A Commencement Address for Memorial Day

Godzilla vs. the US Military

Time to call the Navy?

Meanwhile, I can't wait to go see the new movie.  Bryan Cranston and Ken Watanabe, please make me forget that the awful 1998 movie ever existed!

Meet the Navy's Captain Kirk

No, seriously, his name really is James Kirk.

Life Imitates Star Trek in the South China Sea

Expansionist China tells its neighbors that resistance is futile.

Quote of the Day: An Old Marine On Naval Priorities

A member of the U.S. Naval Academy's Class of 1958 has some unvarnished (read: "politically incorrect but refreshingly honest") thoughts about the present state of things.  Here's a piece of his letter to the current academy superintendent:

"The cult of diversity has undermined the proper focus on mission accomplishment. Most of us who have actually fought 'in the trenches' in wartime don’t really care what race, creed or color our comrades-in-arms are. When we call for support in a 'danger close' situation we simply want the best qualified decision-makers in place to be dropping the bombs, firing the missiles or lobbing artillery our way. I don’t see how relaxed admissions and retention standards for minorities (or anyone else) at the premier officer training university in the country does anything to foster confidence that we will have that first team in place when faced with life and death situations. 

... The naval service is not about looking sharp, shuffling papers or making people feel good. It is primarily about accomplishing the mission and winning wars. If we don’t get our national priorities straight and our military doesn’t get re-focused, our armed forces may score high in political correctness, but will continue to get their butts kicked in far off places."

Of course, the hateful response to this from the usual circles will be boringly predictable.

NYC Fleet Week Canceled

WHAT?!  This is horrible, just horrible.  I love Fleet Week!  

Navy Names Research Vessel After Neil Armstrong

A fitting tribute to an American pioneer.  Oh, and people tend to forget that Armstrong was a naval aviator who flew almost 80 missions during the Korean War.

The BiblioFiles: Morison's Landmark History of the US Navy in WWII

Samuel Eliot Morison's 15-volume work History of the United States Naval Operations in World War II is now being reissued! Put it on your to-read list, along with all of Morison's other books.  I especially liked Admiral of the Ocean Sea, his Pulitzer-winning biography of Columbus.  The amazing thing about Morison isn't the scope of his knowledge, though it is massive.  The amazing thing is how a good a writer he is.  Modern academic historians should take note!