Celebrating Asian American, Native Hawai'ian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Harry Harris, J. first Asian American to command USPACOM

 

Harry Harris Jr., born August 4, 1956 in Yokosuka, Japan, is the first Asian American to lead the US Pacific Command. His mother was Japanesse and his father was a US Navy Machinist's mate, aboard the USS Lexington.  He graduated from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis in 1978.

Harris was nominated by President Barack Obama to command the USPACOM on September 22, 2014.  The Senate confirmed his appointment on December 11, making him the first Asian American to achieve this position.

Adm. Harry Harris J. nominated to lead PACOM

Celebrating Black History Month: Madeline Swegle, first African American female US Navy tactical jet pilot

 

Madeline Swegle, from Burke, Virginia, is the first African American woman to become a US Navy tactical jet pilot, July 7, 2020.  She graduated from the US Naval Academy in 2017. She completed her Tactical Air Strike pilot training in Kingsville, TX. 

Lt. Madeline Swegle

Celebrating Black History Month: James H. Conyers, first African American admitted to the US Naval Academy

James Henry Conyers, born October 24, 1855 in South Carolina, was the first African American admitted to the US Naval Academy.  He was nominated by South Carolina congress Robert B. Elliott, also an African American.  After completing his exams, he was sworn in September 24, 1872 as a cadet-midshipman.  

Life at the academy was particularly harsh and Conyers was the target of brutal hazing, being spit on, and physically attacked.  In one incident, his fellow midshipmen tried to drown him. Nine cadets were dismissed from the academy after one brutal attack, but Conyers resigned in October 1873.

He returned to South Carolina and lived a quiet life until he passed November 29, 1935.  

James H. Conyers 

Happy birthday, astronaut James Buchli!

James Buchli, born June 20, 1945 in New Rockford, North Dakota, flew into space four times with NASA's Space Shuttle program.  He graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1967 and received a commission in the US Marine Corps.  He served in the Vietnam War as a Platoon Commander with the 9th Marine Regiment, and then for B Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion.  He returned to the US in 1969 and completed his training as a naval flight officer. 

Buchli was chosen as an astronaut in 1979.  His first flight was aboard Discovery (STS-51-C) as mission specialist in January 1985.  The mission was dedicated to the US Department of Defense, and he returned to Earth after just over 3 days in space.

His second mission was aboard Challenger (STS-61-A) as flight engineer in October-November 1985, the last successful mission of the Challenger.  He spent seven days in space.

Buchlil's third mission was aboard Discovery (STS-29) as mission specialist in March 1989 to insert a Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) into orbit. He spent almost 5 days in space before returning to Earth.

His fourth and final mission was aboard Discovery (STS-48) as mission specialist in September 1991 to deploy the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS).  He returned to Earth after more than 5 days in space.

Buchli retired from NASA in 1992

Celebrating Asian American, Native Hawai'ian, Pacific Islanders Heritage Month: Gordon Pai‘ea Chung-Hoon, first Asian American rear admiral in US Navy

Gordon Pai'ea Chung-Hoon, born July 25, 1910 in Hawai'ian territory to a Chinese father and Hawai'ian mother, attended the US Naval Academy in May 1934, becoming the first Asian American graduate from the academy. He played football for the Navy as halfback and punter, helping break an 11-year losing streak against Army in 1934. 

After graduation, he was assigned to the USS Indianapolis as ensign.  In January 1937, he served on the USS Montgomery, and then lieutenant (junior grade) on the USS Dent in January 1939.

He served on the USS Arizona as a lieutenant and was in Hawai'i on the day of the attack on Pearl Harbor.  He was in Honolulu when the attack occurred.  He then worked as a naval liaison officer with coastal artillery, and also served on the cruiser USS Honolulu.

In May 1944, Chung-Hoon commanded the destroyer USS Sigsbee. On April 14, 1945, the Sigsbee assisted in an aircraft carrier strike force off Kyushu, when a kamikaze crashed into her.  The  explosion killed 23 men, knocked out the port engine and steering control and severely damaging her starboard engine.

Admiral Halsey told Chung-Hoon to scuttle the ship, but Chung-Hoon refused, saying "No, I have kids on here that can't swim and I'm not putting them in the water.  I'll take her back."

He managed to keep the ship a float while continuing to fire on enemy aircraft, and made it safely back to port. He received the Navy Cross and the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and extraordinary heroism.

Chung-Hoon commanded the USS John W. Thomason during the Korean War and was promoted to captain July 1, 1953. He retired in 1959 and was promoted to rear admiral, making him the first Asian American flag officer of the US Navy.

He passed away on July 24, 1979, the day before his 69th birthday.

Celebrating Black History Month: Wesley A. Brown, first African-American to graduate from US Naval Academy

Wesley Anthony Brown, born April 3, 1927 in Baltimore, Maryland, became the first African-American to graduate from the United States Naval Academy in May 1949.  Five other black men had been admitted before him but never finished due to extensive hostility.  Brown also faced hostility but did not leave.  

He served for twenty years in the US Navy and participated in the Korean and Vietnam wars.  Brown retired in June 1969 as lieutenant commander.  

Brown passed away in Silver Spring, Maryland in May 2012.  The Wesley Brown Field House at the US Naval Academy is named in his honor. 

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: Joseph Clark, first Native American to graduate from US Naval Academy

Joseph "Jocko" Clark, born November 12, 1893 in the Cherokee Nation, in Indian Territory, is the first Native American to graduate from the US Naval Academy.  Jocko attended Willie Halsell College, Oklahoma Agriculture and Mechanical College (now OSU), before being appointed to the Naval Academy.  He graduated as ensign when he graduated in 1917. 

He served aboard the USS North Carolina during WWI.  After the war, he graduated as a naval aviator from NAS Pensacola in Florida in March 1925.  

He was stationed on the USS Yorktown when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.  In 1944, Clark was promoted to Rear Admiral.  Subsequently, he was assigned to command the USS Hornet and commanded his task group in conjunction with Task Force in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. 

He served during the Korean War and was promoted to Vice Admiral commanding the 7th fleet before retiring from the Navy in December 1953, with the rank of Admiral.  He passed away in July 1971. 

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Kathryn Hire!

Kathryn "Kay" Hire, born August 29, 1959 in Mobile, Alabama, has been in space twice.  After getting her Bachelor of Science at the US Naval Academy, she got her Master of Science degree in Space Technology just up the road here at the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida!  She was the first employee of the Kennedy Space Center to be chosen as an astronaut candidate.

Her first mission was aboard Columbia (STS-90) as mission specialist in April-May 1998.  It was the final flight of the European Space Agency's Spacelab module.

Her second and last flight was aboard Endeavour (STS-130) as mission specialist to the International Space Station in February 2010.  The primary payloads were the Tranquility module and the Cupola, a robotic controls station with six windows, providing a 360° view around the ISS.

Celebrating Black History Month: Michelle Howard, first African-American female four-star admiral

Michelle Howard, born April 30, 1960, is the first African-American female, and first female ever, to achieve the rank of four-star admiral in the US Navy.  She graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1982.

She is the first African-American woman to command a US Navy ship, the USS Rushmore in March 1999.  Howard was promoted to rear admiral in September 2007, rear admiral in August 2010, and vice admiral in August 2012.  She was promoted to admiral in July 2014.

She played a key role in rescuing Captain Richard Phillips, who was kidnapped by Somali pirates.  The story was made into a movie starring Tom Hanks.

Howard retired from the Navy in 2017 after serving 35 years.

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut George Zamka!

George Zamka, born June 29, 1962 in Jersey City, New Jersey, is a veteran of two space shuttle flights.  He graduated with a Bachelor's in mathematics from the US Naval Academy in 1984.  Then he became a Second Lieutenant in the US Marines.  In 1994, he graduated from the US Air Force Test Pilot School. 

His first trip into space was aboard Discovery (STS-120) as pilot October-November 2007 to the International Space Station. 

His second and final mission was aboard Endeavour (STS-130) as commander in February 2010 to the ISS.

He has spent almost 29 days in space.

John Lounge, Space Shuttle astronaut, born 1946

John "Mike" Lounge, born June 28, 1946 in Denver, Colorado, was a veteran of three space shuttle mission as well as a Vietnam War veteran.  He spent nine months in Southeast Asia aboard the USS Enterprise participating in 99 combat missions after graduating from the U.S. Naval academy in 1969.

His first mission was aboard Discovery (STS-51-I) as mission specialist August-September 1985.  Their objective was to deploy 3 communications satellites.

His second flight was as mission specialist aboard Discovery (STS-26), the first mission after the Challenger disaster in January 1986.  It was the first all-veteran crew mission since Apollo 11.

His third and final mission was on Columbia (STS-35) in December 1990.

Lounge passed away March 1, 2011 from liver cancer.

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut William Readdy!

William Readdy, born January 24, 1952 in Quonset Point, Rhode Island, is a veteran of three space shuttle missions.  He graduated high school down the road here in McLean, Virginia and then got his Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy over here in Annapolis, Maryland.

His first flight was as mission specialist aboard Discovery (STS-42) in January 1992.

He served as pilot for his second mission on Discovery (STS-51) in September 1993, which was a servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.

He was commander of his third and final spaceflight on Atlantis (STS-79) in September 1996, the first shuttle mission to arrive at a fully completed Mir space station.  His crew transferred almost two tons of supplies to Mir, including water generated by Atlantis' fuel cells.  The flight home brought Shannon Lucid back to Earth, after setting a record for an American in space at that time.

Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month: Frederick Riefkohl, first Puerto Rican recipient of Navy Cross

Rear Admiral Frederick Lois Riefkohl, born in Maunabo, Puerto Rico, is the first Puerto Rican to graduate from the US Naval Academy and the first Puerto Rican to be awarded the Navy Cross, the second highest award after the Medal of Honor, for his actions in World War I.

As a lieutenant, Riefkohl served as Commander of the Armed Guard of the USS Philadelphia.  On August 2, 1917, a periscope was sighted and a torpedo passed under the stern of the ship.  A shot was fired, which struck close to the submarine, which then disappeared.  Lt. Riefkohl received the Navy Cross for  his bravery.

After WWI, Riefkohl assumed command of the USS Vincennes during WWII until it was destroyed by the Japanese at the Battle of Savo Island.



https://web.archive.org/web/20070926215707/http://www.homeofheroes.com/valor/1_Citations/01_wwi-nc/nc_02_WW1_Navy-SUB.html

Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month - Capt. Marion Frederic Ramirez de Arellano, first Hispanic submarine CO

Marion Frederic Ramirez de Arellano is the first Hispanic submarine commanding officer who received two Silver Stars, the Legion of Merit and a Bronze Star for his actions against the Japanese Imperial Navy during WWII.

He was born in Puerto Rico August 5, 1913 and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy 1935.  He was commissioned as an ensign to the aircraft carrier USS Ranger.  After attending Submarine School at Groton, Connecticut he was assigned as Division Officer aboard the submarine USS Pickerel, which was in the Philippines and was attacked by the Japanese December 8, just 10 hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Marion Frederic Ramirez de Arellano participated in war patrols throughout the Pacific.  In April 1944, he was named Commanding Officer of the submarine USS Balao. He led the rescue of three downed Navy pilots in the Palau region.  He engaged and sunk a Japanese cargo ship Daigo Maru January 8, 1945.

After the war, he was named CO of the Submarine base on Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.  He retired from the Navy in 1961 and passed away in May 1980.

US Naval Academy Midshipmen's send up of Bruno Mars' "Uptown Funk"

Here's "Naptown Funk" filmed in beautiful downtown Annapolis, Maryland!