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27 August 2024
Welcome back to our National Maritime Historical Society members and friends who share a love for naval history!
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Galas Galore! With folks returning from summer vacations, we turn to the celebratory fall season with the Navy and Marine Corps celebrating 249th birthdays in October and November. A sampling of formal dinners and balls is noted below in our upcoming gatherings section. We also draw your attention to three major East Coast galas, kicking off with Navy Memorial’s Lone Sailor Dinner at Washington’s National Building Museum on 19 September, then the USS Constitution Museum’s Salute to Service Gala at Boston Harbor Hotel on 16 October, and finally the National Maritime Historical Society’s Annual Award Dinner at the New York Yacht Club in mid-Manhattan on 24 October. If you have not attended one of these events in their unique venues to support organizations that promote our naval/maritime heritage, make this the year!
Since the NMHS Annual Award Dinner will coincide with the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, it’s worth noting that the US Naval Institute is taking an early jump to analyze this extraordinary naval confrontation with a “Leyte Gulf at 80” on Wednesday, 11 September. The event will be streamed, but if you would like to see the discussion between Tom Cutler, Paul Stillwell, and Trent Hone moderated by Alex Pocklington at the Jack C. Taylor Center, you need to sign on by this Thursday. Also note the proposal deadline for the next Trafalgar Chronicle is 1 September.
For this week’s Naval History Book Review, we thank Dr. John Satterfield for his critique of Mark Stille’s US Navy Gun Destroyers 1945–88.
Tuesday Tidings is compiled by Dr. David F. Winkler and Jessie Henderson as a benefit for members of the National Maritime Historical Society and friends of naval history.
As always, comments and naval history news items are welcome at nmhs@seahistory.org.
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Final Salute for Capt. Allen Ellis Weseleskey, USN | |
Photographs courtesy Peter Shay | |
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Final honors were rendered on August 16 for Navy Cross recipient Capt. Allen Ellis Weseleskey, USN, (Ret.), at Virginia Beach with a tribute that included a helicopter flyover for the former naval aviator who served with the Navy’s Helicopter Attack (Light)-3 Squadron, known in the Mekong Delta as the Seawolves. Of note: the Navy Cross recognition came in the wake of disciplinary hearings held against him for breaking rules of engagement and standard operating procedures when testimony convinced authorities that his heroic actions were the difference between life and death for many soldiers who were being besieged during the enemy’s 1968 Tet offensive. In addition to the Navy Cross, the above shadow box contains two Distinguished Flying Crosses; the Navy/Marine Corps Medal (Rescuing two US Army Technicians caught up in a catastrophic ground refueling explosion and fire of an Army helicopter gunship); US Army Bronze Star Medal with “Valor” (for hand-to-hand combat defending and repelling enemy intruders at the Army Airfield; the Air Medal with “Valor” plus 31 Flight Strike Air Medals; the Navy Achievement Medal with “Valor” (for defending Vinh Long AAF during 10 days/nights of constant ground actions); the Purple Heart Medal (combat wounds); 4 Presidential Unit Citations; Vietnam’s Cross of Gallantry, with Palm; the Air Cross of Gallantry with Silver Wings; and the Honor Medal, First Class. His other awards include the Legion of Merit (as Director, Navy Command Center), two Meritorious Award Medals (Commanding Officer, HC-6 Squadron and Ombudsman of the Navy) the Navy Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Expert Rifle Medal, and Expert Pistol Medal. He was interviewed for the Department of Defense 50th Vietnam War Commemoration and that oral history can be found HERE.
For more on the remarkable life of Captain Weseleskey, his obituary can be found HERE.
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James “Jim” Bradford
7 April 1945–10 August 2024
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James “Jim” Bradford, age 79, of Bryan, Texas, passed away on Saturday, 10 August 2024. Jim was born in Detroit, Michigan.
Jim Bradford will be well-remembered for his life of service, knowledge of history, and sense of humor. A history professor by profession, he was foremostly an educator and leader.
Since his passing, tributes have called him a civic leader, a titan of American history, a cornerstone of the naval history community, a wonderful man, thoughtful and patient.
Raised in Traverse City, Michigan, he married his high school sweetheart, Judy, before studying at Michigan State University and then earning a PhD in history at the University of Virginia. He taught midshipmen for nearly a decade at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis before accepting a position at Texas A&M and moving to Bryan, TX. During his early career, he founded or actively participated in many professional organizations, rising to leadership positions in the North American Society of Oceanic History, the Society for Historians of the Early American Republic, and the International Commission on Maritime History.
He taught for nearly 40 years at Texas A&M; his impact grew well beyond history. From 1986 he began teaching courses in the university’s study abroad programs, ensuring students in France, Italy and the United Kingdom had the opportunity to pair the sort of education that comes from books and lectures with lived cultural experiences. He served for 8 years as an elected member of the Bryan Independent School Board of Trustees. From 1992 to 1995 he was president of that board. He also served for many years on the board of directors of the Bryan-College Station Sister Cities organization and in key leadership positions of other community groups.
A keen traveler, he visited more than 50 counties, often leading groups of friends on expeditions to explore history or culture. Whether on those trips or at home, his booming voice was always ready with a joke or quip. He lived largely and was full of energy for others. He is survived by Judy and his two sons, Jim and John.
A memorial service for Jim will be held Wednesday, 11 September at 11:00 AM, followed by a reception from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. A graveside service will be held in Bear Lake, Michigan, on 14 Sept.
See more information here>>
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NAVAL HISTORY BOOK REVIEWS | |
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US Navy Gun Destroyers 1945–88: Fletcher Class to Forrest Sherman Class by Mark Stille, Osprey Publishing, Ltd., Oxford (2023)
Reviewed by John R. Satterfield
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...In addition to design and operational histories, Stille also includes descriptions of their primary and secondary armament, ranging from guns to torpedoes, depth charges and early ASW rockets, as well as air and surface search radars, fire control systems, and sonar.
The USN retained DDs in the early Cold War because they were available, proven, and versatile, and they met budget constraints. They provided adequate AAW and ASW protection in carrier groups, shore bombardment for amphibious assaults and peace-keeping operational support. Technological advances would, however, require their replacement with DDG classes, the latest now in the fleet.
Author Stille’s well-illustrated monograph is a nice introduction to USN DDs, design relics of World War II that still served the nation with distinction for decades after that conflict ended.
Read full review>>
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NAVAL HISTORY BOOKS AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW | |
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Recent Naval Order History Happenings featuring K. A. Nelson and The Killing Shore.
Watch here>>
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The Society for Military History
Distinguished Book Awards for 2025
Background: The Society for Military History is soliciting nominations for its annual Distinguished Book Awards for 2025. Established in 1933, the Society is devoted to stimulating and advancing the study of military history. Its membership (today more than 2,600) includes many of the most prominent scholars, soldiers, and citizens interested in military history. The Society encourages research and publication across the whole range of military history (ancient, medieval, and modern, including related popular studies). The Society publishes The Journal of Military History, the leading international scholarly journal of military history.
The Distinguished Book Awards: For the 2025 awards, books published (copyright date) in 2023 and 2024 are eligible. Works previously nominated for the Society’s book awards may be resubmitted provided they were published in 2023. Nominated books should be assigned to one of the following prize categories:
Distinguished Book (two awards)
- Edited and reference works contain collections of information, such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases, handbooks, and diagnostic manuals.
- Biography and memoirs—works that examine the life of a single individual or the lives of multiple individuals, or first-person accounts of lived experiences, in the context of war and/or the military
- First book—works that represent a single author’s first monograph)
The committee will make its selections for awards by January 30, 2025. The Society will give the awards at its annual meeting in Mobile, Alabama on 27–30 March 2025. The author of each prize-winning book will receive recognition at the Society’s annual awards presentation, an award plaque, and a $1,000 prize.
The committee must receive books for consideration for the 2025 awards by 7 October 2024.
Publishers must follow this process for each volume they intend to submit:
Please send a copy of each book for consideration with a letter specifying consideration for the SMH Book Awards to each committee member at the addresses listed below. Books must be submitted in physical copy, and electronic versions will not be considered. The committee recognizes the expense to authors and publishers associated with submitting five copies of each nominated book and therefore encourages serious submissions only. Please note that books will not be returned and that only award winners will be notified of selection.
At the discretion of the committee, submissions which are received after 7 October 2024 may be deferred for consideration in the 2026 awards.
Sincerely,
Debra J. Sheffer, PhD
Chair SMH Book Awards Committee
Email: debra.sheffer@park.edu
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SMH 2025 Book Awards
Committee Member Addresses
Marion Dorsey, PhD
Department of History
University of New Hampshire
14 Fogg Drive
Durham, NH 03824
Ian Beckett, PhD
School of History
University of Kent, Canterbury
Tides, Trewelloe Road, Praa Sands, Penzance
Cornwall, TR20 9SU, UK
Tarak Barkawi, PhD
Department of Political Science
Johns Hopkins University
1102 Bryn Mawr Road
Baltimore, MD 21210
Matthew Neufeld, PhD
Department of History
University of Saskatchewan
Room 619, Arts Tower
9 Campus Drive
Saskatoon SK S7N 5A5
Canada
Debra Sheffer, PhD
Park University
9002 N. Camden Ave.
Kansas City, MO 64154
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The Society for Military History announces a call for papers for its 90th Annual Meeting in Mobile, Alabama, 27–30 March 2025, at the Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel and the
Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel.
The Program Committee’s objective is to create a slate of panels that represent the breadth of expertise and interests as well as the overall diversity of the Society’s wide-ranging membership. Individual paper and panel proposals on all facets of military history broadly defined will be considered for inclusion. Members in the academic community, the armed forces and governmental agencies, museums and archives, and independent scholars, as well as international members, are encouraged to participate.
Priority will be given to individual paper and panel submissions that highlight the presentation of original research, new interpretations, topics of immediate interest to our membership, and cutting-edge trends and subject matter. Submission of roundtables is encouraged, but preference will be given to panels that present new, original research.
All submissions will be judged on their merit using the above criteria.
Submission Instructions:
Individual paper proposals must include a 250-word abstract of the paper, and a one-page vita with contact information and email address. If selected, individual papers will be assigned by the program committee to an appropriate panel with a chair/commentator.
Panel proposals must include a panel title and 250-word abstract summarizing the theme of the panel; paper titles and a 250-word abstract for each paper proposed; and a one-page curriculum vitae for each panelist (including the chair and commentator) that includes institutional affiliation, email address, and other contact information.
Roundtable proposals must include a roundtable title, the full name and institutional affiliation of each participant, a 250-word abstract summarizing the roundtable’s themes and significance, and a one-page curriculum vitae for each participant.
Members who wish to volunteer to serve as chairs and commentators should send a one-page curriculum vitae.
Send all materials to the Program Committee Chair before 18 October 2024 at smhconferences@gmail.com.
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For The Trafalgar Chronicle
Publication Date: FALL 2025
Theme: Naval Leadership in the Georgian Era
For the 2025 edition of The Trafalgar Chronicle, the editors seek carefully researched, scholarly articles on “Naval Leadership in the Georgian Era.” We invite essays that provide examples of exemplary and questionable leadership in the predominant navies of the Georgian maritime era (1714–1837). We are interested to know about unique and far-reaching ways in which naval officers and administrators made crucial decisions and took significant actions affecting their futures, men, fleets, enemies, combat tactics and strategies, ships, policies and regulations, and naval doctrine itself. Additional topics: We also seek general-interest articles with unique perspectives on the maritime and naval history of the Georgian era. We invite biographical portraits, articles about battles at sea, maritime economics, exploration of foreign shores, foreign relations, politics, etc. We also welcome well-documented reports on preservation efforts regarding the artifacts, graves, memorials, and monuments of the Nelson era. Proposal Submission Guidelines: Please submit a proposal/abstract of no more than 500 words and a paragraph about your background (a biographical sketch). Proposals are due by 1 September 2024. Applicants will be notified of acceptance status by 1 October 2024. Submit all proposals and inquiries to tc.editor@1805Club.org.
Detailed author guidelines are available upon request. Article Guidelines: Articles should be 3,000 to 5,000 words long in MSWORD (unprotected) following the New Oxford Style Manual. Please include three to six high-resolution illustrations, each in a separate file (jpeg, pdf, or tiff). Articles are due 1 February 2025, at which point they will be edited and, in some cases, submitted to peer review. Articles will be returned to authors for revisions by 1 April 2025.
Revisions are due by 1 May 2025. Publication will be Fall/Autumn 2025. While we do not pay our contributors, each author will receive a copy of The Trafalgar Chronicle upon publication. Non-members of the 1805 Club will receive a free one-year membership. All authors will also receive a PDF of their published article for their portfolio. Authors retain copyright of their articles. Our Contributors: We welcome articles from 1805 Club members and anyone with an interest in the history of the Georgian Navy and other navies of the period. Our articles have come from writers of varied backgrounds: historians, journalists, university students, military personnel, preservationists, and novelists. Contact tc.editor@1805Club.org for additional information. The Trafalgar Chronicle is the scholarly flagship publication of the 1805 Club, a charity registered in England and Wales (number1202272) with an international membership of scholars and enthusiasts of the Georgian maritime era. The 1805 Club takes its name from the iconic Battle of Trafalgar that gave Nelson his place in history and confirmed the role of the Royal Navy in asserting Britain’s sea power. Seaforth Publishing is our publisher.
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UPCOMING NAVAL & MARITIME HISTORY GATHERINGS | |
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16–19 September 2024: Historic Naval Ship Association (HNSA) Symposium, USS Midway, San Diego
19 September 2024: Navy Memorial Lone Sailor Dinner, Washington, DC
28 September 2024: Coast Guard Ball, National Harbor, MD
16 October 2024: USS Constitution Museum Salute to Service Gala, Boston, MA
19 October 2024: US Navy Birthday Ball, Arlington. VA
24 October 2024: National Maritime Historical Society Annual Awards Dinner, New York, NY
1 November 2024: Marine Birthday Ball, Albany, GA
2 November 2024: Marine Birthday Ball; Orlando, Fl.
2 November 2024: Marine Birthday Ball, San Francisco, CA
9 November 2024: Steamship Historical Society of America Annual Meeting, Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA
31 January–2 February 2025: Western Naval History Association Symposium (WNHA), San Diego. Ca.
27–30 March 2025: Society for Military History (SMH) Annual Meeting, Mobile, AL
9–11 April 2025: Council of American Maritime Museums Annual Meeting, Pensacola, FL
24–25 May 2025: Canadian Nautical Research Society Annual Conference Port Hope,
Ontario
18–19 September 2025: McMullen Naval History Symposium US Naval Academy
24–28 September 2025: Historic Naval Ship Association (HNSA) Symposium/12th Maritime Heritage Conference, Buffalo, NY
| PREBLE HALL NAVAL HISTORY PODCAST | |
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Click here for the latest episode: 233: David Petraeus on CONFLICT>>
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| DRACHINIFEL YOUTUBE CHANNEL | |
Welcome to Navy History Matters, Naval History and Heritage Command’s biweekly compilation of articles, commentaries, and blogs related to history and heritage. Every other week, they gather the top-interest items from a variety of media and social media sources that link to related content at NHHC’s website, your authoritative source for Navy history.
Click here for most recent article>>
| INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NAVAL HISTORY | |
The International Journal of Naval History (IJNH) provides a preeminent forum for works of naval history, researched and written to demonstrable academic standards, with the goal of stimulating and promoting research into naval history and fostering communication among naval historians at an international level. IJNH welcomes any scholarly historical analysis, focused on any period or geographic region, that explores naval power in its national or cultural context. The journal is independent of any institution and operates under the direction of an international editorial board that represents various genres of naval history.
Click here to read the February 2023 edition and archived issues on the IJNH website >>
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With the 250th anniversary of the US Navy on the horizon, NMHS seeks your support as we plan to honor those who have provided for our maritime security.
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