Former US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan and former Trump administration National Security Council adviser on Russia Dr. Fiona Hill were interviewed on Face the Nation regarding the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. The two agreed that sanctions were never the only tool available to address the crisis and that diplomacy and military support for Ukraine were also essential. They emphasized that other countries need to understand that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is not part of a great power competition but is instead a matter of helping Ukraine liberate itself. Both Hill and Sullivan also shared their concern that the conflict could lead to destabilization and aggression against other surrounding countries. Putin is expected to deliver a message that depicts the war in Ukraine as a great patriotic war to mobilize Russian support. President Biden will need to counter that narrative, not just in Europe.
Unsung Navy Heros – Underwater Demolition Teams
During World War II, the United States Navy played a crucial role in the Allied victory. While some naval officers and crew members became well-known heroes, many others went unrecognized for their contributions.
One such group of unsung heroes was the Navy’s underwater demolition team, or UDT. These highly skilled divers were tasked with clearing the way for amphibious landings by removing obstacles such as mines and other explosive devices from the seafloor.
Among these brave men was a young diver named Jack. Jack had grown up in a small town in the Midwest and had always been fascinated by the ocean. When he heard about the UDT, he knew that he had to be a part of it. He trained for months, learning how to use explosives and navigate underwater. When he finally graduated, he was assigned to a team that would be involved in the upcoming invasion of Okinawa.
As the invasion approached, Jack and his team were tasked with clearing a path for the landing craft. They worked tirelessly, swimming back and forth between the shore and their ship, carefully placing explosives and detonating them to clear the way. The work was dangerous and exhausting, but they knew that the success of the invasion depended on their efforts.
On the morning of the invasion, Jack and his team were among the first to hit the beach. They had to clear a path through a dense minefield while under heavy fire from enemy troops. But they pressed on, working through the smoke and the chaos to make sure that the landing craft could make it to shore safely.
Thanks to their efforts, the invasion was a success. The Allies were able to gain a foothold on Okinawa, which would prove to be a crucial stepping stone in the fight against Japan. But despite their heroism, Jack and his team were never recognized for their bravery. They returned home quietly, slipping back into civilian life without fanfare or celebration.
Years later, as an old man, Jack would look back on his time in the UDT with pride. He knew that he and his fellow divers had played a crucial role in the war effort, and he was grateful for the experience. And while he may not have received the recognition that he deserved, he knew that he had done his part to help secure freedom and democracy for future generations.
One man finds closure after long-lost WWII US submarine found off Japanese coast
William Bower II, a retired aerospace engineer, has finally found closure after the discovery of the wreck of the USS Albacore, a US submarine that sank during World War II off the coast of Japan in 1944. Bower’s father, Lt. William Walter Bower, was among at least 85 sailors who were lost at sea when the submarine sank. The discovery of the wreck was confirmed by the Naval History and Heritage Command, and Bower was notified of the news on Thursday. The discovery of the USS Albacore is significant as it sheds light on the events of the war and provides closure to families of those who were lost at sea.
China’s Support for Russia
US officials have warned allies at the Munich Security Conference that China may be increasing its support for Russia’s military according to press reports from CNN. The officials, who remain anonymous, have reported seeing “disturbing” trendlines indicating China wants to provide lethal military aid to Russia without being caught. They did not provide specific details but stated that the US has been concerned enough to share the intelligence with its allies. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reportedly raised the issue with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, during a meeting at the conference according to the news.
This Day in Navy History – February 17, 2023
On This Day
1864
While at anchor off Charleston, S.C., the Steam Sloop of War USS Housatonic is attacked by the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley using a spar torpedo. USS Housatonic is recorded as the first warship to be sunk by a submarine.
1942
The first Construction Battalion (Seabees) arrives in the Pacific during World War II at Bora Bora, Society Islands.
1944
USS Nicholas (DD 449) sinks the Japanese submarine I-11 in the Marshall Islands.
1944
During Operation Hailstone, aircraft from the nine aircraft carriers of Task Force 58 attack the Japanese fleet at Truk. During the 2-day strike, 33 Japanese vessels are destroyed and nine more damaged.
1945
While wounded and gravely weakened, Medal of Honor Recipient Lt Rufus G. Herring takes the helm of the Landing Craft Infantry Gunboat (LCI(G)-449), which was heavily hit by Japanese counter-fire, rallies his men, and keeps the ship in action protecting UDT swimmers.
US Naval Academy Renames Maury Hall to Carter Hall in Honor of Former President Jimmy Carter
The US Naval Academy’s Maury Hall has been renamed Carter Hall in honor of former President Jimmy Carter, who served in the Navy before entering politics. The decision was made as part of the Naming Commission’s recommendation to rename military assets with Confederate ties. During a renaming ceremony, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro said the new names should inspire generations of service members to defend democracy and the Constitution. Carter is the only Naval Academy graduate to have served as president of the US. Maury Hall, named after Confederate Navy officer Matthew Fontaine Maury, was built in the early 1900s.
“China Blindness” says Commander of Office of Naval Intelligence says News Reports
Rear Adm. Mike Studeman, the commander of the Office of Naval Intelligence, has criticized the “China blindness” of most Americans in understanding the threat posed by China. Speaking at the West 2023 conference in San Diego according published accounts from Justin Katz, BreakingDeadefense.com. Reports also quoting Studeman “blamed the problem on a “knowledge crisis,” but also accused the Pentagon of overclassifying information”. The admiral also addressed the issue of the US policy on Taiwan, saying that the country should maintain its policy of “strategic ambiguity” regarding the possibility of military intervention in the event of a Chinese invasion. The comments came in the wake of the Chinese government deploying a high-altitude balloon over US airspace.
This Day in Navy History – February 14, 2023
1813 – The frigate Essex, commanded by Capt. David Porter, becomes the first U.S. Navy warship to round Cape Horn and enter the Pacific Ocean.
1778
Continental ship, Ranger, commanded by John Paul Jones, receives the first official salute to a U.S. Stars and Stripes flag by a foreign government (the French fleet) at Quiberon, France.
1814
The frigate Constitution, commanded by Capt. Charles Stewart, captures the British Lovely Ann off Guiana, the first of four during a five-day period.
1945
USS Gato (SS 212) sinks Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No.9 in the Yellow Sea and USS Hawkbill (SS 366) sinks Japanese auxiliary submarine chasers Cha 4 and Cha 114 in the Java Sea.
1945
Water Tender Second Class Elmer C. Bigelow heroically fights a blaze after USS Fletcher (DD 445) is hit by enemy shelling. Bigelow dies the next day from his injuries. He is posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity.” USS Bigelow (DD 942) is named in his honor in 1957.
1998
Guided Missile Destroyer USS Mahan (DDG 72) is commissioned
This Day in Navy History – February 13, 2023
1913 – The Naval Radio Station, Arlington Va., begins operations. The station is a pioneer in communications, most notably with the Eiffel Tower in France.
1917
Marine Capt. Francis T. Evans performs the first loop with a seaplane in an N-9 float plane at 3,000 feet, then forces it into a spin and successfully recovers. For this contribution to the science of aviation, he is later awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
1943
Women Marines were reestablished as the Marine Corps Womens Reserve. Col. Ruth Cheney Streeter, the first Director of the United States Marine Corps Women’s Reserve, serves until Dec. 7, 1945.
1945
USS Sennet (SS 408) is damaged by gunfire of Japanese gunboat (No.8 Kotoshiro Maru or No.3 Showa Maru), east of Tanega Shima, but then Sennett sinks No.8 Kotoshiro Maru after it had been shelled by USS Lagarto (SS 371) and USS Haddock (SS 231). Haddock then sinks No.3 Showa Maru, which had already been shelled by Lagarto and Sennett .
This Day in Navy History – February 10, 2023
1862
A flotilla under Cmdr. Stephen C. Rowan aboard USS Delaware engages the gunboats and batteries at Elizabeth City, N.C, capturing CSS Ellis and sinking CSS Seabird.
1900
Commodore Seaton Schroder is appointed the first naval governor of Guam.
1943
USS Pickerel (SS 177) sinks Japanese freighter Amari Maru off Sanriku.
1944
USS Pogy (SS 266) attacks a Japanese convoy and sinks destroyer Minekaze and freighter Malta Maru 85 miles north-northeast of Formosa.
1945
U.S. Navy submarine USS Batfish (SS 310) sinks three enemy submarines from Feb. 10-13.
1991
During Operation Desert Storm, A-6 Intruders attack two unidentified patrol boats in the northern Arabian Gulf, destroying both.