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 Sam Cox's H-Gram 064 covers several epic battles between U.S. surface ships and U-boats involving ramming and hand-to-hand combat, including the use of Coca Cola bottles, coffee mugs and pots, sheath knives, spent shell casings, flare pistols, hand grenades, shotguns, and tommy guns as antisubmarine warfare (ASW) weapons.
Click the links below to access previously issued H-grams and blogs from Director Cox. For biographical information and text of speeches given by Director Cox, please see his biography page.
