12 August Daily Shipmate

Wednesday, 12 August 2026

Squeeze every last drop out of summer with a weekend in historic Annapolis. Enjoy harbor breezes, waterfront evenings, and one last taste of summer before the pace of fall returns. Just steps from the Yard, Fair Winds is a beautifully restored historic home, proudly owned and operated by two USNA alumni. Reunion weekends and Navy football are filling fast— reserve your stay today.

 

Chart your stay at FairWindsDTA.com or on Airbnb.

1942 - In the first operational testing of antiaircraft projectiles incorporating proximity fuses, gunners on board the light cruiser Cleveland (CL-55) shoot down three target drones in the skies over the Chesapeake Bay. The proximity fuse greatly enhances the air defense capability of U.S. Navy ships during World War II.

 

1944 - MIDN Carroll Boswinkle '48, USN and MIDN Ralph Jillson '48, USN were lost on the Chesapeake Bay near Annapolis when a plane conducting a simulated strafing run crashed into the ship (an unidentified LCI) they were aboard. The pilot and an observer (a WAVE) aboard the plane were also killed. Carroll was from Mount Ayr, Iowa, and attended Purdue University for a year. In 1943 he enlisted in the Navy; in June 1944 he received an at-large appointment to the Naval Academy. Carroll was survived by his parents, brother, and sister. Ralph's hometown was Thomaston, Connecticut, and he too received an at-large appointment to the Naval Academy. Ralph was survived by his parents and sister. Other alumni lost on this day are listed at Virtual Memorial Hall.

 

1953 - The experimental ship Mississippi (AG-128), formerly BB-41, conducts the first successful shipboard launch of a fully guided Terrier missile, which successfully intercepts an F6F drone.

 

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

U.S. Naval Academy midshipmen participating in summer training aboard Yard Patrol (YP) craft have completed the inaugural “YP NEXT” training block, deploying robotics and autonomous systems (RAS) directly from YPs for the first time in history, marking an important milestone in preparing future naval leaders for an increasingly autonomous maritime battlespace. “Using our iconic Yard Patrol craft as “motherships” for autonomous systems, our remarkable group of midshipmen were the first to execute this innovative concept, integrating autonomous capabilities in the air, on the sea and under the sea,” said U.S. Naval Academy Superintendent LtGen Michael Borgschulte '91, USMC. “The future fleet will be crewed, uncrewed, and seamlessly integrated, and the future leaders of that fleet are already underway and making way in this critical field.” Held during the third block of summer training in July and August, YP NEXT introduced midshipmen to the tactical employment of unmanned and autonomous technologies while reinforcing core competencies in seamanship, navigation, damage control and bridge resource management.

Thank you to everyone who registered and helped make this year's event a tremendous success before the first tee shot is even hit. More information will be coming soon about the exciting auction opportunity for the Pebble Beach trip. We can't wait to see everyone on the course and make this year's tournament one to remember!

We are saddened to share the passing of ADM Harry D. Train II '49, USN (Ret.), a distinguished naval leader, strategist, a steadfast servant of our nation and one of our Distinguished Graduate Award recipients.

 

After graduating from the Naval Academy in 1949, Train dedicated more than three decades to the U.S. Navy, rising to become one of its most respected leaders. During his career, he commanded the attack submarine USS Barbel (SS-580), the guided-missile destroyer USS Conyngham (DDG-17), Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla 8 and the U.S. Sixth Fleet. From 1978 to 1982, he served as Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic, Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Command and Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, helping shape NATO maritime strategy and U.S. naval operations during the Cold War.

 

Following his retirement from active duty,  Train continued to serve through civic leadership, national security initiatives and mentorship of future military leaders. Recognized as a Distinguished Graduate in 2017 and awarded the Naval Submarine League's Distinguished Submariner Award in 2024, he leaves behind a legacy of leadership, service and dedication to country.

 

Please join us in honoring ADM Train, whose impact on the Navy and the nation will be remembered for generations. You can watch ADM Train's DGA Biographical video and read his full obituary at the links below.

The Robert Means Thompson Society is proud to introduce its refreshed brand identity this National Make-A-Will Month.

 

The Society honors alumni and friends who have made a lasting commitment to the future of the U.S. Naval Academy by including the Naval Academy Foundation in their estate plans. While the look is new, the mission remains the same: ensuring generations of midshipmen have the opportunities and resources they need to succeed.

 

If August has you thinking about creating or updating your will, it's also an ideal time to learn how a planned gift can reflect your values and leave a lasting legacy.

 

Visit the link below to learn more about the Robert Means Thompson Society and planned giving opportunities.

Government & Military News

USS Pinckney returns to San Diego following operations in the Indo-Pacific and Middle East

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney (DDG-91) returned to Naval Base San Diego on Aug. 9 after a nine-month deployment supporting operations in the Indo-Pacific and Middle East. The ship traveled more than 48,000 nautical miles while conducting regional security missions, strengthening partnerships with allies, and supporting combat operations under U.S. Central Command. During the deployment, Pinckney completed a maintenance exercise in Singapore, participated in Operation Epic Fury, and helped enforce a naval blockade of Iranian ports, conducting maritime interdictions on 11 commercial vessels. The crew also logged 534 flight hours, completed 24 replenishments at sea, and transited five strategic waterways. CDR Timothy DeVall, USN, the ship's commanding officer, praised the crew's professionalism and resilience throughout the deployment. Serving alongside him was Executive Officer CDR Christopher Ragsdale '07, USN, who helped lead the ship and crew through operations across the U.S. 3rd, 5th and 7th Fleets.

Joint Base Charleston in North Charleston, South Carolina, has officially been renamed Joint Base Lindsey Graham in honor of the late U.S. senator and Air Force veteran. The renaming ceremony took place Aug. 10 and featured remarks from senior federal and state leaders, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster. The Pentagon said the honor recognizes Graham's decades of service in both the military and Congress. Graham served 33 years in the Air Force, including active duty, the South Carolina Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve, retiring as a colonel in 2015. He later became one of the Senate's strongest advocates for military funding and national defense. During the ceremony, Joint Base leaders highlighted Graham's longstanding support for the installation and its mission. The base, home to the 628th Air Base Wing and numerous Defense Department organizations, now carries the name of a South Carolinian whose military and public service spanned more than three decades. anned more than three decades. 

Local, Education & other academy news

We are now accepting nominations for the next Board of Trustees chair; nominations are open now through 1 September 2026 via the online nomination form. Any regular member may nominate another regular member or self-nominate for the three-year term beginning in May 2027, after ADM Mark Ferguson III '78, USN (Ret.), completes six years of service on the Board. The Board's Nominating Committee will review all submissions and recommend a candidate for Board approval in November 2026; questions may be directed to Board Secretary Wes Huey '87."

The Navy Football Brotherhood Annual Memorial Golf Classic honors our fallen brothers who have passed away while on active-duty, reserve duty, or while serving as a Midn.  This event unites former players, supporters, and friends for a day of golf, camaraderie, and remembrance, celebrating the enduring bonds and shared legacy within the Navy football community.  The Navy Football Brotherhood organization is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.  100% of the proceeds from the Golf Classic goes towards supporting the families of Our Fallen Brothers!  Each of our Fallen Brothers back to the early 1950's are listed on the 18 holes.  You can sponsor a hole or two to honor your shipmates. If you'd like to play and/or be a sponsor, please reach out to Frank Schenk '91, [email protected], 443-714-2991. 

Naval Academy Athletics News and results

Navy women's soccer opens its 2026 season this week with a pair of home non-conference matches at the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility. The Midshipmen begin the campaign Wednesday, 12 August against Robert Morris before returning Saturday night to face Rice. Navy enters the season after posting a 9-6-4 record in 2025 and will look to build on that success under head coach Carin Gabarra.

 

The Mids defeated Robert Morris 3-0 in last season's opener and hold a perfect 2-0 all-time record against the Colonials. Saturday's matchup offers a chance for Navy to avenge a 2-1 road loss to Rice in 2024, the only previous meeting between the programs. Among the returning leaders for Navy are Chiara Cosenza, who led the team in goals, assists and points last season, and goalkeeper Natasha Stramrood, who recorded 70 saves in 2025. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+ with live statistics available online.

The Naval Academy and lacrosse communities are mourning the loss of Glen Miles, one of the most accomplished players in Navy lacrosse history, who passed away on 7 August at age 62. A Timonium, Maryland, native, Miles was a three-time All-American midfielder at Navy and earned national midfielder of the year honors in 1986. He finished his collegiate career with 140 points and remains among the program's all-time leaders in assists.

 

Following his standout career in Annapolis, Miles represented the United States on the international stage as a member of the gold medal-winning 1990 U.S. Men's National Team and was later inducted into both the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame and the U.S. Naval Academy Hall of Fame. Miles also served as a Marine Corps F/A-18 pilot and Top Gun graduate before dedicating years to mentoring young athletes through Fellowship of Christian Athletes Lacrosse. He is remembered as a devoted husband, father, mentor and ambassador for the game. 

Men's Soccer at Delaware (Preseason) - Completed

Women's Soccer vs Robert Morris - Annapolis, MD - 5:00 p.m.

Star Series matchups:

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