This Day In Naval History: July 7

1798 - Congress rescinds treaties with France, and the Quasi War begins.

1846 - During the Mexican-American War, Commodore John D. Sloat, disembarks from his flagship frigate, USS Savannah, at Monterey and claims California for the U.S.

1915 - Thomas A. Edison becomes the head of the Naval Consulting Board, which screens inventions for the Navy.

1944 - USS Mingo (SS 261), USS Skate (SS 305), USS Sunfish (SS 281), USS Flasher (SS 249), and USS Bonefish (SS 223) sink up to eight Japanese ships.

1944 - While serving with the Fourth Battalion, Tenth Marines, Second Marine Division during the Battle of Saipan, Pfc. Harold C. Agerholm uses an abandoned ambulance and makes repeated trips for three hours under heavy rifle and mortar fire, single-handedly evacuating approximately 45 wounded men until mortally wounded by a Japanese sniper. For his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity," he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

1948 - The first six enlisted women are sworn into Regular Navy: Chief Yeoman Wilma J. Marchal; Yeoman Second Class Edna E. Young; Hospital Corpsman First Class Ruth Flora; Aviation Storekeeper First Class Kay L. Langen; Storekeeper Second Class Frances T. Devaney; and Teleman Doris R. Robertson.

1979 - USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) is commissioned at her homeport of Norfolk, Va. The submarine tender is named after Adm. Emory S. Land, an officer noted for his designs of submarines.


(Source: Naval History and Heritage Command, Communication and Outreach Division)