Naval Order of the United States

Join us on Thursday 20 March when Mr. John Landry will present Cuban Missile Crisis, October 1962: “One Minute to Midnight” Part II. It was the time when the world faced the imminent threat of thermonuclear war. After WW2, the United States and Russia entered into “Existential Combat” with each party intending to destroy the “Ideology” of the other. For seventeen years, between 1945 and 1962, the world watched the U.S. and Russia engage in a dangerous game of “Diplomatic Brinkmanship”. And ... in 1962 the game turns deadly with a showdown in Cuba. The U.S. is threatened with Russian Nuclear Missiles installed in Cuba just 100 miles South of Miami, FL. In October 1962, the U.S. and Russia entered into a “HOT” Cold War, and Khrushchev, Castro, and Kennedy played up to the very edge of the thermonuclear abyss. Part I, presented in November 2024 (Cuban Missile Crisis "One Minute to Midnight") covered the early stages of the "Crisis." In Part II, Mr. Landry will discuss, with raw intensity, the subsequent moments of danger. To watch the presentation on Livestream, go to https://lnkd.in/eXhUu__S.

This is a reminder: Join Continental Commandery this coming Thursday, 27 February when CAPT Michael Lilly, USN, Ret. will present "Japan’s Doomed Plans to Invade and Occupy Hawaii" CAPT Lilly asks the question – was its failure to do so another strategic mistake? Japan had had its eye on Hawaii since the 1870s and even started arguing about invading the islands in the 1890s. Part of the reason Hawaii was hastily annexed was America’s concerns about Japan’s intentions. Throughout the 20th century up to 1943, the idea of Japan invading and occupying Hawaii were debated and advocated in novels, war games, and Japanese strategic thinking. Yamamoto, the architect of Pearl Harbor, argued in 1928 that in any future war Japan should invade Hawaii. Three U.S. war games in the 1930s, called Fleet Problems, demonstrated conclusively that Japan would have succeeded in attacking Pearl Harbor (and perhaps invading Hawaii). While U.S. planners failed to take heed, Japan relied on the results of the Fleet Problems in planning the attack. While those around Yamamoto argued the attack should be followed by invasion, Yamamoto decided against it – until two days after the attack when he realized his mistake and ordered that invasion plans be drawn up. Midway was to be the opening gambit of encirclement and invasion of Hawaii. Was invasion feasible? Could Japan have held Hawaii and conducted its operations in Southeast Asia? To watch on Livestream click this link: https://lnkd.in/eJZNm396

Join Continental Commandery on Thursday 27 February when CAPT Michael Lilly, USN, Ret. will present "Japan’s Doomed Plans to Invade and Occupy Hawaii" Japan’s greatest blunder of World War II, and perhaps the worst strategic military mistake in history, was its attack on Pearl Harbor. But could it have saved that blunder by invading and occupying Hawaii? Indeed, Capt Lilly asks the question – was its failure to do so another strategic mistake? Japan had had its eye on Hawaii since the 1870s and even started arguing about invading the islands in the 1890s. Part of the reason Hawaii was hastily annexed was America’s concerns about Japan’s intentions. Throughout the 20th century up to 1943, the idea of Japan invading and occupying Hawaii were debated and advocated in novels, war games, and Japanese strategic thinking. Yamamoto, the architect of Pearl Harbor, argued in 1928 that in any future war Japan should invade Hawaii. Three U.S. war games in the 1930s, called Fleet Problems, demonstrated conclusively that Japan would have succeeded in attacking Pearl Harbor (and perhaps invading Hawaii). While U.S. planners failed to take heed, Japan relied on the results of the Fleet Problems in planning the attack. While those around Yamamoto argued the attack should be followed by invasion, Yamamoto decided against it – until two days after the attack when he realized his mistake and ordered that invasion plans be drawn up. Midway was to be the opening gambit of encirclement and invasion of Hawaii. Was invasion feasible? Could Japan have held Hawaii and conducted its operations in Southeast Asia? To watch on Livestream click this link:

In case you missed last evening's (23JAN25) presentation by CAPT John Rodgaard, USN, Ret., you can watch it at your leisure at https://lnkd.in/etfURG97. The presentation was: "Tailships" This is the story?of three US Navy destroyer escorts (DEs) and their crews, comprising Escort Squadron 8, during the height of the Cold War – specifically the Cold War below, on, and above the Mediterranean Sea. Obsolete, except for the experimental anti-submarine warfare (ASW) sensor that each ship carried, the USS Hammerberg (DE-1015), USS Courtney (DE-1021) and USS Lester (DE-1022) were ordered to the Mediterranean Sea to demonstrate the potential of a sensor – a technology relying on a passive towed array detection sensor system of microphones or hydrophones that the Navy officially designated as the Interim Towed Array Surveillance System, or ITASS. However, the crews of the ships simply called them ‘Noodles’ or ‘Tails’. Read more at https://lnkd.in/eBguEPyK.

Several months ago, I wrote a post, asking if anyone knew what the "V" represented on the watertight hatch around which the Sullivan brothers were photographed. I just received an answer from one of our (NOUS) shipmates. He found the answer in The USS Enterprise's (CV-6) Operations Manual from before WWII. Chapter 43, Section 4307.1.d reads: "Class "V" "This classification includes certain doors, fittings, valves, etc., which without affecting the safety of the ship, are left open during peace cruising in order to provide convenient access, additional ventilation, and extra operating facility, but which can be closed during war cruising in order to reduce the number of doors and fittings which must be closed after general quarters is sounded. "Example: About half the hatches to a quarter-deck; one of a pair of double doors to a living compartment; sky lights; entrances to interior spaces where activities will be secured during war cruising; all air and battle ports near the water line and as many others as possible. Those urgently needed for health and living conditions may be classed "Z"." (https://lnkd.in/eyJKjqjV) Mystery solved thanks to Mr. John Shanahan, Commandery Commander, National Commandery, NOUS!

Join us on Thursday 23 January 2025 at 1900 EST when NOUS Continental Commandery will present "Tailships". CAPT John Rogaard, USN, Ret., will share the story of three US Navy destroyer escorts (DEs) and their crews, comprising Escort Squadron 8, is a tale that took place at the height of the Cold War – specifically the Cold War below, on and above the Mediterranean Sea.? The Livestream link for Thursday's program is: https://lnkd.in/etfURG97. See you then!

The video, New Heroes of Normandy," commemorating the heroic acts of the sailors who participated in the 06 June 1944 landings at Normandy and the Naval Order of the United States (NOUS) memorial at Utah Beach, Normandy in 2008, is now available online at https://lnkd.in/ephBiDAs. This 54 min film includes moving footage of the June 1944 events, recollections from sailors who supported the landings, and scenes of the 2008 monument dedication ceremony. It does a superb job of capturing a moment in history when the tide of World War II changed.

Join us on Thursday 19 December at 1900 EST when CAPT Roger Crossland will present his third and final installment of the fascinating story of the Battle of Pungdo Bay (1895). Part III is titled: "The Kowshing Incident and Aftermath”. Those of you who saw Parts I (https://lnkd.in/eyqDSUXD) and II (https://lnkd.in/eD5JYMTb) will recall that in 1894, the Donghak peasant rebellion broke out in the Kingdom of Korea, fomented by Japanese unfair trade and other subversive practices. The Korea monarchy requested Chinese assistance under the terms of its tribute agreement. The last truce between China and Japan, known as the Convention of Tientsin, is about to be ripped to tatters. At Pungdo, the first naval battle of the First Sino-Japanese is underway.? Japan has attacked two Chinese warships uncertain of Japan's intentions, and within a couple hours is about to attack an unaware, unarmed, neutral British transport “Kowshing” carrying 1,100 Chinese troops bound for Korea to put down the Donghak Rebellion. Britain is neutral and China is at war with the Donghak peasant rebels, not Japan. This Japanese attack will result in the demise of 800 Chinese soldiers, two hundred Chinese sailors, and 47 British merchant crewmen, a massacre which will be carried by every English-speaking newspaper in the world. The destruction of the "screw" steam-transport's coat bunkers with 10+" guns will turn the mid-day sky black. This veiled surprise will initiate a half-century series of undeclared Japanese attacks. On 19 December, CAPT Crossland explain the far-reaching impact of the 1895 battle and the direct line between it and Japan's entry into WWII. Join us at: https://lnkd.in/e7Gg2KPv.

Shipmates: In a recent LinkedIn stream, a Coastie posed the question: What does the "V" on the watertight hatch signify? The photo depicts the Sullivan brothers aboard USS Juneau (CL-52). As most of you know, CL-52 was sunk on 13NOV42. Four of the five brothers were killed by the initial explosion. One brother succumbed to his wounds a few days later.

On this day in US naval history (November 13, 1942), the USS Juneau was lost during the Battle of Guadalcanal resulting in the death of the five Sullivan Brothers. Lest we forget their sacrifice, we remember them this day. For more information about the history of the US Navy and the Sea Services, visit the Naval Order website at: www.navalorder.org