24 Apr Daily Shipmate

Friday, 24 April 2026

1862 - At 2:00 a.m., upon receiving a signal from the flagship, the screw sloop Hartford, Union ships and gunboats get underway to commence the assault against New Orleans, Louisiana. Answering withering fire from Forts Jackson and St. Philip with broadsides, the Union vessels successfully pass the forts and engage a Confederate flotilla. In the ensuing battle, eight rebel ships are destroyed, one sunk, and two surrendered. Two other ships are destroyed to prevent their capture. Union losses include the screw sloop Varuna, which slips beneath the waters of the Mississippi after being rammed. Hartford, though run aground and set afire, survives to fight another day. On 25 April, the Union squadron anchors off New Orleans and Flag Officer David G. Farragut accepts the surrender of the city. Before the battle he had written, “As to being prepared for defeat, I certainly am not.”

 

1914 - Four Navy airplanes arrive in Mexico on board the cruiser Birmingham and the battleship Mississippi (Battleship No. 23). The following day, LT Patrick N. L. Bellinger ’07, USN makes a reconnaissance flight over the harbor at Veracruz in the AB-3 flying boat, the first combat flight by a U.S. military aircraft.

 

1970 - LT Douglas McCarty ’65, USN was lost when the F-4J Phantom II he was aboard crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on his way to Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. He was raised in California and attended preparatory school at the New Mexico Military Institute. Douglas became a naval aviator in December 1966, and deployed with his first squadron, Fighter Squadron (VF) 31, aboard USS Saratoga (CV 60) in the Mediterranean Sea. He had only been with Fighter Squadron (VF) 101, Detachment Oceana, since February. Douglas was survived by wife, two daughters, parents, two brothers, and two sisters.

 

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

Yesterday, we wrapped up our second Beyond Commissioning Ceremony, an event that gives each graduating class the opportunity to connect with their alumni community and learn more about the resources and programs available to them as future alumni. The ceremony also marked the final opportunity for the Class of 2026 to hear from their Another Link in the Chain (ALINC) Class of 1976, who have supported and guided them since I-Day and throughout their four years at the Naval Academy. Enjoy this video produced by the Alumni Association & Foundation to mark the journey of ‘76 and ‘26 together.

The U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association roadshow headed to Salt Lake City, UT, on Wednesday evening and Albuquerque, NM, on Thursday evening, bringing alumni and parents together for two well‑attended and engaging gatherings that continue to build momentum across the country. These events serve as a catalyst for deeper connection and engagement, providing updates from the Yard, highlighting Alumni Association programming that supports alumni and parents and sharing how philanthropy is making the Margin of Excellence possible. Building on that foundation, conversations emphasized the opportunity for chapters and parent clubs to more fully leverage myUSNA as a powerful tool to expand their reach, connect with more people than ever before and sustain engagement beyond individual events. It was especially energizing to see alumni and parents connecting with one another and excited about using myUSNA to strengthen their communities—creating opportunities to support one another and come together for future social events. Chapters and parent clubs are now looking ahead to sharing this message of connection and support as they host Welcome Aboard events for the incoming Class of 2030 prior to I‑Day. The roadshow concludes this trip with final stops in Arizona (Tucson, Prescott and Phoenix), continuing to build momentum and connection across the Southwest.

From the Podcast Fleet

Sing Second Podcast featuring Landon Robinson ‘26, Boston Marathoner Murphy Smith ‘25, St. Johns President J. Walter Sterling and a special conversation with Patriotic Kenny.

A full plate this week as we dive deep into the NFL draft this weekend with a guy who’s likely going to hear his name called Saturday…Landon Robinson. The Football Team Co-Captain talks about the prospect of being drafted and his favorite memories from his four years on the Severn. One of those memories was a post-game visit on the field in Baltimore with Kenneth Jary, an 83-year-old U.S. Navy veteran and TikTok sensation from Minnesota known for spreading joy and patriotism. We talk to Patriotic Kenny about Landon and his own health journey now. We also chat with Murphy Smith ‘25, who just finished the Boston Marathon at 2:08:58…the fastest marathon time of any USNA alum…EVER. And we also chat with new St. John’s President J. Walter Sterling about the Croquet match…a match USNA just won again this weekend. Chris and John also chat about this past weekend’s 50 Years of Women Celebration at the Fluegel Alumni Center and many more topics on a supersized version of the Sing Second Pod. That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army. Always.

Listen on

Navy women's golf three-peated as Patriot League Tournament champions. Emma Tang was the individual medalist as the Midshipmen continued their mini dynasty. Tang and head coach Kylee Baker join the podcast to talk about the program's tremendous run of success. We also talk to Navy men's tennis coach Chris Garner about beating archrival Army in the Star match for the 10th straight season.

Government & Military News

Navy Under Secretary Hung Cao ‘96 has been named acting secretary following the departure of John Phelan. Cao and Phelan are both 2026 Wash100 awardees. The latest leadership transition at the Navy comes at a pivotal time as the service advances major initiatives tied to maritime dominance and acquisition reform. These priorities are expected to take center stage at the 2026 Navy Summit, where experts will discuss autonomous systems and other emerging capabilities transforming naval operations. Save your seat now to hear firsthand insights and connect with key decision-makers shaping the Navy’s future.

3 Sailors Injured in Fire Aboard USS Zumwalt.

Three sailors were injured in a fire aboard destroyer USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) at HII Ingalls Shipbuilding on Sunday, USNI News has learned. The ship fire was reported at approximately 9:45 p.m. while Zumwalt was pierside at the Pascagoula, Miss., shipyard, a Naval Surface Force spokesperson confirmed Wednesday in a statement to USNI News. The blaze was extinguished by the crew, the spokesperson said. One sailor was transported to a local hospital for treatment for injuries related to the fire and is in stable condition. Two other sailors received first aid at the scene.

The VA recently announced a proposed class action settlement (Freund v Collins) that could affect tens of thousands of appeals that were closed “between December 12, 1990, and February 6, 2025, due to the lack of a timely filed Substantive Appeal and which appeal remains closed.” The Substantive Appeal is a filing specific to VA’s “legacy” appeals system and was made in response to a Statement of the Case, within either one year of the date of VA’s initial decision or 60 days from the date of the Statement of the Case. For a claim to be within VA’s “legacy” appeals system, VA must have issued its initial decision regarding the claim before Feb. 19, 2019. This means that you (or, if you are a substitute claimant, then the original claimant) only would have filed a Substantive Appeal if the claim was initially decided before Feb. 19, 2019, and led to a Statement of the Case. The class that the court certified in Freund consists of “all claimants with an appeal file in the Veterans Appeals Control and Locator System (VACOLS) that has been closed in the period between December 12, 1990, and February 6, 2025, due to the lack of a timely filed Substantive Appeal and which appeal remains closed.” While the VA is required to identify such claimants and to automatically process those reactivated cases, if you think you may be impacted you should contact your accredited representative or accredited lawyer to discuss your individual circumstances.

Local, Education & other academy news

As the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Associate Administrator for Information Management and Chief Information Officer (CIO), a position he has held since July 2021, Mr. James Wolff ‘03 manages and implements all operational, technical, and administrative functions in support of NNSA’s Cybersecurity and Information Management Program. Mr. Wolff began his career as a surface warfare officer in the U.S. Navy and earned a bachelor’s degree in naval architecture with a minor in Spanish from the U.S. Naval Academy. He earned a master’s degree in industrial and systems engineering from Auburn University and a master’s degree in government information leadership from the National Defense University. Mr. Wolff also studied at the Colegio Unamuno in Madrid.

Cadets at the U.S. Military Academy are advancing battlefield adaptability through an innovative weapon mount designed to increase the versatility of the Army’s next-generation M250 automatic rifle. Developed as part of West Point’s annual Projects Day Research Symposium, the capstone project focuses on improving how the M250 can be employed in combat environments. The project is one of hundreds of cadet-led research efforts showcased during West Point’s Projects Day, highlighting the academy’s commitment to developing practical, warfighter-focused solutions.

Naval Academy Athletics News & Results

Navy's 18-5 win over American to clinch the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Patriot League Tournament for the first time since 2013. The Midshipmen are off until next Thursday when Navy hosts the Patriot League Semifinal.

Yesterday's results:

 

USNA and AA&F Events

25 May - Run to Honor Reading of the names (Link) and multiple Memorial Day Run to Honor Events across the country (Link)

USNA AA&F resources & Links

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