13 July Daily Shipmate

Monday, 13 July 2026

1942 - The German U-153, after being damaged by the submarine chaser PC-458 and an Army Air Forces aircraft, is sunk off Panama by the destroyer Lansdowne (DD-486).

 

1943 - A TBF Avenger of Composite Squadron 13 operating from the auxiliary aircraft carrier Core (ACV-13) sinks the German submarine U-487 while operating in the Atlantic 720 miles from the Azores Islands.

 

1900 - Capt Austin Davis ’92, USMC, was killed in action in Peking, China, during the Boxer Rebellion. At the time of his death he was one of only 38 Captains in the entire Marine Corps. A native of Darien, Georgia, Austin was first stationed aboard Kearsarge at La Guayra, Venezuela. By January 1894 he was aboard the cruiser New York in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and then transferred to the United States in June. He spent much of the time before 1898 in the United States; it seems he was in the Philippines, Guam, or China after sailing aboard the battleship Oregon in 1898. Austin was survived by his parents and four siblings. Other alumni lost on this day are listed at Virtual Memorial Hall.

 

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

Be aware, Porter Road will be closed from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday this week (13-17 July).

Hathaway ’04 helps advance space station health studies

as ISS crew prepares for transition

NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station continued research that could benefit human health on Earth while preparing for an upcoming crew rotation. Studies focused on growing cartilage in microgravity, which may lead to improved treatments for joint injuries, and monitoring cardiovascular health in space. USNA graduate and NASA astronaut CDR Jack Hathaway ’04, USN, spent the day conducting maintenance inside the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM), replacing sensor batteries and retrieving hardware from the experimental habitat. Meanwhile, Expedition 74 crew members began preparations for the return of NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev later this month.

Calling all regular members of the USNA Alumni Association: This is your final call for nominations for the Mid-Atlantic and Western Regional Trustees on the USNA Alumni Association Board of Trustees. Any regular members should use the nomination form to make their nominations no later than 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday, 15 July 2026. Mid-Atlantic and Western regional trustees will be elected by the regular members in their region by electronic ballot in spring 2027. Regional trustees must reside in the region they represent for the duration of their three-year terms, from May 2027 to May 2030. Any regular member of the Alumni Association in good standing may nominate any regular member in good standing (including themselves, and including eligible members outside their own region) during the nomination window to be considered as a candidate. As always, we encourage nominees who represent our alumni community’s great variety of experience and background. Make your voice heard in our community by nominating a regional trustee! Please contact the Board Secretary Wes Huey ’87 with questions and comments.

This week, Thursday, 16 July is an event you won’t want to miss. Join fellow alums in Washington, D.C., for an unforgettable night at the Washington Mystics Salute to Service Game. The evening features a special pregame panel and networking happy hour with standout athletes and leaders, recognition of military service throughout the game and an incredible halftime showdown between Navy and Army Women's Basketball alumni. Representing your blue and gold is Jennifer Coleman ’22, who earned a WNBA training camp opportunity, while LtGen Lori Reynolds ’86, USMC (Ret.), serves as honorary captain. Whether you're coming for the basketball, the networking, the Navy-Army rivalry or the celebration of service, this is a one-of-a-kind event you won't want to miss. Bring your friends, wear your Navy gear and help us pack the arena for an amazing night.

Government & Military News

“Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello ’99, a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. This week…from aging public shipyards and private-sector capacity challenges to workforce shortages, maintenance backlogs, and the growing demand for maintenance in an increasingly contested maritime environment, there’s a lot at stake in the naval and commercial world of ship repair. Joining us to discuss the problem and opportunities associated with this critical service industry are retired Navy Admiral John Polowczyk of the Virginia Ship Repair Association, Kevin Terry of the Shipbuilders Council of America, and Ryan Smith of Fincantieri Marine Systems North America”

Commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz rebounded significantly in June despite continued instability and attacks linked to the conflict between the United States and Iran. Shipping data from Lloyd’s List Intelligence showed 576 transits in June, up from 233 in May, though still well below pre-war levels. The increase followed a June ceasefire announcement that prompted many vessels to leave the Persian Gulf. Thousands of seafarers remain stranded, however, and attacks on commercial ships have continued. Analysts say shipping companies are cautiously returning to the vital waterway, but traffic remains only about 80 percent of normal levels amid ongoing security concerns.

USS Nimitz arrives to final homeport of Naval Station Norfolk

USS Nimitz (CVN-68), the Navy’s oldest active aircraft carrier, arrived in Norfolk, Virginia, on 9 July ahead of its final homeport shift and eventual deactivation. After departing its longtime homeport in Bremerton, Washington, in March, Nimitz sailed around South America as part of Southern Seas 2026. The ship’s service life was extended until March 2027, delaying retirement by 10 months. “I am profoundly proud of the way Nimitz Sailors professionally represented our Navy and our Nation during this milestone deployment,” said CAPT Joseph Furco ’99, USN, commanding officer of Nimitz. “These extraordinary men and women truly embodied the Nimitz motto, ‘Teamwork, A Tradition,’ as we helped build America’s global maritime team throughout Southern Seas 2026, Fleet Exercise 250, and finally, International Naval Review 250. All of us onboard are also extremely thankful to the City of Norfolk for welcoming us back to this ship’s first and final homeport.”

USS Gerald R. Ford to undergo maintenance after onboard fire and plumbing issues

After completing the longest post-Vietnam carrier deployment, USS Gerald R. Ford arrived at Norfolk Naval Shipyard to begin a scheduled maintenance period. The carrier returned to Norfolk on 16 May after 326 days at sea, including operations in the Middle East supporting U.S. Central Command and Operation Epic Fury against Iran. Maintenance will include inspections, modernization work and repairs related to a March laundry room fire that injured sailors, caused widespread smoke exposure and damaged berthing spaces. The ship will also address widely publicized plumbing problems involving its vacuum waste system. Navy leaders said the issues have been overstated and emphasized proper system operation.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has reduced its disability claims backlog to fewer than 70,000 cases for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, marking a six-year low. Backlogged claims are those pending for more than 125 days. VA officials said the backlog has fallen 74 percent since January 2025, with only 11.6 percent of pending claims now exceeding 125 days. The improvement is attributed to expanded staffing, mandatory overtime and investments in automated claims processing tools. The department has also processed more than one million claims in under 30 days, while average wait times have dropped to about 78 days.

Local, Education & other academy news

Meet the staff: Emily Larson

Emily Larson is a rising junior at McDaniel College, where she is majoring in psychology with a minor in management. She grew up on the Naval Academy Yard, when her dad taught at the Academy, giving her a close connection to the Yard and the community surrounding it. She shares a close bond with her parents, older brother and twin brother. Larson’s connection to the Navy and the Academy is rooted in her family’s legacy. Her father and grandfather are Naval Academy alumni. Her father served for 30 years, which includes two decades as a fighter pilot. Her grandfather, a four-star admiral, and served as Superintendent of the Naval Academy twice. Their service has made Larson feel rooted in her life. Additionally, it has given her a appreciation for service, commitment and community. Larson is a Communications intern with USNA AA&F this summer. However, she is not new to the USNA AA&F Communications world. She supported the Communications team during I-Day last summer. In her role, she produces social media content, takes photos, writes copy for content, conducts interviews and contributes to Shipmate magazine. She is proud of lead role in ensuring the Enterprise’s social media is accessible by producing open and closed captions for videos. Larson recently returned from a semester abroad in Budapest, Hungary, an experience that broadened her perspective and deepened her interest in communication, culture and storytelling.

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