The Tanaka Memorial – Real or Imagined?

This story will be done in two parts. In 1940, Rear Admiral Joseph Taussig was called to testify to Congress about the ship building program and the perceived threats that were emerging in the Far East. This controversial testimony placed him at odds with an old nemesis – the former Assistant Secretary of the Navy […]

Damn the torpedoes and full speed ahead… But Captain we are out of toilet paper… ALL STOP!!!

It’s amazing to me that the smartest planners in the world did not see the need for toilet paper as they planned for the defense of the free world. Okay, that might be a bit exaggerated, but the need to supply the ships and airplanes that would end up fighting totalitarianism was not evident in […]

The Tripartite Pact of 1940 – Prelude to War

In September of 1940, the fate of world peace was sealed with the signing of the Tripartite Pact.. The Tripartite Pact was directed primarily at the United States. Its practical effects were limited since the Italo-German and Japanese operational theatres were on opposite sides of the world, and the high contracting powers had disparate strategic […]

The Circle Plans – Japan’s method to achieve Hakkō ichiu

Steel One year before December 7, 1941, the Japanese steel industry was coming to the realization that the enormous appetite from their military buildup was impossible to achieve. In the 1930’s, the United States was alarmed by the increase of Japan’s militant activity in Manchuria and elsewhere. After years of dormancy, the United States Navy […]

The “Down Express” – Tambor Class Warriors

The “Down Express” – Tambor Class Warriors I have a page on Facebook called War in the Pacific 1941-1946 which can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/WarInThePacific19411946 My original intent was to do a daily diary for the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the second war. Funny how time flies. It’s been four years and I […]

Where’s the submarine stories??? I was promised submarine stories…

There are a number of things in my life that I feel strongly enough about to put in writing. Submarines, family, my country, politics, and of course lean and leadership principles. All of these things and a few more have been a part of my life for more than fifty years. I am discounting the […]

Travel and trade should continue… WHO January 31 2020

This morning, I had a vision of an elegant cruise ship floating on a glassy sea. I have been working on my sermon for this Sunday and the main topic is from Matthew 25:14–30 Where is your treasure stored? What have you done with your talents? In January of 2020, the fragility of what man […]

The unluckiest day – Friday the 13th 1942

Originally posted on theleansubmariner:
Sailors by and large are a very superstitious lot. The things that set a sailing man or woman on edge are as ancient as the sea itself. I am not sure if it is the dangers they know they will face once they are divorced from the shore or just a…

November 11, 2020 Zoom Presentation: Every Moment Mattered

Tonight at 7:00 PM EST, I will be giving a Zoom Presentation on the life of Captain Cassin Young, USN, Medal of Honor Awardee. This presentation is based on my upcoming book, “Every Moment Mattered, the Remarkable Story of Navy Captain Cassin Young” You must check in before that time to get access to the […]

Happy Hat Day – 2020

I was thinking last night how many hats I have worn in the course of my lifetime. I think as a child you wear a lot of hats in the winter time and of course there is the baseball cap in the summer. But for the longest time, I did not want to wear a […]