Navy's Firsts

Shipmates

100

Name at least one person/group and their accomplishment/notability that has been spotlighted in one of Thompson's DEOMI Diversity Emails.

Who are the...?:

Shipmates/Shoremates that practice Buddhism

Shipmates/Shoremates that practice Judaism 

Petty Officer Sergio Sanchez.  Being himself.

Petty Officer James. Womens/Yeomanette's Day Appreciation Spotlight. 

Petty Officer Weakly. Womens/Yeomanette's Day Appreciation Spotlight.

1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez:  Medal of Honor Recipient and ship named after.

Army Master Sergeant Raul (Roy) Perez Benavidez.  Vietnam Medal of Honor Recipient and ship named after.

U.S. Marine Sergeant Alfredo Gonzalez.  Vietnam Medal of Honor Recipient and ship named after.

U.S. Marine Sergeant Rafael Peralta.  Navy Cross Recipient and well-known ship named after.

Corporal Jospeh H. De Castro. Flag bearer and First Hispanic Medal of Honor Recipient during the Civil War.

Private Mercelino Serna.  Distinguished Service Cross recipient.

Capt. Kathlene Contres.  First Highest ranking Hispanic woman in the Navy and lead DEOMI.

Seaman Philip Bazaar.  Medal of Honor Recipient.

200

First MCPON

Who is MCPON Delbert D. Black?

Fast Facts:

Rate: GM

Selected on 13 January 13 1967

Master Chief Black was the first Navy enlisted man to receive the Distinguished Service Medal

300

First rate that had a large-scale employment of woman

Who were the Yeoman (F)?

The Naval Reserve Act of 1916 had no mention of gender for service.

During the Great War, Yeoman (F) served in secretarial and clerical positions, though some were translators, draftsmen, fingerprint experts, ship camouflage designers and recruiting agents. 

400

Under the sea he went, a master in his class yet with limited mobility, the first he was.

What is Master Diver Carl Brashear?

Originally rated as a BM, his leg was amputated due to a shipboard accident.  He refused to retire afterwards and as result became the first Black Master Diver.  The movie Medal of Honor was about his struggles during his career.

500

First Naval aviator

Who is Theodore Gordon "Spuds" Ellyson?

Was the first United States Navy officer designated as an aviator ("Naval Aviator No. 1"). Ellyson served in the experimental development of aviation in the years before and after World War I.

Ships

100

Her sides made of iron. Beyond a Centenarian, she still breathes.

Who is the USS Constitution?

Old Ironsides, is a three-masted wooden-hulled heavy frigate of the United States Navy. She is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat.

She is currently located in Boston, MA open for tours and the chance of being stationed on.

200

Far superior then wood, her harden shell was created to thwart the success of her resisting family.

What is the ironclad USS Monitor?

Not the first Ironclad in the world, but first U.S. Ironclad commissioned in 1862 by the Union Navy.

The USS Monitor would later engage in combat at the Battle of Hampton Roads with the Confederate Ironclad CSS Virginia.

300

Alright Aviation Warfare Specialists:  

Her keel was laid as the first.  Her deck used for the clouds.

What is the USS Langley (CV-1)?

Converted in 1920 from the collier ship USS Jupiter.

In 1942, while transporting U.S. Army P-40's to the Netherlands East Indies, USS Langley was attacked by Japanese aircraft and was scuttled by her escorting destroyers.  

400

Only six there were from the start, each with a name.

Authorized by the Naval Act of 1794.

American shipping had depended heavily on the protection of the British Royal Navy. After the Revolution, this was no longer the case. 

Barbary corsairs continued to sweep the Mediterranean and capture American merchant vessels, holding the ships, the crews, and the cargoes for ransom. 

Frigate Chesapeake           Frigate Constellation

Frigate President               Frigate Congress 

Frigate Constitution           Frigate United States

500

The first to float with bright lights.

What was the Trenton I Steam Frigate?

The first Trenton, a wooden-hulled steam frigate, was laid down by the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1875; launched on New Year's Day 1876; sponsored by Miss Katherine M. Parker; and commissioned on 14 February 1877, Capt. John Lee Davis in command.

The first installation of electric lights in a U.S. Navy warship took place during the summer of 1883.

Award/Recipients

100

The Award precedence higher than the POW Medal, but lower than the Meritorious Unit Commendation.

What is the Battle E?

The Navy E, otherwise known as The Battle Efficiency or The Battle Effectiveness award was first created as a patch in 1906. The Navy "E" Ribbon was established in July of 1976 by Secretary of the Navy J. William Middendorf. Patch: In effect from 1906-1974

200

First Black recipient of the Navy Cross and a complete Beast, the Proven Unit, a Machine!

Who is Naval Cook Doris Miller?

Ships Heavyweight boxing champion.

Stationed on the USS West Virginia during the attack of Pearl Harbor. He singled handedly carried his wounded Shipmates to safety including his Skipper.

He would later man an anti-aircraft machine gun with ZERO training during the oncoming attacks.

He was later assigned to another ship and KIA.

The Navy recently announced the future USS Doris Miller supercarrier. 

Cuba Gooding Jr. plays Doris Miller in Michael Bay's Pearl Harbor. 

300

First woman Medal of Honor recipient.

Who is Mary Edwards Walker?

RANK: CONTRACT SURGEON

CONFLICT/ERA: U.S. CIVIL WAR

MILITARY SERVICE BRANCH: U.S. ARMY

MEDAL OF HONOR ACTION DATE: 1861 - 1864

MEDAL OF HONOR ACTION PLACE: NORTH CAROLINA, D.C., TENNEESEE, GEORGIA, USA

First and only woman to receive the Medal of Honor.

As a surgeon, women’s rights advocate, abolitionist, and spy, Walker became the first female U.S. Army surgeon during the Civil War.  Walker often crossed battle lines to care for soldiers/civilians and was once captured by Confederate forces.

400

The most decorations on their chest

Who is BMC JAMES ELLIOTT "WILLIE" WILLIAMS?

James Elliott Williams is generally considered to be the Navy's Most-Highly Decorated enlisted man. In addition to the Medal of Honor and Navy Cross, he was awarded:

Silver Star (with one gold award star)

Legion of Merit (with “V” device)

Navy and Marine Corps Medal (with gold award star)

Bronze Star (with “V” device and two gold award stars)

Purple Heart (with two gold award stars)

Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with “V” device and gold award star)

Navy and Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation (with bronze service star)

Navy Good Conduct Medal (with four bronze service stars)

Navy Expeditionary Medal

National Defense Service Medal (with bronze service star)

Korean Service Medal (with two bronze stars)

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

Vietnam Service Medal (with two bronze service stars)

Korean Presidential Unit Citation

Vietnam Cross of Gallantry (with gold star and palm)

United Nations Korean Medal

Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medan

Korean War Service Medal

500

First Navy Medal of Honor recipient

Who is Signal Quartermaster Robert Williams?

Engagement: Civil War

Action Date: 27 December 1862

Action Location: Drumgould's Bluff, Mississippi

Citation:

Served as quartermaster on board the U.S.S. Benton during the Yazoo River Expedition, 23 to 27 December 1862. Taking part in the hour- and-a-half engagement with the enemy at Drumgould's Bluff, 27 December, Williams served courageously throughout that battle against hostile forces in which the enemy had the dead-range of the vessel and were punishing her with heavy fire and various other action in which he took part during the Yazoo River Expedition.

Events/Accomplishments

100

Largest family loss in U.S. wartime history

Who were the Sullivan brothers?

The four Sullivan brothers from Waterloo, Iowa, were tragically killed in action on 13 November 1942 while serving aboard USS Juneau (CL-52).

During the Battle of Guadalcanal, a torpedo hit the ship and the brothers failed to make it topside.

This tragic event of family loss led to the Navy implementing the Navy's policy on allowing family members to serve together at sea.

200

Around the world our grandfathers went

When was the Great White Fleet?

The "Great White Fleet" sent around the world by President Theodore Roosevelt from 16 December 1907 to 22 February 1909 consisted of sixteen new battleships of the Atlantic Fleet. The battleships were painted white except for gilded scrollwork on their bows. The Atlantic Fleet battleships only later came to be known as the "Great White Fleet."

The Great White Fleet would end up being a fail due to the upcoming advancements in naval warfighting and the dreadnought.

300

First modern naval engagement

WW2's Battle of the Coral Sea.

It was the first aircraft carrier battle ever fought, and the first naval battle in which the opposing forces of surface ships at no stage sighted or fired at each other. All attacks were carried out by airplanes.  

• It was the first time in World War 2 that the Japanese experienced failure in a major operation.
• The battle stopped the Japanese sea-borne invasion of Port Moresby.

400

Navy's first jet fighter

What was the McDonnell FH Phantom (FH-1 Phantom)?

A twinjet fighter aircraft designed and first flown during World War II for the United States Navy. The Phantom was the first purely jet-powered aircraft to land on an American aircraft carrier and the first jet deployed by the United States Marine Corps.

500

First carrier to have radar.

What was America’s first carrier with radar was the USS Yorktown (CV-5) in 1940 after initial trials on surface ships.

Naval radar not only enhanced Fleet defense, it sparked a revolution in how the U.S. Navy operated, proving equally important in offensive missions. Other than jet propulsion, probably no other technology so heavily influenced naval aviation over the past 70 years.

General

100

A new generation of power, far superior than the predecessor.

The Nuclear Navy

The Nuclear Navy describes vessels powered by nuclear reactors. Incorporating nuclear energy to naval vessels revolutionized naval warfare. The general idea of nuclear ships was that they would not have to make regular stops for fuel like conventional vessels, making them only limited by supplies and crew endurance.

The U.S.S. Nautilus was the first nuclear powered submarine.

200

They were the first of ratings. They are the jack-of-all-trades onboard.

Who are the Boatswain's Mate?

The U.S. Navy established the boatswain’s mate rate on March 27, 1794 as a part of the Naval Act of 1794. At that time, ships were categorized based on how many weapons each carried. For every 22 guns a ship had, it employed one boatswain’s mate.

The Quartermaster and Gunners Mate ratings are also one the first.

300

The monumentus host, the behemoth, the big whopper, for all the marbles, the world's largest garage!

What is NAVSTA Norfolk/Hampton Roads?

In addition, The Hampton Roads houses naval installations:  Master Jet Base NAS Oceana, JEB Little Creek, NSA Hampton Roads, Dam Neck, Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Cheatham Annex (Williamsburg), Portsmouth Naval Hospital, Newport News Shipbuilding.  Other Military installations:  Fort Story, Air Force Base Langley, Coast Guard Station Portsmouth, Marine Corps Camp Allen. (Prob missed one).

Naval Station Norfolk is the world's largest naval station, supporting 75 ships and 134 aircraft alongside 14 piers and 11 aircraft hangars. The base houses the largest concentration of U.S. Navy forces. Air Operations conducts an average of 275 flights per day or one every six minutes.

400

The birth date for those who weigh the ship down. Masters in their fields.  

When was the Chief Petty Officers establishment on 1 April 1893?

Chiefs are recognized for exemplary technical expertise within their rating, superior administrative skills, and strong leadership ability. 

Today, there are three chief petty officer ranks: chief petty officer, senior chief petty officer, and master chief petty officer.

Most importantly, chiefs bridge the gap between officers and enlisted personnel, acting as supervisors as well as advocates for their Sailors.

 

500

Stand at attention and speak loud and clear.  From what year was it first heard.

When was the Sailors Creed written in 1993?

The Sailor's Creed was written by a Blue Ribbon Recruit Training Panel in 1993 at the direction of Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Frank Kelso, who personally participated in the final edit of the working group's proposal