Fleet Ballistic Missile Base in Charleston SC in 1973, the area has held a special place in my heart. There are some places that are just more impactful than others in your development. I joined the Navy when I […]

Lessons from 1944 – The Need for Advanced Bases

I’ve been watching the news recently and the escalation of naval conflicts. Because I spend more time than I should looking at the nature of naval construction and strength, I have been concerned about the lack of resources to support the people who are sailing in harm’s way. I’m sure the navy planners have looked […]