4 November Daily Shipmate

Wednesday, 4 November 2026

The road to Army-Navy starts in Annapolis. Gather with family and friends for one more football weekend before the season's biggest game. Stay at Fair Winds, in the heart of DTA and just steps from the Yard. Proudly owned by two USNA alumni.

Chart your stay at FairWindsDTA.com or on Airbnb.

today in u.s. navy and marine corps history

1898—A Marine detachment from the cruisers Baltimore (Cruiser No. 3), Raleigh (Cruiser No. 8) and Boston goes ashore in Peking, China, to establish a U.S. Legation Guard in the city.

 

1903—A renewed rebellion in Panama in the wake of the failed Hay-Herrán Treaty providing the United States the right to construct and control a canal across the Isthmus of Panama prompts the gunboat Nashville (Gunboat No. 7) to take action against Colombian forces on 4 November. Arriving at Colón on the Atlantic coast, Nashville’s skipper, Commander John Hubbard, USN, Class of 1866, puts ashore a landing party and takes control of the Panama Railroad, thus denying rail transport to a sizeable Colombian military force preparing to travel to Panama City in order to crush the rebellion. The following day, two companies of Marines go ashore at Colón from the transport Dixie and, on 6 November, the United States recognizes the independence of Panama. (4–6 November).

1955 - LCDR John Horn '45, USN, was lost when the aircraft he was aboard crashed off the coast of Miami, FL. He was operations officer of Fighter Squadron (VF) 13 and was flying from USS Bennington. A native of Dadeville, AL, he was usually found “eating or sleeping, as it seemed that he never got enough of either.” At the Naval Academy he was at various times a member of the Glee Club, Model Club, Photographic Club, Radio Club and Boat Club. Horn graduated from the Gulf Coast Military Academy and attended Marion Military Institute for one year. He was survived by his wife, daughter, two brothers and a sister. His father died when he was two years old and his mother died when he was eight years old.

 

1979—Spurred by the Muslim fundamentalist revolution sweeping Iran, a mob of “students” storms the gates of the U.S. embassy in Tehran, taking 66 Americans hostage, including three active-duty Navy personnel. On 19-20 November the Iranians release 13 hostages. The action in Iran spreads to surrounding areas, with a mob killing two American servicemen and burning the embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, on 21 November.
Post report on the hostage crisis by ADM James L. Holloway III '43, USN (Ret.)

 

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.

In Memoriam from usna memorial hall

1983—Maj David Buell ’69, USMC

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

Academy & Graduate happenings

Beat Army with USNA AA&F! Registration is now open for our Beat Army Alumni Tailgate and bus transportation from Annapolis. Join us at Dream360 in the American Dream mall for drinks, hibachi and tailgate favorites and plenty of Navy spirit before kickoff. Register now and get ready to gather with fellow alumni and fans as we gear up to cheer on Navy in the ultimate rivalry matchup against Army.

 

Tailgate: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. ET | 12 December 2026
Bus from Annapolis: Departs Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium at 6:30 a.m. ET

 

Tailgate registration closes at noon ET on 30 November or when sold out. Refunds will not be issued after this time. Bus registration closes at capacity.

 

Questions? Email [email protected]

For the second-consecutive year, the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation's communications team is proud to announce its Legacy of Valor series earned a prestigious CASE Best of District II Award. The Legacy of Valor: Vietnam War series featured 27 stories, five videos and a dedicated website to share stories of courage and sacrifice of Naval Academy alumni. This series was featured in each of Shipmate’s six issues in 2025 following a year’s worth of interviews of more than 40 alumni who served in the Vietnam War. Stories were also featured in the Daily Shipmate morning newsletter and USNA AA&F's video and social media channels. The series aimed to preserve the legacy of Vietnam-era veterans for future generations.

The U.S. Naval Academy Foundation is proud to announce that it has recently named four accomplished alumni to its Board of Directors: James M. “Jim” Kelly ’77, Stephen J. Leaman ’69, Samit Varma ’98 and VADM James M. “Jim” Zortman ’73, USN (Ret.). The new members bring additional private-sector leadership, military experience and philanthropic perspective to the Foundation’s governing body.

From the Podcast Fleet

We've reached November here at Sing Second. Does that mean we're growing mustaches and hankering for turkey already? No. It means we're bringing more great interviews and alumnus perspectives as we inch closer to the Army-Navy Game. Unfortunately for Navy football, Army-Navy will likely be their last game of the season after Notre Dame delivered a sound beat down to our favorite midshipmen this past weekend up in Boston, MA. Chris and John break that down, as well as the updates from both our soccer teams. We also chat about the upcoming weekend with USNA reunions (2011. 2016, 2021!) and Honor our Fallen Heroes ... a truly special ceremony that we think sets USNA apart. I'll tell you who is set apart ... our alumni entrepreneurs. And we're thrilled this week to bring in Waypoint Ventures' Jeff Walker '97 and Billy Hurley III '04. They make up 2/3 of an amazing group of founders - Jeff Chapman '97 is also a founder - that goes out and invests in service academy alums trying to make it in the entrepreneur space and beyond. At Waypoint Ventures, they act as an intermediary step, a waypoint, for startup companies, providing capital and strategic guidance to ensure they are on the proper path to their final destination. An amazing conversation with two friends of the Pod and the Naval Academy. That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast in the land. Beat Army. Always.

Listen on

Government & Military News

These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of 2 November, based on Navy and public data. In cases in which a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship.

SS United States to become World’s Largest Artificial Reef

The historic SS United States is scheduled to be deployed in the Gulf of Mexico on 12 November, about 22 nautical miles southwest of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, FL, where it will become the world’s largest artificial reef. The 990-foot ocean liner entered service in 1952 and set a transatlantic speed record on its maiden voyage that still stands. After decades docked in Philadelphia, PA, the ship has undergone remediation and preparation in Mobile, AL, since March 2025. A public sendoff is planned for 11 November, with the sinking scheduled for the following day, weather permitting.

The U.S. Navy is developing a Man Overboard Detection System designed to automatically identify when someone falls overboard and immediately alert the ship’s crew. Developed by Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme, the system uses thermal cameras and video analytics to monitor ship perimeters continuously, including at night and in poor visibility. An August 2026 demonstration successfully detected a simulated person overboard using a rescue dummy and four thermal cameras. However, the system still requires additional testing, funding, full-ship coverage, and integration with bridge alarms. The Navy hopes to test it aboard an operational destroyer before considering fleet-wide implementation.

Local, Education & other academy news

56 NASA astronauts graduated from the Naval Academy — here's why

The U.S. Naval Academy has produced 56 NASA astronauts, more than any other college or university. This remarkable connection stems from the Academy's emphasis on engineering, aviation, leadership, and technical problem-solving. Graduates often gain experience as Navy pilots, test pilots, engineers, and military officers—skills that translate directly to the demands of spaceflight. Beginning with Alan Shepard, the first American in space, Naval Academy alumni have contributed to nearly every era of American human space exploration, including Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, the Space Shuttle, and the International Space Station. The Academy continues to provide a strong pathway into America's astronaut corps.

 

The Naval Academy’s connection to space goes well beyond the 56 graduates who became NASA astronauts. Dive deeper into that legacy with Voice from Orbit and hear more about the Navy alumni who helped shape American human spaceflight.

Our Research Team is beginning its search for an Assistant Director, Research & Portfolio Management, a full-time, exempt position. It could be you. Learn more at the link below.

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