1 September Daily Shipmate

Tuesday, 1 September 2026

1942 - The first Seabees to serve in a combat zone, the men of the 6th Naval Construction Battalion land at Lunga Point on Guadalcanal.

 

1952 - U.S. Navy forces, including the carriers Midway (CVB-41) and Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVB-42) and battleship Wisconsin (BB-64), join ships of other allied nations participating in Operation Mainbrace in the North Atlantic, NATO’s first major naval exercise.

 

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.

1930 - Capt Arthur Page, Jr. ’18, USMC

Other alumni lost on this day are listed at Virtual Memorial Hall.

Academy & Graduate happenings

It's a big week! We honor four new Distinguished Graduates this week. And where else are you going to get an exclusive interview with each one? Sing Second. We have Daily Drops this week with each DG. Our featured guest today is ADM Patrick Walsh ’77, USN (Ret.), one of the most accomplished naval leaders of his generation. A Naval Academy graduate, former Blue Angel, combat aviator, and four-star admiral, Admiral Walsh capped off more than 34 years of service as the 59th Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, responsible for operations across the vast Indo-Pacific region. He also served as Vice Chief of Naval Operations and Commander of the U.S. Fifth Fleet. In a wide-ranging half-hour conversation, Admiral Walsh reflects on leadership lessons learned from the cockpit, the importance of character and trust in high-performing teams, and how the Naval Academy prepared him for a lifetime of service. Chris and John also catch up on all things Alumni Association & Foundation, talk about what’s happening around the Yard this week and start previewing the first football game of the year against Towson. Whether you're a Midshipman, graduate, active-duty officer, veteran, or simply interested in leadership at the highest levels, this is an episode you won't want to miss. That and more on the best Alumni Association & Foundation podcast in the land. Beat Army. Always.

It all comes together this week at the Naval Academy. We honor our Distinguished Graduates - ADM Patrick Walsh, VADM Mark Fox, LtGen Dave Beydler and CAPT Chris Cassidy - in Annapolis Thursday. And the Naval Academy Football season kicks off Saturday vs. Towson. Chris and John will get you ready for a big week around campus with Daily Pod drops. All pods will be released in the evening and be featured in the next day’s Daily Shipmate. We were honored to sit down with each Distinguished Graduate in the days following their selection and announcement to get their perspectives and feelings on the honor.

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 31 August 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.

U.S. Navy returns fully modernized USS North Dakota attack submarine to fleet early after major Block III overhaul at Portsmouth

The U.S. Navy has returned the attack submarine USS North Dakota (SSN 784) to operational service following a major modernization and overhaul at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The work was completed ahead of the rebaselined schedule and marked the shipyard’s first Chief of Naval Operations availability on a Block III Virginia-class submarine. During the maintenance period, shipyard workers and the submarine’s crew integrated new maritime technologies and completed several technical modifications designed to enhance combat readiness and future deployment capabilities. Navy leaders said the upgrades provide immediate operational benefits and strengthen the readiness of the submarine force. Officials called the project one of Portsmouth’s fastest and most demanding submarine maintenance efforts. Lessons learned from the availability are expected to support future modernization work on Block III Virginia-class submarines as the Navy continues to sustain and modernize its undersea fleet.

Over the previous year, Naval Service Training Command (NSTC) authorized the addition of four new universities as crosstown affiliates for the Naval Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (NROTC). A crosstown agreement allows a Midshipman attending a college without a Naval ROTC unit to participate in the program by travelling to a nearby host unit for required naval science classes, physical training, and leadership labs, while completing their degree requirements at their own university. Universities added as crosstown affiliates include:

As part of the 25th remembrance of 9-11, T2T has transported Steel from the WTC Towers to 35 U.S Cities, called the Steel Across America Tour. One of the last stops is an event in D.C. on 8 September at The Ellipse. It is a planned event with President Trump scheduled to speak along with Frank Siller, CEO T2T. The T2T Foundation (www.t2t.org) focuses on Smart Homes for severely wounded veterans and first responders; paying off mortgages for Gold Star and Fallen First Responder families with young children; the construction and operation of villages for homeless veterans and their young children; and the funding of higher education for Gold Star and First Responder’s children.

Local, Education & other academy news

Spend your evening surrounded by great music and Navy tradition at the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C. Join the U.S. Navy Concert Band on Tuesday, 1 September for the final installment of the popular Concert on the Avenue series. The free, family-friendly performance brings together outstanding musicianship, patriotic favorites and a celebration of our Sea Services in the heart of the nation's capital. Concerts on the Avenue have been a summer tradition for years, offering audiences a unique opportunity to experience one of the Navy's premier musical ensembles live. Grab a chair, bring friends and family, and enjoy a memorable evening under the D.C. skyline. The concert begins at 7 p.m. at the U.S. Navy Memorial Plaza.

Navy Football Brotherhood pre-game concert

Start Navy game day with the Brotherhood! Join us at the Brotherhood Tailgater at Gate 5 & Taylor Ave. before Navy vs. Towson for an afternoon of live music, Navy Football and Brotherhood. Navy Football’s own Jackson Perkins ’21 and Chris Nurthen ’15 aka “SweetNur” will be performing live!

Come early, enjoy some great live music, reconnect with the Brotherhood, and get ready to cheer on the Mids!

“It’s 0459, and Cadet 1st Class Abigail Anderson is already outside the door, hands poised, ready to pound. Up and down the hallway, at every door, other cadets mirror her stance. As 0500 hits, the yelling and pounding begin. “Get up! Rise and shine! Shave your face! Make your bed!” It’s morning at the U.S. Air Force Academy, and Basic Cadet Training (BCT) is underway. Inside the dorm rooms, 1,163 members of the Class of 2030—17- and 18-year-olds just a few weeks out of high school—scramble to make their beds, wash themselves, and don blue workout shorts, gray T-shirts, red caps, and CamelBaks. Their elder cadets—cadre in USAFA parlance—keep up their harangue until all the newbies are assembled in flights of 20 to 30 before them.”

Naval Academy Athletics News and results

The long offseason is finally over. Navy Football returns to Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on Saturday, kicking off a new season and what promises to be an exciting year for Navy Athletics. The buzz extends well beyond Annapolis, where four former Midshipmen, Eli Heidenreich ’26, Landon Robinson ’26, Rayuan Lane III ’25 and Joe Cardona ’15, are preparing for NFL seasons on active 53-man rosters. Meanwhile, competition is ramping up across the Yard. Men's and women's soccer are off to strong starts, rugby teams are opening their campaigns, and nationally ranked water polo begins its season in Annapolis. Volleyball welcomes a talented tournament field, while cross country and offshore sailing return to action. Every fall brings new opportunities, unexpected heroes and memorable moments. As another year of Navy Athletics gets underway, the next great chapter is waiting to be written. Stay tuned, Navy fans. The best stories may be just ahead.

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Men's Soccer vs Presbyterian - W 3 - 0

Army-Navy Star Series matchups:

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