15 May Daily Shipmate

Thursday, May 15, 2025

1862 - Corporal John Mackie, the first Marine to earn the Medal of Honor, was commended for service in the USS GALENA during action against Confederate shore batteries at Drewry's Bluff which blocked the James River approaches to Richmond.

1977 - LT Brian Hurst '71, USN and LT Dennis O'Malley '72, USN were lost when the F-4 Phantom II they were aboard crashed into the Mediterranean Sea while attempting to land aboard USS Independence (CV 62). They were members of Fighter Squadron (VF) 102, based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. Both men were survived by a wife and son.

ACADEMY & GRADUATE HAPPENINGS

Baltimore Sun

At 10:28 a.m. Wednesday, midshipmen fourth class Augustus “Gus” Russo, 20, extended his arms to the top of the Herndon Monument, lost his footing and tumbled 21-feet into the hundreds of fellow plebes below. 

 

Less than five minutes later, at 10:32 a.m., the 6-foot-five-inch resident of Summit, New Jersey, removed the underclassman “Dixie Cup” hat and replaced it with a midshipman's cover as cheers of “Plebes no more” erupted.

 

“I'm so proud of all of you,” Russo, a member of 17th Company said after acknowledging his parents in the crowd. “We were out there at Sea Trials yesterday, I woke up exhausted, my arms were cramping, I couldn't even do a sit-up out of bed. We still went out there and we conquered.”

 

The annual Herndon Monument Climb is the culmination of plebe year at the Naval Academy. The event demonstrates the teamwork and perseverance that first-year midshipmen learned throughout their year at the academy.

 

Plebes build a human pyramid around the 21-foot obelisk caked in vegetable shortening and replace the underclassman hat with an upperclassman's hat. After the class of 2028 completed the task in two hours, 27 minutes and 31 seconds they are no longer considered plebes but “fourth class midshipmen.”

 

“For all of the families and guests here, you should be so proud of your midshipmen fourth class,” Superintendent Vice Adm. Yvette Davids said. “The class of 2028 has always, from the moment they came here, been very distinctive. They have been prepared mentally, morally and physically from the very beginning. I am not surprised that they did so well today.”

From RDML (ret) Frank Thorp '81 - There is only one class who scaled Herndon in the same number of minutes as their class year … the Class of 1981 scaled Herndon in 81 minutes. The capper that year was Doug Heimbach.

GOVERNMENT & MILITARY NEWS

Rear Adm. Richard Seif '92 assumed leadership of the AUKUS Integration and Acquisition Direct Reporting Program Management Office on April 21. “I am honored and excited to join the AUKUS team,” said Seif. “Our allies and partners are an important part of our integrated combat readiness and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.  AUKUS expands the work that we do with them to uplift our warfighting capabilities.” Seif most recently served as commander of Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet and commander of Task Force-34 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. A native of Pittsburgh, Seif is a 1992 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy.

Rear Adm. Sands '92, accompanied by Force Master Chief Walter Dittmar, detailed the circumstances surrounding Ingram's death Jan. 11, 2024, during a critical mission off the coast of Somalia. The operation aimed to intercept a vessel transporting anti-ship cruise missiles and ballistic missile components intended for Houthi terrorists threatening global shipping lanes. “The stakes were exceptionally high,” Sands explained to the panel. “This operation wasn't simply about seizing weapons; it was about denying a terrorist organization the means to inflict harm to U.S. and Allied forces.”

The U.S. Navy Mercy-class hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) will deploy this June-August to the U.S. Southern Command area of operations as part of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet's Continuing Promise 2025 mission. After several months of detailed planning, USNS Comfort is scheduled to visit Grenada, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Dominican Republic during the nearly three month-long mission. The mission will foster goodwill, strengthen existing partnerships with partner nations, and encourage the establishment of new partnerships among countries, non-federalentities, and international organizations. “The USNS Comfort's deployment under Continuing Promise demonstrates the U.S. Navy's enduring commitment to our allies and partners across the Caribbean, Central and South America," said Rear Adm. Carlos Sardiello '90, Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet. "This mission will forge lasting partnerships and deliver impactful aid, leaving a legacy of goodwill throughout the region.”

LOCAL, EDUCATION & OTHER ACADEMY NEWS

Rear Adm. Carlos Sardiello is a native of Fremont, California, and a 1990 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. He holds post-graduate degrees in Computer Science and National Security and Strategic Studies, he is a U.S. Navy Test Pilot School graduate of Class 115 and a 2021 MIT Seminar XXI Fellow.

Experience paradise on Earth as you cruise the idyllic islands and motus of French Polynesia. Formed over millennia by underwater volcanic activity, Tahiti and the spectacularly lush Society Islands — Mo'orea, Ra'iatea, Taha'a, Bora Bora and Huahine — distill the essence and allure of the South Pacific. Explore French Polynesia's spectacular history, rich culture and unique topography on a luxury itinerary that includes a 7-night cruise aboard the small ship Star Breeze. Tour Tahiti's west coast, stopping at the sacred Ārahurahu Marae and the Spring Garden of Vaipahi. Savor a beach barbecue on a private motu, where you can also swim, snorkel or kayak. Take a panoramic tour of idyllic Bora Bora, featuring its world-famous lagoon and gorgeous sand beach. Choose optional excursions at an additional cost to curate your own adventure and enjoy unmatched small ship sailing amid the splendor of the South Pacific.

Air Force athletics announced its 12th class for induction into the school's Athletics Hall of Fame. The class of the winningest quarterback in football history Tim Jefferson, men's tennis player, assistant coach, head coach and athletics administrator Dan Oosterhous, NCAA cross country national champion Mike Ryan, water polo standout, former head coach and athletics administrator Jeff Heidmous and the record-setting 2007 men's basketball team will be honored Friday, Sept. 26, at the East Club presented by L3Harris at the Kucera Legacy Center. The class will also be recognized at the Air Force football game vs. Hawaii the following day.

The Hertz Foundation recently announced that Cadet Edward Chen, Class of 2025, has earned a Hertz Fellowship. Cadet Chen is one of 19 fellows selected this year and is the first USMA recipient since 2011. Since 1963, the Hertz Foundation has awarded more than 1,300 doctoral fellowships with the goal of supporting the early-stage research endeavors of the nation's most promising innovators in science and technology. Hertz Fellows receive funding for up to five years of graduate study, culminating in a PhD, to pursue research that best advances our nation's security and leads to life-changing innovations. Hertz Fellows are selected from a broad applicant pool based on a written application, as well as two rigorous technical interviews.

USNA AND AA&F EVENTS

MAY

16-18 May - USA Warriors Sled Hockey Event

20 May - Blue Angels Practice Show

21 May -  Blue Angels Show and 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. 7-9 p.m. 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