Naval History and Heritage Command

130401-N-CS953-004 WASHINGTON (April 1, 2013) The U.S. Navy Ceremonial Color Guard parades the colors during the Chief Petty Officer Birthday ceremony at the U.S. Navy Memorial. The ceremony marked the conclusion of the U.S. Navy Memorial Year of the Chief. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tim Comerford/Released)

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130401-N-MG658-420 WASHINGTON (April 1, 2013) The U.S. Navy chief's mess celebrates 120 years of the chief petty officer rank during a ceremony at the U.S. Navy Memorial. Chiefs have been charged with leading sailors since the creation of the rank in 1893. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Todd Frantom/Released)

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130313-N-WE887-005 WASHINGTON NAVY YARD (March 13, 2013) John Domagalski, author of Sunk in the Kula Gulf, signs copies of his book after giving a lecture at the Naval History and Heritage Command's Museum Educational Center. Sunk in the Kula Gulf tells the story of USS Helena's final voyage and the struggle of her survivors. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gina K Morrissette/Released)

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130227-N-WE887-003 WASHINGTON NAVY YARD (Feb. 27, 2013) The Naval History and Heritage Command's archives branch is the main repository for U.S. Navy operational history. It maintains a select group of operational records, command histories and operational reports of naval commands, manuscripts, oral histories, biographies and personal papers dealing with the 20th and 21st century Navy, especially after 1945. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gina K. Morrissette/Released)

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130219-N-ZZ999-512 WASHINGTON (Feb. 19, 2013) An undated photo provided by Naval History and Heritage Command shows a drawing of USS Monitor. The Brooklyn-built Monitor made nautical history after being designed and assembled in 118 days, and then commissioned Feb. 25, 1862. Monitor fought in the first battle between two ironclads during an engagement against the Confederate navy ironclad CSS Virginia in the Battle of Hampton Roads on March 9, 1862. the battle marked the first time iron-armored ships clashed in naval warfare and signaled the end of the era of wooden ships. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Naval History and Heritage Command/Released)

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130219-N-ZZ999-510 WASHINGTON (Feb. 19, 2013) A photographic mosaic of USS Monitor composed of individual photographs taken from the research ship Alcoa Seaprobe in April 1974, when Monitor's wreck was initially discovered. Monitor lies upside down, in badly damaged condition, off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. In this image, her bow is to the right, with her turret displaced and visible in the lower left, with the hull resting atop it. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Naval History and Heritage Command/Released)

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130219-N-ZZ999-509 WASHINGTON (Feb. 19, 2013) A photograph provided by Naval History and Heritage Command of USS Monitor shows the deck looking forward on the starboard side, while the ship was in the James River in Virginia on July 9, 1862. The turret, with the muzzle of one of Monitor's two 11-inch Dahlgren smoothbore guns showing, is at left. Note dents in turret armor from hits by Confederate heavy guns and crewmembers atop the turret. Officers at right are (left to right): Third Assistant Engineer Robinson W. Hands, Acting Master Louis N. Stodder, Second Assistant Engineer Albert B. Campbell (seated) and Acting Volunteer Lieutenant William Flye (with binoculars). (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Naval History and Heritage Command/Released)

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130219-N-ZZ999-506 WASHINGTON (Feb. 19, 2013) In this undated photograph provided by Naval History and Heritage Command the crew of USS Monitor stands near the ship's turret after the Battle of Hampton Roads between Monitor and the Confederate navy ironclad CSS Virginia. Monitor was a revolutionary vessel, designed by John Ericson, changing the course of the United States Navy. The Brooklyn-built Monitor made nautical history after being designed and assembled in 118 days, and then commissioned Feb. 25, 1862. Fighting in the first battle between two ironclads in the Battle of Hampton Roads on Mar. 9, 1862, the engagement marked the first time iron-armored ships clashed in naval warfare and signaled the end of the era of wooden ships. Its battle between the CSS Virginia proved that the age of wooden ships and sail were at an end. Though the Monitor's confrontation with the CSS Virginia ended in a draw, the Monitor prevented the Virginia from gaining control of Hampton Roads and thus preserved the Federal blockade of the Norfolk area. The Virginia, built on the carcass of the U.S. Navy frigate USS Merrimack, was the Confederate answer to the Union's ironclad ships. Months later, 16 Sailors were lost when the Monitor sank on Dec. 31, 1862 in a storm off Cape Hatteras, N.C. Her wreck was discovered in 1974 and is now a National Marine Sanctuary. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Naval History and Heritage Command/Released)

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130219-N-ZZ999-505 WASHINGTON (Feb. 19, 2013) In this depiction of the Battle of Hampton Roads provided by Naval History and Heritage Command, USS Monitor and CSS Virginia fire on each other. Monitor was a revolutionary vessel, designed by John Ericson, changing the course of the United States Navy. The Brooklyn-built Monitor made nautical history after being designed and assembled in 118 days, and then commissioned Feb. 25, 1862. Fighting in the first battle between two ironclads in the Battle of Hampton Roads on Mar. 9, 1862, the engagement marked the first time iron-armored ships clashed in naval warfare and signaled the end of the era of wooden ships. Its battle between the CSS Virginia proved that the age of wooden ships and sail were at an end. Though the Monitor's confrontation with the CSS Virginia ended in a draw, the Monitor prevented the Virginia from gaining control of Hampton Roads and thus preserved the Federal blockade of the Norfolk area. The Virginia, built on the carcass of the U.S. Navy frigate USS Merrimack, was the Confederate answer to the Union's ironclad ships. Months later, 16 Sailors were lost when the Monitor sank on Dec. 31, 1862 in a storm off Cape Hatteras, N.C. Her wreck was discovered in 1974 and is now a National Marine Sanctuary. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Naval History and Heritage Command/Released)

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130219-N-ZZ999-504 WASHINGTON (Feb. 19, 2013) An undated photograph provided by Naval History and Heritage Command showing the

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130219-N-ZZ999-503 WASHINGTON (Feb. 19, 2013) A painting of the battle between USS Monitor and CSS Virginia by W. F. Halsall. The Brooklyn-built Monitor made nautical history after being designed and assembled in 118 days, and then commissioned Feb. 25, 1862. Fighting in the first battle between two ironclads in the Battle of Hampton Roads on Mar. 9, 1862, the engagement marked the first time iron-armored ships clashed in naval warfare and signaled the end of the era of wooden ships. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Naval History and Heritage Command/Released)

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130219-N-ZZ999-502 WASHINGTON (Feb. 19, 2013) In this undated photograph provided by Naval History and Heritage Command the crew of USS Monitor relax just outside of its turret. The Brooklyn-built Monitor made nautical history after being designed and assembled in 118 days, and then commissioned Feb. 25, 1862. Monitor fought in the Battle of Hampton Roads March 9, 1862 against CSS Virginia. It was the first battle between two ironclads and signaled the end of the era of wooden ships. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Naval History and Heritage Command/Released)

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130205-N-CS953-001 WASHINGTON (Feb. 5, 2013) Vice Adm. Robin Braun, Chief of Naval Reserves, and Capt. Henry Hendrix II, Director of Naval History, view historic firearms in the armory at Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) during a tour of the facilities. Braun was shown the Operational Archives of the Navy, the Navy Department Library, and the weapons collection while visiting NHHC at the Washington Navy Yard.U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tim Comerford/Released)

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121207-N-WE887-004 WASHINGTON (Dec. 7, 2012) Adm. James G. Stavridis, commander of U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Command, Europe, tours Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) with Capt. Henry J. Hendrix, director of NHHC. Stavridis toured the rare book room, the Naval Library and provided an oral history on operation Odyssey Dawn. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gina K Morrissette/Released)

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121207-N-WE887-002 WASHINGTON (Dec. 7, 2012) Adm. James G. Stavridis, commander of U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Command, Europe, tours Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) with Capt. Henry J. Hendrix, director of NHHC. Stavridis toured the rare book room, the Naval Library and provided an oral history on operation Odyssey Dawn. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gina K Morrissette/Released)

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121207-N-KV696-073 ARLINGTON, Va. (Dec. 7, 2012) Sailors assigned to Naval History and Heritage Command render a hand salute during a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery commemorating the 71st anniversary of the Dec. 7, 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The Naval Order of the United States has hosted the event for more than 40 years. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kiona Miller/ Released)

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