19 Mar Daily Shipmate

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

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1945 - CAPT Arnold Isbell '21, USN was killed in action when USS Franklin (CV 13) was heavily damaged by a Japanese bomber. He was aboard as a passenger, en route to take command of USS Yorktown (CV 10). He had a distinguished career, including command of a task force in the Atlantic that destroyed eight German U-boats in less than three months. A destroyer was named for him (DD 869), as is the Captain Arnold Jay Isbell Trophy for the squadron that demonstrates outstanding performance in anti-submarine warfare.

2003 - In a speech from the Oval Office, President George W. Bush informed the American people and the world that coalition forces had begun striking “selected targets of military importance to undermine Saddam Hussein's ability to wage war.” The first strike consisted of 42 Tomahawk missiles fired from U.S. Navy ships and submarines at a target in which Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, his two sons, and other government officials were believed to be located.

ACADEMY & GRADUATE HAPPENINGS

Three Service Academy Women in Space - Captain (ret.) Sunita Williams, US Naval Academy (1987), Colonel Anne McClain, US Military Academy (2002) & Major Nichole Ayers, US Air Force Academy (2011).

Two long-delayed Starliner astronauts, Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita Williams, returned to Earth aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule Tuesday to finally close out a repeatedly extended 286-day odyssey in space. They shared the ride home with two outgoing space station crewmates, Crew 9 commander Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov. Seventeen hours after undocking from the International Space Station, the Crew Dragon settled to a gentle, on-target splashdown off Florida's Gulf Coast near Tallahassee at 5:57 p.m. EDT.

Air Force Maj. Nichole Ayers successfully completed her next mission: space. Ayers, who completed two years of initial astronaut training in 2024, is the pilot for NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 mission to bring back a pair of NASA astronauts who have been on the International Space Station since June 2024. The spacecraft autonomously docked to the space station March 15, 2025, after approximately 28.5 hours of travel at 17,000 mph in orbit around Earth. The crew will undock and return to Kennedy Space Center in Florida tomorrow.  The Colorado native graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 2011 with a bachelor's degree in mathematics.

President Donald Trump announced in a post on Truth Social that newly elected Montana U.S. Sen. Tim Sheehy '08 will be appointed to the United States Naval Academy board. The board will consist of former White House press secretary Sean Spicer, Walt Nauta, U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson, U.S. Rep. Van Orden and U.S. Sen. Tim Sheehy. Sheehy said in a statement on X that he's ready to "deliver and lead with the highest ideals of duty, honor and loyalty."

Former NASA administrator, astronaut and U.S. Marine Maj. Gen. Charles Bolden Jr. '68 will deliver The Ohio State University's spring commencement address. The ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 4, at noon in Ohio Stadium. Approximately 12,000 diplomas will be issued. Appointed NASA's 12th administrator, Bolden served the space agency from 2009 to 2017. As administrator, Bolden led a nationwide NASA team to advance the missions and goals of the U.S. space program. “It's an honor and privilege for Ohio State to have the opportunity to welcome Maj. Gen. Charles Bolden to our campus to share his lessons on life and leadership with our spring graduates,” said President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. '81 “Maj. Gen. Bolden is an exceptional leader who has dedicated his life to serving our country. In every role throughout his distinguished career, he has elevated the United States' safety, security and prosperity.”

GOVERNMENT & MILITARY NEWS

The U.S. military has struck more than 30 targets in Yemen since Saturday, part of the Trump administration's new campaign of airstrikes targeting Iran-backed Houthi rebels, a terrorist group that has halted international shipping for more than a year. The initial salvo, which began Saturday, targeted sites used to train militants, launch drones, build weapons and command operations, including some housing Houthi leadership, said Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, the Joint Staff's director for operations, in a Monday briefing.

Officials at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center confirmed they will receive one of two $4.9 million grants from the Department of Defense to fund a study of MDMA, the active ingredient in the street drug known as ecstasy, according to emails shared with Military Times. The psychedelic drug will be given to active-duty Army personnel with mild to moderate post-traumatic stress disorder to study the psychological flexibility patients experience as a potential mechanism of MDMA's therapeutic effect.

LOCAL, EDUCATION & OTHER ACADEMY NEWS

To conduct oversight and receive testimony on the status of the Military Service Academies, the SASC Subcommittee on Personnel will hold a hearing Wednesday, March 26th, 2025 at 2:30pm EDT in Room SR-222 of the Russell Senate Office Building. Witnesses will be Lieutenant General Steven W. Gilland, USA, Superintendent of the United States Military Academy, Vice Admiral Yvette M. Davids, USN, Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy and Lieutenant General Tony D. Bauernfeind, USAF, Superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy.

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U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday named Michael Flynn, his former national security adviser, to be on the board of visitors for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Trump, on his Truth Social platform, also announced that Maureen Bannon, daughter of his former adviser Steve Bannon, would be on the board. While the roles are largely ceremonial, it puts Flynn in a position where he can at least discuss issues like curriculum, discipline and academic methods at the elite military academy.

NAVAL ACADEMY ATHLETICS NEWS & RESULTS

The Old Dominion women's basketball team hosts Navy in the first round of the 2025 Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) on Saturday, March 22 at 2 p.m., the WNIT announced on Monday. ODU has a 17-15 overall record and last played in the fourth round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, falling to Georgia State, 65-62. Old Dominion has played Navy once before in the 2014 WNIT, with the Monarchs prevailing 68-60 over the Mids.

Yesterday's Results

Baseball v Dartmouth - W 13-1

Men's Lacrosse v Le Moyne - W 8-5

USNA AND AA&F EVENTS

MARCH

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 Alumni Center

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

3 Apr - Pete Medhurst Remembrance Event - Fluegel Alumni Center - 5-8 p.m.

4 Apr - Annapolis Cup Social - Cannon Shot Documentary screening - Fluegel Alumni Center

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

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

6 Apr - Boston Chapter + NAPC of New England Roadshow - Cambridge, MA

7 Apr - Connecticut Chapter + NAPC of Connecticut Roadshow - Norwalk, CT

8 Apr - Rhode Island Chapter + NAPC of New England Roadshow - Providence, RI

9 Apr - Maine Chapter + NAPC of New England Roadshow - Portland, ME

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 - Fluegel Alumni Center

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

26 May - Run to Honor - Reading the names of the fallen alumni heroes in Memorial Hall

26 May - Run to Honor Nationwide Walk/Runs

 

17-18 Jun - Entrepreneur Summit, Fluegel Alumni Center

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

26 Jun - USNA Induction Day, Class of 2029

 

22 Aug - Friends of Navy Sailing Starting Gun Reception: Severn Sailing Association - 6 p.m.

23 Aug - Friends of Navy Sailing Supe brief, race and Sail Navy Banquet

24 Aug - Annapolis 10 Miler - Run to Honor is a charity partner

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

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

 

6 Sep - Navy Football vs University of Alabama Birmingham, NMCMS, Annapolis, MD

13 Sep - Navy Football vs Tulsa, NMCMS, Annapolis, MD

27 Sep - Navy Football vs Rice, NMCMS, Annapolis, MD

 

2 Oct - Presidents Circle Welcome Reception, Fluegel

2-4 Oct - Presidents Circle Weekend

2-5 Oct - Class of 1990 – 35th Reunion

2-5 Oct - Class of 1995 – 30 Reunion

4 Oct - Navy Football vs Air Force, NMCMS, Annapolis, MD

11 Oct - Navy Football @ Temple, Lincoln Financial Stadium, Philadelphia, PA

14 Oct - Athletic & Scholarship Fall Board Meeting, Fluegel - TBD

23-26 Oct - Class of 1965 - 60th Reunion

23-26 Oct - Class of 1975 – 50th Reunion

25 Oct - Navy Football vs Florida Atlantic, NMCMS, Annapolis, MD

25 Oct - United States Naval Academy Homecoming

25 Oct - Welcome Home Event, Fluegel Alumni Center

 

1 Nov - Navy Football @ University of North Texas, DATCU Stadium, Denton, TX

5-6 Nov - US Naval Academy Foundation Fall Board of Directors Reception/Meeting

8 Nov - Navy Football @ Notre Dame, Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN

14 Nov - Fall A&SP Trustee Meeting - Annapolis

15 Nov - Navy Football vs University of South Florida, NMCMS, Annapolis, MD

17 Nov - Council of Class Presidents, (Fall COCP Meeting), Fluegel

18-19 Nov - US Naval Academy Alumni Association Board of Trustee Fall Meeting, Fluegel

27 Nov - Navy Football @ University of Memphis, Liberty Bowl, Memphis, TN

 

5/6 Dec - American Athletic Conference Football Championship Game, TBD

6 Dec - Distinguished Graduate Selection Committee Meeting, Fluegel, TBD

13 Dec - Army – Navy, M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD