28 Feb Daily Shipmate

Friday, February 28, 2025

1942 - CAPT Joseph Murphy '09, USN (Ret.) was killed when the Qantas flying boat he was aboard was shot down by a Japanese bomber over the Java Sea while en route from Java to Broome, Australia. He was a naval observer to the Netherlands East Indies, and was aboard with the Consul-General for the Netherlands in Malaya and several of his staff and their families. The Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps of 1942 lists him as attaining the rank of Captain on August 17, 1928, of retiring on June 30, 1937, and of having 1 year, 7 months, 7 days of active service since retirement.

1945 - During the fighting on Iwo Jima, Japan, Pharmacist's Mate First Class John H. Willis, having sneaked back to the front lines after being wounded earlier, rushes to treat a wounded Marine in a shell hole while his platoon fights off a Japanese counterattack. While Willis administers aid, nine Japanese hand grenades are lobbed into the shell hole. The corpsman throws eight of them out, but the ninth one explodes in his hand, killing him. His actions inspire the men of his platoon to press forward. Willis is awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously.

ACADEMY & GRADUATE HAPPENINGS

Coverage of Michael Taylor's $15 million contribution in the Philanthropy News Digest improperly reported that the Fluegel Alumni Center will be renamed after Taylor. The event wing of the Fluegel Alumni Center will be named in his honor. The Center has become a vital gathering place for alumni, and this dedication further solidifies its role in fostering the enduring legacy of the Naval Academy community. Read the original release about Taylor's transformational gift below.

 The 17th President of Ohio State University, Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. '81, will see his favorite sport be played in historic Ohio Stadium for the first time in its 103-year history. Carter has always been a hockey fan and played the sport throughout his childhood in Rhode Island, going on to letter for four years at the United States Naval Academy. Graduating from Top Gun school before a decorated military career, he was even known as “Slapshot” in his military days. Now the university president has watched with a keen eye as the 'Shoe has transformed into an ice rink for Saturday's NHL Stadium Series game between the Blue Jackets and Red Wings. This will not be the first Stadium Series game Carter has been lucky enough to be a part of. When he was superintendent of the Naval Academy, the school hosted the 2018 Stadium Series game that saw the Washington Capitals defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs, 5-2, in front of nearly 30,000 fans at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

Michigan State's Tre Holloman hit a shot at the buzzer from some 65 feet from the hoop to give No. 8 Michigan State a 58-55 win over No. 16 Maryland, plus a half-game lead over Michigan atop the Big Ten. It was a sensational finish to a game that was high on intensity but low on artistry. Michigan State's top assistant is Doug Wojcik.  A 1987 graduate with a bachelor's degree in physical science, Wojcik was commissioned as a Naval Officer and attended Surface Warfare Officer School in Newport, R.I. He was assigned to the USS W.S. Sims in Mayport, Fla., where he served as First Division Deck and Engineering Boilers Officer for two years prior to beginning his coaching career. Wojcik's wife, Lael, is also a Naval Academy alumnae from the class of 1990. Wojcik is pictured with - among others - former Commandant Bill Byrne '87, former Navy players Matt Sladky '98 and Ryan Lookabill '98.

GOVERNMENT & MILITARY NEWS

The following are the Senate Armed Services Committee Advance Policy Questions for John Phelan, nominee to be Secretary of the Navy.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has temporarily suspended billions of dollars in planned contract cuts following concerns that the move would hurt critical veterans' health services, lawmakers and veterans service organizations said Wednesday. The VA said in a statement to the AP that its review of the contracts “is ongoing and not final.” “We will not be eliminating any benefits or services to Veterans or VA beneficiaries, and there will be no negative impact to VA health care, benefits or beneficiaries. We are always going to take care of Veterans at VA. Period,” VA press secretary Pete Kasperowicz said in a statement. One contract that was on the chopping block supports assessing veterans' disability ratings. Those evaluations are one of the most important steps needed for a veteran to qualify to have their medical care covered and receive financial compensation if they were wounded due to their military service. An inaccurate rating can have a long-term impact on their access to care and financial support.

 The Navy's culture of risk aversion is preventing the service from delivering new construction ships and performing repair work in a timely fashion, the president of the Shipbuilding Council of America told the House Armed Services Committee Wednesday. As a customer the Navy has become “more bureaucratic and more risk averse” in building ships, Matthew Paxton testified. Although Wednesday's hearing was devoted to broad defense industrial base issues, many of the members' questions centered on shipbuilding, repair and workforce, with a focus on last session's bipartisan-supported SHIPS bill to revitalize domestic commercial shipbuilding and the maritime sector. The bill will likely be re-introduced this spring.

The Pentagon revealed the specifics of its transgender troop policy in a court filing Wednesday that says any service member or recruit who has been diagnosed with or treated for gender dysphoria is disqualified from serving — unless they can prove they meet a specific warfighting need and adhere to severe restrictions on their day-to-day behavior. The memo effectively bans transgender members from openly serving, directing the military to identify service members who have a “current diagnosis or history of, or exhibit symptoms consistent with,” gender dysphoria within 30 days. It directs officials to then begin separation proceedings within another 30 days.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth traveled to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, yesterday, where he took time to speak to service members who are currently supporting the illegal alien holding operations being led by the Department of Homeland Security. This wasn't Hegseth's first visit to Cuba, as then-Army 2nd Lt. Hegseth was deployed to Guantanamo Bay from 2004 to 2005 with the New Jersey National Guard. "I was here 20 years ago … I've been where you are, for a year, [and] I relate to the dynamics — the push and pull — and the sway of an operation; I get it," Hegseth told the service members.

LOCAL, EDUCATION & OTHER ACADEMY NEWS

Every Friday, we'll feature two alumni of USNA - one serving in uniform and one serving in the civilian world.

Capt. Mathew Lewis graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2002, earning his Wings of Gold in Kingsville, Texas in December 2004. He received initial F/A-18C Hornet aircraft training at Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron (VMFAT) 101 at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar, California in 2005. His first operational assignment was with the “Sunliners” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 81, where he flew combat sorties in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68).  He also took part in the “Partnership of the Americas” deployment aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73).

Born and brought up in Annapolis, he is a 1981 graduate of USNA and served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense and as the Navy's Chief of Information. Following his 28-year Navy career, he has held senior corporate and not-for-profit marketing and leadership positions and recently stepped down as the President & CEO of the US Navy Memorial. He has served on multiple boards including Navy Federal Credit Union and Navy Mutual Aid Life Insurance and is currently a Trustee on the Naval Academy Foundation Athletic & Scholarship Program, a volunteer for the Naval Academy Command and Seamanship Training Squadron and serves on the Advisory Board of Project Recover. He recently announced his candidacy for Alderman in Annapolis Ward 8.

NAVAL ACADEMY ATHLETICS NEWS & RESULTS

Men's Swimming & Diving - ECAC Championship - Annapolis, Md. - 10 a.m. / 6 p.m.

Women's Swimming & Diving - ECAC Championship - Annapolis, Md. - 10 a.m. / 6 p.m.

Women's Tennis v Long Beach State - Annapolis, Md. - 1 p.m.

Baseball v Sacred Heart - Annapolis, Md. - 4 p.m.

Men's Squash v Western - Philadelphia, Pa. / Specter Center - 6 p.m.

 

Intercollegiate Sailing at Phebe Corckran King Women's Team Race - Charleston, S.C. - All Day

Intercollegiate Sailing - Navy Team Race Invitational =Annapolis, Md. - All Day

Intercollegiate Sailing - at Old Dominion Spring Women's Team Race - Norfolk, Va. - All Day

Intercollegiate Sailing - at DC Open Team Race - Washington, D.C. - All Day

Women's Triathlon vs Clermont Draft Legal - Clermont, Fla. - 8 a.m.

Rifle vs GARC Championship - Morgantown, W.Va. - 9 a.m.

Women's Tennis v Georgetown - Annapolis, Md. - 10 a.m.

Women's Swimming & Diving - ECAC Championship - Annapolis, Md. - 10 a.m. / 6 p.m.

Men's Swimming & Diving - ECAC Championship - Annapolis, Md. - 10 a.m. / 6 p.m.

Men's Track & Field vs Patriot League Championship - Annapolis, Md. - 11 a.m.

Women's Track & Field vs Patriot League Championship - Annapolis, Md. - 11 a.m.

Men's Lacrosse v Boston University - Annapolis, Md. - Noon

Women's Basketball at Loyola - Baltimore, Md. - Noon

Baseball v Sacred Heart - Annapolis, Md. - 1 p.m.

Men's Rugby at Penn State - University Park, PA - 1 p.m.

Women's Tennis v Morgan State - Annapolis, Md. - 2 p.m.

Men's Gymnastics v Springfield College - Annapolis, Md. - 2 p.m.

Men's Basketball v Loyola, Maryland - Annapolis, Md. - 4 p.m.

Men's Squash vs Colby or MIT - Philadelphia, Pa. / Specter Center - 6 p.m.

 

Intercollegiate Sailing at DC Open Team Race - Washington, D.C. - All Day

Intercollegiate Sailing at Old Dominion Spring Women's Team Race - Norfolk, Va. - All Day

Intercollegiate Sailing - Navy Team Race Invitational - Annapolis, Md. - All Day

Intercollegiate Sailing at Phebe Corckran King Women's Team Race - Charleston, S.C. - All Day

Women's Rugby at Frostbite 7's - Landisville, Pa. - TBA

Women's Triathlon vs Clermont Draft Legal - Clermont, Fla. - 8 a.m.

Men's Squash vs CSA Team Divisional Championship - Philadelphia, Pa. / Specter Center - TBA

Men's Swimming & Diving - ECAC Championship - Annapolis, Md. - 9 a.m. / 4 p.m.

Women's Swimming & Diving - ECAC Championship - Annapolis, Md. - 9 a.m. / 4 p.m.

Rifle vs GARC Championship - Morgantown, W.Va. - 9 a.m.

Women's Track & Field vs Patriot League Championship - Annapolis, Md. - 11 a.m.

Men's Track & Field vs Patriot League Championship - Annapolis, Md. - 11 a.m.

Women's Lacrosse v High Point - Annapolis, Md. - Noon

Men's Tennis v Delaware - Annapolis, Md. - 12:30 p.m.

Baseball v Sacred Heart - Annapolis, Md. - 1 p.m.

Men's Tennis at Colgate - Hamilton, N.Y. - 3:30 p.m.

USNA AND AA&F EVENTS

MARCH

7 Mar - A&SP Policy Review Committee Meeting - Fluegel(Bastian Conference Room)

7-16 Mar - USNA Spring Break

12-13 Mar - SACC Atlanta

13 Mar - Survivor Advocacy Network Trauma Survivor Webinar Series - Boundaries & Dealing with shame

17 Mar - SW Washington/Oregon + NAPC of Oregon Roadshow - Portland, OR

18 Mar - Hanford Tri-Cities Chapter + NAPC of Washington Roadshow - Richland, WA

19 Mar - Northwest ID Chapter + NAPC of Idaho Roadshow - Coeur d'Alene, ID

20 Mar - Southern ID Chapter + NAPC of Idaho Roadshow - Boise, ID

21 Mar -  A&SP Executive Committee Meeting - Fluegel (Bastian Conference Room)

22 Mar - Annual Gathering for USNA Women - Fluegel Alumni Center

22 Mar - Fencing (club) Alumni Meet - Dahlgren Hall

26 Mar - Alumni Mentoring Program (AMP) Class of 2025 enrollment

30-31 Mar - Volunteer Leader Summit - Fluegel Alumni Center

 

APRIL

5 Apr - Annapolis Cup - USNA-St. John's Croquet Match

5 Apr - Women's Lacrosse Alumni Appreciation Day (Home Game vs. Holy Cross)

10-12 Apr - Class of 1955 - 70th Reunion

11 Apr - Athletic & Scholarship Programs Spring Meeting - Akerson Tower

11-12 Apr - Men's Soccer Alumni Weekend

12 Apr - Navy Letterwinners Association Army/Navy Men's Lacrosse Tailgate

23 April - Bonds of Gold Ceremony

24 Apr - AA&F Vietnam Legacy of Valor Series Speaker Event - FAC

24-27 Apr - Class of 1970 - 55th Reunion

25 Apr - Council of Class Presidents Spring Meeting, Fluegel, TBD

25 Apr - USNA Dedication Parade, Worden Field

30 Apr - USNA Capstone Day

30 Apr - USNA Foundation Spring Board of Directors Welcome Reception

 

MAY

1 May - USNA Foundation Spring BOD meeting, Fluegel Alumni Center

6-8 May - Class of 1957 - 70th Reunion

7-9 May - USNA Alumni Association Spring BOT Meeting, Fluegel Alumni Center

8-9 May - SACC Washington DC

14 May - Class of 2028 Herndon Climb

21 May -  Blue Angels CFR Event - Hospital Point, USNA

22 May - Color Parade, Worden Field

22 May - USNA Prizes & Awards, Alumni Hall, 2 p.m.

23 May - Class of 2025 Naval Academy Graduation and Commissioning Ceremony, NMCMS

 

25 Jun - Athletic & Scholarship Program Pre-I Day Reception, Fluegel Alumni Center

26 Jun - USNA Induction Day, Class of 2029

 

17-18 Jul - Entrepreneur Summit, Fluegel Alumni Center

 

28-31 Aug - Class of 1960 - 65th Reunion

30 Aug -  Navy vs VMI, NMCMS, Annapolis, MD