NHF Co-Sponsors SECNAV War of 1812 Commemoration Kickoff
Tuesday evening at the Library of Congress, the Naval Historical Foundation helped the Navy stage its formal kickoff for the 2012 War of 1812 Bicentennial Commemoration. The event was hosted in the Great Hall of the Library of Congress' Jefferson Building, by Librarian of Congress, Dr. James H. Billington and Secretary of the Navy the Honorable Ray Mabus. Joining the Foundation in supporting this event were the Navy League of the United States, OpSail, and the National Maritime Historical Society.
After presentation of the colors by a color guard from War of 1812 veteran USS Constitution, and a stirring rendition of the War of 1812-spawned "Star Spangled Banner" by a U.S. Navy Band vocalist, the 600 guests heard from the hosts. Dr. Billington reminded the guests of the impact of the War of 1812 on the Library of Congress, with the destruction of the entire collection when the Capitol was burned in 1814. The subsequent Congressionally authorized purchase of Thomas Jefferson's library became the foundation of the largest such collection in the western hemisphere at the time, and set the Library of Congress on the road to becoming the world renowned repository it is today. Secretary Mabus explained the parallels between the valor, determination, and readiness to fight of the young U.S. Navy during that long ago conflict and the combat ready Navy-Marine Corps and Coast Guard team today, who have kept the seas free for these 200 years.
Foundation leadership was strongly represented at the event. Our Chairman, Admiral Bruce DeMars, USN (Ret), President, Vice Admiral Bob Dunn, USN (Ret), and seven directors all had the opportunity to attend. Following the remarks, Admiral DeMars presented a specially struck fine silver War of 1812 Commemorative Medal to Secretary Mabus. The medal's design incorporates the official U.S. Navy War of 1812 Bicentennial logo. Bronze versions of this medal are available for sale at the National Navy Museum, or online; see our 1812 Commemorative Medal page for more information.
To learn more about the Navy's upcoming plans for War of 1812 Bicentennial Commemorations, please visit the Navy's official 1812 website at www.ourflagwasstillthere.org.
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April Submarine History Seminar: OUTLAW SHARK Submarine History Seminar: "OUTLAW SHARK - The Beginning of Over The Horizon Targeting"
National War College 6 - 9 PM 24 April 2012 Register for this free event by Email - nslevent@navalsubleague.com or Phone - 703-256-0891 or 1-877-280-7827
Participants:
RADM Guy Schaffer, USN (Ret), Director, Navy Command Control and Communications Projects, Naval Electronics Command. Significant activities during this time included, initiation of JTIDS Development, introduction of OSIS, and ASWOC, introduction and validation of Over-the-Horizon Targeting (OTH) and the Outlaw Shark concept.
RADM Walter Locke, USN (Ret), Founder and Chairman emeritus of the Precision Strike Association. As Director of the Joint Cruise Missiles Project from 1977 to 1982, Rear Admiral Locke organized and directed eight major development and acquisition programs. He successfully led the anti-ship guidance development for the Harpoon Anti-Ship Weapons System.
Dr. Robert Hess, Directed and performed contract analyses in areas of ocean surveillance, OTH targeting, command-and-control, and related fields for Director of the Reconnaissance, Electronic Warfare, Special Operations, and Naval Intelligence Systems Office, Commander, Navy Operational Test and Evaluation Force and Director, Navy/Joint Cruise Missile Project.
For More information visit: www.navalsubleague.com/NSL/history_seminar.aspx
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USS Constitution Interactive Display Dedicated at Navy Museum On Monday 12 March, a new interactive display was dedicated at the National Navy Museum at the Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C. The touch screen driven display gives museum visitors a chance to learn about the history of the commanding officers of the historic frigate USS Constitution. It was the brainchild of Dr. Jack London, Chairman of the Board of CACI International, Inc. London is a 1959 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, who served 12 years active duty as a naval aviator, and retired as a Captain from the Naval Reserve in 1983. The Constitution's first commanding officer, Captain Samuel Nicholson, also happens to be a distant relative of Dr. London.
London approached the Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) about pitching in to help promote this year's bicentennial of the War of 1812, and an interactive feature on Constitution's commanding officers seemed a natural byproduct of his personal connection to the very first of them. Working closely with the Naval Historical Foundation, the National Navy Museum, and the USS Constitution Museum, London helped bring the plan to fruition. His generous donation of funds through the Naval Historical Foundation enabled construction of both the physical touch screen display panel, as well as the software and content that drive the interactive. The panel was mounted on a column near the entrance to the "Forgotten Wars of the Nineteenth Century" exhibit in the National Navy Museum, with a second version planned for the USS Constitution Museum in Charlestown, MA. It features trivia, a quiz, biographies of the commanding officers, and a moving timeline. Dr. London and his wife, Dr. Jennifer London, had the opportunity to engage the interactive display.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, London was presented with a gavel and sounding board carved out of wood from the hull of USS Constitution. This artifact dates from the 1920's overhaul of Constitution, and was typical of the "Old Ironsides" related items that were sold at the time. Funds raised from these sales helped to underwrite the major renovation that returned the frigate to her 1812 seagoing appearance. The repair work culminated in a triumphant 1931-34 cruise around America's coast.
A future rollout of the interactive to the web is planned. In the meantime, the USS Constitution Museum has a full list of the ship's commanding officers on their website.
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NHF Chairman to be Honored at Awards Dinner
Former Director of Naval History and Naval Historical Foundation Director Bill Dudley and his wife Donna are co-chairing the National Maritime Historical Society Washington wards Dinner on behalf of that organization to be held at the National Press Club in Washington DC commencing at 6 PM on 12 April 2012. The NHF and NMHS partner on many projects to promote naval and maritime history and strongly encourages its members who reside in the National Capital region to come out for an entertaining social event that raises funds to support maritime history. Tickets for the event may be obtained through the Society's www.seahistory.org website.
Dr. Dudley reports:
The 2012 Washington Awards Dinner is well on its way to being a successful evening, as you can tell from the following elements being in place:
The Silent Auction already has some great items on the list for sale, such as a weeks' stay at The Bitter End Resort, Virgin Gorda, B.W.I., a Windjammer Cruise along the coast of Maine, a cocktail cruise on the Choptank River and the associated creeks of James Michener Country, a special behind the scenes tour of the Mariners Museum tour, and other great occasions, adventures, artistic creations, but we would love to have more interesting and valuable items.
The Marine Art Gallery featuring works for sale by some of the Washington, Baltimore Chesapeake region's best known artists: Patrick O'Brien, Tim Bell, Marc Castelli, and John Barber.
Co-chair Donna Dudley is working with National Press Club Caterer Patty Powers to select tasty hors d'oeuvres and an excellent menu for your dinner enjoyment.
US Sailing's Gary Jobson will perform as Master of Ceremonies and will give an overview of future America's Cup races.
An exciting Awards Program featuring nuclear submariner and NHF Chairman Admiral Bruce DeMars, to be introduced by Senator Chris Dodd; yacht designer Bruce Farr, to be introduced by George J. Collins, former CEO of T. Rowe Price and owner of Chessie Racing; famed artist Patrick O'Brien, to be introduced by fellow artist Charles Raskob Robinson, an official of the American Society of Marine Artists.
Skilled videographer Rick Lopes will be showing his wonderful videos of each awardee's accomplishments.
Award-winning musicians David and Ginger Hildebrand will present musical selections from the War of 1812 era on period instruments as a prelude to the War of 1812 Bicentennial which commences this summer. David & Ginger were Music Consultants to the PBS series Liberty!-the American Revolution and to C-SPAN's award-winning Series American Presidents: Life Portraits.
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Registration for First International Marine Forensics Symposium April 3 - 5, 2012, at the Gaylord National Hotel near Washington, DC
An unprecedented gathering of world-renowned scientists, archaeologists, oceanographers, engineers and authors, led by 'Titanic' Director and Deep Sea Underwater Explorer and Inventor of Autonomous Underwater 3-D Cameras, James Cameron. Discover how underwater exploration, technology and marine forensics have changed history, impacted ship building, and affected the way shipwrecks and aviation disasters are discovered and analyzed.
There will be a special dinner speech by the Honorable Dr. Donald C. Winter, 74th secretary of the Navy and symposium panel discussions, led by leading scientific experts, including Paul Henri Nargeolet, Rear Admiral Eccles, Norman Polmar, and David Mearns. We will mark the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic with groundbreaking news relating to the disaster. The Symposium will also feature a special Panel discussion, "A Century from Titanic to Costa Concordia, What Marine Forensics Lessons Have We Learned?"
A new manual will be introduced, "Guidelines for Marine Forensics Investigations," outlining guidelines for investigating marine accidents, like the recent Costa Concordia shipwreck in Italy. Also, Pierette Simpson, author and survivor of the 1956 SS Andrea Doria shipwreck, will launch a new book, I Was Shipwrecked on the Andrea Doria ! The Titanic of the 1950's during the Student Program, which is targeted for grades 7 through college.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION (http://www.sname.org/Forensics2012/Home/)
- Fees for one day of the symposium are $175 or $475 for the entire 3-day symposium if you register on or before March 23.
- Registration fees after March 23 are $275 for one day of the symposium or $575 for the entire 3-day program.
- Student members may register for $50 for one day or for $150 for the full symposium.
- A special registration fee of $15 for the Student Program is available to students, teachers, and chaperones who register on or prior to March 23. Registration fee after March 23 is $25.
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NHF Director Remembers John Glenn Space Flight
Fifty years ago, on February 20, 1962, John Glenn made his famous space flight, circling the globe three times before coming down in the Caribbean landing and recovery zone, where Dr. Jack London, CACI Chairmanand an NHF Director, was on station for the recovery.
LTjg J.P. "Jack" London, USN, was a Navy helicopter pilot with squadron Helasron Seven aboard the aircraft carrier USS Randolph (CVS-15), which was assigned the recovery mission. He was with the airborne recovery team when Glenn overshot the recovery primary zone and landed further down range, being pulled from the sea by the crew of the USS Noa, a recovery back-up ship. During his 4-hour, 56-minute flight, Glenn had reached altitudes of up to 162 miles and orbited the Earth at speeds approaching 17,500 mph.
London recalls the day and Glenn's return aboard Randolph as "one of the most exciting days of my life. America was now back in space for real, and we were doing a better job than the Soviets, who had been up there first. It was a hot, bright, sunny day and there were hundreds of us all over the flight deck in our white and khaki uniforms and orange flight suits celebrating and cheering the success." Later that year, London was also aboard Randolph in the Caribbean during the Cuban Missile Crisis, in October and November 1962.
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Read the Latest Stories on NHF our Blog
We continue to update our blog with weekly stories, book reviews, and news updates. Here's a highlight of some of the stories we've shared at www.navyhistory.org. Additionally, if you have an interesting story about naval history, a museum ship, or a naval museum, please let us know, and we'll consider it for publication on the blog! Contact David Colamaria at dcolamaria@navyhistory.org with your story idea.
Call for Papers: Britain and the Sea
This conference will examine the relationship between Great Britain and the Sea. It is increasingly said that Britain is in danger of losing its self-identity as a maritime nation at the point when the sea becomes the focus for a new era of economic exploitation, sustainable transportation and inter-state rivalry.
The age of the battleship has passed into history, but along the coasts of the United States are reminders of this dramatic era in naval history. Nestled in Wilmington, NC, is the battleship ex-USS North Carolina (BB 55), moored on the Cape Fear River. Commissioned in 1941, she was awarded 15 battle stars during World War II, and was decommissioned in 1947...
Former Vietnam POW Visits Cold War Gallery
Captain Bob Naughton, USN (Ret), a former prisoner of war during the Vietnam War, poses for a photo with the prison camp model of the "Zoo," where he spent time during his captivity, just a few miles outside of the city of Hanoi in North Vietnam. Captain Naughton visited the Cold War Gallery, Wednesday, 1 February, while in town for the Arlington funeral of his former VA-113 commanding officer, Captain Hank Dibble, USN...
OpSail Announces The Star-Spangled Banner and War of 1812 Essay and Art Contest
Operation Sail, Inc., the national non-profit organization that produces tall ship events commemorating patriotic American milestones, announced its sponsorship of an essay contest and an art contest for high school students in association with the USS Constitution Museum, the National Maritime Historical Society, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard. The prize, awarded in each of six ports, will be a ride on the Coast Guard tall ship Eagle...
Civil War Journal of Acting Assistant Surgeon Ezra Pray
In September 1861, with the American Civil War five months old and showing signs of becoming a protracted conflict, Dr. Ezra Pray, practicing medicine in New England, applied for and was granted a naval surgeon's appointment. Pray had been born on 13 March 1832 in Rochester, NH, son of farmer Ezra H. Pray and mother Hannah Tebbetts. At 29, Dr. Pray was described in his enrollment record as 5 feet, 10 inches tall, light complexion, light blue eyes and brown hair...
New Exhibit to be Built for Navy Museum's Cold War Gallery
Design and Production, Inc., a leading builder of large, complex museum exhibits, has been contracted to build "Into the Lion's Den," a new Cold War Gallery exhibit at the U.S. Navy Museum. Scheduled for completion by June 2012 as commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the war in Vietnam begins, "Into the Lion's Den" describes the history of two events: Operation Sea Dragon, the shelling of coastal targets in North Vietnam by Navy and allied warships, and "Lion's Den" the August 1972 night bombardment of Haiphong harbor area targets by a four ship Navy flotilla...
ADM Holloway Visits NHF and Cold War Gallery on 90th Birthday
Admiral James Holloway III, USN (Ret), former Chief of Naval Operations, and Chairman Emeritus of the Naval Historical Foundation, stopped by our office yesterday on his 90th birthday. He had the chance to enjoy some birthday cake, and toured the Cold War Gallery with his son-in-law, Richard Quist..
Lost Crew of Civil War Ironclad Comes to Life
As part of the 150th Anniversary of the USS Monitor and the legendary Battle of Hampton Roads, the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C., hosted a commemorative program in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office (NOAA) of National Marine Sanctuaries, the Naval History and Heritage Command, and the Mariners' Museum's USS Monitor Center, March 6, 2012...
Commodore John Barry Statute - New Wayside Marker Dedication
The Naval Order of the United States has teamed with the National Park Service to create a wayside marker to be placed alongside the statue of Commodore John Barry, U.S. Navy, in Franklin Park at 14th Street, NW, in Washington, DC. Although the statue has been standing since its dedication by President Woodrow Wilson in 1914, there has been no interpretive marker to explain to the public who Commodore John Barry was and why he is important today.
NHF Curator Visits USS ENTERPRISE for Final Deployment
Ray Godfrey is part-time curator for the Naval Historical Foundation, a position he has held since 2002. Of late, he has been hard at work de-accessioning many of the artifacts that the Foundation has acquired over the years, finding new homes for them in museums and archival collections. This past weekend, Ray had the chance to see off an old friend. Ray is a plankowner of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN-65), and served in her from 1961-66.
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