7 Apr Daily Shipmate

Monday, April 7, 2025

1945 - Carrier aircraft of Task Force 58 attack the Japanese battleship Yamato, which steams for Okinawa, Japan, with a light cruiser and eight destroyers. A total of 386 carrier planes score repeated hits on the Japanese ships, sending Yamato, the light cruiser Yahagi, and four destroyers to the bottom of the East China Sea. Off Okinawa, Japan, Japanese suicide planes damage six ships, including the carrier Hancock (CV-19) and battleship Maryland (BB-46).

2003 - LTCOL William Watkins, III '89, USAF was killed in action when the F-15E Strike Eagle he was aboard crashed in Iraq. He was a naval flight officer for twelve years before transferring into the Air Force to be closer to his wife, an Air Force intelligence officer. Bill was also survived by his 11-month-old son and unborn child.

ACADEMY & GRADUATE HAPPENINGS

USNA AA&F recently recognized several chapters and parent clubs for their outstanding contributions to the alumni and parent communities. These groups embody the Alumni Association's four strategic pillars: Connect, Communicate, Support, and Anchor. The prestigious 2024 Distinguished Chapter Awards and Distinguished Parent Club Awards were announced at the annual Volunteer Leader Summit on March 31 at the Fluegel Alumni Center. The recognized chapters include Columbus, Hampton Roads, Las Vegas, and Tulsa, while the NAPC of North Texas and NAPC of Washington State were celebrated as model parent clubs. These affiliates have set a benchmark for excellence through their leadership, communication strategies, promotion of the USNA message, coordination with local organizations, and membership growth. 

 

Want to get involved in these Chapters and Parents Clubs?Connect with them on MyUSNA!! 

 

Columbus - https://myusna.com/topics/9503/home

Hampton Roads - https://myusna.com/topics/9519/home

Las Vegas - https://myusna.com/topics/9573/home

Tulsa - https://myusna.com/topics/9584/feed

NAPC of North Texas - https://myusna.com/topics/10006/home

NAPC of Washington - https://myusna.com/topics/10016/home

The U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation invites you to a powerful conversation honoring the service and sacrifice of Naval Academy alumni in Vietnam.

 

Moderator: ADM Robert Natter '67, USN (Ret.)
Date: Wednesday, 24 April
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Location: Fluegel Alumni Center

This roundtable is part of the Legacy of Valor: Vietnam Warseries and promises to be a meaningful opportunity to reflect, connect, and learn.

USNA Alumni Cost: $10
Register and login at  www.usna.com/event/lovvietnamrounddtable

Non-USNA Alumni Cost: $15
To register, e-mail John Schofield at [email protected]

To explore more from the Legacy of Valor: Vietnam Warseries, visit the Legacy of Valor Vietnam website.

A contingent of international military officers joined U.S. sailors Friday as command of the Navy's largest destroyer squadron passed to its deputy commodore. Capt. David Huljack relieved Capt. Justin Harts as commander of Destroyer Squadron 15 and Task Force 71 during a ceremony on the flight deck of the guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn. As the new task force commodore, Huljack is expected to coordinate approximately 3,000 sailors and 10 Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers that are the primary battle force in the Indo-Pacific for the U.S. 7th Fleet. Huljack, of Stockton, N.J., most recently served as deputy commodore but has served aboard numerous surface warships and commanded the guided-missile destroyer USS Barry while it was homeported at Yokosuka. He graduated with a bachelor's in history from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2000.

The U.S. Naval Academy released the list of nearly 400 pieces of literature removed from its library that explored themes of white supremacy, race and racism in America, gender identity and sexuality and diversity. The book removals follow executive orders from the Trump administration. Titles from prominent Black politicians Stacey Abrams and Bakari Sellers, literary luminary Maya Angelou, activists Ibram X. Kendi and Tamika D. Mallory and a host of historians and academicians were among the removed books.

The US Naval Academy has returned photos and memorabilia of Jewish women after they were “mistakenly removed” from a display to apparently comply with diversity, equity, and inclusion directives from the Pentagon. A Navy spokesperson told CNN that “photos and items of distinguished leaders and graduates were mistakenly removed from the US Naval Academy Commodore Uriah P. Levy Center.” “Naval Academy leadership took immediate steps to correct the unauthorized removal and all items were restored to display cases within the center on April 1,” the spokesperson said. The removal of the Jewish Women of the Naval Academy display occurred just days before Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the academy on Tuesday, and spoke with midshipmen and met with Superintendent Vice Adm. Yvette Davids.

GOVERNMENT & MILITARY NEWS

Defense Health Agency officials are examining military treatment facilities across the military medical system, facility by facility, to determine their fate — which could include closing some facilities or downgrading some hospitals to clinics. The process is in the “pre-decisional” stage, said DHA officials, speaking during a panel discussion at the Association of Defense Communities National Summit in Arlington, Virginia, on Monday. “We have to match our resources against the mission set that we have,” said Dr. Michael Malanoski, DHA's deputy director. “There will be some changes in services across the system,” he said. The process of evaluating the military treatment facilities started “many, many moons ago,” he added.

The Pentagon, the Navy, the aerospace industry, and much of the world closely watch the US Navy's ongoing source selection for the 6th-Gen F/A-XX carrier-launched fighter. Due to the program's secrecy, little information is available. It was supposed to occur days ago according to some solid reporting. So why the delay? Weapons developers, the defense community, and the public anticipate the expected announcement, and some might wonder why the decision is taking so long. The program is expected to move into Milestone B and transition to the well-known Engineering, Manufacturing, and Design (EMD) phase at some point this year, and only Boeing and Northrop Grumman remain alive in the competition.

“Here we go!” the air crew chief yells, waving his hands back and forth to grab the attention of the two dozen reporters and sailors sitting in the cabin of this US Navy C-2A Greyhound transport aircraft as it comes in for a landing. Moments later, everyone is pinned to the back of their seats as the tailhook on the Greyhound catches one of the flight deck's wires upon landing and, through the power of electromagnetism, the plane comes to a dead stop in a matter of seconds. As the reporters exhale and the plane's aft door opens, it reveals the deck of an aircraft carrier where numerous sleek F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets come into view, surrounded by sailors wearing their iconic, brightly colored jerseys. When the Greyhound finishes taxiing, its passengers follow a sailor sporting a white jersey — signifying personnel responsible for safety — off the flight deck.

When NASA's Orion spacecraft shoots back into Earth's atmosphere, after a visit around the moon next year, one of the Navy's warships will race to intercept the module carrying the four-member crew. That responsibility – if all goes as planned in April 2026 for the 10-day mission – will fall to USS Somerset (LPD-25). Somerset over the weekend wrapped up a week-long Underway Recovery Training 12, which was the first where the Navy practiced the recovery effort with four NASA astronauts, several who are backups for the Artemis II crew that will do the moon orbit flight. Four astronauts are training for the Artemis II mission set to launch next April for a 10-day trip that includes one orbit of the moon. “Somerset is proud to have the opportunity to help carry on that legacy,” Capt. Andrew “Andy” Koy '01, the ship's commander, said Monday during a press conference aboard the amphibious ship berthed at the naval base along San Diego Bay.

LOCAL, EDUCATION & OTHER ACADEMY NEWS

CAPT Andrew “Andy” Koy, Sr. hails from Bellville, Texas. He is a 2001 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, earning a bachelor's degree in computer science. He is also a 2002 graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA, earning a master's in information systems and operations.

Jenn is a member of the Planned Giving team. In her role, she cultivates and manages relationships with donors who wish to support the Naval Academy through estate gifts and other planned giving vehicles while also stewarding our current Robert Means Thompson Society (RMTS) legacy members. Additionally, she collaborates with our regional development team, supports planned giving marketing initiatives and ensures the accurate documentation and reporting of planned gifts to honor donors' intentions.

Since 1996, M.LaHart & Company has been committed to offering students, graduates, alumni, and their families the finest quality products to honor their proud university affiliations. We believe that only gifts of the highest integrity can faithfully uphold the traditions of America's finest institutions. This straightforward commitment, matched with white-glove service, has made M.LaHart & Company one of the fastest growing and most respected businesses in the collegiate market.

NAVAL ACADEMY ATHLETICS NEWS & RESULTS

The second-ranked Navy men's rugby team (15-1) dominated both sides of the ball to defeat No. 15 Penn State (4-9) 45-7 in the first round of the Collegiate Rugby Association of America (CRAA) Division I-A Playoffs on Saturday at the Prusmack Rugby Center. "Our defense was outstanding for 78 minutes and set the tone for the match. The offense moved the ball well with great passing that in turn led to tries," said Navy Director of Rugby Gavin Hickie. Navy will play host to Lindenwood next Saturday (12:00 pm) at the Prusmack Rugby Center in the second round of the CRAA Playoff.

Army Leads 12-11. (Navy -Men's & Women's T&F, Baseball, Men's Basketball, Men's Rugby, Men's Cross Country, Football, Gymnastics, Rifle, Men's Indoor Track & Field, Women's Indoor Track & Field; Army - Women's Tennis, Women's Basketball, Wrestling, Volleyball, Sprint Football, Golf, Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer, Women's Cross Country, W Rugby, Men's Swim and Dive, Women's Swim and Dive)

 

12 Apr - M. Lacrosse - Annapolis - 12:30 p.m.

12 Apr - Men's Tennis - West Point - 1 p.m.

12 Apr - W. Lacrosse - West Point - 2:30 p.m.

Today's Matchup

Women's Golf at Terps Invitational - College Park, Md. - 8:30 a.m. 

Weekend Results

Men's Tennis at Bucknell - W 4-2

Men's Lacrosse vs Lafayette - W 14-8

 

Men's Heavyweight Rowing at Princeton - L

Men's Track & Field vs Army - Star Meet - W 104-99

Women's Track & Field vs Army - Star Meet - W 107 - 96

Women's Tennis at Army - L 4-1

Men's Tennis vs Norfolk State - L 4-3

Women's Lacrosse v Holy Cross - W 19-8

Men's Rugby vs No. 15 Penn State - W 45 - 7

Baseball vs Lafayette - L 11-5

Baseball vs Lafayette - W 4-0

Men's Gymnastics at ECAC Championship - 2nd Place

 

Men's Golf at Augusta Haskins Award Invitational - 15th of 15 teams

Women's Golf at Terps Invitational - 10th of 14 teams

Men's Tennis at Holy Cross - W 4-0

Men's Tennis vs Longwood - W 4-3

Baseball vs Lehigh - W 5-3

Baseball vs Lehigh - L 7-4

USNA AND AA&F EVENTS

APRIL

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 - Navy Lax Old Goat Career Conference Happy Hour - Forward Brewing - Annapolis

11 Apr - Council for Annual Giving Meeting - Fluegel Alumni Center

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

12 Apr - NAAA Sale of the Century

17 Apr - Visit Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Networking event - Fluegel - 4 p.m.

19 Apr - Women's Crew vs Georgetown on the Severn. Finish visible from Hospital Point.

21-27 Apr - Huntsville, Alabama Navy Week

23 Apr - Bonds of Gold Ceremony Class of 1977 and Class of 2027 - Mahan Hall

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

27 Apr - Frogman Swim to benefit the SEAL Foundation - Severn River

29 Apr - Erik Kristensen Memorial Lecture - St. John's College

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

12-18 May - Richmond, VA Navy Week

14 May - Class of 2028 Herndon Climb

16-18 May - USA Warriors Sled Hockey Event

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

 

16-22 Jun - Anchorage, Alaska Navy Week

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

30 Jun-6 Jul - Duluth, Minnesota Navy Week

 

4-10 Aug - Sioux Falls, South Dakota Navy Week

18-24 Aug - Columbus, Ohio Navy Week

21-22 Aug - SACC San Diego

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

25-31 Aug - Springfield, Missouri Navy Week

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

28 Aug - Navy Football Brotherhood Weekend Kickoff Dinner w/ Football Coaching Staff

29 Aug - Navy Football Brotherhood Fallen Brothers Golf Classic & Evening Social

30 Aug - Navy Football Brotherhood Weekend Tailgater, NMCMS

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

 

4 Sep - Distinguished Graduate Award (DGA) Medal Ceremony - 4:30pm - Alumni Hall

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

13 Sep - Navy Football vs Tulsa, Tulsa, OK.

14 Sep - Annapolis Travis Manion 9/11 Heroes Run

15-21 Sep - Wichita Falls, Texas Navy Week

18-19 Sep - McMullen Naval History Symposium - USNA

22-28 Sep - Hartford, CT Navy Week

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

10 Oct - USNA Founder's Day

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

13 Oct - U.S. Navy Birthday

13 Oct - Surface Navy Museum Grand Opening - Battleship Iowa - Los Angeles

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

25-31 - Eugene, Oregon Navy Week

 

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

10 Nov - Marine Corps Birthday

10-16  Nov - Santa Fe, New Mexico Navy Week.

14 Nov - Athletic & Scholarship Fall Board Meeting, Navy/Marine Corps Stadium

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

19-20 Nov - SACC Chicago

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