Steel Boats, Iron Men and their stories (plus a bit more)
THE NORTHERN GROUP Our northern cruiser group was patrolling its square at a speed of 10 knots. The Helm was 1,500 yards on the port bow and the Wilson 2,000 yards on the starboard bow of the Vincennes. The Quincy and Astoria followed rather closely in order to […]
Read More Diamond Anniversary – The First Battle of Savo Island (Part 3 Attack on The Northern Group )August 8-9 Battle of Savo Island: ATTACK ON OUR SOUTHERN GROUP No more than half an hour elapsed from the time enemy ships appeared without warning around the southern corner of Savo Island till they ceased fire and passed back out to sea. In that short interval they crossed ahead of our southern cruiser group, […]
Read More Diamond Anniversary – The First Battle of Savo Island (Part 2 Attack on The Southern Group )The following information comes from the Official US Navy Records: “The Battle of Savo Island and the Battle of the Eastern Solomons comprise one of a series of twenty-one published and thirteen unpublished Combat Narratives of specific naval campaigns produced by the Publications Branch of the Office of Naval Intelligence during World War II. Selected […]
Read More Diamond Anniversary – The First Battle of Savo Island (Part 1)Memories… I have many wonderful memories of serving in the US Navy. All of the research I do leads me to long lost information and occasionally I find things that bring back some not so good memories. This story is one of those. I should warn you. It is long. The story comes from a […]
Read More Through the haze of history… the dark underside of race relations in the US NavyThe Cost of Freedom To the Editor Pittsburgh has long been a source of the materials and equipment necessary for our national defense. The propulsion equipment for submarines and aircraft carriers comes from manufacturers in the Steel Valley as it has for generations. A strong fleet ensures freedom of the seas and guarantees the level […]
Read More The Cost of Freedom – Letter to the Editor Pittsburgh Post GazetteThe Home Front Greetings to all of the Navy League Members and those who have yet to join. I am always grateful for the membership we have and a bit curious why there aren’t more of us. The Pittsburgh Council of the Navy League of the United States is an active group that supports the […]
Read More Summer 2017 USNL Pittsburgh President’s Letter – The Home FrontThe collision at sea between the USS Fitzgerald and a civilian cargo ship has caused so many people to want to do something to help. This message came from the ship’s Facebook Page on June 19, 2017. The Navy Relief Society in Yokosuka is also helping and as always, they will accept financial donations. http://www.nmcrs.org/ […]
Read More USS Fitzgerald DDG 62 – How to help the crewIt’s Sunday morning and the sun is shining on this muggy Pennsylvania day. Even though I am far from the oceans, my heart is heavy with the knowledge that the sea has claimed some of my shipmates. In the faraway seaport of Yokosuka, a damaged vessel is now being tended to and the inquiries will […]
Read More Maintain Silence About the DecksIt was never easy On the day I retired from the Navy, my crew presented me with a shadow box. That box sits on my desk and I look at it from time to time when I am not typing stories or checking out the latest on the Internet. It’s a nice box with beveled […]
Read More It was never easyOne of the things you learn quickly about the military is the endless stream of nicknames attached to the people, equipment and all manner of things unique to the recipient of the toast. The Navy is not unique but it certainly has no shortages of slang and identifiers. These all help to separate the various […]
Read More Happy Birthday Bubblehead
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