This Day In Naval History: September 16
1814 - A squadron from the schooner USS Carolina attacks and raids the base of the pirate Jean Lafitte, at Barataria, La., capturing six schooners and other small craft while the pirates flee the attack. 1823 - Samuel Southard becomes the seventh Secretary of the Navy, serving until March 3, 1829. During his tenure, he enlarges the Navy, improves administration, purchases land for the first Naval Hospitals, begins construction of the first Navy dry docks, undertakes surveying U.S. coastal waters and promotes exploration in the Pacific Ocean. 1854 - Mare Island, Calif. becomes the first permanent U.S. naval installation on the west coast, with Cmdr. David G. Farragut as its first base commander. 1922 - Cmdr.
This Day In Naval History: June 14
1777 - John Paul Jones takes command of the Continental Navy sloop USS Ranger. While commanding Ranger, the ship receives the first official salute to the Stars and Stripes flag by the French fleet at Quiberon Bay. 1777 - The Continental Congress adopts the design of present U.S. flag of 13 stripes and 13 stars. 1847 - Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry conducts the second expedition against Tabasco, Mexico, also known as the Battle of Villahermosa. 1945 - USS Sea Devil (SS 400) sinks the Japanese transport Wakamiyasan Maru in the Yellow Sea. 1945 - PB4Y aircraft bomb Japanese shipping off Banjarmasin, Borneo and sink Japanese (No. 470) shuttle vessel. 1985 - Steelworker Second Class Robert D.
USCG Sea Fox Commissioned at Keyport
Northwest region military personnel and guests celebrated the commissioning of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Sea Fox (WPB 87374) at the Naval Base Kitsap, Keyport pier Sept. 18. Rear Adm. Gary Blore, commander, 13th Coast Guard District, presided over the commissioning ceremony. Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Charles Bowen provided the keynote speech accompanied by his wife, Janet, the ship's official sponsor. By tradition, the sponsor is a civilian woman with close ties to the service. She is invited to bestow good luck and divine protection over the ship and all that sail aboard. The sponsor also gives part of her own personality to the ship and becomes a permanent member of the crew.
U.S. Fleet Forces Command Selects New Fleet Master Chief
Adm. Gary Roughead, Commander U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFF), announced the selection of Fleet Master Chief (SS/SW) Rick West June 18 as U.S. Fleet Forces Command Fleet Master Chief (FLTCMC). “It is truly an honor to be here,” said West. West, a Rising Fawn, Ga., native, recently served as the U.S. Pacific Fleet Master Chief. Prior to that assignment, he was the Command Master Chief of USS Preble (DDG 88). He relieved Fleet Master Chief Jacqueline DiRosa to become USFF’s 14th Fleet Master Chief. DiRosa will now serve as the Director, Command Master Chief Management Office in Washington. With his new assignment, West becomes the senior enlisted advisor for more than 97…
