2 September Daily Shipmate

Wednesday, 2 September 2026

1846 - The sloop-of-war Cyane, under the command of Commander Samuel F. Du Pont, anchors at San Blas at the southern tip of Baja California. Over the course of the next two days, it captures a Mexican sloop and brig and puts a landing party ashore that spikes 24 Mexican cannon.

 

1945 - The instrument of the Japanese surrender is signed on the deck of the battleship Missouri (BB-63) in Tokyo Bay, Japan, as mass formations of carrier planes and B-29 Super fortresses fly overhead in triumph. Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz signs the document for the United States. This is proclaimed Victory-in-Japan Day.

 

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.

1961 - CDR James Reid '45, USN

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

Academy & Graduate happenings

Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao ’96 is President Donald Trump’s pick to be the permanent SECNAV, the president announced on Tuesday. “I am pleased to nominate a true WARRIOR, Hung Cao, to become the next Secretary of the Navy. We need Patriots like Hung leading our Navy and Marine Corps, and I can think of no one better than him to make sure our Great Navy and Marine Corps remain the FIERCEST and BEST Force the World has ever seen,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “The Senate needs to confirm this Warfighter, ASAP, so he can continue the fantastic work he has been doing over the past 4 months.” Cao has been leading the Department of the Navy since April following the removal of former SECNAV John Phelan. Prior to that, Cao served as the Undersecretary of the Navy since October.

Day two of DGA week. Stay hydrated, people. The Daily Drops continue during the lead-up to the DGA Ceremony and the first home football game. The Pod welcomes VADM Mark Fox ’78, USN (Ret.) on the eve of his recognition as part of the 2026 Distinguished Graduate class. Fox joins us to reflect on a lifetime of leadership, service and the lessons learned from his journey following graduation from Annapolis. Chris and John also break down the football season opener and discuss Coach Brian Newberry's press conference as Navy prepares to take the field. We share our thoughts on the team's outlook, key storylines heading into the season and what fans should be watching as Navy begins its campaign. And because no Navy football weekend is complete without a trip downtown, we highlight a few new Annapolis businesses that alumni and fans can check out before or after Saturday's game. Whether you're back in town for reunion season, visiting the Yard or simply looking for a new favorite spot, we've got you covered. That, plus updates from around the alumni community and much more on the best alumni podcast in the land. Listen, subscribe and share. Beat Army. Always.

Before this year's Distinguished Graduate Award ceremony, hear directly from the honorees themselves.

 

Throughout the week, Sing Second will release special interviews with ADM Patrick Walsh, VADM Mark Fox, LtGen Dave Beydler and CAPT Chris Cassidy. Recorded following their selection, each conversation explores their thoughts on receiving the honor, lessons from a lifetime of service and their connection to the Naval Academy.

Episodes will be released nightly and featured in the following day's Daily Shipmate as Annapolis prepares for Thursday's DGA ceremony and Saturday's football season opener against Towson.

Government & Military News

A new monument honoring America's Medal of Honor recipients is one step closer to becoming a reality in Washington, DC The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the Hershel "Woody" Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act, which would place a National Medal of Honor Monument near the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall. The legislation is named for Hershel "Woody" Williams, the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, whose extraordinary valor during the Battle of Iwo Jima earned him the nation's highest military decoration. The monument will recognize not only Williams' legacy, but also the courage, sacrifice and selfless service of all Medal of Honor recipients. The project would be funded through private fundraising by the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation and now awaits presidential approval.

Marines can now wear college or commissioning-source class rings with wedding rings in uniform under a new rule effective immediately. Marines who already wear a wedding ring can now add a college or commissioning-source class ring. Training and Education Command made the change effective immediately in Marine Administrative Message (MARADMIN) 402/26 released 28 August. It rewrites the rings paragraph in Marine Corps Order (MCO) 1020.34H, the same order behind the Uniform App launched in June. The old rule already allowed one inconspicuous ring per hand. Wedding and engagement rings on the same finger counted as one. A class ring stacked with a wedding band did not. A Marine who wears only a class ring was already inside the regulation if the ring stayed inconspicuous.

The Department of Defense has launched ChatGPT Mil, a secure version of OpenAI's chatbot now available through the Pentagon's GenAI.mil platform. Designed for work involving controlled unclassified information (CUI), the tool is intended to assist military and civilian personnel with document-heavy tasks such as planning, policy development, logistics and administration. The platform is accredited at Impact Level 5, a Department of Defense security standard for sensitive but unclassified information. ChatGPT Mil joins Google Gemini and other AI tools already available on GenAI.mil, giving users access to multiple artificial intelligence models for different types of work. According to the Defense Department, the platform has attracted more than 1.7 million users and is intended to support the department's more than 3 million personnel. For the Navy and Marine Corps, GenAI.mil has already been designated as the required enterprise AI platform for authorized CUI work.

Local, Education & other academy news

USS Iowa welcomes new commander in change-of-command ceremony

The Navy's newest Virginia-class submarine, USS Iowa (SSN 797), has a new commanding officer following a change-of-command ceremony held 28 August aboard the historic submarine Nautilus in Groton, Connecticut. CDR Kyle Haubold ’08, USN, relieved CDR Gregory Coy ’06, USN, who led the crew through sea trials, the submarine's commissioning in April 2025 and its first operational deployments. RADM Andrew Miller praised Coy for building a culture of professionalism and excellence aboard the boat, while Coy credited the crew for the submarine's success. Haubold, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, pledged to maintain the submarine's readiness and warfighting standards as it continues operations. USS Iowa, the fourth Navy ship to bear the state's name, is one of the fleet's most advanced fast-attack submarines, capable of conducting undersea warfare, intelligence collection, surveillance and special operations missions.

Fans attending Navy football games at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium this fall will enjoy several new and enhanced amenities designed to improve stadium entry, concessions, parking, hospitality and the overall game-day experience. Fan-experience enhancements will include public tents in the north end zone that fans may use before the game, along with Boeing Blue Angel and Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II photo opportunities in the southwest corner of the stadium. The stadium enhancements are highlighted by a $7.5 million renovation project in the south end zone that will transform and expand the stadium’s premium hospitality offerings. The project, made possible through the leadership support of several Naval Academy alumni, includes the addition of the Naval Academy Athletic Foundation Pavilion, The Gladchuk Club and The Class of 1981 Club, along with enhanced offerings in the Minter Pavilion and The Anchor Club.

Dust off your Navy cap, grab your family and friends, and join your fellow alumni for a night under the lights as the Greater Southern Maryland Chapter of the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association heads to the ballpark!

Whether you're a die-hard baseball fan or just looking for a great evening of fellowship, this is your chance to reconnect with old friends, make some new ones, and cheer on the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs as they take on the York Revolution.Some nights are made for sitting in the stands, enjoying a hot dog, keeping score, and sharing stories with fellow alumni. This is one of those nights. RSVP by TODAY, 2 S September using the QR code on the flyer to reserve your seat.Let's pack the stands with Navy Blue and Gold and show Southern Maryland what the GSMC is all about. Play ball... and Beat Army!

The Secretaries’ Cup rivalry between the United States Merchant Marine Academy and the United States Coast Guard Academy will continue to be showcased on ESPN networks through 2030 following a new five-year media rights agreement between ESPN and the two academies. The renewed agreement begins with the 46th Secretaries’ Cup game on Saturday, 14 November, at Audi Field in Washington, DC Kickoff between Merchant Marine and Coast Guard is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET, with the game set to be broadcast live on ESPN+. The five-year extension covers each annual Secretaries’ Cup matchup from 2026 through 2030, ensuring continued national exposure for one of college football’s most meaningful service-academy rivalries.

Naval Academy Athletics News and results

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