11 September Daily Shipmate

Thursday, Sep 11, 2025

1943 - LCDR John Speer '32, USN, LT John Kirwin '41, USN, and LTjg Hugh Hamilton '43, USN were killed in action when USS Savannah (CL 42) was struck by a German radio-controlled “Fritz X” glide bomb while providing gunfire support for the landings at Salerno, Italy. The ship was severely damaged and suffered the loss of 197 officers and crew. LCDR Speer was the 1st Lieutenant and Damage Control Officer; he was awarded the Legion of Merit. LTjg Krwin was in the No. 3 turret officer; he was awarded the Navy Cross for remaining on station to help evacuate the turret.

 

1992 - Hurricane Iniki devastated the island of Kauai in Hawaii in one of the worst storms the islands had seen in over a century. Marines of the 1st Marine Brigade based at Kaneohe Bay, spearheaded Operation Garden Sweep, the massive cleanup effort.

 

2001 - In America's second day of infamy, civilian airliners hijacked by terrorists slammed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon. A fourth hijacked plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. The Pentagon crash killed 33 sailors, six Department of the Navy civilian workers, and three Navy civilian contractors, and injured four sailors and two Navy civilians. In the wake of the attacks, Navy surface ships deployed to patrol the waters off the U.S. coasts and assist in the defense of American air space.

ACADEMY & GRADUATE HAPPENINGS

Twenty-four years have passed since 11 September 2001 yet the weight of that day has not faded. As a nation we remember the 2,977 lives taken too soon, the families and friends forever changed and the way our world shifted in an instant. Time may move forward but the loss endures. Today and every day we say the names and honor 14 of our own Naval Academy alumni, classmates, friends, leaders, heroes and loved ones. Though numbers tell the scale of the tragedy it is the faces, names and stories of those lost that remind us what we carry forward. Their courage and sacrifice, like that of so many others who perished that day or in its aftermath, remain part of our national fabric. We will never forget.

There is nothing funny about one of the most tragic moments in American history. Too many lives were taken that day and many more sacrificed afterwards to allow anything about 9/11 to be personified as a joke. But after 20 years, including 4 deployments, three of which were in combat in Iraq, I can now look back on that fateful day with some humor. Because in learning to laugh again, we begin to heal.

USNA Entrepreneurs hosts Speaker Series at Army-Navy Country Club

USNA alums came together for an evening of networking and connecting with fellow alumni entrepreneurs, business owners, investors, and those just interested in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Dozens of alums heard from three alums on an Entrepreneurs in Cybersecurity panel about lessons learned and advice for making an impact in cyberspace out of uniform. Matt Willmann '11, founder of U.S. Naval Academy Entrepreneurs, hosted the event and provided remarks about the important impact of his organization whose purpose is to invest in the talents and ideas of fellow USNA alumni, ignite the potential of our Naval Academy peers, and glean insights and inspiration from those making a meaningful impact.

GOVERNMENT & MILITARY NEWS

United States Naval Academy is looking for Navy Reservists for a 3-year recall to active duty as academic instructors. You must have a Master's degree or Doctorate to be an instructor. The Navy Reserve recall application season is open until November 16, 2025. In particular, USNA has a need for reservists that can serve as calculus or chemistry instructors!

The 17th master chief petty officer of the Navy released his objectives for the fleet Tuesday, a day after he was sworn in as the Navy's top enlisted sailor. Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy John Perryman took to social media to share a page outlining his focus on prioritizing sailors and sailors' families, as well as service members' technical knowledge and education as they move forward in their military careers. “I am committed to removing distractions that don't matter, delivering training that does, and spotlighting excellence wherever it's found,” Perryman said in a post's caption on the Navy MCPON Instagram page.

The poisoning of the American people by narco-terrorists running illegal drugs through international waters will be tolerated no longer. That was the key message underscored by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth yesterday during a trip spent interacting with troops in the Caribbean region. "What we have declared — and we are [currently] declaring — is that, in international waters, we are not going to tolerate narco-terrorists who are poisoning the American people," Hegseth told a gathering of Air National Guardsmen at Muniz Air National Guard Base, just outside of San Juan, Puerto Rico. The secretary, who was joined on the trip by Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, went on to say that the War Department knows who the traffickers are, what illegal substances they are trafficking, the routes they take, and who their leaders are — including Nicolás Maduro, the president of Venezuela.

LOCAL, EDUCATION & OTHER ACADEMY NEWS

Mike James of The Mid Report joins for the opening segment to break down the Navy football victory over UAB. We put the spotlight on Navy water polo through interviews with head coach Luis Nicolau and captain Holden Seybold. We preview the Washington Capitals holding their Rookie Camp at McMullen Hockey Arena at the Brigade Sports Complex.

The Washington Capitals will hold their 2025 Rookie Camp from Sept. 12-15 at McMullen Hockey Arena within the Brigade Sports Complex in Annapolis, Md. The Capitals will hold on-ice sessions at McMullen Hockey Arena, located near the campus of the United States Naval Academy, on Friday, Sept. 12, Sunday, Sept. 14 and Monday, Sept. 15. Among the Capitals rookies scheduled to participate in the camp will be Ryan Leonard, 2025 first-round pick Lynden Lakovic, 2024 first-round pick Terik Parascak, Andrew Cristall and Ilya Protas. A total of 23 players (15 forwards, six defensemen, two goaltenders) will be in attendance, including 16 Capitals draft picks.

Navy Sailing Alumni, family and friends recently descended on the Yard for the largest Friends of Navy Sailing (FONS) event ever held 22-23 August, with social gatherings and the largest alumni sailing/racing on-water event to date. With deep gratitude to the Navy Sailing staff and coaches and NAAA, FONS Weekend 2025 exceeded expectations by every measure. 250 FONS from across the country joined 50 Navy Sailing Midshipmen for the sixth annual weekend last month at USNA. FONS attendees included USNA alumni (Classes of 1966 to 2018), parents of Varsity Offshore and Intercollegiate Sailing Team Midshipmen, Command & Seamanship Training Squadron volunteers, partner sailing club officers, local sponsors, and friends. Weekend highlights included: 225 FONS sailing and racing with the Midshipmen on 45 sailboats; and 300 attendees at the Sail Navy Banquet, which culminated in an evening celebrating the legacy of Navy Sailing with guest speaker, CAPT Justin Smith ('04), and Guest of Honor, the legendary former Navy Sailing coach Gary Bodie.

Catch an unforgettable weekend in Philadelphia this October while celebrating the U.S. Navy's 250th birthday! Kick off the action on Friday, October 10, at Subaru Park with the Army-Navy Cup men's and women's soccer double-header. Then catch the excitement of an American Conference showdown when Navy football takes on Temple at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday, October 11. Be part of the celebration and don't miss an action-packed sports weekend in the city where it all began. 

NAVAL ACADEMY ATHLETICS NEWS & RESULTS

Women's Golf at Folds of Honor Collegiate - 10th of 12 teams

Men's Golf at Folds of Honor Collegiate - 13th of 15 teams

Men's Soccer at George Washington - L 0-1

Women's Soccer v. Saint Mary's (CA) - Annapolis, Md. - 7 p.m.

USNA AND AA&F EVENTS

SEPTEMBER

11 Sep - Be Somebody's Hero Golf Tourney - Norfolk VA - hosted by USNA AA Hampton Roads Chapter

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 - Greater Southern Maryland Chapter Happy Hour - 4-6 p.m. @ Tap House, Three Notch Rd California, MD 20619

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

3 Oct - 2025 Navy Rugby Alumni Association's 10th Annual "With You" Dinner and HOF Induction

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 a.m.

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

8 Oct - Greater Southern Maryland Chapter Business Mtg. - 4:30 PM EDT Brudergarten

22725 Duke St, Leonardtown, MD 20650 Online event: BOD https://meet.google.com/toh-nvgs-yvn

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

30 Oct - Austin Chapter roadshow - 5:30 p.m. - Fast Friends Beer Co, Austin

31 Oct - North Texas Chapter + NAPC of North Texas Roadshow - 4:30 p.m. - Bitter Sisters Brewing Co, Addison

 

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