Category Archives: U.S. Navy

Maritime Adventures, A Book Review

Posted on April 30, 2020 by Jim Wheeler

Not all effects of social isolation in the time of COVID are bad. Motivated by ennui and inspired by the news of a new film starring Tom Hanks, courtesy of an article in Military Officer journal, I am halfway through … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Movies, Submarines, U.S. Navy, Uncategorized, USN, War | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Splice the Main Brace!

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Jim Wheeler

My online friend and co-blogger, Pied Type, ran an interesting post a few days ago regarding the author Tom Clancy’s inspiration for music and singing in the movie, Red October. It got me to thinking about the role of music … Continue reading →

Posted in U.S. Navy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Now hear this, Admiral. You guys are in a heap of trouble!

Posted on June 14, 2013 by Jim Wheeler

  My blogging friend Moe Holland the other day highlighted the kerfuffle over sexual assaults in the military and some of the ensuing misogynistic comments by Congressional dinosaurs. In so doing she inspired me to some thought on the subject. … Continue reading →

Posted in Armed Forces, U.S. Navy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 43 Comments

Naval Gazing

Posted on July 17, 2012 by Jim Wheeler

Last Monday a very interesting and historic event occurred in the Persian Gulf when the USNS Rappahannock fired a 50 caliber machine at a small boat that ignored all warnings and continued to approach. There were injuries on the small … Continue reading →

Posted in Terrorism, U.S. Navy | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Sledge Hammers and Fly Swatters

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Jim Wheeler

George Will usually will not use a simple word when a larger one is available, but in his column today he heads directly into common sense and becomes the first (so far as I can tell) to draw a significant strategic … Continue reading →

Posted in Terrorism, U.S. Armed Forces, U.S. Navy | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

A Cultural Journey

Posted on January 8, 2011 by Jim Wheeler

The persistence of the USS Enterprise scandal as a public topic is evidence that there is something profound in it, something that goes beyond the job assignment at its heart.  In my opinion that something is the changing nature of … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics / Morality, Leadership, Nuclear weapons, Submarines, U.S. Navy, War | 23 Comments

Military Culture and Behavior

Posted on January 4, 2011 by Jim Wheeler

The scandal over Captain Owen Honors of the USS Enterprise causes me to reflect on how things have changed in the US Navy since I was a young Midshipman.  I entered the US Naval Academy in 1955, graduating in 1959, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Armed Forces, Culture, Ethics / Morality, Submarines, U.S. Armed Forces, U.S. Navy, USNA | 11 Comments

Cookie Diplomacy

Posted on December 28, 2010 by Jim Wheeler

Sometimes one hears a story that sticks in the memory because it is profound.  That happened to me several decades ago when a naval-officer friend of mine, we’ll call him “Ron”, told me a true story about himself.  He was … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics / Morality, Philosophy, Politics, Sociology, U.S. Armed Forces, U.S. Navy | Tagged | 11 Comments