2. Introduction
• Since retiring honorably from the United States Navy,
Captain David Schnell has remained active with the
United States Naval Institute while serving as a general
manager of Xerox's Metro ExpressLanes in Los Angeles
and as an executive director at Christ Kitchen in San
Diego. Captain David Schnell led two US Navy warships
over the course of a military career that lasted nearly
three decades.
Military warships have played a key role in several
American battles, particularly during World War II. First
launched in 1938, USS Enterprise went on to become the
most decorated ship in the American fleet.
3. Most Decorated US Warship
• The 824 foot vessel, capable of supporting 90 aircraft at one
time, engaged in a number of important battles and war
operations. After witnessing the attack on Pearl Harbor in
1941, Enterprise officially began patrolling the waters around
Hawaii.
USS Enterprise made its first significant World War II
appearance during the Battle of Midway, a key victory for the
Allied forces, where she sank two Japanese carriers and
assisted in the sinking of a third. Subsequent incidents
involving Enterprise include the Battle of the Eastern
Solomons, the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, and the Battle
of Leyte Gulf. In total, USS Enterprise collected 20 battle
stars, more than any ship in the history of the United States.
