Latest news with #NavalAcademy
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Everyday Hero: A lifetime of service
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)—The Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina's highest civilian honor, was recently presented to Rear Adm. James H Flatley III aboard the USS Yorktown—the perfect place to honor a man who dedicated his life to protecting others and preserving history. 'It's a man whose given service over himself his whole life and is an example to us all,' said Chauncey Clark with the USS Yorktown Foundation. Similar words are often spoken about Admiral. Flatley, who was surrounded by family and friends for the special ceremony The Order of the Palmetto is presented to the South Carolinian who has demonstrated extraordinary lifetime achievements, service, and contributions of national and statewide significance. Admiral Flatley, who is 91 years old and lives in Mount Pleasant, graduated from the Naval Academy. He was a US Naval aviator from 1956 until his retirement in 1987. He flew combat missions in Vietnam. But what made this ceremony special for Admiral Flatley was that it was aboard the same aircraft carrier in which his father landed the first Hellcat fighter plane. 'That meant a lot because it goes so far back to my dad helping put this ship together and get it to sea. You know he was a World War 2 hero. All the more reason to follow in his footsteps, which I tried to do,' Flatley explained. Admiral Flatley is no stranger to making history. In 1963, he became the first person to complete 21 C-130 Hercules landings on an aircraft carrier. In later years, after retirement, Admiral Flatley also ran Patriots Point for seven years. He has spent a lifetime dedicated to service. 'I think you can't find a lifetime that's more expansive than his was from his Navy career to his community career,' said Clark. He is the kind of person who thanks others who were there to thank him, and now he will always be remembered for his outstanding service and career. 'That's why we honor him here today. It's something we're losing in the American society today. People that give everything for their country and for their family' said Clark. Congratulations, Admiral Flatley! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Hundreds of ‘DEI' books are back at the Naval Academy. An alum and a bookshop fought their removal.
When the U.S. Naval Academy stripped 381 books tied to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) from its library, retired Commander William Marks saw more than censorship — he saw a threat to the Navy's future. But last week, after immense public outcry, most of those books returned to Nimitz Library shelves. 'Do you believe it?' asked Marks, a 1996 alum who spearheaded a campaign to maintain student access to the books. 'What great news. We're thrilled.' All the books the academy removed in early April had one thing in common: Officials flagged them for DEI themes. They include Maya Angelou's 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,' Harper Lee's 'To Kill a Mockingbird' and Elizabeth Reis' 'Bodies in Doubt: An American History of Intersex.' The purge followed directives from Trump-appointed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has called DEI initiatives 'divisive.' Determined to ensure that students could still read the works, Marks began crowdfunding to replace them on April 5. 'The motto of the Naval Academy is 'from knowledge, seapower,'' said Marks, who served as a Navy commander for 22 years. 'What we mean is without knowledge, education and intellectual growth, we will never become a strong Navy. So this contradiction really struck me, that instead of encouraging knowledge and encouraging discussion, the Pentagon was actually suppressing knowledge and limiting discussion.' About 4,400 students, members of the Brigade of Midshipmen, attend the Naval Academy while on active duty in the U.S. Navy. After graduation, they are required to serve in the Navy or Marine Corps for at least five years. Women represent more than a quarter of the student body, while men make up over 70 percent of midshipmen. Initially, Marks hoped to fundraise $3,810, which he figured would be enough to cover the cost of the books pulled from Nimitz Library. Since Marks lives in Arlington, Texas, he tapped Old Fox Books & Coffeehouse in Annapolis, Maryland, home to the academy, to be his local partner. Donations have far exceeded his goal, topping $70,000. Jinny Amundson, an owner of Old Fox Books, said by the time she got the call from Marks, she had already heard about the books removed and had started compiling a list of them to purchase for the store's inventory. 'For a bookseller, the idea of censoring any kind of books just gives us heart palpitations,' Amundson said. 'And it's our community. The [midshipmen] think of our shop as a place that they love and one of their sort of unofficial bookstores. We have the mids, the faculty, the administration that come in and think of our space as their own.' Amundson said she understood that the removal of books was an order, which has to be followed within the military. But she found the loophole: Her bookshop could store the titles targeted. It is conveniently located about a block away from the Naval Academy gates. The day before the institution's May 23 graduation, Amundson learned that most of the pulled books were back on the library's shelves. She went to see for herself, took pictures of the books and sent them to many of the authors, who had personally contacted her when the restrictions on the works took effect. Now, just 20 books are being sequestered pending a formal compliance review, according to the Department of Defense. A Navy spokesperson did not provide details to The 19th about those titles. Ultimately, a narrowing of the search terms used to flag books for review resulted in the return of hundreds of books to the Nimitz Library, as the Department of Defense first issued broad guidance about book removals to the military services. 'What struck me was the very arbitrary and even cruel nature of the books that got removed,' Marks said. 'These books were a cross-section of American culture. They were important to the discussion of American history.' In an updated May 9 memo, the Pentagon instructed the military services to use 20 search terms to pinpoint books in their academic libraries that might need to be set aside because of how they engage race or gender. Among those terms were affirmative action; critical race theory; gender-affirming care; transgender people; and diversity, equity and inclusion. People across the political spectrum expressed alarm about the book restrictions, which have been widely opposed, according to Marks. 'We really shouldn't be banning any books,' he said. That includes those with unpopular, or even offensive, ideas like Adolf Hitler's 'Mein Kampf,' which managed to evade the Naval Academy's book purge, he noted. He calls his effort to maintain the midshipmen's access to all books in the Nimitz Library Operation Caged Bird, after the 1969 Angelou memoir that was likely targeted because it describes racial segregation and child abuse. The name Operation Caged Bird also alludes to the feeling of being restrained by censorship. 'I almost felt like I could feel the bars closing in on me in terms of what I can read and can't read,' Marks said. 'That didn't sit right.' Marks' GoFundMe campaign has raised enough money to supply 1,000 books in 2025 and fund a three-year initiative at Old Fox, ensuring midshipmen can access any contested title for free. 'If you're a midshipman and you're writing an essay paper and there's a book you can't find, maybe it's been removed or banned, you can call them, and they'll order it for you, and then you just pick it up free of charge,' Marks said. He's also coordinating with other service academies, anticipating similar battles. At the Navy's three other educational institutions, fewer than 20 books have been flagged as potentially incompatible with the military's mission, as have a few dozen at the Air Force Academy and other Air Force academic institutions. The Army has also been ordered to assess library books at its educational institutions, but a spokesperson from West Point told The 19th that no books have been pulled at this time, as its compliance review is still underway. The return of nearly 400 books to the Naval Academy library coincides with a pending lawsuit accusing Department of Defense-run schools of violating K-12 students' constitutional rights for limiting books and subject matter related to gender, race and sexuality. The American Civil Liberties Union filed E.K. v. Department of Defense Education Activity in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia on behalf of 12 students. A hearing will take place June 3. The ACLU seeks a preliminary injunction to give the youth access to materials it argues have been restricted to align with President Donald Trump's executive orders and political agenda. Amundson said she was pleasantly surprised that it took just weeks for the books to be returned to the Naval Academy. 'I believe that what happened and the response that was given in Annapolis — I think that made the administration be much more careful this time around as they're going for these other libraries, the other Department of Defense libraries around the world,' she said. Amundson said using the funds raised from the GoFundMe campaign, the bookstore was able to give away nearly 500 books in the days leading up to the Naval Academy graduation. For weeks, letters of support piled up and people stopped by the bookstore with gratitude, some even driving from hours away to show their support in person. In addition to Operation Caged Bird, Amundson said there were 'powerful arms at work.' There was pushback on the book removals from members of Congress, the Naval Academy's Board of Visitors and the superintendent — who wrote an open letter signed by hundreds of alumni. 'For right now, this was a huge win for us,' Amundson said. The post Hundreds of 'DEI' books are back at the Naval Academy. An alum and a bookshop fought their removal. appeared first on The 19th. News that represents you, in your inbox every weekday. Subscribe to our free, daily newsletter.
The Print
a day ago
- General
- The Print
1st batch of women cadets graduates from NDA, ex-Army chief hails big step for ‘women-led development'
The court directive came on a petition filed by women aspirants, who argued that since the armed forces had opened up permanent commissions for women officers, the same opportunity should be extended to female cadets at the entry-level training institutions. This follows a landmark judgment by the Supreme Court in August 2021, which ruled that women should be allowed to appear for the NDA and Naval Academy entrance examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). New Delhi: Seventeen women cadets graduated in a historic first, alongside 322 male counterparts, from the Pune-based National Defence Academy (NDA) Friday, marking the successful passing out of the maiden co-ed batch from the tri-services institution. The NDA began admitting women in 2022. According to a statement by the defence ministry, a total of 1,341 cadets, including 336 from the graduating cohort, participated in the Passing Out Parade (POP) at the Khetarpal Parade Ground in Khadakwasla. The ceremony was reviewed by General V.K. Singh (Retd), former Army chief and current Governor of Mizoram. Calling it a 'historic milestone in our collective journey towards greater inclusivity and empowerment,' Gen Singh said, 'These young women are a symbol of 'Nari Shakti', embodying not just women's development but women-led development.' Sharing their journeys, cadet Ishita Sanghwan, told ANI news agency she is the first in her family to join the armed forces. 'For the last three years, I dreamt of passing the 'anant pag' (final step). Every day here felt like a new box full of surprises and learnings. Training instilled a sense of oneness in all of us,' she said. Another cadet, Harsimran Kaur, told the agency the NDA wasn't originally part of her plans. 'I was preparing for JEE Mains and planning to give the CDS (Combined Defence Services) exam when a friend informed me about the NDA opening for women. It came as a surprise.' The NDA is widely referred to as the 'cradle of leadership' as it produces officers for the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. After completing their course at NDA, the 17 female cadets will proceed to their respective pre-commissioning training academies for the final phase of training before commissioning. During the convocation, 339 cadets, including the 17 women cadets, were conferred degrees by Delhi-based Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). These included 84 Bachelor of Science (BSc), 85 Computer Science, 59 Bachelor of Arts (BA), and 111 Bachelor of Technology ( degrees. Replying to a query in the Rajya Sabha earlier this year in March, Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth said in a written statement that a total of 126 girls from 17 states and Union Territories joined NDA since women were allowed in. Haryana topped the list with 28 women cadets, followed by Uttar Pradesh (28), Rajasthan (13) and Maharashtra (11). Punjab and Himachal Pradesh had sent five and four cadets, respectively. The first batch initially comprised 19 women, 10 selected for the Army, six for the Air Force, and three for the Navy. Seventeen of them successfully completed the rigorous three-year training. Seth also informed that adequate infrastructure and facilities had been provided for women cadets, on par with their male counterparts, to support training and ensure seamless integration. The apex court's ruling allowing women into the NDA came nearly three decades after the armed forces began inducting women as Short Service Commission (SSC) officers. It also followed the court's 2020 decision granting women SSC officers eligibility for permanent commission and command roles in the Indian Army. (Edited by Sanya Mathur) Also Read: From non-delivery of fighters to constant delays & 'black sheep', IAF chief speaks out
NHK
2 days ago
- Business
- NHK
Richard Armitage memorial praises diplomat's contribution to Japan-US alliance
About 400 people have gathered to remember former US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, who played a key role in US-Japan relations. The high-ranking diplomat died in April at the age of 79. The memorial ceremony was held on Thursday at the US Naval Academy in the state of Maryland. The participants included former Secretary of State Antony Blinken and diplomats from Japan and other countries. In a speech, former CIA Director William Burns praised Armitage's achievements and character. He said Armitage knew that "diplomacy was not an abstraction but a very human business of building trust with allies and partners." Former Japanese Ambassador to the US Kato Ryozo said, "The passing of Richard Armitage, the greatest and most skilled craftsman in the history of the US-Japan alliance," was a "profound loss" to both countries. Kato added, "The friendship, trust, the many gifts he gave us are living still through us." Armitage worked under President George W. Bush. He was a top expert on Asian and Japanese affairs, and called for strengthening the US-Japan alliance.
Euronews
2 days ago
- Euronews
The Vespucci promotes Italy on worldwide and Mediterranean tours
After successfully completing an around-the-world voyage, the Italian navy's Amerigo Vespucci is now on a tour of its home country's main ports. The vessel left Genoa on 1 July 2023 and returned to Italy almost two years later, reaching Trieste in March. Once it reached home, it began an 18-stage tour that will finish on 10 June. This journey includes stops in Italy's largest ports as well as others in Durres, Albania, and Valletta, Malta. As with the world tour, the Mediterranean leg will see the ship — which is named after a famous explorer — promote an immersive exhibition called Italy Village. Set up in the ports that the ship visits, the exhibition will tell visitors about the boat's mission, Italian culture and the strength of the sea as a symbol of union. On routes between Brindisi and Reggio Calabria and between Livorno and Genoa, cadets of the First Class of the Naval Academy spent time on the Vespucci as part of their training programme. Young sailors aged between 12 and 17 were also onboard, thanks to a collaboration with the Italian Sailing Federation. Captain Giuseppe Lai personally benefitted from such an experience when he was young. Long before commanding the Vespucci on its second round-the-world voyage, he sailed on it as a student. "At the Naval Academy, the campaign on the Vespucci is done at the end of the first year," he told Euronews. "For me, as for all my classmates, it was the first time we went on a ship and lived life onboard. Going back there as a captain makes you relive some of the same emotions, because it is a ship that has remained crystallised in its aesthetics, almost identical to when it was launched," the captain said. "Seeing the trainees on board today made me go back in time, and it is a strong incentive to pass on to them those lessons that each of us has absorbed in our careers," he added. On its world tour, the Vespucci travelled to 30 countries in 20 months, with over 400,000 visitors coming onboard. "A round-the-world voyage aboard the Vespucci is probably the most beautiful experience a navy commander can have," Lai continued. "In its 94-year history, the ship has only been round the world twice. It is a unique feat, and an enormous privilege: it allows you to discover other cultures and, at the same time, to make Italy known to the world," he said. Built in 1930 in the Regio Cantiere Navale di Castellammare di Stabia shipyard and launched in February 1931, the Vespucci entered service in the Regia Marina a few months later. Ever since, she has trained Italy naval officers and represented Italy in the world. The ship's motto, which is engraved on the stern, is now proverbial: 'Not he who begins but he who perseveres'. The Vespucci is 101-metres long and over 15-metres wide with three masts and 2,635-square metres of sails. The hull is made of steel, the decks of teak and the interior of precious woods. A major modernisation was completed in 2016, equipping it with a new diesel-electric propulsion system. Whenever possible, however, it is still the wind that propels her. At 94-years-old, she is now the Italian navy's longest serving ship. France has signed a cultural partnership with Indonesia, with an emphasis on preserving cultural heritage and the development of human resources. The new pact also includes promotion of cultural products such as films, music and textiles and encourages collaboration between cultural institutions in both countries. "We aim to enhance cultural dialogue between the two nations, particularly by engaging younger generations and contemporary cultural practitioners," said Indonesia's Minister of Culture Fadli Zon. The Franco-Indonesian relations agreement also covers museum development and archival digitisation and serves as "an operational framework to implement the cultural vision" of both countries' leaders, the culture ministry said. Initiatives set to be launched under the agreement include the Indonesia–France Film Lab and the Borobudur Cultural Centre. "Through an inclusive approach, we hope to generate both cultural and economic added value for our nations," Fadli said. The deal was signed as French President Emmanuel Macron wrapped up his state visit to Indonesia, which ended with a tour of Borobudur Temple, one of the world's largest Buddhist monuments, alongside President Prabowo Subianto. Macron, currently on a week-long diplomatic tour of Southeast Asia, arrived in Indonesia with First Lady Brigitte Macron on Tuesday evening, the second stop of his tour after Vietnam. On arrival, Macron had warm words for Indonesia's leader, describing him as a brother and "a great friend of mine". Military cooperation between Indonesia, Southeast Asia's largest economy, and France has grown in recent years, starting in 2019 when Subianto became defence minister. Indonesia finalised an order for 42 French Dassault Rafale fighter jets in January 2024, with the first delivery expected in early 2026. The Asian nation also announced the purchase of two French Scorpene Evolved submarines and 13 Thales ground control interception radars. Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin told reporters after welcoming Macron that the visit was aimed at strengthening "defence cooperation between Indonesia and France." Macron ends his tour in Singapore, where he's expected to speak at Asia's top defence conference, the annual Shangri-La Dialogue.
