This Day in Naval History - Oct. 19

Discover the best United States Navy books written by real Navy veterans!

From the Navy News Service

1843 - Capt. Robert Stockton on Princeton, the first screw-propelled naval steamer, challenges British merchant ship Great Western to a race off New York, which Princeton won easily.

1915 - Submarine Base at New London, Conn is established.
1944 - Secretary of the Navy orders African-American women accepted into the Naval Reserve.
1987 - Iranian oil-drilling platform used for military purposes is destroyed.

First Lady to Urge Military Family Support at World Series

By Elaine Sanchez
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18, 2011 – First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, will bring their message of military family and veteran support to a vast audience tomorrow as they attend the first game of the World Series in St. Louis.

Major League Baseball officials have dedicated the game, which pits the Texas Rangers against the St. Louis Cardinals, to veterans and their families, according to an MLB news release. The game will be aired live on the Fox TV network starting at 7:30 p.m. EDT.

Obama and Biden’s aim is to encourage Americans to support and honor veterans, service members and their families through initiatives such as the Joining Forces campaign and Major League Baseball’s Welcome Back Veterans program. Both initiatives support and honor military families and veterans.

"We are honored to have First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden join us for the 2011 Fall Classic to recognize the courageous men and women who serve the country as well as their families," Baseball Commissioner Allan H. “Bud” Selig said in an MLB news release.

"Major League Baseball has raised more than $11 million over the past several years through our Welcome Back Veterans program to help support veterans and their families,” he added. “The World Series gives us the perfect opportunity to build on this ongoing commitment."

During the day, Obama and Biden will join representatives from MLB and the St. Louis Cardinals, including Hall of Famer and Army veteran Red Schoendienst, at a military family appreciation event at the St. Louis Veterans Center, a White House news release said.

Families attending the event will get a sneak peek at the new Joining Forces and MLB public service announcement slated to premiere during the game. The message features the first lady as well as New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira and Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Johnny Damon, both of whom come from military families.

Obama and Biden also will participate in a special pregame ceremony with veterans and military families at Busch Stadium.

Additionally, prior to the game, Obama and Biden will answer questions about the Joining Forces campaign submitted by MLB fans through Facebook and Twitter. People around the country can submit questions through MLB’s Facebook page or on Twitter with the hashtag #AskMichelle.

Abraham Lincoln Returns Home to Everett for the Last Time

From USS Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs

EVERETT, Wash. (NNS) -- USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) pulled into her homeport of Everett, Wash., for the last time, Oct. 18.

Lincoln will depart Everett in December for a change-of-homeport deployment that will take the ship to its new homeport in Norfolk, Va. Lincoln is relocating to conduct a scheduled four-year refueling complex overhaul (RCOH) in-port maintenance period, which will refurbish the ship for another 25 years of service.

Lincoln Commanding Officer Capt. John D. Alexander said the ship's crew and their families will be sad to leave so many friends and Navy supporters behind when Lincoln departs Washington later this year.

"Abraham Lincoln will forever be tied to Everett and the Pacific Northwest," Alexander said. "The city has been home for the ship and our families for some 15 years. We cannot begin to express our appreciation for the support this community has provided."

The Navy announced in December 2010 that USS Nimitz (CVN 68) will replace Lincoln in Everett upon completion of a docking planned incremental availability (DPIA) maintenance at Bremerton, Wash., in December.

Lincoln has been based out of Naval Station Everett since January 1997.

"I wish to thank all the people of Washington and the Everett area for their enormous efforts on our behalf throughout the years," Alexander said. "They are all great Americans and are to be congratulated on their undying contributions to the Navy."

Lincoln departed Everett, Sept. 15, for several weeks of training in preparation for the upcoming deployment, including a three-week composite training unit exercise off the coast of California. Lincoln and Carrier Strike Group 9, Carrier Air Wing 2, Destroyer Squadron 9 and guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71) participated in the exercise.