Military Sea Services Museum

10/15/2026

Army SMU assaulters suited up in full direct action gear ahead of Operation Acid Gambit, December 1989.

On the night of December 19 to 20, 1989, at the opening of Operation Just Cause, Delta set out to rescue Kurt Muse, an American civilian held in Panama's notorious Cárcel Modelo prison. Muse had run a clandestine radio station, the "Voice of Liberty," against Manuel Noriega. He was arrested in April and spent nine months in solitary confinement, and his guards reportedly had orders to kill him if anyone tried to free him. He was later reported to have worked with the Agency.

Twenty-three assaulters, reportedly from A Squadron, flew in on four MH-6 Little Birds of the 160th SOAR, landed on the prison roof under fire, and fought their way down. A Delta operator killed the guard assigned to shoot Muse. The team blew his cell door, gave him body armor and a helmet, and moved him to the roof. From landing to takeoff, it took about six minutes.

The Little Bird carrying Muse then crashed and several operators were wounded. They took cover in a nearby building and signaled a gunship with an infrared strobe until an M113 armored vehicle from the 5th Infantry Division picked them up. Muse survived, and it was the Unit's first successful hostage rescue. He later co-wrote the book Six Minutes to Freedom.

10/15/2026

10/15/2026

10/15/2026

On February 20, 1942, a young pilot named Edward O'Hare etched his name into history during a dramatic battle over the Pacific Ocean.

He was flying his fighter plane when he noticed a dangerous formation of nine enemy bombers heading straight toward his aircraft carrier, the USS Lexington.

With his partner’s guns jammed, O'Hare had to make a brave choice.

He single-handedly flew directly into the enemy formation to protect his ship and the thousands of sailors on board.

Even though he had a limited amount of am******on, his incredible aim allowed him to shoot down five enemy bombers in just a few minutes.

His quick thinking saved his ship, and he became the U.S. Navy’s very first flying ace of World War II.

For his extreme bravery, President Franklin D. Roosevelt presented him with the Medal of Honor, making him a national hero.

This incredible vintage photograph shows Lieutenant Commander Edward "Butch" O'Hare looking focused and ready in his flight gear.

While many people assume he got his famous nickname "Butch" from being such a tough, aggressive fighter pilot in the skies, he actually picked it up a bit earlier.

He earned the rugged nickname while playing on the highly competitive water polo team at the United States Naval Academy.

His physical toughness in the pool perfectly matched the fearless attitude he would later show when flying his Grumman F4F Wildcat fighter plane against enemy forces.

What truly made him a hero was not just his skill, but his willingness to put everything on the line for others.

Facing overwhelming odds, he chose to run toward the danger rather than away from it, putting the safety of his fellow sailors above his own life.

This ultimate act of selflessness is what turned him from a regular pilot into an enduring symbol of American courage.

Tragically, Butch O'Hare went missing in action during a complicated night mission in 1943.

To make sure his legacy was never forgotten, the city of Chicago officially renamed its major airport from Orchard Field to O'Hare International Airport in 1949.

Today, millions of travelers pass through the airport every year, and they can even see a restored World War II fighter plane just like the one he flew on display inside Terminal 2.

It stands as a powerful reminder of the incredible sacrifice made by the tough pilot who captured the heart of a nation.

(Note: The original photo has been colorized)

10/14/2026

Please coe and share an afternoon of wonderful music for a good cause - The Lupus Foundaiton of America.

10/14/2026

"I fear nothing." -- CAPT Nicholas Biddle, Continental Navy

Happy 251st Birthday to the U.S. Navy.

PS: we're still the senior sea service. Just kidding. Kind of. 😉😎



📷: Continental Brig Andrew Doria, painted in 1974.

10/14/2026

In 1995, US Air Force Capt. Scott O’Grady was flying his F-16 on a NATO patrol when a missile slammed into his jet. His flight lead watched the F-16 burst into flames and break in two, but never saw him eject.

O’Grady had ejected over Bosnian Serb territory, and enemy forces were soon hunting for him. They even claimed they had already captured him. He rubbed dirt on his face and lay face down as soldiers searched the area, some firing their ri**es just feet from where he was hiding. At one point, an enemy helicopter flew so close he could see the pilots’ faces.

For 6 days, he hid during the day and moved only at night. He ate leaves, grass and ants. When the water in his survival kit ran out, he drank rainwater. The cold rain also left him soaked, and his feet developed trench foot.

He kept trying his radio. On the sixth night, another American F-16 pilot, Capt. T.O. Hanford, finally heard him calling with his call sign, Basher 52. Hanford, nearly out of fuel, confirmed it was really him.

Within hours, a rescue was launched. Two Marine CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters carrying dozens of Marines lifted off from the USS Kearsarge, escorted by Cobra gunships. In all, 40 aircraft took part in the mission.

At dawn, as the helicopters landed, O’Grady sprinted out of the trees with his pistol in his hand. The Marines pulled him aboard, and after only minutes on the ground, they were airborne again.

On the way out, enemy forces opened fire with machine guns and missiles. Bullets hit both helicopters, but every aircraft made it back safely.

O’Grady came home a national hero, and his story later loosely inspired the movie Behind Enemy Lines. But he insisted the real heroes were the Marines who came to get him.

Today, Scott O’Grady turns 61. Happy birthday, Basher 52.