20 August Daily Shipmate

Thursday, 20 August 2026

1942 - The escort carrier Long Island (ACV-1) transports the first Marine aircraft to Guadalcanal, launching 19 F4F Wildcat fighters and 12 SBD Dauntless dive-bombers on their flight to Henderson Field.

 

1998 - In retaliation for the terrorist bombings of the American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, Navy surface ships and submarines launch 75 Tomahawk cruise missiles at a suspected chemical weapons facility in Sudan and at terrorist training camps in Afghanistan. The prime target of the attacks is terrorist leader Osama bin Laden.

 

1942 - LCDR Van Moore, Class of 1919, USN was killed in action when the merchant steamer he was aboard was torpedoed by a German U-Boat about 95 miles off the coast of Venezuela. He was the convoy commander; the other 43 men aboard survived. He transitioned to the retired list – while remaining on active duty – sometime between June and November 1940. He married his wife in Vladivostok, and adopted her daughter. He was survived by them both, as well as their daughter and son. 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

From the opening attack on Pearl Harbor, through the European and Pacific theaters, to the far-flung corners of the world, The War They Won is a journey alongside the brave men and women who fought and sacrificed to defeat the Axis powers. This narrative-driven account of the Second World War is told by those who experienced it firsthand. The author, the late Lt. Hobart K. Kistler, USN, personally interviewed more than 150 veterans of the war. Their personal experiences and perspectives form the core of this book, allowing a view of the war that is both personal and broad in its scope. The book covers every major battle of the war including Normandy, the Battle of the Bulge, and Iwo Jima, as well as battles in lesser-known locales such as Alaska, India, and North Africa. Each chapter features voices of the people who served in those battles, along with historical details and descriptions of the environment.With more than 200 photos and maps, this immersive book will help you experience World War II as never before. The book was written by Lt. Hobart “Hobie” Kistler, naval officer and previous author of two books chronicling his family genealogy. Shortly after completing the manuscript, Kistler died in a car crash in April 2021. He was 30 years old. After his death, his brother and editor Peter Kistler took custody of the project and went about arranging for publication.

From The Seawall: Ep. 02: John Hackworth

In Episode 2 of From the Seawall, we meet with Navy Men's Soccer Head Coach John Hackworth to discuss leadership, culture and the unique mission of developing Midshipmen through collegiate athletics. Coach Hackworth shares insights from his extensive coaching career, reflects on the values that define Navy Soccer, and looks ahead to the opportunities and challenges facing the program. Click the video above to watch the interview.

The inaugural Director of the Leadership Institute will implement the vision and strategy for the new central hub for leadership development at the Academy.

 

The Naval Academy Leadership Institute represents the next stage in the Academy's long-term effort to make that development more coherent, intentional, and measurable. The Institute will serve as an integrating and enabling mechanism in support of the Academy's three principal mission areas: the mental, moral, and physical development of midshipmen.

 

Working in close partnership with the Provost, Commandant, Athletic Director, and other Academy leaders, the Director will identify common themes, connect complementary programs, strengthen communication across organizational boundaries, and help ensure that the Academy's many leadership initiatives are advancing a shared institutional vision.

 

Reporting directly to the Superintendent as a member of the Academy's Senior LeadershipTeam, the Director will shape leadership development at the Academy for decades to come, making this a milestone moment in our institution's long history as a leadership laboratory.

 

The Academy has established an internal search committee that will be working with executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles to recruit and interview candidates.

 

The job posting can be found at the link below.

 

The Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation's commitment to the LeadershipInstitute is a central component of the upcoming AA&F campaign and has helped set the stage for this next evolution of leadership development at the Naval Academy.

 

The Naval Academy is necessary. With the world what it is today, USNA is necessary to ensure our world has leaders for the future.

From the Podcast Fleet

Navy men's soccer begins a new era under first-year head coach John Hackworth, who arrives in Annapolis with an impressive resume and sterling reputation. Coach Hackworth talks about his plans for transforming Navy into a championship contender. Senior defender Alex Galloway joins to discuss the upcoming season and how happy the players are to have such a distinguished coach now leading the program.

Government & Military News

A new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found the Department of Defense needs additional resources to fully implement blast exposure monitoring programs designed to protect service members from the long-term effects of repeated exposure to weapons fire and explosions. Nearly 200,000 recruits received baseline cognitive assessments in fiscal 2025, but the Navy screened only 59% of sailors in high-risk specialties, the lowest rate among the services. Officials cited staffing shortages, technology limitations and a lack of industrial hygiene personnel as key obstacles. The Pentagon is also testing a new mobile cognitive assessment tool to improve monitoring and better track sailors' exposure throughout their careers.

The United States and South Korea have reduced the duration and scope of this year's Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, shortening the annual training event from 11 days to five. The exercise, which combines U.S. and South Korean forces in defense and readiness training, will continue with adjusted field activities and a greater use of simulation-based training. Defense officials said the changes are intended to preserve key training objectives and maintain military readiness. Ulchi Freedom Shield remains one of the allies' largest annual exercises, designed to strengthen interoperability and prepare forces to respond to security challenges on the Korean Peninsula.

Local, Education & other academy news

Save the dates: Alumni Pregames at the Fluegel Alumni Center this fall

Join fellow alumni for great food, fun, fellowship and plenty of Navy spirit before cheering on the Midshipmen. We're also bringing back our LIVE Sing Second podcast broadcasts, featuring your favorite hosts and crew as they preview the game and connect with alumni from across the Navy family.

 

Mark your calendars for the first few events below. The event begins 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. More details, including registration information and special guests, will be announced soon. We can't wait to welcome you back to Fluegel for another exciting season of football, connections and all the Blue & Gold pride.

Forged At Annapolis: Hosted by Karl Darden from the Class of 1984, Forged At Annapolis brings you the stories of some of the most extraordinary athletes to ever pass through the U.S. Naval Academy. Using a distinct, storytelling format, this podcast provides a historical look back at how these athletes achieved success on both the national and world stage.

Naval Academy Athletics News and results

The Midshipmen head to DC to take on the Hoyas on Wednesday, November 18. Through this exclusive offer, the U.S. Naval Academy community can purchase seats together at a discounted rate, available only through this link!

Today's matchups:

Star Series matchups:

USNA and AA&F Events

USNA AA&F resources & Links

Login to MyUSNA | Daily Shipmate Archives | USNA AA&F Obituaries

New Releases | Alumni Support Services | Alumni Directory