21 Apr Daily Shipmate

Tuesday, 21 April 2026

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1906 - Arctic explorer Commander Robert E. Peary, on his seventh expedition in an effort to reach the North Pole, arrives at latitude 87 degrees 6 minutes north. This is the closest any human has come to reaching the earth’s northernmost point to date.

 

1914 - Though the Senate has yet to approve the use of force in Mexico (it does not do so until 23 April), President Woodrow Wilson orders the Navy and Marine Corps into action. With the German steamer Ypiranga scheduled to arrive on this date, RADM Frank Friday Fletcher ’75, USN is directed to seize the customs house at Veracruz in order to prevent the steamer’s cargo of arms from being loaded onto trains and transported to Mexican authorities. At 1030 a force of 502 Marines from the transport Prairie and 285 leathernecks and bluejackets from the battleship Florida (Battleship No. 30) goes ashore. Despite the fact that Fletcher sends word to the Mexicans of the impending landing and offers one last chance for a peaceful settlement, an armed force consisting of cadets from the Mexican Naval Academy, members of the home guard, private citizens, and even prisoners released from the city jail stands by to repel the invasion. Nevertheless, the landing parties successfully seize the customs house and control the waterfront after some four and one-half hours of fighting.

 

1950 - An AJ-1 Savage, the first aircraft designed as a carrier-based atomic bomber, makes its first carrier takeoff, launching from the deck of Coral Sea (CVB-43).

 

2004 - LtCol Brett Bekken ’89, USMCR was lost when his F/A-18 Hornet crashed in the California desert during a training mission. He had been a reservist for the previous five years; before that he’d served ten years on active duty. At the time of his crash he’d been a pilot with American Airlines for nearly four years. Brett was survived by his parents and brother. (The Alumni Association has lost contact with the family. If you know how to contact them please email [email protected].)

 

Content in “Today in Navy, Marine Corps and USNA Memorial Hall History” is generously provided by our partners and fellow alumni at the Naval History and Heritage Command and the Run to Honor SIG, which supplies the USNA Memorial Hall content. We are grateful for their partnership in preserving and sharing this history, and the Daily Shipmate is proud to serve as a distribution platform. You can learn more or provide feedback through their respective websites hyperlinked above.

Academy & Graduate happenings

Texas Southern University (TSU) has announced that Admiral James “Jim” Stavridis, USN (Ret.) ‘76, will serve as the keynote speaker for its Spring 2026 Commencement ceremony. Adm. Stavridis is the chair of the board of trustees of The Rockefeller Foundation and a retired four-star naval officer with a distinguished career in military and global leadership. Stavridis served 37 years in the U.S. Navy, culminating as supreme allied commander at NATO and commander of U.S. European Command. TSU officials cited ADM Stavridis’ lifelong commitment to service, leadership and global engagement as key reasons for his selection. In conjunction with his commencement address, the university will confer upon him an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.

Originally from Taylorsville, Utah, 1/C Amy has selected Naval Flight Officer (NFO) for service assignment. During her time at the Naval Academy, she is most proud of the meaningful relationships she has built and the opportunity to mentor others—connections she considers central to her Academy experience.

 

Amy’s favorite memory at the Naval Academy dates back to her plebe year, when she completed carrier landings during Air Force Week, an unforgettable experience that helped shape her path toward naval aviation.

 

The Naval Academy Athletic Foundation has had a profound impact on Amy’s journey, beginning even before she arrived in Annapolis. Through the Foundation Program, she was awarded a Foundation scholarship to attend Northwestern Preparatory School, where an additional year of academic preparation helped equip her for the rigor of the Academy. Since arriving at USNA, Naval Academy Athletic Foundation has continued to support her development by helping her build strong connections and find mentorship in areas aligned with her interests.

 

When offering advice to incoming plebes, Amy shares three guiding principles that shape how she approaches challenges: attitude, humility and humor.

 

She emphasizes that no matter the situation, attitude and effort are always within one’s control, and how someone responds to challenges ultimately defines their growth. Humility, she notes, is essential in an environment rooted in teamwork, where learning from others—and accepting help—makes the entire unit stronger. Finally, Amy encourages plebes to embrace humor, reminding them that maintaining perspective, laughing through mistakes and sharing difficult moments builds camaraderie and makes even the toughest experiences more memorable.

Government & Military News

USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: April, 20 2026.

These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of April 20, 2026, based on Navy and public data. In cases in which a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship.

A U.S. Navy destroyer operating in the Arabian Sea enforced the ongoing naval blockade of Iranian ports on Sunday when it fired on a cargo vessel attempting to sail toward an Iranian port. The Iranian-flagged M/V Touska was transiting the north Arabian Sea toward Bandar Abbas, Iran, when it was intercepted by the guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance and issued warnings that it was in violation of the blockade, U.S. Central Command announced on Sunday. “After Touska’s crew failed to comply with repeated warnings over a six-hour period, Spruance directed the vessel to evacuate its engine room,” the CENTCOM release stated. “Spruance disabled Touska’s propulsion by firing several rounds from the destroyer’s 5-inch MK 45 Gun into Touska’s engine room.”

The Navy is advising sailors to secure their electronic devices, social media accounts and personal information as the U.S-Israeli war in Iran has increased online threats to service members. In an unclassified memo to Navy personnel, Secretary John Phelan warns of “adversary cyber actors” looking to “psychologically influence” sailors and their families as well as get them to open potentially malicious links and files. “In response to Operation EPIC FURY, adversary cyber actors are conducting a social engineering campaign actively targeting Department of the Navy (DON) personnel and their families via spear phishing and social media contacts,” according to the April 17 memo. The Navy also advises sailors to “beware of dating or other apps that encourage or require the use/sharing of personal information;” to be wary of and research strangers attempting to contact them; and to set their accounts to the “highest level” of privacy on social media.

The builder of the Navy’s long-awaited next-generation carrier fighter will be picked in the summer, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle said Monday. Speaking to reporters, Caudle said that following several conversations with Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg, the Pentagon and the Navy, the downselect would occur in August. “I think you’re going to see a downselect on this in August. I think that’s the month that they have committed to making the decision on the program,” he told reporters Monday at the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space Symposium.

Local, Education & other academy news

If you glance at Landon Robinson’s résumé, it looks like there’s nothing left to prove. The Navy Midshipmen football All-American defensive tackle was one of the most dominant—and strongest—players on the roster this past season. He was also voted co-captain by his teammates, one of the program’s highest honors. But Robinson isn’t satisfied. After four seasons in Annapolis, he declared for the NFL Draft and hasn’t slowed down since. From the East-West Shrine Bowl to Navy’s Pro Day, the pre-draft process has been nonstop. "It's really fun, and I really have enjoyed the process," he admitted to 7News Sports Anchor Natalie Spala. "It's an honor being able to be considered good enough to play in the NFL. I've just been taking it one day at a time, making sure I'm being in the moment, because once it's done, it's done."

 

With cherry blossoms in full bloom, the city buzzing with energy, and the largest Service Academy Career Conference (SACC) event of the year taking place, the timing couldn’t be better. SACC D.C. is a must-attend event for Service Academy graduates planning their next chapter. Connect with top employers and advanced education programs actively seeking candidates with your background, leadership, and experience.

Members of the United States Naval Academy Marathon Team competed in the 2026 Boston Marathon, joining thousands of runners from around the world in one of the most prestigious races in the sport. Representing the Academy on an international stage, the team included midshipmen qualified through dedication, discipline and months of training. Their participation reflects the commitment to physical readiness, endurance and excellence that defines the U.S. Naval Academy community. Congratulations to all members of the marathon team who proudly represented the Academy in Boston.

Naval Academy Athletics News & Results

Navy Captures Third Consecutive Patriot League Women’s Golf Title.

Navy captured the program’s third consecutive Patriot League Women’s Golf Championship, carding a team score of 14-over-par 302 in a windy and rain-soaked final round of the 2026 Patriot League Women’s Golf Championship at the U.S. Naval Academy Golf Club. Head coach Kylee Baker and Mids became the second team in Patriot League women’s golf history to three-peat, joining Richmond (2016-2018), after shooting a 54-hole team score of 32-over-par 896. Navy will learn its NCAA Regionals destination when the field is announced during the 2026 NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Selection Show on Wednesday, April 29, at 5 p.m. on Golf Channel.

Yesterday's results: None

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