7 Jan AA&F Morning Paper

Tuesday, January 7, 2025

1945 - CDR Warner Portz '15, USN was lost on January 7, 1945, when he died of exhaustion and wounds received in the attack on the Japanese ship Oryoku Maru, which he was aboard as a prisoner of war. At the outbreak of the war, he was the Port Director, Manila, Philippines. Following his capture, he was the Senior Prisoner of the Davao prison camp until the camp was evacuated in late 1944. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross “for extraordinary heroism while a prisoner of war.”

1953 - In his final State of the Union address before Congress, President Harry S. Truman tells the world that the United States has developed a hydrogen bomb.

Admiral James R. Hogg, USN Retired, passed away the morning of Jan 2, 2025 in Newport, RI after a career of service to his country. He leaves behind his loving wife Anne and four children: Jim and his two daughters Mariella and Annabelle; Margaret, her husband Chris and their two daughters Isabel and Anne; Robert, his wife Alison and their son Stephen; and William, his wife Lisa and their two daughters Lily and Emilia; sisters Margy and Merrily, brother Dave, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who will miss him dearly.He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1956, and got his destroyer command in 1972. He was recognized with many awards for his active duty and civilian service, and he was most proud of his Distinguished Graduate Award from the U.S. Naval Academy. Visiting hours will be held Tuesday, Jan 7, 2025 from 3-6 PM at O'Neill-Hayes Funeral Home, 465 Spring St, Newport, RI. Jimmy will be buried in a ceremony at the U.S. Naval Academy at a date to be determined.

Navy Cmdr. George Fleming Davis '34 worked his way up the ranks to become one of the youngest destroyer commanders in U.S. history. During World War II, his leadership and fearlessness during a Japanese kamikaze raid kept his ship from being destroyed, even though it cost him his life. For that sacrifice, Davis earned a posthumous Medal of Honor. In 1930, he received an appointment to attend the Naval Academy, where he excelled in several sports. Davis graduated in May 1934 and commissioned into the Navy, serving his first tour of duty on the heavy cruiser USS Tuscaloosa as an aircraft gunnery observer.

GOVERNMENT & MILITARY NEWS

A horse-drawn caisson will take President Jimmy Carter's remains from a hearse to lie in state at the Capitol from the United States Navy Memorial on Tuesday. Carter, died Dec. 29, 2024, at his home in Plains, Ga. He was 100. Carter chose the United States Navy Memorial as the site of the transfer when planning his own funeral, according to a statement from the Navy. Carter, as president, authorized the building of the United States Navy Memorial Plaza and Visitors Center on Pennsylvania Avenue in 1980. The Carter family will walk beside the caisson, calling back to Carter's inauguration when he decided to walk down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House instead of arriving in a limousine.

 These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy's deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of Jan. 6, 2025, based on Navy and public data. In cases where a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship.

Today, Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Carlos Del Toro named the Navy's newest Arleigh Burke-class Guided Missile Destroyer, the future USS Robert Kerrey (DDG 146). DDG 146 honors former U.S. Senator, Nebraska Governor, and naval officer Joseph Robert Kerrey, who received the Medal of Honor for heroism displayed during the Vietnam War. This will be the first Navy vessel named after Kerrey. “One of the great privileges I have as Secretary of the Navy is to name ships, and it is my honor to name the future USS Robert Kerrey (DDG 146),” said Del Toro. “This will be the first Navy vessel named in his honor, and it is most appropriate we do so, for his actions in Vietnam and his continued service to this country well beyond his Naval service.”

LOCAL, EDUCATION & OTHER ACADEMY NEWS

Overnight and through the morning hours on Monday, Annapolis saw roughly 6 to 7 inches of snowfall from a winter storm that has gripped the mid-Atlantic. City of Annapolis offices are closed. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has declared a State of Emergency. As of 10 a.m. on Monday, the City remains in a Phase 2 Snow Emergency. Snow plow crews have been on duty since midnight and will continue working in 12-hour shifts to address the snow accumulation. “City crews are working tirelessly to clear the snow and keep our streets as safe as possible,” said Mayor Gavin Buckley. “We thank the public for staying off the roads so that our crews can work efficiently to move the snow.”

USNA AND AA&F EVENTS

JANUARY

11 Jan - Recent Grad Social - Pensacola, FL

11 Jan - Pensacola Chapter roadshow – Pensacola, FL

12 Jan - So. Alabama Chapter & NAPC of Alabama roadshow - Spanish Fort, AL

13 Jan - So. Mississippi Chapter & NAPC of Mississippi roadshow - Biloxi, MS

14 Jan - Louisiana Chapter & NAPC of Louisiana roadshow - Metairie, LA

15 Jan - Atlanta Chapter & NAPC of Georgia roadshow - Atlanta, GA

 

FEBRUARY

6 Feb - Ship Selection

15 Feb - Commissioning Week 101, Fluegel

21 Feb - 85th Brigade Boxing Finals

 

MARCH

12-13 Mar - SACC Atlanta

21 Mar - Distinguished Graduate Award Ceremony and Dinner, USNA (T)

27-29 Mar - Naval Academy Minority Association, (NAMA) Leadership Forum

30-31 Mar - Volunteer Leader Summit

 

APRIL

5 Apr - Annapolis Cup - USNA v St. John's Croquet Match

10-12 Apr - Class of 1955 - 70th Reunion

11 Apr - Athletic & Scholarship Programs Spring Meeting - Fluegel Alumni Center

24-27 Apr - Class of 1970 - 55th Reunion

30 Apr - USNA Capstone Day

30 Apr - USNA Foundation Spring Board of Directors Welcome Reception

 

MAY

1 May - USNA Foundation Spring Board of Directors Meeting, Fluegel

6-8 May - Class of 1957 - 70th Reunion

7-9 May - USNA Alumni Association Spring Board of Trustees Meeting, Fluegel

8-9 May - SACC Washington DC

23 May - Class of 2025 Graduation and Commissioning Ceremony, NMCMS

 

26 Jun - USNA Induction Day, Class of 2029

 

21-22 Aug - SACC San Diego

28-31 Aug - Class of 1960 - 65th Reunion

30 Aug - Navy vs VMI, NMCMS, Annapolis, MD

 

2-5 Oct - Class of 1990 - 35th Reunion

2-5 Oct - Class of 1995 - 30 Reunion

4 Oct - Navy vs Air Force, NMCMS, Annapolis, MD

23-26 Oct - Class of 1965 - 60th Reunion

23-26 Oct - Class of 1975 - 50th Reunion

25 Oct - Naval Academy Homecoming

25 Oct - Welcome Home Event, Fluegel

30 Oct - Council of Class Presidents Fall Meeting