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31 October 2023
Welcome back to our National Maritime Historical Society members and friends who share a love for naval history!
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HAPPY HALLOWEEN! For many years, the scariest Halloween attraction in the nation’s capital was “Ghost Ship Barry,” as Navy Museum staff and sailors assigned to the display ship Barry converted the interior spaces of the former destroyer into quite the fright fest. The decision to replace the downstream Frederick Douglass swing span with a permanent structure forced the removal of the ship, but the spirits of Barry live on, as other historic naval ships offer Halloween experiences and some are reportedly haunted—such as the Hornet in Alameda Haunting of the USS Hornet: Ghosts in Alameda - Amy's Crypt (amyscrypt.com) and the Olympia in Philadelphia. Philadelphia's Haunted Ship USS Olympia – All Hands on Deck (hauntedus.com). Then there are some haunted Navy residences. Here is a link to a house tour of Nimitz House—the final home of Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz that now sits under the new span of the San Francisco Bay Bridge. Rear Admiral John Bitoff makes no claims of the former Pacific Fleet commander roaming the corridors, but, after viewing the video, would you want to stay there overnight?
https://vimeo.com/871335352/7a6859b9f6?share=copy
A Huzzah to former Secretary of the Navy John F. Lehman. He is being honored this Friday at the New York Yacht Club by the Naval War College Foundation. Details below.
Also three cheers to Peter Luebke, Timothy Francis, and Heather Haley at the Naval History and Heritage Command for their new publication on the origins of Navy logistics, which is our lead story. If anyone would like to download the link and offer a review, let us know!
Sad news to report: the passing of Captain Loren H. Page, who was serving as the interim executive director for the Association of the US Navy. We share our condolences with that organization and the family and friends of Captain Page. A short tribute provided by AUSN is provided below.
Naval History Book Reviews thanks Master Chief David Mattingly for his review of a new book about two Marine Corps aviators who flew together as wingmen during the Korean War. Do the names John Glenn and Ted Williams ring a bell? Once again, if you have recently published a naval history-related memoir or history—let us know! The revised book list is attached! Even NEWER titles have been added!
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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 | |
3 November: Lecture USS Monitor’s Refit at the Washington Navy Yard
Noon–1PM EDT (in person/ Virtual)
Mariners’ Museum Newport News, VA
3 November: Naval War College Sentinel of the Sea Gala
New York Yacht Club, New York City
7 November: Reflections on Captivity – Porter Halyburton
6 PM (EST) (In Person)
Hampton Roads Naval Museum, Norfolk, VA
8 November: Naval Order Monthly History Presentation
The One Ship Fleet: USS Boise - WWII Naval Legend Phillip T. Parkerson, PhD
8 PM EST (ZOOM)
Meeting ID: 812 4147 0593
Passcode: 7041890
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New NHHC Publication Explores Origins of Navy Logistics
19 October 2023
Written by NHHC historians Peter Luebke, Timothy Francis, and Heather Haley, Contested Logistics describes how the United States Navy dealt with World War II in the Pacific. Bereft of practical experience at projecting such a large force at such distance, the Navy had to learn and create logistics as it went. This NHHC publication describes the struggle to supply the Pacific fleet in the early days of World War II, the later successes in creating an integrated logistics system, and how the Navy attempted to institutionalize lessons learned.
The short booklet provides an accessible introduction to the topic, suitable for both military professionals and the general reader.
In their contributed forward Rear Adm. Philip Sobeck, Commander, Military Sealift Command; Rear Adm. Dion English, Director, Logistics Division (OPNAV N4L); and Rear Adm. Chris Cavanaugh, Commander, Submarine Group SEVEN/Commander, Task Force SEVEN FOUR/Commander, Task Force FIVE FOUR, highlight the importance of this publication’s subject, “Since the end of the Cold War, our military has benefited greatly from our ability to execute maneuver and distribution at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels. Today we face expanding threat environments and expect our maneuver across echelons will be contested in ways we have not seen since World War II. The importance of sustainment planning and execution and its interdependent relationship with operations is on full display in the ongoing Ukraine crisis. These events are a stark reminder of the need to transform how we plan for and execute sustainment today. There is no better starting point for this discussion than to examine the evolution of our theater logistics that sustained the victorious Pacific War forces.”
To download a 508-compliant PDF version, visit: Contested Logistics: Sustaining the Pacific War (navy.mil)
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Sentinel of the Sea Award | |
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This Friday at the New York Yacht Club the Honorable John Francis Lehman Jr., 65th US Secretary of the Navy, will be the recipient of the Sentinel of the Sea Award, the highest honor presented by the Naval War College Foundation. It is bestowed upon distinguished American citizens representing the traditions and values of the US Naval War College. Recipients of the award exemplify the US Navy motto, Non Sibi Sed Patriae / Not Self But Country.
During his six-year tenure as secretary of the Navy, Secretary Lehman supported the idea of building a 600-ship Navy and advocated for the resurgence of aircraft carriers. Later in his career of public service, he served as a staff member to Dr. Henry Kissinger on the National Security Council, as delegate to the Force Reductions Negotiations in Vienna, and as Deputy Director of the US Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. Secretary Lehman was a member of the 9/11 Commission and a member of the National Defense Commission. He is also the author of numerous books including, Where are the Carriers? US National Strategy and the Choices Ahead; Oceans Ventured; On Seas of Glory; Command of the Seas; and Making War.
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A Tribute to Captain Loren H. Page
Captain Page (USN ret.) served AUSN as a volunteer leader at the national and chapter level over many years. In August 2022, he was selected as the AUSN interim executive director. He has been instrumental in working with the board of directors to develop a new strategic plan to re-ignite the association and its chapters and develop a closer relationship with the Navy Museum Development Foundation, which is working toward a new US Navy Museum.
“Captain Page’s passion for the US Navy was infectious, and he was forever building connections and building bridges for the association in service to the men and women of the US Sea Services,” said AUSN Board Chair Dan Feliz. “We will miss the kind words he had for everyone and his leadership.”
Captain Page was a US Navy Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) who served for 30 years on destroyers/cruisers and as a member of Navy/Joint staffs in OSD/ISA, PACOM, NAVEUR,NAVKOREA and NAVRES. As Commanding Officer (CO) of three Navy Reserve Units, he was awarded Navy Achievement and Navy Commendation medals.
He has been the CEO of several technology and financial planning companies. Prior to becoming AUSN Interim Executive Director, Captain Page was Maintenance Engineer in the Fincantieri Marine Group shipyard that is building the Constellation Class Frigate in Wisconsin.
Captain Page received his BBA in International Marketing from the University of New Mexico. A lifelong learner, he completed advanced studies in education and communications at the University of Minnesota and in financial planning at San Diego State University.
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2024 Naval Order USN Art Calendars Now Available! | |
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Naval Order of the US Heritage Night -- 11 October 2023
Dr Michael A. Verney, PhD
“A Great and Rising Nation: Naval Exploration and American National Maturity, 1815–1860”
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NAVAL HISTORY BOOK REVIEWS | |
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The Wingmen: The Unlikely, Unusual, Unbreakable Friendship Between John Glenn and Ted Williams. By Adam Lazarus, Citadel Press. (2023)
Reviewed by Master Chief David A. Mattingly, USN (Ret.)
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...Glenn’s military career would see him setting air speed records and being the first NASA astronaut to orbit the Earth. After his space flight, Glenn became friends with President John Kennedy and his brother Bobby. In 1964, Bobby saw Glenn as the “new blood” needed in the Democratic Party and urged him to run for the US Senate. However, when Glenn threw his hat into the political arena, he found that his friend and wingman Ted Williams would not support him politically. Williams was a loyal Republican who, in 1960, refused Kennedy’s invitation to meet with the president-elect, saying, “Tell him I am a Nixon fan.”
Williams was nearly bedridden in his later years, but he always looked forward to calls from his friends, especially John Glenn. Glenn said, “The first thing he wanted to talk about was Korea.” The story finished with Williams’s family morbidly fighting upon his death and an unexpected tune played by a Marine Corps bugler at Glenn’s funeral!
The Wingmen is an excellent biography of Ted Williams and John Glenn. It brings to life the hardships of flying in Korea while delving into both men’s inner personalities. I highly recommend it for both sports and military historians.
Read full review>>
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NAVAL HISTORY BOOKS AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW | |
NAVAL HISTORY CALLS FOR PAPERS | |
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The Gilder Lehrman Military History Prize is a $50,000 prize sponsored by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. The award recognizes the best book on American military history in English distinguished by its scholarship, its contribution to the literature, and its appeal to the broadest possible general reading public. Books that touch upon historic military events of other countries may be considered as long as their primary focus is on American military history. Publishers, critics, and authors may submit or nominate books published in the current year.
Please note that as of 2022, only books with a primary focus of American military history can be considered.
To nominate books copyrighted in 2023, please send five copies to the address below before the submission deadline of 31 December 2023.
Daniela Muhling
Book Prize Manager
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
49 West 45th Street, 2nd Floor
New York NY 10036
For more information, please call 646.366.9666 ext.144 or send an email to bookprizes@gilderlehrman.org.
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UPCOMING NAVAL & MARITIME HISTORY GATHERINGS | |
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28–29 November: Historic Ships 2023 – National Maritime Museum, London Historic Vessels – Sustainable Futures
7–9 December: 16th International Conference on World War II – National World War II Museum, New Orleans
9–11 January 2024: Surface Navy Association National Symposium
29 February–1March 2024: Women’s History Symposium, National World War II Museum, New Orleans
18–21 April 2024: Society For Military History Annual Conference Arlington, VA
24–25 April 2024: Council of American Maritime Museums, Constitution Museum, Boston, MA
20–23 June 2024: Joint NASOH/CNRS Conference, St. Catherines, Ontario
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: 204: NATO Navies>>
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 >>
If you are one of those friends who have considered joining the Society or have wanted to recommend membership to friends, the Society is offering a 60th anniversary membership sale: ten bucks! See: Anniversary Membership Special Offer.
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