17 July Daily Shipmate

Friday, 17 July 2026

There’s a new member who has joined our Fluegel Alumni Center herd—and he's impossible to miss. Standing 12 feet tall, our newest Bill the Goat is ready to bring an extra dose of Navy blue-and-gold spirit, pride and fun to alumni events, pregame festivities, pre-game social days and gatherings throughout the year. The U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation is always looking for new ways to celebrate the traditions, camaraderie and pride that connect generations of Naval Academy alumni. Enter InflataBill—our larger-than-life reminder that showing your Navy spirit is always in style. Whether he's welcoming guests to an event, making an appearance on game day or helping create a memorable photo opportunity, InflataBill is ready to help us bring even more energy to the places where the Navy community comes together. After all, when it comes to Navy blue and gold spirit, we don’t kid around.

1944 - During the loading of ammunition into the holds of the merchant vessels Quinault Victory and E. A. Bryan at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine, California, a series of explosions is triggered, igniting nearly 5,000 tons of munitions. E. A. Bryan is literally blown to pieces and the adjacent pier disintegrates. The force of the massive explosions is felt in San Francisco, 48 miles away. A Coast Guard fire barge was blown away from the munitions pier and sank, taking its 5-man crew with it. The 320 individuals in the immediate proximity of the blasts— Navy personnel on the loading details, a Marine Corps sentry, the ships’ Navy armed guard and merchant mariner crews, and civilian employees—were killed instantly. Of these, the remains of only 51 were identifiable afterward. African American Sailors comprised nearly two thirds of those killed. More than 250 other personnel were injured, a number seriously.

 

1945 - LCDR John Magee ’39, USN was lost when his aircraft collided with another and crashed near Panama City, Florida. He was stationed aboard USS Shaw (DD 373) in December 1941, and was wounded when that ship was heavily damaged during the attack on Pearl Harbor. After recovering, he became a Naval Aviator, and in May 1944 was commanding officer of Composite Squadron (VC) 55 aboard USS Block Island (CVE 21) when that ship was sunk by a German submarine off the Atlantic coast of Northern Africa. At the time of that sinking he and five other aircraft were aloft; John and another pilot were able to land safely on an island while the other four pilots were lost at sea. John was survived by his wife, infant son, parents, sister and two brothers. 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

USNA alumnus Col Jason Copeland ’04, USMC has taken command of Marine Barracks Washington, the “Oldest Post of the Corps” and one of the Marine Corps’ most recognizable units. Copeland assumed command during a 16 July ceremony in Washington, D.C., bringing with him a distinguished record of leadership across combat, recruiting and infantry assignments, as well as service as the senior Marine Corps advisor for strategy and force development in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.

Navy senior guard Hoke Smith II has been selected to wear No. 68 this season, a number reserved each year to honor the legacy of David Forney ’20, a former Navy football standout. A three-year letter winner and first-team All-AAC selection, Forney helped lead the Mids to an 11-win season, a Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy and a Liberty Bowl victory in 2019 before his untimely death in 2020. Smith, who enters the season as the starting guard, becomes the latest senior offensive lineman entrusted with carrying forward Forney’s legacy of leadership, excellence and brotherhood. Smith is also the son of Naval Academy Athletic Foundation Trustee and alumna Helen Bloom Smith ’94.

A New Jersey impaired-driving enforcement initiative will honor the memory of ENS John R. Elliott ’00, USN, recognizing his lasting impact on traffic safety and efforts to reduce impaired driving across the country. After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2000, Elliott was killed by a drunk driver; he was traveling home to celebrate his mother's birthday. His death inspired his family to establish the HERO Campaign, a nationally recognized organization dedicated to preventing impaired driving and promoting designated drivers. While this campaign is taking place in New Jersey, its message extends far beyond state lines: one person's commitment to public safety can leave a legacy that continues to protect others for generations. As summer travel continues, the reminder is simple and timeless—always drive sober.

Government & Military News

Blue Angels officials conducted a safety review after one of the squadron’s F/A-18 Super Hornets flew lower than standard profiles during an arrival maneuver over Pensacola Beach, Florida, on 15 July. Videos of the flyby quickly circulated online after the jet’s wake scattered beach umbrellas, chairs and tents. A Blue Angels spokesperson said the team reviewed the incident to ensure adherence to Navy and FAA safety standards. Following the review, Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao ’96 said no disciplinary action would be taken, posting on social media: “Flight debrief complete. No reprimands. No firings. No problem. That’s the sound of Freedom! Semper fi and Hooyah.”

Autonomous vessel builder Saronic Technologies has selected Brownsville, Texas, as the site of its planned $3.2 billion Port Alpha shipyard, a project the company says will help expand U.S. commercial and defense shipbuilding capacity. The 835-acre facility is expected to employ up to 10,000 people over the next decade, with construction beginning this year and shipbuilding operations targeted for 2028. Saronic, which currently produces autonomous maritime systems for the military, said the new yard will be designed to integrate advanced manufacturing, automation and next-generation shipbuilding technologies.

Local, Education & other academy news

Plebe Summer will be over before you know it and your family will be reunited to celebrate an incredible milestone. Join fellow Class of 2030 parents at the Plebe Parent Mixer on Thursday, 6 August from 4–6 p.m. at the Fluegel Alumni Center. Meet other parents, learn about resources available to U.S. Naval Academy families and begin building connections that will last throughout your midshipman's four years on the Yard.

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