Naval History and Heritage Command
Director's Corner
NHHC Director Samuel Cox, left, and Pearl Harbor survivors Wetzel Sanders and Geb Galle attend the remembrance ceremony for the crew members of the USS Nevada (BB-36) killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, 8 December 2016 (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando).
In November 2016, Director Cox initiated a series of "H-grams." Inspired by the late Admiral Zumwalt’s series of Z-grams used to communicate with sailors throughout the Navy, H-grams are an avenue by which NHHC provides significant historical context to aid today’s decision-makers. H-grams and associated attachments reflect Director Cox’s personal assessment, aided by NHHC historians, of significant events in U.S. Navy history. Each H-gram draws on archival material, historic imagery, and written and oral history. In addition to the H-grams reproduced here, you’ll find links to Director Cox’s regular contributions to The Sextant, NHHC’s blog. The linked content explores a variety of topics, but consistently emphasizes the importance of honoring the service of sailors throughout history and understanding the relevance of the past to today’s Navy.
Director Cox describes the escape of Chief Fire Controlman Lauren Bruner from battleship USS Arizona (BB-39) during the attack on Pearl Harbor to Midshipman First Class Landon Clouse, U.S. Naval Academy Trident Scholar, and Midshipman First Class Nels Waaraniemi, winner of the 2022 USNA Superintendent's "Voices of Maritime History" competition, 13 June 2022.
Director Sam Cox's H-Gram 079 showcases the publication of an NHHC study on the impact and psychological effects on U.S. Navy sailors of the Japanese kamikaze attacks off Okinawa in April–June 1945 (“On the Verge of Breaking Down Completely”: Surviving the Kamikaze off Okinawa 1945 by NHHC historian Guy Nasuti). Director Cox also reprises H-Gram 052, which discusses the major role of the U.S. Navy in the development and use of the atomic bombs. The heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA-35) delivered critical components of the first atomic bomb prior to being sunk by Japanese submarine I-58. Included are the director's remarks at a recent ceremony honoring the last living survivor of Indianapolis, Harold Bray.
