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USS Independence: History

Historical Articles: USS Independence Understanding Bikini Atoll: Cultural Significance Understanding Bikini Atoll Video Series Naval History and Heritage Command Historian Dr. Frank Blazich discusses the history behind Operation Crossroads from a U.S. Navy perspective. The interview was filmed on 25 July 2016 with NHF Vector Volunteer Mr. Peter Doolan inside the National Museum of the

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Independence-Class Carrier Power Plant

By George Stewart A major factor in the determination of the feasibility of conversion from the original Cleveland-class cruisers to the Independence-class aircraft carriers was the fact that the propulsion plants could meet the needs of both ship types, without major modifications. The cruisers had a design speed of 32.5 knots while the carriers which

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Eyewitness to USS Independence: Oral History

On 25 July 2016, NHF Vector Volunteer Mr. Peter Doolan of Salesforce conducted an interview with RADM M. Dick Van Orden inside the National Museum of the United States Navy’s Cold War Gallery. RADM Van Orden specifically discussed his experiences serving as a gunnery officer aboard USS Independence during the Second World War. The following

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Eyewitness to USS Independence: First Hand Accounts

Click on the links below to read eyewitness accounts from USS Independence veterans. Accounts are available in PDF format. Rear Admiral M. Dick Van Orden, USN (Ret.) A MogMog Liberty (October 1944) Shademaids: Night-Fighter Pilots Aboard Independence (1944) Leyte Gulf Operations (1944) Pacific Typhoon (1944) Replenishment (1945) Captain Harvey B. Seim, USN (Ret.) USS Independence: Pioneer

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Eyewitness to USS Independence: Audio Resources

Click on the audio snippets below to listen to the oral history interviews. For mobile users, please click “view in browser” to listen on your device, or on the Soundcloud app. Captain Harvey Seim, USN (Ret.): Oral History Interview Library of Congress Veterans Oral History Project Several crewmembers of USS Independence shared their WWII experiences

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HELL BELOW (PART IV) Review: Atlantic Showdown

Reviewed by Steven Dieter Read PART I review HERE Read PART II review HERE Read PART III review HERE Episode four of the Smithsonian Channel’s series Hell Below, entitled “Atlantic Showdown,” suggests a great scene of conflict in the Second World War. Yes, what is presented is symbolic of the efforts on the seas – but yet

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BOOK REVIEW – Fire in My Eyes: An American Warrior’s Journey from Being Blinded on the Battlefield to Gold Medal Victory

By Brad Snyder and Tom Sileo, Da Capo Press, Cambridge, MA (forthcoming 2016)  Reviewed by Stephen Phillips  Brad Snyder felt a call to service, choosing a path through the U.S. Naval Academy to leadership as a U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Officer. EOD Technicians, our military’s bomb squad,  serve in the vanguard of modern

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HELL BELOW (PART II) REVIEW: Hitler’s Revenge

Reviewed by Dr. David Winkler Read our PART I review here. The second episode of the new Smithsonian series on undersea warfare during World War II continued with the devastating efforts of the Kriegsmarine U-boat fleet as the United States entered the war following the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor. Growing up in Northern New

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Post-World War II Destroyer Escorts

By Captain George Stewart, USN (Ret.) r>Destroyer Escort (DE) was the original US Navy classification for ships designed with endurance to escort mid-ocean convoys of merchant ships. During World War II their missions evolved into vital parts of hunter-killer groups where in combination with escort carriers (CVE) they were to play a significant role in

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Hell Below (PART I) REVIEW: The Wolfpack

Reviewed by Matthew T. Eng If war is hell, then undersea warfare during the Second World War must be at its centermost point. Smithsonian Channel’s new series Hell Below bring viewers an up-close look at the grit, stale air, and darkness characteristic of undersea warfare during the Second World War. Submariners on both sides of

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Sharing Naval History: Students Learn African American Heritage in Hampton City Schools

You never know where you find naval history. A recent email exchange that began through our social media outlets led to some interesting information one of our Facebook fans was kind enough to share about her family and professional ties to naval history.   Guest Post By Pam Neilson During my childhood in the 1950s and

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National History Day 2016 Recap: Fiery Exchanges and Glass Ceilings

It is always refreshing to see young adults learning and interpreting history with passion and dedication. With so much emphasis on science and technology in our school systems today, one might wonder if a fire for the liberal arts still burns in our country’s young minds. In no place is that fire burning brighter than

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BOOK REVIEW – THE PIRATE KING: The Incredible Story of the Real Captain Morgan

By Graham A. Thomas, Skyhorse Publishing, New York, NY (2015) Reviewed by William H. White Henry Morgan was a “pirate” (the author used “pirate,” “buccaneer,” and “privateer” virtually interchangeably) whose rampages in the Caribbean and on the Spanish Main were the stuff of legends. Many authors, both contemporary to Morgan and modern, have written copious

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BOOK REVIEW – The Path to War – U.S. Marine Corps Operations in Southeast Asia 1961 to 1965

By Col. George R. Hofmann Jr. USMC (Ret.), Marine Corps History Division, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC (2014) Reviewed by Charles Bogart The title of this publication is somewhat misleading, as the author actually covers the period 1954 to 1965 within the pages of this book. It covers both political and military matters of that

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