19 Mar Daily Shipmate

Thursday, 19 March 2026

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1942 - LCDR John Reybold, Class of 1926, USN was lost when USS Dickerson (DD 157) was struck by shells fired by an (American) armed merchantman in the Atlantic Ocean. He was the ship's commanding officer; three of his men were also killed. Having served in various ships including Idaho, Utah, Simpson (on the Asiatic Station), and Omaha, he assumed command of Cowell on 17 June 1940. Detached on 23 September he briefly commanded Claxton and on 31 October 1940 assumed command of Dickerson (DD 157). He was promoted to LCDR on 1 January 1941. USS Reybold (DE 177) was named for John; the ship was sponsored by his widow, Margaret, to whom he was married in 1935. He was also survived by his parents, brother and sister.

 

1969 - While serving with a Marine howitzer battery in Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam, Hospital Corpsman Second Class David R. Ray springs into action when enemy forces launch a determined assault against the battery's position. Although seriously wounded himself, Ray administers aid to wounded Marines, fighting off two enemy soldiers while caring for one fallen comrade. His final act, before sustaining fatal wounds, is covering the body of a wounded Marine when an enemy grenade lands nearby. Ray receives a posthumous Medal of Honor for his heroic actions.

 

2003 - In a speech from the Oval Office, President George W. Bush informs the American people and the world that “On my orders, coalition forces have begun striking selected targets of military importance to undermine Saddam Hussein's ability to wage war.” The first strike consists of 42 Tomahawk missiles fired from U.S. Navy ships and submarines at a target in which Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, his two sons and other government officials are believed to be located. The participating vessels are the guided-missile destroyers Donald Cook (DDG-75) and Milius (DDG-69); the guided missile cruisers Cowpens (CG-63) and Bunker Hill (CG-52); and the attack submarines Cheyenne (SSN-773) and Montpelier (SSN-765). In addition, Navy EA-6B Prowlers support an air strike against the target by U.S. Air Force F-117 Nighthawks.

 

2011 - The United States Navy begins contributing to the multilateral naval blockade and no-fly zone over Libya to protect civilians from Muammar al-Gaddafi's government. The Navy deployed the command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20) and its support ships, as well as naval aviation assets, to assist in Operation Odyssey Dawn.

Academy & Graduate happenings

A USNA Class of 2001 graduate is now helping shape the future of uncrewed aircraft systems while balancing family, career and graduate education at MIT Sloan School of Management. After a 22-year Navy career as a helicopter pilot and leader, Greg Knutson '01 is leveraging his operational experience to advance autonomous aviation and defense innovation. Now working in the aerospace industry and pursuing an Executive MBA, he continues to serve by mentoring, recruiting for USNA and pushing forward new technologies — demonstrating how Naval Academy graduates continue to lead beyond active duty.

The 2026–2027 Baltimore Speaker Series will feature Maj Gen Charles W. Bolden Jr. '68, USMC (Ret.), a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, former Marine Corps major general, NASA astronaut and NASA Administrator. Bolden is highlighted as one of the season's distinguished speakers, bringing a unique perspective shaped by military service and space exploration. Over his career, he flew four space shuttle missions and later led NASA through the transition from the shuttle program to commercial and deep-space initiatives. His appearance reflects the series' emphasis on leadership and global impact, offering audiences insight from a Naval Academy alumnus who has served at the highest levels of both the military and space communities.

Government & Military News

The USS Gerald R. Ford will temporarily pull into port following a significant onboard fire while deployed in the Red Sea supporting operations tied to tensions with Iran. The fire, which began in a laundry area, took hours to control and led to nearly 200 sailors being treated for smoke inhalation, with one medically evacuated. It also damaged around 100 sleeping berths. The carrier remains operational, with no impact to propulsion, but will head to Souda Bay in Crete for inspections and repairs. Officials have not specified how long the ship will remain in port.

India and Pakistan have begun escorting their own nationally flagged oil and gas tankers through the Gulf of Oman amid heightened tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. Warships from both navies were tracked meeting tankers and guiding them safely toward home waters, marking the first confirmed instances of countries independently providing escorts during the current crisis. With commercial traffic sharply reduced due to missile threats and regional conflict, these moves aim to protect critical energy supplies. The U.S. and other nations are considering similar actions, but as of now, no American naval escorts have been deployed.

The Pentagon is pushing to deploy laser and other directed-energy weapons at scale within the next three years, aiming to move beyond prototypes into widespread operational use. Officials say these systems—such as high-energy lasers and high-power microwaves—offer a major advantage in countering drones and missiles at a far lower cost per shot than traditional interceptors. The effort is part of a broader urgency to keep pace with evolving threats and reduce reliance on expensive munitions. While the technology has shown promise in testing and limited deployment, significant challenges remain in power, integration and scaling production across platforms.

Local, Education & other academy news

Boston re-assigned pitchers Seth Martinez, Wyatt Olds, T.J. Sikkema and Noah Song '19 to minor league camp. It marks the club's third round of cuts this spring, and all four are expected to begin the season with Triple-A Worcester, which opens play next Friday at Polar Park. Martinez and Song were among the more intriguing bullpen candidates. Song, in particular, impressed this spring, posting a 1.13 ERA with nine strikeouts and one save over eight innings (six appearances). Song is coming off Tommy John surgery and split last season across multiple levels in the Red Sox system. He logged 43 of his 55 innings with Double-A Portland, posting a 4.19 ERA with 44 strikeouts and 22 walks. He carried that momentum into camp, allowing just one run on three hits this spring while striking out nine and walking five. Originally drafted by Boston in the fourth round in 2019, Song stepped away from baseball for three seasons to fulfill his military service as a U.S. Naval Academy graduate.

Naval Academy Athletics News & Results

Barnett-Gay selected as Honorable Mention AP All-American

A historic day for Navy Women's Basketball as Zanai Barnett-Gay was announced on Wednesday as an Honorable Mention AP All-American. The Patriot League Player and Defensive Player of the Year is the third All-American in program history. She joins Jennifer Coleman from 2022 as just the second-ever Navy player during the program's Division I era to earn this prestigious accolade and third all-time in program history as Angela Dobbs collected an honorable mention on the Division II Kodak All-America team in 1991. Barnett-Gay is the fourth Patriot League player in the 30-plus years of the conference's history to land this accolade.

Blake Horvath has been named a finalist for the AAU Sullivan Award, which goes to the nation's top amateur athlete. Since 1930, the award has been presented annually to the most outstanding athlete at the collegiate, Olympic or similar elite level in the United States. In addition to athletic excellence, the award recognizes the strong qualities of leadership, character and sportsmanship these athletes carry on and off the playing surface. Navy has won the award once before, Keenan Reynolds shared it with Breanna Stewart.

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