21 Feb Daily Shipmate

Friday, February 21, 2025

1862 - Flag Officer David G. Farragut takes command of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, which he will lead to glory at New Orleans and Mobile Bay.

1945 - LCDR John Mehlig '37, USN was killed in action when USS Bismarck Sea (CVE 95) was sunk by two kamikazes while supporting the invasion of Iwo Jima. He was the ship's executive officer.

ACADEMY & GRADUATE HAPPENINGS

The Naval Academy's 84th Annual Brigade Boxing Championships will be held Friday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m. in Alumni Hall. The event is open to the public and admission is free.  As part of the academy's physical education program, all midshipmen are required to participate in boxing, and boxing is also offered as a club sport at the Academy. The boxing team participates in invitational competitions in the fall and spring, as well as in ongoing intramural bouts. The Brigade Boxing Championship showcases the most elite midshipmen boxers, each performing in three-round matches within their weight class. The boxing program at the Naval Academy started in 1865, and today the Naval Academy's Brigade Boxing Championship generates hundreds of spectators and fans. In 1967, future Secretary of the Navy James Webb and future Marine Corps Lt. Col. Oliver North, fought each other in the welterweight category during the competition.

Attached is a photo of seven USNA alumni, ranging from the Class of 1965 to the Class of 2017, who traveled to Antarctica in January on a trip organized by the Alumni Association on a small expeditionary ship.  It was an exhilarating trip that included spouses and several other family members. Submitted by Paul Wohlers, '74. Photo: (L-R) Ed Mayer '65, Robert "Doc" Blanchard '72, Paul Wohlers '74, John Sill '77, Nancy (Yang) Vegel '83, Tony Vegel '83, Danny Vegel '17.

GOVERNMENT & MILITARY NEWS

The Navy relieved the commanding officer of the carrier Harry S. Truman on Thursday, one week after the carrier collided with a civilian merchant vessel in the Mediterranean, the service announced. Capt. Dave Snowden '96 was relieved by Rear Adm. Sean Bailey, commander of Carrier Strike Group 8, due to a “loss of confidence in his ability to command,” the Navy said in a brief release. Snowden's relief follows a Feb. 12 collision between the Truman and the merchant vessel Besiktas-M while the carrier was operating in the Mediterranean Sea near Port Said, Egypt. No injuries were reported at the time of the incident.

The Pentagon has proposed cutting 8 percent of its budget in each of the next five years — amounting to some $50 billion each year — but prioritized 17 areas from drones and submarines to military assistance for the southern border as well as increased funding for the U.S. command that focuses on China. The proposal comes as members of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, an entity tasked by President Trump to slash the size of the federal government, showed up at the Pentagon last Friday to identify programs and personnel that could be cut. "President Trump's charge to the Department of Defense is clear: to achieve peace through strength," wrote Robert G. Salesses, a senior Pentagon official, in a press release. "We will do this by putting forward budgets that revive the warrior ethos, rebuild our military, and reestablish deterrence."

The Arleigh-Burke class guided missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) departs Naval Station Mayport, Florida to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations, Feb. 18. Thomas Hudner will deploy to the U.S. Southern Command Area of Responsibility (USSOUTHCOM AOR) to support bilateral and multinational maritime operations with partners in the region and conduct Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) port visits. “The crew of the USS Thomas Hudner is proud to answer the call for presence in USSOUTHCOM AOR,” said Cmdr. Cameron Ingram, USS Thomas Hudner Commanding Officer. “Our Team is ready to ensure maritime freedom of action in the Caribbean, protect our interests throughout the region and strengthen maritime partnerships.”

LOCAL, EDUCATION & OTHER ACADEMY NEWS

Cmdr. Cameron Ingram  is the son of a career Naval Surface Warfare Officer and a 2004 graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY. At Sea, he has served as a division officer in USS MITSCHER (DDG 57) and USS HOPPER (DDG 70), and department head tours as the Operation's Officer in USS BULKELEY (DDG 84) and USS MONTEREY (CG 61).  Additionally, he was the Commanding Officer of USS ZEPHYR (PC 8) out of Mayport, FL.

NAVAL ACADEMY ATHLETICS NEWS & RESULTS

Men's Swimming & Diving at Patriot League Championship - 1st of 10 teams

Women's Swimming & Diving at Patriot League Championship - 1st of 10 teams

Wrestling v Bloomsburg University - W 46-0

USNA AND AA&F EVENTS

FEBRUARY

21 Feb - 85th Brigade Boxing Finals

21 Feb - Louisville Chapter + NAPC of Kentucky Roadshow - Louisville, KY 

22 Feb - Indianapolis Chapter + NAPC of Indiana Roadshow - Fishers, IN)

23 Feb - Cincinnati Chapter + NAPC of Greater Cincinnati Roadshow - West Chester, OH

24 Feb - Columbus Chapter + NAPC of Central Ohio Roadshow - Dublin, OH

27 Feb - Naval Academy Entrepreneurs event, Fluegel Alumni Center, 5-9 p.m.

27 Feb - Astronaut Convocation - USNA

 

MARCH

7 Mar - A&SP Policy Review Committee Meeting - Fluegel(Bastian Conference Room)

7-16 Mar - USNA Spring Break

12-13 Mar - SACC Atlanta

17 Mar - SW Washington/Oregon + NAPC of Oregon Roadshow - Portland, OR

18 Mar - Hanford Tri-Cities Chapter + NAPC of Washington Roadshow - Richland, WA

19 Mar - Northwest ID Chapter + NAPC of Idaho Roadshow - Coeur d'Alene, ID

20 Mar - Southern ID Chapter + NAPC of Idaho Roadshow - Boise, ID

21 Mar -  A&SP Executive Committee Meeting - Fluegel (Bastian Conference Room)

22 Mar - Annual Gathering for USNA Women - Fluegel Alumni Center

22 Mar - Fencing (club) Alumni Meet - Dahlgren Hall

26 Mar - Alumni Mentoring Program (AMP) Class of 2025 enrollment

27-29 Mar - Naval Academy Alumni Leadership Forum

30-31 Mar - Volunteer Leader Summit - Fluegel Alumni Center

 

APRIL

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

5 Apr - Women's Lacrosse Alumni Appreciation Day (Home Game vs. Holy Cross)

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

11 Apr - Athletic & Scholarship Programs Spring Meeting - Akerson Tower

11-12 Apr - Men's Soccer Alumni Weekend

12 Apr - Navy Letterwinners Association Army/Navy Men's Lacrosse Tailgate

23 April - Bonds of Gold Ceremony

24 Apr - AA&F Vietnam Legacy of Valor Series Speaker Event - FAC

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

25 Apr - Council of Class Presidents Spring Meeting, Fluegel, TBD

25 Apr - USNA Dedication Parade, Worden Field

30 Apr - USNA Capstone Day

30 Apr - USNA Foundation Spring Board of Directors Welcome Reception

 

MAY

1 May - USNA Foundation Spring BOD meeting, Fluegel Alumni Center

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

7-9 May - USNA Alumni Association Spring BOT Meeting, Fluegel Alumni Center

8-9 May - SACC Washington DC

14 May - Class of 2028 Herndon Climb

21 May -  Blue Angels CFR Event - Hospital Point, USNA

22 May - Color Parade, Worden Field

22 May - USNA Prizes & Awards, Alumni Hall, 2 p.m.

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

 

25 Jun - Athletic & Scholarship Program Pre-I Day Reception, Fluegel Alumni Center

26 Jun - USNA Induction Day, Class of 2029

 

17-18 Jul - Entrepreneur Summit, Fluegel Alumni Center

 

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

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