13 August Daily Shipmate

Wednesday, Aug 13, 2025

1812 - The frigate Essex, under the command of Master Commander David Porter, captures the British sloop Alert after an engagement lasting only eight minutes. This marks the end of a most successful cruise in the Atlantic in which the crew of Essex captures nine British ships in just 34 days. In addition, Alert is the first British warship captured by the U.S. Navy during the War of 1812.

 

1961 - The Soviets and East Germans begin building a wall to separate East and West Berlin. The Berlin Wall becomes a symbol of the Cold War standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union.

1965 - LT Gene Gollahon '61, USN was killed in action when his F-8D Crusader was shot down over North Vietnam while on a reconnaissance mission. He was operating from USS Midway (CV 41). Gene was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and attended Xavier University there before entering the Naval Academy. At the academy he was editor of Reef Points. He was survived by his wife, daughter, and unborn son. Gene's remains weren't recovered until 2000, and were identified in 2002.

ACADEMY & GRADUATE HAPPENINGS

This fall, members of the Naval Academy Alumni Association communications team will be traveling to Tulsa (13 Sept), Temple (11 Oct), North Texas (1 Nov), and Notre Dame (8 Nov) for Navy road football games. During these weekends we will conduct interviews for stories in future Shipmate issues. We plan to gather alumni memories for 50 years of women at the Naval Academy stories as well as alumni experiences post 9/11. If you will attend one of Navy's road football games and would like to share your experiences, please contact Shipmate Editor Jimmy DeButts at [email protected].

Another great resource provided by the Navy Letterwinner's Association is a list of states where the Mids are playing away games this fall. Check out the schedule, as well as sports alumni gatherings/events, on the Navy Letterwinner's site.

GOVERNMENT & MILITARY NEWS

The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is in port in Bahrain, marking the first time an aircraft carrier has visited the Middle Eastern country since 2020. While an aircraft carrier has not visited Bahrain in approximately five years, it has been just over a year since a carrier strike group was in the Persian Gulf, with the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group in the waters in July 2024, according to the USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker. Littoral Combat Ship USS Canberra (LCS-30) has been in Bahrain's waters since May. The Nimitz CSG's arrival in Bahrain coincides with the most recent seizure of a merchant vessel by Iran.

LOCAL, EDUCATION & OTHER ACADEMY NEWS

The 2025 BMW Championship - held locally in Maryland this week at Caves Valley Golf Club - will offer a special ticket program and tailored experiences for members of the military community throughout the week. All active-duty military, retirees, active reserve and veterans can receive free admission to the championship from Tuesday to Sunday, courtesy of the Western Golf Association and the championship's partners, Aggreko and Constellation. Spectators with military tickets will have access to the Champions Club during the practice rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday. The club is a climate-controlled lounge that serves complimentary food and drinks, with seats that overlook the 14th green.

Training Air Wing One, located onboard Naval Air Station Meridian, held a change of command ceremony Friday, Aug. 8, when Capt. Juston Kuch was relieved by Capt. Sylvester R. Foley IV '02.   As is tradition, the two captains were flown in T-45 Goshawk's above the installation prior to the formal ceremony in the hangar. The event marks the retirement of Capt. Kuch after 25 years of service, including serving as commander of the Training Air Wing One since August 2023. TW-1 welcomed Capt. Foley as its new commander. He is a 2002 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. He received his “Wings of Gold” in Feb. 2005 in Kingsville, Texas, and went on to fly the FA-18C Hornet at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina, and the FA-18E/F Super Hornet at NAS Oceana, Virginia; NAF Atsugi, Japan; and NAS Lemoore, California.

The Department of Justice announced Monday it is settling lawsuits challenging race-based admissions at West Point and the Air Force Academy. Students for Fair Admissions, which won the Supreme Court ruling in 2023 banning race-based admission at universities, challenged the policies at military institutions, which were left off the high court's decision two years ago. The deal to terminate race-based admissions ended the need to continue the lawsuit as admissions will be based “exclusively on merit.” The deal marks a similar agreement made to end the lawsuit against race-based admissions at the Naval Academy earlier this year.

NAVAL ACADEMY ATHLETICS NEWS & RESULTS

Thursday, Aug 14 - Women's Soccer at Robert Morris - Moon Township, PA - 4 p.m.

USNA AND AA&F EVENTS

14 Aug - USNI Accelerating Unmanned Panel and Reception, Annapolis

15 Aug - 2 for 7 Signing - Class of 2027

17 Aug - Greater Southern Maryland Chapter Annual Crab Fest - 4:00 PM EDT - Navy Recreational Center Club 9; 13855 Solomons Island Rd S, Solomons, MD 20688, USA

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.

 

2 Sep - 80th Anniversary of the Japanese surrender aboard USS Missouri

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

 

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 - 1958/2008 tailgate for 50 for 50 celebration - Open invitation to A/F and USNA grads and mids to celebrate 50 Years of women - 10:00am.

4 Oct - Navy Football vs Air Force, NMCMS, Annapolis, MD - 12:00pm

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

 

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

 

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