Nebraska Navy - Transcript

Becoming an Admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska is an honor bestowed on a great many humanitarians, celebrities and notable Nebraskans.

But how did this tradition start, and why Admiralships in a state that is thousands of miles from the nearest ocean?

Well, it all began back in 1930, when Democratic Governor Charles W. Bryan went on vacation and left the affairs of the state in the hands of his private secretary.

Republican Lt. Governor T.W. Metcalfe decided that someone with more clout needed to be responsible for the affairs of the state. He stepped in to fulfill the duties of Governor.

As an acting Governor, Metcalfe wanted to bestow honors on his friends, and he created the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska, so that he could appoint his friends as Admirals.

Once the press got wind of these appointments, all of America wanted to become an Admiral in our Navy.

Although the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska is fictional, Nebraska is home to 15 Navy reserve units which include the SEABEES and one shipboard unit stationed in Pearl Harbor. As well as over 300 Navy soldiers at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha.

The USS Omaha, the USS Nebraska and the USS Wahoo are a few of the vessels with ties to our state.

Who would have thought that a state like Nebraska could have so many ties to the US Navy? And who knows? Since no one has documented how many admirals have been appointed, Nebraska could have the largest Navy in the World.