A Pocket Guide to Hawaii (1940’s version)

Memorial Day 2026 – How do you define freedom?

I was honored to be able to provide the keynote talk at our community Memorial Day Service. Memorial Day in my family has traditionally been one of the most important days of the year. Growing up, I can remember watching my Dad prepare for the day. His leadership was inspirational and helped me to understand […]

Every Moment Mattered – The Life and Death of Cassin Young, Captain, USN MOH Recipient – Chapter Twenty: “Like a ballroom brawl with the lights turned out.”

Chapter Twenty: “Like a ballroom brawl with the lights turned out.” Four days. From the moment Cassin Young reported on board until the night of October 13th there were only four days for him to prepare for the battle that was waiting just beyond the horizon. The San Francisco had nearly 1000 crew members on board […]

Veteran’s Day 2025 at Del Webb Cane Bay – DWCB Veteran’s Club

In May of 2025, I was elected to be the President of the Veterans Club here at Del Webb Cane Bay in Summersville South Carolina. Our club is focused on providing a place where veterans can meet and share stories. We also provide goods and services to the local Veterans Administration outreach programs for homeless […]

July – August 1925 the US Navy Spends Time Down Under

I was visiting my favorite Library of Congress website today that features newspapers from the history of the US. One of the featured stories on the front page of the Washington Times for August 1, 1925, was about how many American sailors married Australian women after a recent port visit. The story brought a smile to […]

“Admiral, the Navy is on its way out. There’s no reason for having a Navy and a Marine Corps.” How Johnson and Truman almost lost the Cold War

A Navy Man at Heart I have to begin this story with a blunt acknowledgement: There has never been a day in my life that the Navy wasn’t the center of the universe when it came to a world that was free, and the Navy was an overpowering force for good. That’s kind of a […]

The 2025 Military Salute Regatta in Charleston Harbor – Another bucket list item checked off

A lifetime on the water Growing up in Western Pennsylvania, my life experience included sailing on the rivers that cut through the Mon valley and converge at Pittsburgh at the point. I remember the gentle rides we took on both powerboats and houseboats. My grandfather Bob had a great lakes v hulled cruiser that was […]