Naval Communique No. 214 – December 6, 1942: THE JAPANESE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR, DECEMBER 7, 1941

Pearl Harbor – The narrative Nearly one year after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, the Navy Department released a comprehensive report detailing the losses and destruction at Pearl Harbor. Fighting in the Solomon Islands at Guadalcanal was ongoing but after the epic sea battles in the preceding months, the battle was turning in favor […]

The rarest commodity – sleep

Civilians take sleep for granted. But anyone who has ever been in the service, whether as an officer or enlisted person knows that sleep is one of the greatest luxuries that has ever existed. When you leave home and arrive at your basic training, you immediately realize that sleep is regulated by someone who is […]

He’s in Submarines Now – A long line of Shared Experience

In 1942, the world was at war. There were very few places that weren’t affected by Chaos. The oceans were still the primary way that commerce traveled abroad, and those seas were filled with sharks that did their best to slow that commerce down. Those were, of course, the steel submarines that were filled with […]

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 […]

Sinking of the SS McKeesport April 29th

Rembert James War Correspondent- The first part of the story ended way too soon

Blessed are the storytellers… for they shall inherit eternity. Okay, so that isn’t really a beatitude. But it could be. Recently, I discovered a series of articles written by a war correspondent named Rembert F. James. Cold War Stories – Periscopes off our Coasts: 1954 Never heard of him before? Can’t say that I blame […]

Cold War Stories – Periscopes off our Coasts: 1954

Did you ever get that feeling like someone is watching you? No, I’m not talking about that natural paranoia some people feel in this modern age of electronic snooping. Although we do have some reason for concern. After all, if you have a smart phone, how many times has something you have been discussing with […]

Cold War Stories: Navy Believes Destroyers Our Best Defense Against Soviet Submarine Threat (1961)

Before I joined the navy in 1972, my high school band was invited to participate in a parade in Norfolk Virginia. Part of the trip included a trip to the Norfolk naval base. I will readily admit that most of the trip was focused on social events and spending time with the girl I was […]

Cold War Stories: Submarines: Past, Present And Future Of Silent Service (1962)

In April of 1962, I had not even turned ten years old. But I already had a fascination with submarines But I was conscious of many of the things that were going on in the world. I read every book I cold find in the library about the wars that came earlier in the century. […]