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9 July 2024
Welcome back to our National Maritime Historical Society members and friends who share a love for naval history!
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We hope everyone had a happy and safe Fourth of July. Besides many fireworks displays, part of Boston’s Independence Day celebration has included USS Constitution underway for a turnaround cruise—and so it was last Thursday. Boston Herald’s coverage is here.
Last week we reported the naming of a new Constellation-class frigate for a Spanish governor who lent a hand to the American revolutionary cause. This week we learned the winners of the Captain Ken Coskey Prize for Naval History, and there is a connection. Read below for what commentator Paul Harvey would say: “And now—the rest of the story.”
Some sad news to report on the passing of naval historian Roy A. Grossnick. A tribute can be found below.
Well done again to Eric Mills and his US Naval Institute team that publishes Naval History. The August issue is out and the preview is available at: Naval History | US Naval Institute (usni.org)
A last reminder that the annual meeting of the National Maritime Historical Society in Peekskill, New York, is coming up in just over a week! For details visit: www.seahistory.org.
This week for our Naval History Book Review we turn to Master Chief David A. Mattingly, USN (Ret.), for his review of a two-volume set of essays looking at American amphibious warfare.
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 are welcome at nmhs@seahistory.org.
| ITEMS OF IMMEDIATE INTEREST | |
10 July 2024 – Naval Order History Happenings: Marines in Crisis
With former Marine Corps Chief Historian Dr. Charlie Neimeyer
8 PM (EDT) (ZOOM)
12 July 2024 – USS Monitor Legacy Program: Siege of Port Hudson
With John V. Quarstein
Noon–1 PM (in person/Zoom)
16 July 2024 – Mighty 8th AF Museum Speaker Series
USS Langley Key Personalities
With David F. Winkler, Ph.D
Savannah, GA
6 PM (EDT)
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NHD Coskey Prize Winners Announced | |
Years from now, some historian might conclude the Iago Macknik-Conde’s “Senior Individual Performance” presentation at National History Day titled “Bernardo de Gálvez: The Hispanic Hero Who Turned the Tide of the American Revolution” was so good that Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro flew to Madrid the next day to announce that the next US Navy frigate would be named Galvez! Of course, such was not the case, but it was quite the coincidence. | |
Iago Macknik-Conde is flanked by Sam Byers of the National Maritime Historical Society and Tom Cutler of the US Naval Institute. USNI has assumed oversight of the prize following the decommissioning of the Naval Historical Foundation (NHF). Some three decades ago, NHF Executive Director Capt. Ken Coskey initiated a naval history prize at National History Day that now bears his name. Photo: NHD. | |
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Receiving the Coskey prize at the junior level was a group exhibit titled: USS Monitor: How a “Cheesebox on a Raft” Revolutionized Naval Warfare.
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Roland Thompson, Carter Gill, and Haven McKinney (L to R) are pictured with Byers and Cutler. They are all 6th graders at Pulaski County Middle School in Pulaski, VA. Photo: NHD. | |
A Tribute to Roy A. Grossnick | |
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As Tuesday Tidings was posted last week, we were saddened to learn of the passing on 18 June of Roy A. Grossnick, a long-time reference historian with the now Naval History and Heritage Command. Former Senior Historian of the Navy Dr. Edward Maralda reflected: “Roy was one of the most knowledgeable and conscientious naval historians I have had the honor to work with over the years and a kind, good-hearted colleague.” What made Grossnick so significant is not that he wrote best-selling tomes on naval history—he didn’t—but that his reference work published in encyclopedic volumes and personal assistance to fellow authors laid the foundation for others to succeed in the genre.
A long-time resident of Chevy Chase, Maryland, Grossnick was born in Lomira, Wisconsin, on 8 June 1943 to Joyce Collien and grew up mostly in Wisconsin. Two days after graduating from Mosinee High School in 1962, he joined the US Navy, serving through July 1966. He earned a BS from Wisconsin State University, Stevens Point, in 1970 and an MA in Chinese studies from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in 1972. In 1972 he returned to active duty with the Navy and was stationed in Japan. On Christmas Day 1975 he met his future wife, Mary, on a ski trip and they would marry in a Shinto ceremony on December 2, 1976 in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture.
The newlywed couple returned to the states to settle in Chevy Chase and would raise a daughter, Maki, as he eventually landed a position with the Naval History Center. Grossnick eventually headed the Aviation History Office and then led the Operational Archives Division, responsible for research, writing, preserving, and maintaining archives. He would receive the Arthur W. Radford Award for Excellence in Naval Aviation History and Literature for creating the Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons series and authoring the first volume in 1995.
The two-volume United States Naval Aviation, 1910–2010, co-authored by the late Mark L. Evans, has become the go-to reference work in the field, with volume one offering a chronological overview of US naval aviation history, and volume two offering a compendium of statistics and information about naval fliers, personnel, units, aircraft. The North American Society for Oceanic History awarded its prestigious John R. Lyman prize in 2015 for its best naval & maritime reference works for that year. In addition to compiling reference materials, Grossnick authored Kite Balloons to Airships: The Navy’s Lighter Than Air Experience (2012) and he was a lead writer for the publication Naval Aviation News.
A celebration of his life was held this past Sunday at the Westmoreland Congregational Church in Bethesda, Maryland. His obituary noted his legacy “is one of kindness, generosity, and an enduring love for those he held dear. He will be deeply missed, but his spirit will live on in the hearts of all those who were fortunate to know him.” One of those fortunate to know him, the Navy’s former Director of Naval History, William S. Dudley, concurred: “I found Roy to be a pleasant, quiet, thoughtful guy with a good sense of humor and a strong work ethic that sustained him through the years.” Though departed, Roy A. Grossnick will be long remembered, as he will be cited for generations to come. It's a legacy any historian would be proud to have.
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Kudos to Albany’s Destroyer Escort Historical Museum USS Slater for initiating a podcast series titled DE Classified which covers the history of various destroyer escorts. The series is approaching three dozen episodes. For a list of the ships covered so far visit: DE Classified — USS SLATER | |
NAVAL HISTORY BOOK REVIEWS | |
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On Contested Shores: The Evolving Role of Amphibious Operations in the History of Warfare Volume I. By Timothy Heck and B. A. Friedman, editors. Quantico, Va: Marine Corps University Press, (2020).
On Contested Shores: The Evolving Role of Amphibious Operations in the History of Warfare Volume II. By Timothy Heck, B. A. Friedman, and Walker D. Mills, editors. Quantico, Va: Marine Corps University Press, (2024).
Reviewed by Master Chief Petty Officer David A. Mattingly, USN (Ret.)
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...Komerath leads the reader through the current trigger points that could lead the US into armed conflict with the nations in which direct conflict has been avoided since World War II and the inception of the Cold War: the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation. Should this happen, Naval Special Warfare will need to return to its “amphibious roots.”
She points out that Naval Special Warfare will have to abandon what is described as “starring roles” and return to their more traditional “supporting roles” in future military operations. This could counter an “entire generation” of existing officers and senior non-commissioned officers who have fought the war on terror. She states, “Naval Special Warfare offers a chance for the United States to gain a strategic advantage in the GPC if it can move past recent history and refocus to enhance their amphibious, more unconventional capabilities.”
I highly recommend On Contested Shores. It is well-researched and a must-read for military historians and strategists. It provides the historical context of the past that policy planners and strategists need to prepare the armed forces for what may loom while also providing the warfighter with the scholarly background and future considerations of their profession.
Read full review>>
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NAVAL HISTORY BOOKS AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW | |
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Nimitz at Ease: How a Honolulu Couple Helped Nimitz Cope with the Stresses of Command
Premiered 27 June 2024 (Thursday, 1900 EST)
Captain Michael A, Lilly, USN (ret.)
Watch here>>
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49th Albert Reed & Thelma Walker Maritime Symposium
“Resurfaced”
Friday, 15 November 2024 (Bath, Maine)
The depths of the ocean hold mysteries yet to be revealed, however, there are truths waiting to be discovered beneath the surface. It is through diligent inquiry and open-minded exploration that we can begin to dive into the riches concealed below to enhance our collective understanding of the environment, our past, our creative endeavors, and our communities.
Maine Maritime Museum is pleased to announce its symposium “Resurfaced” on November 15, 2024. The symposium is interdisciplinary and seeks presenters from industry, science, and the humanities—including history, art history, nautical archaeology, ecology, maritime law, and other fields. We encourage presenters to approach the theme of “resurfaced” in broad and creative ways. Possible topics include, but are not limited to, how historical research champions underrepresented stories, how scientific data shifts understandings in marine ecosystems, how indigenous knowledge can inform waterway conservation, how archaeological discoveries provide cultural insights into the past, and how economic studies reveal the impact of maritime industries.
Abstracts
Abstracts should be 300 words or less and will be reviewed by the Program Committee. Decisions will be made by August 2, 2024.
Graduate Travel Stipend
Travel stipends of $250 are available to a limited number of graduate student presenters and are awarded on merit based on submitted abstracts.
Please send abstracts to abstracts@maritimeme.org by 15 July 2024
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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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19–21 July 2024: National Maritime Historical Society Annual Meeting, Peekskill, New York
16–19 September 2024: Historic Naval Ship Association (HNSA) Symposium, USS Midway, San Diego
9 November 2024: Steamship Society of America, Queen Mary, Long Beach, 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: 12th Maritime Heritage Conference, Buffalo, NY
| PREBLE HALL NAVAL HISTORY PODCAST | |
A naval history podcast from Preble Hall – the United States Naval Academy Museum in Annapolis, Maryland. Preble Hall will interview historians, practitioners, military personnel, and other experts on a variety of naval history topics from ancient history to more current events.
Click here for the latest episode: 233: David Patraeus on CONFLICT>>
Click here for all Preble Hall Podcasts >>
| 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 >>
| SUPPORTING US NAVAL HISTORY & HERITAGE | |
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.
Click here to donate today >>
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