Happy 250th, America!
Celebrating 250 years of independence and the enduring ideals of liberty, opportunity, and justice that shape our nation.
Since our nation's founding, Marines have upheld these ideals around the world, serving with honor, courage, and commitment.
Today, we honor the freedom they defend and the nation we’re proud to serve.
#July4th #FREEDOM250 #USMC
Happy Independence Day! To commemorate the Bicentennial in 1976, an F-4 Phantom II from the VX-4 Evaluators was given a special Star-Spangled Banner and eagle paint scheme.
#IndependenceDay
It is hard to overstate how amazing the facts of the post below are...for a few reasons.
First that Tang is our most successful boat in history but only served 1 year and 10 days before she was lost (78 souls on eternal patrol)
Second, that Richard O'Kane was at that launch. He was aboard for the fateful 5th war patrol when she was lost, just take a look at that damage report below‼️
The sinking of USS Tang is a tragic legend. She was lost when her 24th AND FINAL torpedo suffered a circular run. It struck her own stern,sinking her in 180 feet of water.
The survival story is brutal. Only 9 survived. 3 including O'Kane were on the bridge, 1 escaped through the sail, and 5 from the forward hatch. 13 attempted to escape through the forward hatch, but only 5 of them survived. This is the only emergency use of the Momsen lung to escape a sunken boat. Survivors swam for 8 hours before being rescued by Japanese frigate CD-34, which was carrying Japanese survivors from ships Tang had recently sank who inflicted severe beatings on the survivors. Despite the torture, all 9 survived the war in POW camps & made it home.
Included in those that did not escape Tang was 15 year old CS2 Rubin Raiford, the youngest US Navy member to die in battle during WWII, just 12 days older than the youngest of any US service member to perish in WWI, Marine PFC Paul Heller.
⚓Mark the USA’s 250-year legacy by becoming part of a community dedicated to advancing the professional, literary, and scientific understanding of the Sea Services. Join the U.S. Naval Institute today and receive $25 OFF membership with code USA250 through 7/31/26. https://t.co/APmrwSinCP Offer not valid on life or student tiers. #America250 #celebrate #SeaServices
Down to the wire.
An F/A-18E Super Hornet, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 102, prepares to land on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) while underway in the Philippine Sea.
📸 MC2 Tyler Crowley
OTD in 1943: one of the most successful US Navy submarines of WWII was commissioned, Gato-class submarine USS Rasher (SS 269)
📸 Rasher's Battle Flag (*Note: she later earned Vietnam Service Medal w/2 stars)