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James Forrestal News

16 Sep 2016

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.

23 Sep 2014

Today in U.S. Naval History: September 23

USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort (U.S. Navy photo)

Today in U.S. 1779 - Capt. John Paul Jones in Continental Navy frigate Bonhomme Richard captures HMS Serapis. 1931 - Lt. Alfred Pride pilots Navy's first rotary wing aircraft, XOP-1 autogiro, in landings and takeoffs on board USS Langley while underway. 1944 - USS West Virginia (BB-48) reaches Pearl Harbor and rejoins the Pacific Fleet, marking the end of the salvage and reconstruction of 18 ships damaged at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.

23 Sep 2013

Today in U.S. Naval History: September 23

Captain John Paul Jones (photo: Naval History and Heritage Command)

Today in U.S. 1779 - Captain John Paul Jones in Continental Navy frigate Bonhomme Richard captures HMS Serapis. 1931 - Lt. Alfred Pride pilots Navy's first rotary wing aircraft, XOP-1 autogiro, in landings and takeoffs on board USS Langley while underway. 1944 - USS West Virginia (BB-48) reaches Pearl Harbor and rejoins the Pacific Fleet, marking the end of the salvage and reconstruction of 18 ships damaged at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.

23 Sep 2011

This Day in Navy History - September 23-25

1779 - Captain John Paul Jones in Continental Navy frigate Bonhomme Richard captures HMS Serapis. 1931 - LT Alfred Pride pilots Navy's first rotary wing aircraft, XOP-1 autogiro, in landings and takeoffs on board USS Langley while underway. 1944 - USS West Virginia (BB-48) reaches Pearl Harbor and rejoins the Pacific Fleet, marking the end of the salvage and reconstruction of 18 ships damaged at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. 1918 - Ensign David S. Ingalls, USNR, in a Sopwith Camel, shoots down his fifth enemy aircraft, becoming the first U.S. Navy ace while flying with the British Royal Air Force. 1941 - In first successful U.S. Navy escort of convoys during World War II, Navy escort turn over HX-150 to British escorts at the Mid-Ocean Meeting Point. All ships reach port safely.

23 Sep 2010

This Day in Naval History – September 23

1779 - Captain John Paul Jones in Continental Navy frigate Bonhomme Richard captures HMS Serapis. 1931 - LT Alfred Pride pilots Navy's first rotary wing aircraft, XOP-1 autogiro, in landings and takeoffs on board USS Langley while underway. 1944 - Naval Task Group lands Army troops on Ulithi Atoll, Caroline Islands 1944 - USS West Virginia (BB-48) reaches Pearl Harbor and rejoins the Pacific Fleet, marking the end of the salvage and reconstruction of 18 ships damaged at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. 1947 - James Forrestal, former SECNAV, takes office as first Secretary of Defense 1990 - Two Hospital ships (USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort) steam together for first time in Arabian Gulf (Source: Navy News Service)

22 Sep 2009

This Day in Naval History – Sept. 23

1779 - Captain John Paul Jones in Continental Navy frigate Bonhomme Richard captures HMS Serapis. 1931 - LT Alfred Pride pilots Navy's first rotary wing aircraft, XOP-1 autogiro, in landings and takeoffs on board USS Langley while underway. 1944 - Naval Task Group lands Army troops on Ulithi Atoll, Caroline Islands 1944 - USS West Virginia (BB-48) reaches Pearl Harbor and rejoins the Pacific Fleet, marking the end of the salvage and reconstruction of 18 ships damaged at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. 1947 - James Forrestal, former SECNAV, takes office as first Secretary of Defense 1990 - Two Hospital ships (USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort) steam together for first time in Arabian Gulf (Source: Navy News Service)

23 Sep 2008

This Day in Naval History - Sept. 23

From the Navy News Service 1779 - Captain John Paul Jones, in Continental Navy frigate Bonhomme Richard, captures HMS Serapis. 1931 - Lt. Alfred Pride pilots Navy's first rotary wing aircraft, XOP-1 autogiro, in landings and takeoffs aboard USS Langley (CV 1) while underway. 1944 - Naval Task Group lands Army troops on Ulithi Atoll, . 1944 - USS West Virginia (BB 48) reaches and rejoins the Pacific Fleet, marking the end of the salvage and reconstruction of 18 ships damaged Dec. 7, 1941. 1947 - James Forrestal, former Secretary of the Navy, takes office as the first Secretary of Defense. 1990 - Two hospital ships -- USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) and USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) -- steam together for the first time in the .

11 Nov 2005

SECDEF Releases 2005 Veterans Day Message

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld released his Veterans Day message to service members Nov. My father volunteered to serve in the Navy shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. At 38, he was well beyond draft age, but he wanted to serve. When he passed away some years ago, I found a letter in his personal papers that he had received from then Secretary of the Navy, James Forrestal, who later became our country's first Secretary of Defense. Secretary Forrestal apparently sent such a letter to those who served, to arrive after they had returned to civilian life. Noting the historic achievements made by the U.S. "You have served in the greatest Navy in the world. ... It crushed two enemy fleets at once, receiving their surrenders only four months apart.