Today in U.S. Naval History: August 21

MarineLink.com August 21, 2013

USS Truxtun (Official U.S. Navy Photo)

Today in U.S. Naval History - August 21

1800 - U.S. Marine Corps Band gave its first concert in Washington, D.C.

1883 - Installation of the first electric lighting on a U.S. Navy Ship completed on USS Trenton.

1920 - Radio station built by U.S. Navy and French Government transmits first wireless message heard around the world. At time it was the most powerful radio station in the world.

1951 - First contract for nuclear-powered submarine awarded.

1965 - Launch of Gemini 5, piloted by LCDR Charles Conrad Jr., USN, who completed 120 orbits in almost eight days at an altitude of 349.8 km. Recovery was by helicopter from USS Lake Champlain (CVS-39).

1980 - USS Truxtun rescues 42 Vietnamese refugees and USS Merrill rescues 62 Vietnamese refugees, over 200 miles southeast of Saigon

For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.