2 June Daily Shipmate

Tuesday, 2 June 2026

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1845 - The annual board for the examination of midshipmen convenes at the Naval Asylum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a school conducted by Professor William Chauvenet. By the direction of Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft, the board considers the suitability of Fort Severn in Annapolis, Maryland, as the site for a naval academy, the contents of a suitable course of instruction, and the selection of three officers to assist in planning for the establishment of an academy.

 

1918 - At dawn on this date, the crack German 28th Division attacked along the axis of the Paris-Metz road hitting the American 2d Division, including the 4th Marine Brigade. The Marines opened with deadly rifle fire and helped hand the German troops a setback which set the stage for Marine victory at Belleau Wood which would soon follow, although at great cost.

 

1967 - 2ndLt Larry Chmiel ’66, USMC was killed in action with North Vietnamese forces in the Que Son Valley; he was one of eighteen Marines in his company (Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines) who were killed in the battle. Larry was the 1st Platoon Commander, and he was killed along with his platoon sergeant and their radio operator by an artillery or mortar shell. From the Lucky Bag: “Larry graduated from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and spent three years in the Marine Corps before coming to USNA for what he considered four years of temporarily assigned duty. He barely seized a toehold on the beach in his invasion of the Foreign Languages Department but received the strong support of Math and Science Departments.” Larry was survived by his wife and parents.

 

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

The USNA Stockdale Center is seeking recent graduates from a range of service communities to participate in a roundtable discussion with USNA staff and faculty during their upcoming Norfolk visit. This session will take place on 3 June from 4–6 p.m. ET and is designed to give faculty a firsthand perspective on fleet life and the challenges graduates face in their early years. Insights shared will directly inform how the Academy trains, coaches and prepares midshipmen for service. If you're interested and available in the Norfolk area the afternoon of 3 June, please email [email protected] at the link below.

Senior offensive lineman Hoke Smith II, a Birmingham, Alabama native and political science major, highlights his strong commitment to Navy football and team camaraderie. He values friendships, competition and leadership, looks forward to defending the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, and embraces Navy’s culture while sharing personal interests, inspirations and goals for the 2026 season.

ENS William Hardaway ’26, USN represented the Naval Academy and the Physical Mission with distinction. William was a four-year letterwinner on the Fencing team as he was majoring in Aerospace Engineering, being named a Trident Scholar and earning the top spot in the class.

Don’t miss your chance to recognize the alumni who exemplify leadership, service and achievement. USNA Alumni Association members are invited to nominate fellow members for the 2026 Thriving As Leaders (TAL) Awards by 1 July 2026. Honorees will be announced this October. TAL awards celebrate alumni who advance the mission to “thrive as leaders in and out of uniform” through professional achievement, athletic excellence, or volunteer leadership and service.

 

Awards include Alumni Outstanding Achievement (athletic or non athletic) and Volunteer Leadership and Service. Nominations must come from fellow members.

Questions? Contact the Legacy Programs team by emailing Wes Huey '87 or by calling 410-295-4023.

From the Podcast Fleet

Don’t like reading magazines? Want to hear some of the behind the scenes of how the greatest Alumni Association & Foundation Magazine comes together? Tune in for Sing Second Shipmate…where Emily Lucht, John Schofield and Shipmate Editor Jimmy DeButts talk about the stories in the latest issue. From the amazing cover photo to discussion about the continued 50 Years of Women Legacy of Valor series, this pod dives deeper into the content of your magazine. Jimmy breaks down the details of his exclusive interview with Tom Ripley about his father’s medal of honor…and we dish about the great Sandy Spadaro, who is featured in the magazine on the occasion of her retirement from AA&F after 29 years. Tune in for a great conversation.

Government & Military News

These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of 1 June 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.

The U.S. military targeted Iranian radar and command control sites this weekend in response to hostile acts from the country, according to U.S. Central Command. The U.S. launched self-defense strikes, including fighter jets that destroyed Iranian air defenses, a ground control station and two suicide drones attempting to thwart the safe passage of ships in surrounding sea passages. “The measured and deliberate strikes occurred on Saturday and Sunday in response to aggressive Iranian actions that included the shootdown of a U.S. MQ-1 drone that was operating over international waters,” CENTCOM said.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently blocked the promotions of at least seven Navy officers who had been selected by a board of senior Navy admirals. The net result of Hegseth’s intervention is a slate of 22 nominees to be one-star admirals that bears little resemblance to the broader force these officers will help lead. At least two of the officers removed by Hegseth from the promotion list are women, and two are Black men. An additional three are white men.

Local, Education & other academy news

The United States Military Academy at West Point marked the end of an era this past Friday as Lieutenant General Steven W. Gilland officially retired from the Army, concluding a 36-year career defined by combat leadership, character development, and deep commitment to the Corps of Cadets. Gilland, the 61st Superintendent of West Point, assumed the role in June 2022 after decades of service across the Army’s most demanding formations. A 1990 graduate of the Academy, he returned to his alma mater at multiple pivotal moments—first as the 77th Commandant of Cadets from 2017 to 2019, and later as Superintendent, where he oversaw modernization efforts, academic innovation, and the continued strengthening of West Point’s leadership development mission.

Army West Point Director of Athletics Tom Theodorakis has announced the newest members of the Army Sports Hall of Fame. The Class of 2026 features seven inductees: Jennifer Blatty '00 (Women's Tennis), Winston Boldt '15 (Men's Soccer), Robert Dickerson '87 (Football), Thomas Garver '77 (Hockey & Men's Lacrosse), Kelsey Minato '16 (Women's Basketball), Lyle Nelson '71 (Skiing/Olympian) and Robert Steenlage '66 (Wrestling). The 22nd class of the Army Sports Hall of Fame will be inducted Friday, 11 September at 6:00 p.m. in Eisenhower Hall, with a formal black-tie Hall of Fame Induction Gala. A special plaque unveiling ceremony will be held at halftime of the 12 September football game against the University of South Florida.

Happening this week at the U.S. Navy Memorial

Join U.S. Navy Memorial this evening for their Concert on the Avenue with the U.S. Navy Band beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET. Then on Thursday morning, 4 June at 10:00 a.m. ET honor the courage and sacrifice of those who served in the Battle of Midway at a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the United States Navy Memorial. This commemorative event pays tribute to the Sailors, aviators, and leaders whose decisive actions in June 1942 marked a turning point in the Pacific during World War II.

June unfolds in Annapolis & Anne Arundel County with a mix of arts, culture, and signature waterfront events that showcase the region at its most vibrant. Anne Arundel Arts Month sets the tone with a countywide celebration of exhibitions, performances, workshops, and public art that spotlight the depth of local talent. The season continues as Paint Annapolis transforms the city into an open‑air studio, the Santa Maria Cup brings world‑class women’s match racing back to the Severn, the Let’s Go! Music Festival fills Crownsville with national acts and summer‑ready crowds, and the Annapolis Juneteenth Parade & Festival honors freedom and heritage through community, culture, and celebration. Together, these events showcase a destination where creativity, history, and Chesapeake living shape an unforgettable start to summer.

QUESTIONS? Contact any of the following members of our USNA Health & Wellness Committee (We Leave No One Behind).

 

Jill Richards '94 ([email protected])

Karen Quilty '89 ([email protected])

Susan Cowan '81 ([email protected])

Michael Moore '76 ([email protected])

Jack Kirwan '73 ([email protected])

Mitch Henderson '65 ([email protected])

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