Historical

'Mayday' issued for the future of cruiser Olympia

By Meghann Myers on August 14, 2013 Historical, Navy

The USS Olympia served as Adm. George Dewey’s flagship during the Spanish-American War and brought the body of World War I’s “Unknown Soldier” home from Europe in 1921. Since 1957, it’s been pierside in Philadelphia as a museum ship. But now, as funds are drying up, the ship has three potential fates: Move homeports, get sunk or get scrapped. The Philadelphia waterfront’s Independence Seaport Museum can no longer afford to take care of the ship. Officials have looked for three years for new caretakers but time is running out. Of a handful of groups that have expressed interest, two are still…

Lincoln sailors get chance to rewrite history — just keep it brief

By Kevin Lilley on August 12, 2013 Carriers, Historical, Navy

It’s not homework. It’s history. On Nov. 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln spoke 272 words to a crowd at Gettysburg, Pa., months after a defining, devastating Civil War battle. It’s a model in oratorical precision – a powerful message of strength through sacrifice, unclouded by bombast or linguistic gymnastics. Speakers and writers could do worse than to strive for such simplicity. The Navy’s top spokesman said as much last week (here via here). It took him about 1,772 words. The best four were these: “Each word must count.” Sailors aboard the carrier Abraham Lincoln should keep that advice in mind if…

Hair meets history in Perry sideburns contest

By Kevin Lilley on August 12, 2013 Historical, Navy, War of 1812

The Navy’s ongoing celebration of the 200-year anniversary of the War of 1812 has included Fleet Week takeovers, one-of-a-kind ship tours, even a dedicated website with everything a history buff could possibly want. The folks behind the Perry 200 Commemoration in Erie, Pa., have their own history-filled website, too, but they took a different approach to the ceremony part of things — namely, paying tribute a young commodore who holds a lofty place in naval history by reminding people of the glory that was early 1800s facial hair. Dave Baxter, 56, of Lake City, took his own place in history…

Do you know this sailor? Today someone placed this photo at the base of the Lone Sailor. What is the story? pic.twitter.com/zpEjoZmbxk
— Navy Memorial (@NavyMemorial) July 29, 2013

Anniversary meets mystery at Navy Memorial

By Kevin Lilley on July 30, 2013 Historical, Navy, Veterans, World War II

As with any good mystery in the modern age, this one started on social media: [HTML1] Cherished images, medals, letters, all kinds of items are left at the bases of military memorials, but the Navy Memorial rarely sees such tributes, according to Navy Memorial Foundation curator Mark Weber. It’s not as secluded as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, where hundreds of thousands of items have been left by family, friends, brothers-in-arms and four-star generals to honor fallen heroes. Sometimes a veterans group will leave a wreath, unannounced, at the base of the Lone Sailor, Weber said in an email, but that’s…

Computer pioneer, former sailor had quite the WWII send-off

By Kevin Lilley on July 5, 2013 Historical, Navy

Doug Engelbart died Wednesday. He was 88. It’s not a household name by any stretch, but if you clicked, pointed, tapped or scrolled your way to what you’re reading presently, it should be: As pointed out in the headlines of multiple obituaries, Engelbart invented the computer mouse. His contributions to the computer field went far beyond what was once a wood-encased block connected to a primitive CPU — early advances in computer networking that led the way from vacuum-tube-filled, punch-card-fed monsters to the sleek machines we use today. What was his inspiration for such developments? Well, according to his New…

South Carolina's chiefs-only license plates raise money for museum ships

By Kevin Lilley on June 18, 2013 Chiefs, Historical

You might not have a decal on your car to tell the world about your Navy service much longer, but active and retired chiefs in at least one state have an alternative option — one open only to them. South Carolina began issuing chiefs-only license plates (that’s one on the right) earlier this month, according to a news release issued by the Patriots Point Foundation, the fundraising group behind the Charleston Harbor-based museum that includes the decommissioned aircraft carrier Yorktown. The plate costs $60 and has been endorsed by the South Carolina-based chiefs’ messes at Nuclear Power Training Unit Charleston…

Coast Guard loses WWII combat hero

By Toni Rico on June 10, 2013 Coast Guard, Historical, Marine Corps, Navy, World War II

A Coast Guardsman who earned a Navy Cross for actions during combat operations in Guadalcanal was buried June 5 in Lakewood, Wash. Retired Cmdr. Ray Evans, whose actions during World War II earned him the Navy’s second-highest award for valor, was part of the a mission to rescue Marines along with Douglas Munro, the Coast Guard’s only Medal of Honor recipient. Evans and Munro were known as “The Gold Dust Twins.” They were both from Washington State and joined the Coast Guard together in 1939. They subsequently served together in New York before entering the history books in the South…

Rare torpedo discovered by dolphins arrives at Navy Yard for restoration

By Jacqueline Klimas on June 4, 2013 Diving, EOD, Historical, Mine warfare, Navy, ordnance

The rare torpedo discovered by dolphins off the coast of California arrived safely at the Washington Navy Yard on May 30. Naval History and Heritage Command’s Underwater Archaeology Branch now has the remains of the Howell torpedo, a Navy release said. It is only the third one known to exist; the other two are displayed at the Naval Undersea Museum and the Naval War College. Before arriving in D.C., the torpedo was placed in fresh water, which helps leech the salt out of the artifact, the release said. “It’s kept in water because it was found in a saltwater environment,”…

From newest to oldest: 50 years of nuclear history

By Jacqueline Klimas on May 21, 2013 Historical, Navy, Submarines

Lt. Cmdr. Benjamin Amdur got to see how much of a difference 50 years could make to nuclear submarines when he got to his new command. Amdur had previously served as the engineering officer of the Virginia-class submarine North Dakota, which will become the service’s newest sub when it is delivered in 2014, a Navy release said. On Tuesday, he became the officer-in-charge of the Nautilus, the world’s first nuclear-powered ship, during a ceremony in Groton, Conn. “I’m amazed every day at how far we have come in 50 years of nuclear power, and, as a credit to the original…

Navy dolphins find old, inert torpedo off California coast

By Jacqueline Klimas on May 20, 2013 Diving, EOD, Historical, Navy

A group of Navy dolphins who detect underwater mines found something unique during a training session: a Howell torpedo that is more than 100 years old. In April, a bottlenose dolphin named Ten surfaced from a training dive off the coast of Coronado, Calif. and touched the front of the boat with his nose — a sign that he had found something during the dive, the Los Angeles Times reported. Navy personnel were surprised that he had signaled positive in a place they didn’t expect, but they were even more surprised when Spetz, another dolphin in the program, did the…

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