13 May Daily Shipmate

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

1804 - The King of Naples agreed to lend Commodore Edward Preble six gunboats and two mortar vessels for use in operations against Tripoli.

 

1862 - With the captain of the tug Planter ashore in Charleston, South Carolina, an entirely African American crew led by Robert Smalls seized it, steamed past Confederate batteries and forts saluting with its whistle, and then turned it over to Onward, a Union ship operating as part of the blockade off the city.

 

1908 - The U.S. Navy Nurse Corps was established. Called the “Sacred Twenty,” the initial nurses were the first women to formally serve in the Navy.

1969 - 2LT Theodore Vivilacqua '68, USMC was killed in action with North Vietnamese forces. He had only arrived in Vietnam in March; he was a platoon commander of Company H, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines. He was a native of Los Angeles, California, and was survived by his mother and a brother.

ACADEMY & GRADUATE HAPPENINGS

Over the last six weeks, many concerned alumni have contacted me about the removal of books from Nimitz library. I am grateful for our engaged alumni who clearly care deeply for our alma mater. The Alumni Association and Foundation does not take policy positions. In keeping with our non-profit charter, as well as our Enterprise mission to connect and support our Alumni and the U.S. Naval Academy community, we carefully avoid entering political discussion. I would like to help clarify two topics, however: What happened regarding the books in Nimitz? And what's happening now?

The Herndon Monument Climb is the traditional culmination of Plebe Year at the Naval Academy. Demonstrating the teamwork and perseverance they have learned during their first year at the academy, the Plebes build a human pyramid to remove the “dixie cup” hat at the top of the vegetable shortening-covered monument and replace it with an upperclassman's hat. After successfully completing the Herndon Climb, the freshmen are no longer called Plebes but “Fourth Class Midshipmen.”

 

 

- Height: 21 feet

- Covered with approximately 200 pounds of vegetable shortening applied to the monument by the Midshipmen of the 1st Company.

- First recorded time: Class of 1962 - 12 minutes

- Fastest time: Class of 1972 - 1 minute, 30 seconds (no grease)

- Longest time: Class of 1998 - 4:05:17 (dixie cup glued and taped)

 

The “Iron Company” at Sea Trials has the privilege of leading the Plebes as they rush the monument. The “Iron Company” is the top company finishing Sea Trials, demonstrating stellar unit performance by showing endurance and spirit during the fourteen-hour event.

 

History: The Herndon Monument is named for Commander William Lewis Herndon, 1813-1857, who possessed the qualities of discipline, teamwork and courage. In command of the SS Central America and home-bound with gold-seekers from California, the ship encountered a three-day hurricane off the coast of North Carolina. Herndon went down with his ship after a gallant effort to save it, its sailors and its passengers. A monument was erected on the Yard in his honor shortly after his death.

The U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association Engagement Roadshow is heading your way — and you won't want to miss it! Join us for an evening filled with networking, camaraderie, and Navy pride as you connect with fellow alumni and parents. This is your chance to hear firsthand from Jeff Webb '95, President and CEO of the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation, and others from the AA&F leadership team. They'll be sharing exciting updates on new programs and initiatives designed to support our alumni and parent communities. Most importantly, they're eager to hear from YOU about how the Alumni Association can better support our chapters, parent clubs, and all alumni.Don't miss this incredible opportunity to engage, learn, and celebrate what it means to be part of the Naval Academy family. Location: Alpha Charlie Tap & Tavern - 6631 S Peoria St Suite 100, Centennial, CO 80111. Starts at 5:30 p.m. MDT.

Notre Dame Football has announced game times and broadcast information for its 2025 home slate. Notre Dame will host Navy in the 98th playing of the famed rivalry on Nov. 8. The game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC. It will mark the first time Notre Dame and Navy have met in a night game at Notre Dame Stadium. Navy last beat Notre Dame in 2016 when the Mids won in Jacksonville by a score of 28-27.  Navy last won in South Bend in 2009, knocking off the Irish 23-21.  Navy won three of the four contests from 2007-10.

GOVERNMENT & MILITARY NEWS

Congressional budget hearings continue this week with a focus from appropriators on the military's operations at sea. On Wednesday afternoon, the House Appropriations Committee's defense panel will discuss force needs and challenges with the heads of the Navy and Marine Corps. At the same time, Acting Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Kevin Lunda will testify before a separate subcommittee on his service's operations. Both sets of testimony come as lawmakers craft their response to President Donald Trump's budget plan for fiscal 2026. That outline calls for roughly $1 trillion in defense spending, but more than $100 billion of the total would come from one-time funds provided through the reconciliation process.

Thousands of beneficiaries are finding out they are being disenrolled from Tricare health care coverage in the West Region because they didn't set up recurring payments by an April 30 deadline. “We anticipate the total being approximately 30,000 beneficiaries” who will be disenrolled in the process that is currently under way, TriWest officials said in a statement to Military Times. Those who want to reinstate their coverage must do so by June 30. This applies to beneficiaries who pay for their Tricare coverage using a credit card, debit card or bank electronic funds transfer and haven't set up those payments with TriWest.

These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy's deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of May 12, 2025, 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.

LOCAL, EDUCATION & OTHER ACADEMY NEWS

Welcome to the CavasShips Podcast with Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello '99 … a weekly podcast looking at naval and maritime events and issues of the day – in the US, across the seas and around the world. This week … Modern Day Marine in DC, Special Operations Force week in Tampa. Analyst Byron Callan walks us through Modern Day Marine, while Servello teams up with Jason Salata '94 in Tampa to talk SOF.

On Wednesday, 14 May, the U.S. Naval Institute will host “Correcting Course: Revitalizing the Shipbuilding Industry to Meet Strategic Demands.” This discussion will bring together key leaders who will share their insights on how we arrived at this critical inflection point, the urgent need to revitalize the maritime industrial base and its workforce, and what must be done to preserve the strength and resilience of the United States as a maritime nation. Our expert panel, moderated by The Hon. Sean Stackley '79, Former Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition, will feature:

 

• Martin Bollinger, Executive Lecturer, Darden Business School; Retired Defense Industry Consultant

• VADM Tom Moore '81, USN (Ret.), Vice President, Customer Affairs, HII

• ADM John Richardson '82, USN (Ret.), Former Chief of Naval Operations  (2015-19)

We hope you will be able to join us, and if you can't make the whole program, please come for the reception at 6 p.m. 

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is set to give the keynote address during graduation ceremonies at the Coast Guard Academy in New London May 21. The ceremonies for the 144th Commencement are expected to begin at 11 a.m. on Cadet Memorial Field and are not open to the public, according to the U.S. Coast Guard's website. If needed due to inclement weather, they will be held in Leamy Hall Auditorium with limited seating.

USNA AND AA&F EVENTS

MAY

12-18 May - Richmond, VA Navy Week

14 May - Class of 2028 Herndon Climb

14 May - Shellback and Youngster cookout for '27

14 May - U.S. Naval Institute “Correcting Course: Revitalizing the Shipbuilding Industry to Meet Strategic Demands” Speaker Panel - Jack C. Taylor Conference Center - 4:45 p.m.

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

28 May - Debut of the new usna.com

 

JUNE

2 Jun - Colorado Chapter & NAPC of CO & WY Roadshow - Alpha Charlie's Tap & Tavern - 5:30 p.m.

10 Jun - Trauma Survivor Webinar. 7-9pm ET.

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

 

AUGUST

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

7 Aug - Class of 2029 Plebe Parent Mixer, Fluegel

18 Aug - USNA Classes begin

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

28-31 Aug - Class of 2010 15th Reunion

28-31 Aug - Class of 1960 65th Reunion

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

 

SEPTEMBER

4 Sep - Distinguished Graduate Award (DGA) Medal Ceremony - Alumni Hall, 4:30 p.m.

4-6 Sep - Class of 2000 25th Reunion

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

18-21 Sep - Class of 1985 - 40th Reunion

22-28 Sep - Hartford, CT Navy Week

25-27 Sep - Class of 2020 5th Reunion

26 Sep - Council of Annual Giving meeting - Fluegel Alumni Center

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

 

OCTOBER

2 Oct - President Circle Welcome Reception, Fluegel

2-4 Oct - President Circle Weekend

2-5 Oct - Class of 1990 35th Reunion

2-5 Oct - Class of 1995 30th Reunion

2-5 Oct - Class of 2015 10th 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

23-26 Oct - Class of 2005 20th 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

 

NOVEMBER

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

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

6-9 Nov - Class of 1980 45th Reunion

8 Nov - Navy @ Notre Dame, Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN - 7:30 p.m.

10 Nov - Marine Corps Birthday

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

14 Nov - US Naval Academy Athletic & Scholarship Program Fall Meeting, NMCMS

15 Nov - Navy vs University of South Florida, NMCMS

15 Nov - Honor Our Fallen Heroes - Location TBD

17 Nov - Council of Class Presidents Fall 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

 

DECEMBER

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