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Photographic History of the U.S. Navy
Meet the NavSource Team

Our Name,

When trying to decide on a name for this project back in 1995, I was looking for something that described what I was trying to provide. A one stop Naval Resource Center, where visitors could find information and images of ships of the USN. So from these two words, Naval Resources, NavSource was born and registered in 1996 as the domain name under which we operate.

Who And What We Are,

NavSource is not a business, it is a group of volunteers who are not paid for their time and efforts; we do it because we all share the same respect and love of naval history and through our efforts provide a free resource for the naval enthusiast that has been unavailable by other means. Some of us have full time jobs and work on this project as time allows, others are retired. Sometimes progress seems slow and it may take some time to have submitted information added to the project but we are always working to make this information available.

We also work in close conjunction with other naval history sites, like Andrew Toppan's http://www.hazegray.org, to bring you up to date, factual and accurate information without having to navigate around advertising banners. By working together we can avoid duplication of effort and thus provide you with a wide array of information that the USN History Branch has not been able to provide.

We are also working with various groups like the DESTROYER ESCORT SAILORS ASSN. to preserve as much history of these ships as possible.

The USN, limited by budget constraints, provides as much information as they can and has an excellent web site, https://www.history.navy.mil. When used in conjunction with these sites, you should be able to locate the information that you seek. This is an ongoing project, information and images are added as they become available to us.

Mission Statement

The simple goal of NavSource Naval History is the preservation of naval history, in the form of images and text, also to help former shipmates find each other by providing reunion and contact information. We also hope to help historians and researchers find information and sources not previously available through private photo collections and records donated to us by former ships personnel. We also make available to everyone public images and records found scattered in various locations Indexed in one place for easy reference.

Financial Statement

NavSource is a non-commercial organization and does not accept donations.

The Current NavSource Team Members
  Paul R. Yarnall
Project Founder, Manager, Server Administrator

 

LT Gary Priolo USN Ret.
Project General Manager, Manager Amphibious Ship, Auxiliary Ship, Military Sealift Command, and Army Ship Archives

Born in San Francisco, CA. in 1938. He has always been drawn to the sea as a career path. Enlisted in the Navy in 1955 and retired in 1979 with almost 25 years Naval service, specializing in Information Technology. Attended California Maritime Academy. Graduated with Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in History from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. Three years part-time college and university history Instructor/Associate Professor. Member Retired Officers Association, Fleet Reserve, and USS Oriskany, Yosemite, Wright Reunion Associations. He joined the Navsource team in 1999.

Michael Mohl
Manager Battleship, Cruiser, and Submarine Archives

Keel laid, launched and commissioned in Philadelphia, PA. in November 1956. Love of history & oceanography from childhood. Upon graduation from Temple University, Phila. PA. in 1980, moved to Israel in 1981 to study at the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, in Haifa. Professionally, Master of many trades from living on a Moshav (cooperative village) for 20 plus years—raising chickens, growing grapes, head of security to Manager of Technical Documents at Intel Jerusalem. Served in Israeli army as a Sergeant in reserves for 19 years. Currently CEO & owner of a Fortune 500 million House Painting company. Joined Navsource team in 2000.

Fabio Peña
Manager, Aircraft Carrier, Escort Carrier, and Rigid Airship Archives

Born in Barcelona, Spain, in 1956 he has had an ever-growing interest in the U.S. Navy, its history and technology, since childhood. Professionally, Fabio is an Information Technologies specialist. He is a member of the U.S. Naval Institute and the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. He was also a member of the Naval Historical Foundation until it decommissioned, and was a proud honorary member of the U.S.S. Bogue (CVE 9) Reunion Group until, sadly, the Bogue's Rogues sailed into History.

He joined the NavSource team in July 2002.

Mike Smolinski
Manager Destroyer Escort, Frigate & Littoral Warfare Vessel Archives

Born in Clifton, New Jersey in 1946, he joined the Naval reserve in July 1963. Reporting for active duty in June 1964, he transferred to the Regular Navy in January of 1965. Upon his discharge in mid-1969 he embarked on a career with IBM, while spending another eleven years, on and off, in the Naval Reserve through the 1970's and '80's. After retiring from IBM in 1993 he drove a tractor trailer over the road for eleven years, before retiring completely. He joined the Navsource team in 2002.

Mike began collecting US Naval ship jacket patches in the early 1970's (in addition to ship name tabs and Naval postcards) and has amassed a fairly large collection. He's always on the lookout for more though, so if you have any Navy patches you're willing to part with, please contact him through Navsource.

David Wright
Manager Destroyer, Mine Warfare, Patrol Craft, Yard & District Craft, and Civilian Vessel (ID & SP) Archives

Born and raised in southern New Jersey from 1972. Moved to California and worked in film industry after graduating college with a major in history and English. Served in Army as intelligence analyst for several years, now living in upstate New York working as a viticulturist after several years trying to figure out what to do with life. Joined NavSource in 2015.

CAPT. Michael Junge, USN Ret.
Manager Old Navy, Sail and Steam Archives

Michael Junge was born in Port Arthur, Texas in 1967 and retired in 2020 after 30 years of naval service. He commanded USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41) and served aboard destroyers, frigates, and amphibious assault ships during his career. He is also the author of “Crimes of Command” a study of post World War II naval culture related to command and removal from command. He joined Navsource in 2023.

Wolfgang Hechler
Associate Researcher

  • Born 1952 in Lautertal Germany.
  • Schools: Lautertal and Bensheim.
  • Education to surveing-technician in Heppenheim 1969–1972.
  • Studies to Land-Surveying in Frankfurt, Germany 1972–1975 (Diplom-Ingenieur).
  • Education to public officer 1975–1976.
  • Working for the government agency for land-surveing for the federal German state of Hessen 1976–2018.
  • Retirement expected 2018.
  • Married to my wife Doloris (Dolly) in 1976.
  • Two daughters: Birgit (*1977), Margit (*1981).
  • One grand-child: Pauline Maria (*2016).
  • Hobby: U.S. Navy since a boy of 14.
    Collecting envelopes with postal-stamps and rubber cachets (emblems) from U.S. Navy ships, German navy ships and Japanese navy ships since 1967 (collection today 17177 envelopes). Also interest in USN-ship's history, logos, pictures, especially digital images (hugh collection).
    Doing Commanding Officers lists for all USN-ships since many years together with Ron Reeves.
  • Other hobbies: vacation-travelling, photography, politics (active in local council since many years), honorary judge at District Court in Bensheim for 4 years and chairman of local court Lautertal since many years.

Ron Balko
Associate Researcher/Quality Control Analyst

I was an Air Force brat for the first few years of my life. My family finally settled down in Milwaukee, WI. Being raised on the Great Lakes sparked my interest in ships. I spent two summers during college sailing on Great Lakes ore boats for US Steel which cemented that interest. I am a retired college librarian, AV integrator & database administrator currently living in Moorhead, MN. I came across Navsource a quite a while back when looking for some BB64 pictures. I decided I wanted to contribute & joined early in 2011.

Bob Canchola
Contacts Research Associate

Born in Chicago, Illinois, April 27, 1950. Enlisted in the USNR at age 19 and served on active duty from 1971–1973 aboard the USS Moale (DD-693) and USS Oriskany (CVA-34) during her 1971 & 1972/1973 WestPac Cruises to Vietnam. I was a BT (Boiler Technician) and worked in the ships Fire Rooms (Boiler Rooms) & Oil Shack.

After being discharged I received a BA Degree under the G.I. Bill, then worked as a Operating Engineer (Stationary Engineer) for the City of Chicago, Department of Aviation at O'Hare Airport's H&R Power Plant until retiring in 2010. I am a life time member or the VFW and I have always had a keen interest in Naval Ships, especially Aircraft Carriers and Naval Aviation.

(Bob joined the NavSource team in December 2019.)

Former Members
Fred Willshaw
Former Manager Destroyer Archive

Born in Washington, DC in 1942. He has had a longing for the sea since childhood which lead to enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1963. This service included combat operations in Vietnam aboard a destroyer. This was followed by a civilian career as a Senior Systems Engineer retiring after 31 years. He developed and maintains the Internet presence for the USS Allen M. Sumner (DD-692) and is a member of Tin Can Sailors, VFW, SAR and the Navy Memorial. Fred was a member of the Navsource team for 17 years (2000–2017).

Tom Bateman
Former Manager, Cruiser, Coast Guard, and Patrol Vessel Archives

Born in Detroit, MI in 1959. Military minded since childhood, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1977, serving 5 years Active Duty and 7 years as a Reservist. As a civilian, upon graduation from college, he began working in the Computer Industry and continues to today. He developed and maintains the website for the USS Preble (DDG-46) and is a member of the USS Preble Reunion Association, Association of Gunner's Mates, U.S. Naval Institute and the Navy Memorial. Tom was a member of the Navsource team for 23 years (2000–2023).

Bill Gonyo
Former Associate Researcher

After graduating from Earl Warren High School, Downey, CA. in June 1969, he joined the U.S. Air Force in January 1970 on the delayed enlistment program. Bill received orders to report to Vandenberg AFB and spent the next four years moving around the base hospital—and spending his free time doing the cowboy thing on a cattle ranch. After he completed his enlistment he worked three years on the ranch before moving on. He is presently working for a subsidiary of "K" Line America, Inc. Bill joined the Navsource team in May 2008.

Robert M. Cieri
Former Associate Researcher

Born in Philadelphia, PA in 1952. The son of a career Chief Petty Officer, he felt he had been in the Navy since childhood. Graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley in 1976. He enlisted in the Naval Reserve in June 1977. Served as a Fleet Marine Force Hospital Corpsman for six years. He was then awarded a Direct Commission in the Naval Reserve Intelligence Program in 1983. In civilian life, he had careers as a police officer, computer game producer and designer, as well as the director of security for a major computer software corporation.

Bob began collecting U.S. Navy photos, programs, booklets, patches, postcards, UIM patches, cruisebooks, ballcaps, plaques and most things Navy. He essentially continued adding to the collection he inherited from his father. If you have something to trade contact him through Navsource. He joined NavSource in February 2009.

Tom Kermen
Former Associate Researcher

Born in Ellensburg, WA in 1946 and grew up in the small town of South Cle Elum, WA. Enlisted in the Navy in 1967. Was an Aviation Fire Control Techinican on A-7 Corsair II aircraft with VA-122 at NAS Lemoore, CA until discharged in 1971. Spent the next 37 years in the finance industry before retiring in 2008 from a credit union in Beaverton, OR. Became aware of NavSource in 1999 while looking for his father's ship and has been computer enhancing some of the older photographs in need of restoration since then. Joined the NavSource team in February 2009.

 
Andrew C. Toppan — Bath, Maine
Dana Perrodin — Pasadena, Texas
Daniel N. Dunham — Severn, Maryland
David Almond — Virginia Beach, Virginia
Earl Watkins — Orange, California
Ingo Holm — Hamburg, Germany
Lance Beebe
Mike Bishop — Albermarle, North Carolina
Timothy Dike — Plattsburg, Missouri

In Memoriam
Ron Reeves
Associate Researcher

  • Born in Philly, PA 1943
  • Enlisted USN 1960
  • Married 1963
  • Fleet Reserve 1964
  • Sheet Metal Mechanic by trade
  • PNSY since 9-11-1976
  • Retired as HTC 1980
  • Retired Gov't Service 2001
  • Spouse Deceased 2012 after 49 Years of Marriage
  • Naval Historian and Researcher
  • Started with Navsource.org in 2009.
  • (Ron passed away in February 2018.)

Joe Radigan, Master Chief Petty Officer, USN, Ret.
Manager Mine Warfare & Patrol Vessel Archives

Born in New York, NY in 1935. Enlisted in U.S. Navy in 1952 and retired after 33 years of service. "Plank Owner" USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Retired from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service as Deputy Assistant Director for Law Enforcement Programs and Master-at-Arms Rating Program Advisor. Member Fleet Reserve Association and USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Association. Joe was a member of the NavSource team for 22 years, starting in 2000. He passed away in September 2022.


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