14 August Daily Shipmate

Friday, 14 August 2026

1917 - Flying a seaplane, LT Edward O. McDonnell '12, USN, a Medal of Honor recipient for action at Veracruz, Mexico, conducts the first experiments involving launching a torpedo from an aircraft. The flight tests, carried out in the waters off Huntington, Long Island, New York, come five years after RADM Bradley Fiske, '74, USN patented a torpedo-carrying airplane.

 

1945 - Japan agrees to the terms of unconditional surrender.

 

1980 - LT William Marle '71, USN was lost when the C-1A plane he was aboard crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego while operating from USS Ranger (CV 61). All three others aboard the aircraft were also lost. After a tour aboard a fleet oiler, he earned his Naval Flight Officer wings and served as a mission commander aboard S-3A Viking aircraft. He was stationed aboard USS Ranger as anti-submarine warfare module watch officer. William was survived by his wife, two sons, parents, and brother. (The Alumni Association has lost contact with the family. If you know how to contact them please email [email protected].) Other alumni lost on this day are listed at Virtual Memorial Hall.

 

2008 - Following the Russian invasion of neighboring Georgia, the U.S. military initiated a humanitarian mission named Operation Assured Delivery. As part of the operation, the Navy deployed the destroyer USS McFaul (DDG-74) and amphibious command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20). These vessels delivered more than 100,000 tons of humanitarian aid. (14 August–10 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.

Academy & Graduate happenings

CA - Strike Fighter Squadron 25 (VFA-25), also known as “The Fist of the Fleet”, will hold a change of command ceremony today, 14 August 2026, where CDR Michael “Stoner” Christoph '07, USN, will relinquish command to CDR Ryan “Domo” Aldrich '09 in Lemoore, CA. Under CDR Christoph's leadership, VFA-25 completed a full deployment work up cycle that encompassed Air-to-Surface and Air-to-Air training at the Squadron, Air Wing, and Carrier Strike Group levels. He led the 200 Sailors of VFA-25 through six detachments, most recently bringing 10 F/A-18 fighter jets to the 30th Bi-annual Rim of the Pacific Exercise, and prepared the “Fists” for an upcoming deployment. CDR Aldrich looks forward to building upon the rock-solid foundation laid by CDR Christoph, embarking in a short time aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt where VFA-25 will continue our mission to “Project Power and Defend Home.”

Cristoph: "USNA provided the foundation to be successful as the VFA-25 Commanding Officer.  It was an honor to serve as a squadron CO onboard NAS Lemoore and/or CVW-11 with 7 of my classmates!"

Aldrich: "The Naval Academy was foundational to my development as a Naval Officer and prepared all of us extremely well to face the myriad of challenges intrinsic at all levels of Naval service."

At the United States Naval Academy, even walking comes with rules. First-year midshipmen, known as "plebes," follow regulations dictating how to walk, eat, speak, and countless other expectations as part of their transition from civilians to officers in the US Navy and the US Marine Corps. This decorum, tied to a deep sense of duty and pride in long-held military traditions, was on full display when I visited the 338-acre waterfront campus in Annapolis, Maryland. The grand architecture, historic rituals, and unfailingly polite greetings from uniformed service members created a palpably reverential atmosphere. Even visitors like me are tasked with upholding certain standards, with signs that forbid jogging, biking, or walking pets in designated ceremonial areas. I toured the United States Naval Academy in August during Plebe Parents Weekend, when plebes complete their all-consuming, seven-week basic training and reunite with loved ones before the start of the academic year.

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."

Government & Military News

USS Abraham Lincoln's deployment raises concerns over sailors' mental health

USS Abraham Lincoln's deployment to the Middle East keeps getting extended with no end date in sight, and according to new reports, the strain is taking a toll on sailors' mental health – including attempts to go overboard.  About 5,000 sailors and Marines have been at sea nearly nine months supporting the fight against Iran, after they were originally told they'd return in May. “Honestly, I find it a little bit surprising that they haven't come in because it's not- the ops tempo hasn't been, I think, that critical or that heavy that would preclude them from coming into port,” said CAPT Armen Kurdian, USN (Ret.). He believes the extended deployment may be out of operational necessity. “We use a lot of our precision tomahawk and precision weapons so we have to start using carrier aircraft to launch more precision strikes.” 

USS George Washington heading west, Abraham Lincoln deployment nears 9 months

The forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) and its strike group have entered the Strait of Malacca as part of their first patrol of 2026 after departing Yokosuka, Japan, in May. The movement comes as USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) continues an exceptionally long deployment in the Middle East, having spent more than eight months at sea with no port visit since December. USNI News reports that Abraham Lincoln's deployment was extended amid ongoing regional tensions and operations related to the conflict with Iran. Family members have raised concerns about sailor well-being, supplies and living conditions aboard the carrier, while Navy leadership says it is actively engaging with families and ensuring the strike group has the resources needed to safely complete its mission.

As small drones become an increasingly common threat on the modern battlefield, the Marine Corps is expanding training to help Marines counter them using weapons already found in infantry units. During a recent service-level exercise at Twentynine Palms, California, Marines from the 1st and 2nd Marine Divisions trained to engage small unmanned aerial systems with rifles, shotguns, grenade launchers, and electronic counter-drone systems. The realistic training featured simulated enemy drones traveling at high speeds and challenged Marines to detect, track, and defeat aerial threats while conducting patrol and urban operations. The effort reflects the Corps' broader push to integrate drone and counter-drone capabilities across the force, including new training programs, specialized anti-drone ammunition, and emerging AI-enabled air defense systems.

Local, Education & other academy news

 

Welcome to Golfweek's Best 2026 state-by-state list of the top private courses, as judged by our hundreds of raters. The members of the ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them based on 10 criteria on a points basis of 1 through 10. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those overall ratings are averaged to produce these rankings. All the courses on this 2026 list are private and don't accept daily-fee or resort play. The full Maryland list:

 

1. Baltimore Country Club (East)

2. Congressional (Blue)

3.TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm

4. Caves Valley

5. Burning Tree

6. Woodmont (North)

7. Chevy Chase Club

8. Columbia

9. Woodmont (South)

U.S. Postal Service to issue commemorative stamp for U.S. Coast Guard Academy milestone 

The U.S. Postal Service will release a new commemorative stamp celebrating the 150th anniversary of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. This special issue continues the long-standing postal tradition of honoring the nation's premier military service institutions. The stamp art features photographs of the USCGC Eagle, the Coast Guard Academy's primary training vessel since 1946, and USCGC Bertholf, a Legend-class national security cutter whose missions include maritime drug interdiction and securing the maritime border. The stamp will be released as part of a ceremony in New London, CT, 12 September 2026.

Kellyn Caldwell recently returned to the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation as associate director of Donor Impact & Stewardship, beginning what she calls her “second tour” with the organization after nearly five years at the foundation of a leading girls' boarding school in England. In her role, Caldwell works closely with the Naval Academy to demonstrate how philanthropy enhances academic excellence, ethical leadership and athletic success, helping donors see the lasting impact of their generosity on the Brigade of Midshipmen.

 

A lifelong connection to the Academy inspired her return. Both of her grandfathers, CAPT John Kennard and CDR Robert “Bob” Caldwell, graduated with the Class of 1958, and her parents met while their families were stationed in Annapolis. Growing up in the area, Caldwell views her return as a full-circle moment. With nearly 15 years of experience in development and donor relations, Caldwell holds degrees in history and Spanish from Kenyon College and a master's degree in international relations and women's studies from Old Dominion University.

 

Outside of work, she is an accomplished competitive swimmer. A Kenyon College All-American, Caldwell has achieved top-three world rankings in her age group, set a British age-group record in the 400 individual medley and competed at national-level events in England. Her next goal is completing the Chesapeake Bay Swim.

Naval Academy Athletics News and results

Former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Mitch Harrism '06, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, credits his military service with helping him succeed at the highest level of professional baseball. After serving five years on active duty in the U.S. Navy, including deployments aboard USS Ponce and USS Carr, Harris made his MLB debut with the Cardinals and became the first Naval Academy graduate to play in Major League Baseball since 1921. Harris said the discipline, attention to detail and sense of duty instilled during his time in the Navy directly translated to life in professional baseball. Now a wealth management advisor and family man, he remains active with the Cardinals through alumni events and continues to use his experiences in both the military and baseball to inspire others to pursue their goals.

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