12 August Daily Shipmate

Tuesday, Aug 12, 2025

1898 - Officials of the governments of the United States and Spain agree to an armistice ending the Spanish-American War following negotiations in Washington, DC. Though a formal peace treaty is not signed until 10 December, the armistice cedes Puerto Rico and Guam to the United States and grants independence to Cuba.

 

1942 - In the first operational testing of antiaircraft projectiles incorporating proximity fuses, gunners on board the light cruiser Cleveland (CL-55) shoot down three target drones in the skies over the Chesapeake Bay. The proximity fuse greatly enhances the air defense capability of U.S. Navy ships during World War II.

1944 - MIDN Carroll Boswinkle '48, USN and MIDN Ralph Jillson '48, USN were lost on the Chesapeake Bay near Annapolis when a plane conducting a simulated strafing run crashed into the ship (an unidentified LCI) they were aboard. The pilot and an observer (a WAVE) aboard the plane were also killed. Carroll was from Mount Ayr, Iowa, and attended Purdue University for a year. In 1943 he enlisted in the Navy; in June 1944 he received an at-large appointment to the Naval Academy. Carroll was survived by his parents, brother, and sister. Ralph's hometown was Thomaston, Connecticut, and he too received an at-large appointment to the Naval Academy. Ralph was survived by his parents and sister.

ACADEMY & GRADUATE HAPPENINGS

Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Adm. Yvette Davids will be properly relieved by Lt. Gen. Michael J. Borgschulte in a change of command ceremony at the Naval Academy Aug. 15 at 2 p.m. in Dahlgren Hall. The event is for invited guests only. Borgschulte, USNA Class of 1991 and a native of Springfield, Mo., will become the 66th Superintendent and the first Marine to hold this position. He comes to Annapolis from Quantico, Va. where he was the Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. Prior to this, he served as the Commanding General of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. The event will be streamed live on YouTube.

The next living mascot of the United States Naval Academy is from a farm in Middletown. On Saturday, three Midshipmen from the academy known collectively as "Team Bill," along with a goat handler, traveled from Annapolis to Harley Farm in Middletown to retrieve Buster the cashmere goat, who will become the school's next mascot. While Bill the Goat is the official United States Naval Academy mascot, having an actual goat on the field at football games is a tradition that dates back to the 1890s.

Capt. Thomas B. McLemore '97, Civil Engineer Corps, U.S. Navy, was honored for 28 years of service during a retirement ceremony held July 25, 2025, at the Norfolk Yacht Club. He will officially retire from active duty on Nov. 1, 2025. Rear Adm. Jorge Cuadros, commander of Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Atlantic, presided over the ceremony, with guest remarks delivered by Rear Adm. Dean VanderLey, Chief of Civil Engineers. The event featured traditional Navy honors, including the parading of colors, presentation of awards and the symbolic reading of “The Watch.” McLemore, a Suffolk, Virginia, native and 1997 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, was recognized for exceptional leadership, operational excellence and unwavering dedication across a career spanning multiple continents and critical Navy infrastructure initiatives.

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 August 11, 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.

The U.S. military is preparing for the activation of hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., two U.S. officials told Reuters on Sunday. The officials, who were speaking on the condition of anonymity, said a final decision was still to be made by U.S. President Donald Trump but the troops were prepared to deploy.  One of the officials said it was unclear what exactly the troops would do, but could take part in efforts to protect federal agents or even carry out administrative tasks to free up law enforcement officials.

North Korea's defense chief on Monday condemned the upcoming large-scale Ulchi Freedom Shield joint military exercise between the United States and South Korea and warned of "negative consequences." The North "strongly" denounces the allies "for their provocative moves of clearly showing the stand of military confrontation with the DPRK and making another serious challenge to the security environment on the Korean Peninsula and in the region," Defense Minister No Kwang Choi said in a statement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency.

LOCAL, EDUCATION & OTHER ACADEMY NEWS

The Army issued a solicitation last week  with the aim of procuring “digital recruiter” services to help the U.S. Military Academy at West Point attract new applicants for admission. A performance of work statement attached to the solicitation noted that officials are looking for a vendor to provide “autonomous AI Recruiter services combined with an active high school student network to enhance USMA's national recruitment strategy.” The request for proposals comes as the Army and the Defense Department are embracing new generative AI capabilities to enhance productivity and efficiency.

Captain Richard Parker Dunbar, USN (ret), a resident of Kings Grant in Virginia Beach, VA since 1974, died on 7 August 2025. He was 91 years old. Dick was born in Lawrenceville, IL on 19 April 1934. He grew up on a farm in Indiana where he established his work ethic. After graduating from Darlington High School in 1952 he enlisted in the Navy. While attending Electronics Technician School on Treasure Island in San Francisco, CA he was selected to attend the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Bainbridge, MD. Upon graduation he received a Secretary of the Navy appointment to the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD and graduated in 1958 as a member of the 15th Company and was commissioned an Ensign, USN.

NAVAL ACADEMY ATHLETICS NEWS & RESULTS

Men's Soccer at Delaware (Exhibition) - Newark, Del. - 7 p.m.

 

Women's Soccer at Robert Morris - Moon Township, PA - 4 p.m.

USNA AND AA&F EVENTS

AUGUST

14 Aug - USNI Accelerating Unmanned Panel and Reception, Annapolis

15 Aug - 2 for 7 Signing - Class of 2027

18 Aug - USNA Classes begin

19 Aug - Class of 2027 Commitment Lunch

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 In-brief, race and Sail Navy Banquet

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

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 - Alumni Association & Foundation Pre-game Social for VMI - (9-11 a.m.)

30 Aug - Navy Football Brotherhood Weekend Tailgater, NMCMS

30 Aug - A&SP/NAAA Trustee Appreciation Pre-Game Breakfast - Navy vs. VMI

30 Aug - Navy vs VMI, NMCMS, Annapolis, MD - 12 p.m.

 

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 - Alumni Association & Foundation Pre-game Social for UAB - (Noon-2 p.m.)

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

11 Sep - OKC Chapter + NAPC of Oklahoma Roadshow - 5:30- 7:30 p.m. - Jones Assembly - 901 W Sheridan Ave, OKC

12 Sep - Tulsa Chapter Event & Roadshow - 6 p.m. - Marshall's Brewery - 1742 E 6th Street, Tulsa

13 Sep - Navy Football vs Tulsa, Tulsa, OK

14 Sep - Annapolis Travis Manion 9/11 Heroes Run

18 Sep - 20th Anniversary of the opening of the Uriah P. Levy Center at USNA

18-19 Sep - McMullen Naval History Symposium - USNA

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

19 Sep - USNI Dudley Knox Achievement Award Reception

25-27 Sep - Class of 2020 5th Reunion

26 Sep - Class of 2020 Happy Hour - Fluegel Alumni Center

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

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

 

OCTOBER

1-22 Oct - Class of '75 Gulf to Goat Charity Bike Ride

2 Oct - President Circle Welcome Reception, Fluegel

2-4 Oct - President Circle Weekend

2-5 Oct - Class of 2015 10th Reunion

2-5 Oct - Class of 1995 30th Reunion

2-5 Oct - Class of 1990 35th Reunion

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

9-16 Oct - Celebrating The Navy and Marine Corps' 250th Anniversary - Philadelphia

10 Oct - USNA Founder's Day - 180th Birthday of the Naval Academy

10 Oct - Army-Navy Cup XIV - Soccer doubleheader vs Army at Subaru Park, Philadelphia. Women's Match - 4 p.m., Men's Match at 7 p.m.

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 2005 20th Reunion

23-26 Oct - Class of 1975 50th Reunion

23-26 Oct - Class of 1965 60th Reunion

24 Oct - Anchors Aweigh Open - Alumni Golf Tournament - Naval Academy Golf Course

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 Oct - Eugene, Oregon Navy Week

26 Oct - USMC Marathon w/ Run to Honor SIG participating and presenting the Penguin Award to final finisher

 

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 - Run to Honor's annual pre-Honor Our Fallen Heroes Gathering (FAC) - 6:30 p.m. - Register

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 Conference Football Championship Game, TBD

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

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