3 September Daily Shipmate

Thursday, 3 September 2026

Send us the news! Have you ever appeared on the video scoreboard at a sporting event for winning a dance off…or for having the best “Beat Army” sign? No? Must be just us. 🙂 Anyhoo…we get so many great articles and recommendations from you, the alumni, that we felt that you deserved some shout-outs. So…new feature to Digital Shipmate - Send us an article…we’ll run it with a shout out to you. Thanks for being force-multipliers for the news!

1952 - The first firing of a Sidewinder air-to-air missile occurs at the Naval Ordnance Test Station in Inyokern, California.

 

1996 - In response to the massing of Iraqi troops and tanks for an apparent attempt to seize control of Kurdish­held territory, the guided missile cruiser Shiloh (CG-67), the guided missile destroyers Laboon (DDG-58) and Russell (DDG-59), the destroyer Hewitt (DD-966) and the nuclear-powered submarine Jefferson City (SSN-759) launch 31 Tomahawk cruise missiles against air defense targets in Iraq. They are joined in the effort, called Operation Desert Strike, by Air Force B-52 bombers. (3–4 September)

 

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.

2004 - 1stLt Ronald Winchester ’01, USMCR

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

Academy & Graduate happenings

The U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation (USNA AA&F) is proud to welcome the 2026 Distinguished Graduate Award recipients, ADM Patrick M. Walsh ’77, VADM Mark I. Fox ’78, LtGen William D. Beydler ’81 and CAPT Christopher J. Cassidy ’93, along with their classmates, families and friends. Their accomplishments place them among an elite group of Naval Academy graduates who have received the Association’s highest honor. The weekend includes a medal ceremony before the Brigade of Midshipmen, a special pinning ceremony that welcomes the newest recipients into the distinguished DGA legacy and leadership engagements with the Brigade, and. The celebration culminates with recognition during Saturday’s Navy vs. Towson home opener. Follow @USNAAlumni at the social media links below for exclusive behind-the-scenes coverage, photos and videos, then look for a complete recap in Monday’s Daily Shipmate and a full video feature later this month. Click below to learn more about this year’s remarkable honorees and the traditions that make DGA Weekend so special.

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Bancroft Hall at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, is named for former Navy Secretary George Bancroft, but to the midshipmen who call the dormitory home, it is affectionately known as "Mother B." The largest single college dormitory in the world, Bancroft Hall, houses all roughly 4,400 midshipmen throughout their four years of study at the elite military academy. Bancroft Hall's center section and first two wings, designed by Ernest Flagg, a Beaux-Arts architect known for his grand, classical designs, were completed in 1908. The dormitory was expanded in 1921, 1941 and 1961 and now features eight wings.

 

Severn Leadership Group (SLG), a nonprofit dedicated to developing leaders of character, announced today that Frank Caldwell ’81 has been elected Board Chairman, effective immediately. Frank retired from the United States Navy after a 43-year career. In his final assignment, he served as the seventh Director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Frank also serves on the boards of Entergy Corporation, Fluor Corporation, and Acushnet Offshore Systems, and consults on national security, shipbuilding, and manufacturing. “Frank brings to SLG a career built on the same conviction we exist to cultivate - that leadership is defined by virtuous character, not position. As Board Chairman, he will guide SLG's continued growth, through our flagship programs and expanding network of certified mentors,” said Sig Berg, Severn Leadership Group’s Founder and Catalyst in Chief.

What a week it’s been, friends! We get to mid-week with a motivational YUT. We talk to LtGen David Beydler ’81, USMC (Ret.) about his career, his selection as a Distinguished Graduate, his time on the Alumni Association Board of Trustees…and much much more. Beydler loves the Naval Academy, and it remains a great honor to give interviewees the megaphone they need to talk about their affection. Congrats to the Marine in the group on being a DGA and an overall great American. Chris and John also dish a little bit on the new amenities and features at Navy/Marine Corps Memorial Stadium this season. Of note - the new Naval Academy Athletic Foundation Tower in the South End Zone. They’re painting it now…so it has to be ready by Saturday! We also chat about Hung Cao….spoiler alert…they want to remove the “Acting” part of his SECNAV title. Awesome news! And we dish about what jewelry Marines can wear now in uniform. Oh yes…it’s a wide-ranging discussion. That and more on the best Alumni Association & Foundation podcast in the land. Beat Army. Always.

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

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 370-48 on 1 September to approve a temporary funding measure that will keep federal agencies operating through 11 December, avoiding a government shutdown when current funding expires 1 October. The Senate had already passed the legislation in August, and the measure now heads to President Donald Trump for signature. The continuing resolution maintains existing spending levels while Congress works to complete the 12 annual appropriations bills needed to fund the federal government through fiscal 2027. Lawmakers from both parties supported the measure to avoid another shutdown after a series of funding disputes disrupted government operations in recent years. The extension gives Congress additional time to negotiate long-term spending plans, including defense and other key federal programs.

China’s navy has introduced the Type 054A (Jiangkai II) guided-missile frigate, a warship analysts say is significant not because of groundbreaking technology, but because of the capabilities it adds to Beijing’s growing fleet. Designed for both coastal and open-ocean operations, the frigate can conduct anti-submarine warfare, provide fleet air defense and support long-range deployments beyond China’s shores. Experts note that the ship’s helicopter capability extends its ability to detect submarines and that the vessels can be produced in large numbers. Regional observers say the frigate’s arrival is drawing attention in Taiwan, Japan and the United States. Taiwan is concerned about stronger Chinese anti-submarine and escort operations around the Taiwan Strait, while Japan is monitoring potential activity in the East China Sea and nearby maritime chokepoints. U.S. analysts view the ship as another step toward a larger Chinese escort fleet capable of sustained operations far from home waters. Although the frigate is not considered especially powerful on its own, experts say it strengthens the overall effectiveness and reach of China’s navy.

Local, Education & other academy news

A steel beam recovered from the ashes of the World Trade Center attacks 25 years ago arrived ceremoniously at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on Tuesday. Hundreds of first responders, veterans and family members gathered in the pouring rain to see the dramatic unveiling of the 21-foot-long steel beam of the South Tower. West Point is the last leg of a nationwide “Steel Across America” Tour in honor the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks. Frank Siller is the chairman and CEO of the Tunnels to Towers Foundation, which organized the tour and dedicates itself to its mission of reminding people of the sacrifices of that day. Siller’s brother, 34-year-old Stephen Siller, was an FDNY firefighter who ran through the, then, Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to Manhattan with fire gear on his back.

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.

Naval Academy Athletics News and results

Women's Soccer at Radford - Radford, Va. - 7:00 p.m.

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Army-Navy Star Series matchups:

USNA and AA&F Events

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