Photo By David Stoehr | Capt. Michael Coughlin, commanding officer of Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC)...... read more read more
NEWPORT, R.I. — In recognition of the upcoming Memorial Day holiday, U.S. Senator Jack Reed joined employees at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division, Newport to honor the 32 men who died in service to their country while working at NUWC’s predecessor organizations, the Naval Torpedo Station, Newport; the Naval Underwater Ordnance Station, and the Naval Underwater Weapons Research and Engineering Station.
During the brief morning ceremony, Reed and Capt. Michael Coughlin, NUWC Newport’s commanding officer, placed a memorial wreath at a monument inscribed with the names of each employee lost in accidents from 1874 through the late 1960s.
"This monument is etched with the names of 32 brave Americans, your predecessors, who gave their lives in the service of our nation. Without their sacrifice and commitment, and the sacrifice of many others, NUWC wouldn't have evolved into the cutting edge institution it is, and the United States would not be the great nation we are today. We owe them and their families a great debt of gratitude," said Reed. "They gave their last full measure so that we may stand here today, safe and free. Their selflessness will continue to inspire and guide us."
Most of those killed were involved in four incidents. A gun cotton fire at the Naval Torpedo Station claimed three lives in 1893. During World War I, 15 men died in two separate explosions in 1918, the first claiming 13 men and the second two. Five men died as a result of a propellant explosion in 1955 at the Naval Underwater Ordnance Station. Others died in individual accidents including a plane crash.
“To me, Memorial Day is our most important and solemn holiday as we pause and pay tribute to our American heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of our nation and our ideals,” said Coughlin.
“Unique to Memorial Day, the flag of the United States is raised briskly to the top of the staff, and then solemnly lowered to half-staff position, where it remains only until noon, at which time, it is raised to full staff for the remainder of the day,” Coughlin added. “The half-staff position remembers the more than 1,000,000 men and women who have given their lives in service to our country. At noon their memory is raised by the living, as we resolve to not let their sacrifice be in vein but to raise up in the stead and continue to champion liberty and justice for all.”
The monument was originally erected in 1930 at Government Landing in downtown Newport under the auspices of the Newport Metal Trades Council. In 1966, the memorial was relocated to its current location near the flag pole at what is now NUWC Newport.
NUWC Newport is a shore command of the U.S. Navy within the Naval Sea Systems Command, which engineers, builds and supports America’s fleet of ships and combat systems. NUWC Newport provides research, development, test and evaluation, engineering and fleet support for submarines, autonomous underwater systems, undersea offensive and defensive weapons systems, and countermeasures associated with undersea warfare.
NUWC Newport is the oldest warfare center in the country, tracing its heritage to the Naval Torpedo Station that was established on Goat Island in Newport Harbor in 1869. NUWC Newport maintains major detachments in West Palm Beach, Fla., and Andros Island in the Bahamas, as well as test facilities at Seneca Lake and Fisher's Island, N.Y. and Dodge Pond, Conn.
| Date Taken: | 05.25.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 05.25.2018 15:51 |
| Story ID: | 278496 |
| Location: | NEWPORT, RI, US |
| Web Views: | 51 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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