11 September Daily Shipmate

Friday, 11 September 2026

Today, as the flags are lowered, as we listen to the National Anthem and as we remember where we were on that clear September morning, many of us will pause to recall the moments that changed our nation forever. We remember seeing smoke pour from the North Tower, watching the second plane strike the South Tower and witnessing both towers collapse, silencing the familiar sounds of New York City on an otherwise beautiful Tuesday morning. We remember hearing another plane had struck the Pentagon, just miles from our nation's capital, and wondering how Flight 93 had fallen from the sky into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, only to later learn 40 courageous passengers and crew members fought back against evil and saved countless lives.

 

As we mark the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, we dedicate this entire edition of The Daily Shipmate not only to the 14 alumni we lost that day, nor solely to the 2,977 victims of the attacks, but to every person whose life was forever altered by the events of that morning and the years that followed. Every story, remembrance and reflection in today's newsletter is connected to the legacy of 9/11, from the attacks themselves to their lasting impact on our nation and the world. May this edition serve as more than a source of news. May it stand as a tribute to the lives lost, the sacrifices made, the resilience shown and the enduring promise that we will never forget.

Each year, the U.S. Naval Academy community gathers in T-Court as Midshipmen place 2,977 American flags along Stribling Walk, honoring every life lost on 11 September 2001. This year, the tribute carried special meaning for the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation. Among those remembered were 14 Naval Academy alumni lost that day. To help tell their stories, the Alumni Association & Foundation created and produced commemorative displays featuring each alumnus, lining the walkway with faces and legacies that continue to inspire. Their presence served as a reminder not only of how they died, but of how they lived.

 

Twenty-five years may pass, but the memory of our fallen Naval Academy alumni endures. Today, we remember 14 graduates whose lives were cut short on 11 September 2001. They were classmates, friends, shipmates, leaders, husbands, fathers and public servants who answered the call to serve.

 

 

Their stories remain an enduring part of the Naval Academy community, and their legacy continues to inspire those who follow in their footsteps. Please join us in honoring their memory and learning more about the graduates we lost on that tragic day at the link below.

We speak their names, remember their service and carry their legacy forward.

 

Academy & Graduate happenings

In this issue of Shipmate, we focused on two things. First, finding and sharing the stories of Naval Academy alumni and their loved ones affected by the tragic events of 9/11. Second, we wanted to present these impactful stories on a new website that allows us to showcase our multi-media storytelling in addition to publishing them in the magazine.

 

“We spent the past nine months gathering stories of alumni lost on that fateful day along with those who served in the Global War on Terrorism,” said Shipmate Editor Jimmy DeButts. "Memories shared by loved ones of 9/11 victims were often heart-wrenching, but they were also inspiring. A lifetime of service and a steadfast commitment to doing what is right serve as a blueprint for future generations of midshipmen. For alumni who answered the call and stood watch during the Global War on Terror, their post-commissioning lives were shaped by their time at the Naval Academy. We honor their service and character-driven leadership on the battlefield.”

 

Additionally, this new website is part of a new shipmatemagazine.com, which we will launch in January 2027. As an additional feature to the immortal Shipmate magazine, shipmatemagazine.com will host more multimedia storytelling content, deliver that content in a timelier fashion and advance our storytelling abilities so we can better connect with the Alumni, Parent and Midshipmen audiences. We hope this 9/11 special remembrance helps keep the legacies alive of those who gave all and the warfighters who answered the call to serve.

 

To answer the President’s and Acting Secretary of the Navy’s call to revitalize American shipbuilding and strengthen the maritime industrial base, the U.S. Naval Academy is executing shipbuilding initiatives of its own. This summer, the Naval Academy selected five midshipmen to participate in its inaugural shipbuilding summer internship program that immersed rising first-class and second-class midshipmen in a multi-shipyard, multi-platform environment in both commercial shipyards and within Naval Sea Systems Command. Midshipmen not only gained exposure to the maritime industrial base and shipbuilding programs, but they also had the opportunity to conduct academic and operational research alongside experts in the field.

USS Annapolis holds change of command

Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Annapolis (SSN 760) held a change of command ceremony at Naval Base Guam, 3 September 2026, as CDR Clint Emrich ’06, USN, relinquished command to CDR Jordan Kelly, USN. RADM Jeff Juergens, USN, deputy director for Strategic Targeting at U.S. Strategic Command, served as the guest speaker. CAPT Christopher Carter, USN, commander, Submarine Squadron 15, presided over the ceremony. During his remarks, Juergens highlighted Annapolis’ role as a forward-deployed submarine and the operational advantage provided by maintaining combat-ready undersea forces in the Western Pacific. “Annapolis is forward-deployed to Guam and operates closer to the places that matter. When something happens out here, Annapolis is not deploying to respond. Annapolis is already there,” said Juergens. Emrich, a Cleveland native and 2006 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, will continue his service at Commander, Task Force 74, in Yokosuka, Japan.

 

The only photos of 9/11 from space came from a USNA graduate - witnessing 9/11 from space - ‘We’re not having a very good day here on Earth, Frank’

On 11 September 2001, CAPT Frank Culbertson Jr. ’71, USN, was in a place no other American was: aboard the International Space Station (ISS), orbiting more than 250 miles above Earth. As commander of Expedition 3, he became the only American not on the planet during the terrorist attacks and captured what are believed to be the only photographs and video of New York City from space as the tragedy unfolded. After learning of the attacks, Culbertson noticed the station was about to pass over the northeastern United States. “I zipped around the station until I found a window that would give me a view of NYC and grabbed the nearest camera,” he later wrote. Looking down, he saw a massive plume of smoke rising from Manhattan and described the experience as “horrible.” Later he would find out that plume was the World Trade Center's South Tower crumbling to the ground. Reflecting on the moment, he wrote, “It’s difficult to describe how it feels to be the only American completely off the planet at a time such as this. The feeling that I should be there with all of you, dealing with this, helping in some way, is overwhelming.” The images he captured remain among the most haunting and unique records of 9/11.

From the Podcast Fleet

We remember the 14 alumni who passed away on that fateful day, and Chris and John discuss how we are still touched and haunted by what 9/11 was and is. And we remember that day from several perspectives with a four-pack of interviews. VADM John Ryan ’67 recounts what it was like to lead the Academy as the Supe in the hours and weeks after the tragedy. Chris Hoffman ’96 was the Officer of the Watch that day on the yard. Chris lends his perspective on the leadership and logistical challenges of “standing the watch” that day. Ed Malinowski ’02 was a firstie and the Football team captain when the planes hit. Ed recounts how it impacted him and the football team during a particularly challenging season. And there was only one American not on earth on 9/11…Frank Culbertson ’71. Frank gives us his perspective on learning of the events from the space station and how it impacted him and his crew. That and more on the best Alumni Association & Foundation podcast in the land. Beat Army. Always.

Listen on

Government & Military News

The Department of Veterans Affairs will mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11 with volunteer events at more than 144 locations nationwide on Saturday, 12 September. The events, held in partnership with Carry The Load, will honor those killed in the attacks, as well as veterans and first responders who served and sacrificed in the years that followed. Beginning at 10 a.m., volunteers will participate in brief ceremonies before cleaning headstones and completing restoration projects at national cemeteries and other locations. The VA manages 157 national cemeteries and funds an additional 125 state, territorial and tribal veterans cemeteries. Supplies will be provided.

Twenty-five years after 9/11, veterans of America’s post-9/11 wars continue to reflect on what their service meant. Between 1.9 million and 3 million U.S. service members served in Afghanistan, Iraq and other related theaters, with more than 7,000 killed and more than 53,000 wounded in action. Navy Times shares the stories of three veterans who served in those wars and now view their experiences through a different lens. While each questions whether the wars accomplished their intended goals, they remain proud of the people they served alongside, the lives they touched and the values they carried with them.

Local, Education & other academy news

Approximately 200 Midshipmen will travel to New York City on 27 September to participate in the Tunnel to Towers 5K, honoring the first responders who gave their lives on 11 September 2001. Because many Midshipmen are funding the trip themselves, the NYC Naval Academy Parents Club is seeking host families in New York City and nearby areas for Friday, 25 September, Saturday, 26 September or both nights.

 

A spare bed, couch, air mattress or floor space can make a meaningful difference. Families with convenient access to the NYC Ferry or subway system are especially needed to help Midshipmen reach the race start in Red Hook, Brooklyn, early Sunday morning. Those interested in hosting are asked to provide their location, available accommodations and the number of Midshipmen they can host. Every bed helps support these Midshipmen as they represent the Naval Academy and honor the legacy of 9/11. If interested, reach out to Daniel Hickey P’30 at [email protected].

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