Our next generation aircraft carrier will be named the USS Gerald R. Ford, if a John Warner/Carl Levin-sponsored “sense of the Congress” has its intended effect:
An 1819 act of Congress gives the secretary of the Navy responsibility for choosing ship names, a prerogative he still exercises, according to the Naval Historical Center’s Web site.
Sens. John Warner, R-Va., and Carl Levin, D-Mich., amended the 2007 defense bill to encourage the Navy to name the next carrier after Ford, who served in the Navy during World War II and grew up in Michigan…
Warner is the outgoing chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Levin is the incoming chairman…
In a letter to Waite last month, Capt. Rebecca Brenton, special assistant for public affairs to the Navy secretary, said it is understandable many people support naming the next carrier America.
“As I am sure you are aware, a sense of Congress, while not legally binding, must be carefully considered as part of the ship-naming process,” Brenton wrote.
Ah, well. I guess we should consider ourselves lucky to have capital warship named after a one-term US president, the only man ever to hold that office who was never elected either to it or to the vice-presidency and whom – helluva nice guy that he is – is chiefly famous for having pardoned Richard Nixon and provided endless stumble-joke fodder for nighttime TV comics. Oh, and the evacuation of Saigon, I guess. And that clinic named after his wife.
But for a quirk of fate (and not having paid taxes on his bribes) it might have been named the USS Spiro Agnew. Happily, we already have a USS Ford on the books, so here’s to confusion to the enemy!
There is a spirited attempt by former crewmembers of the USS America to encourage SECNAV to name CVN-78 after their old ship, and here are just a few other historical names going unused:
Lexington and Hornet (two of my favorites), Constellation, Independence, Ranger, Oriskany, Shangri-La, and Coral Sea.
Been over this ground before, and having gotten it out of my system for now, I shall go in search of other windmills to tilt at. Come along, Sancho.
OK – Ford’s from MI so it’s sorta clear why Levin is pushing this, but why Warner? He was a Marine and Asst SecNav to boot. Huh???
Knowing the “Ford” is steaming into your waters is bound to provoke comments worthy of SNL, not stike fear in the heart of a potential adversary…
Ford deserves a building or park named after him, not a major stategic asset of the United States.
Wouldn’t mind seeing another Midway, myself…
Agreed on all counts. Get the politics out of the naming of carriers. There should be no Ford in the Navy’s future. We can us a new USS Hornet, or better yet, a USS United States (for the super carrier that never made it, or for the one that was politically switched to the HST).
I never wish to see a USS Nancy Pelosi or Hillary Clinton, should the electorate ever degrade to that level. As for the USS Jimmy Carter, pulllllease! What was the Navy thinking?
The CVN-78 USS George W. Bush has a nice ring to it.
FWIW (and that would be “not much”)…I’m partial to either Lexington or Hornet. As Tevye sang: Traaa-dit-SHUN!!
Shipmates,
Well, personally speaking, seeings how everyone’s all a-twiddle and duckbumps over naming Capital Ships after people, I’d offer my own suggestion… which, I believe, sums up rather well the feelings of those who crew them in harm’s way:
U.S.S. Bite Me
Respects,
Howabout “Robert A. Heinlein”?
That author inspired a couple of generations. And, he graduated from Canoe U.
My vote is for USS Sponge…
Given the cost of the new CVN/s, why not have corporate sponsorship, as the bowl games do?
“USS Gerald Ford, by Frito Lay”; or “USS John Warner, by Honda,” sorta sings donchathink?
Seriously, let’s get the Blog-Power underway and impose the peoples’ will on the “..sense of Congress.”
How about YORKTOWN? Any of the TAFFY 3 jeep carriers? Yes, lots of great names to CARRY ON THE NAVAL TRADITION…
Lex, I’m coming, just be patient , my brain is not as fast as it was at one time. I had a father who was tested and it was determined, he was in the top 1 percent of intelligence. But his sense of humor often confounded even his own contemporaries. One of his favorite sayings was, “The Pentagon was a square designed by Congress.” There were times I would say to him, “Dad, when it comes to this congress, what they are saying, just doesn’t make sense.” He would look at me and say, “You don’t worry when it doesn’t make sense. You only worry when it does make sense, this means you are just as crazy as them!” Lex, he died 20+ years ago. But reading your post, reminded me of him and his thinking. THANKS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS!! Grumpy.
Shipmates,
I too would welcome an historical name for our latest carrier. Enterprise, Yorktown, Midway, Lexington, Bunker Hill, Valley Forge, Ranger. Especially Ranger. I think that would be a great name. Not only historical, but would confuse the Army as well
However, if the Congress Critters keep insisting on naming them after people, then how’s about some of our Navy/Marine aces? Thatch, Foss, Boyington, etc.
Of course, with our luck, the ace they’d pick would be Duke Cunningham.. sigh …
Respects,
dc Says:
December 18th, 2006 at 11:25 am
Howabout ?
dc Says:
December 18th, 2006 at 11:25 am
Howabout “Robert A. Heinlein”?
Just googled around and found this.
The U.S.S. Robert A. Heinlein
What better way to commemorate Robert Heinlein’s birth centennial than naming a major new US Navy ship after him? The ultra-sophisticated DDG destroyers (Zumwalt class) are something straight out of science fiction themselves, and there’s never been a better ship to name after an sf writer, futurist and proud Navy man.
We’ll have more here soon about the USS Heinlein campaign and how to make it happen, but for now, here’s the scoop from our event coordinator, Tim Kyger:
The U.S.S. Robert A. Heinlein Campaign
For all but a very brief period at the beginning of our history, the word ship will mean space ship. [1] Many will be named “Robert A. Heinlein.”
Only one will ever be the first.
We have the chance to name that very first one. [2]
This coming July 7, 2007 is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Robert A. Heinlein. That day would be a perfect opportunity for the Secretary of the Navy to announce that ship DDG-1001 (or another early hull number) would be named the U.S.S. Robert A. Heinlein.
How do we make it happen? We write the Secretary of the Navy and ask him to! The Secretary of the Navy has the authority to name the ships of the U.S. Navy (he is the only one who can).
Here’s a sample letter:
The Honorable Donald C. Winter
Secretary of the Navy
Room 4E686
Defense Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20301
Dear Secretary Winter:
Robert A. Heinlein’s 100th birthday will occur July 7th, 2007… the perfect time to announce that a DDG-1000/Zumwalt class destroyer will be named for him.
Robert A. Heinlein was one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. At one time or another, his book Starship Troopers has been on the required reading list of all three service academies. In recognition of Heinlein’s influence on readers who would later become scientists and engineers, the NASA Medal for Distinguished Public Service was awarded to him posthumously in 1988.
Heinlein, Naval Academy class of 1929, always considered himself to be a Naval Officer, one who happened to have had to make his living as a writer after being invalided out of the Navy in the mid-1930s because of tuberculosis. His influence within the Navy can be illustrated in part by the establishment of the Robert A. Heinlein Chair in Aerospace Engineering at the Naval Academy, and by his being invited by the midshipmen of the Naval Academy to give the 1973 Forrestal Lecture to the Brigade.
Heinlein’s first ship after graduating from the Academy was U.S.S. Lexington (CV-2), at that time the Navy’s most technologically advanced vessel. But his last ship, on which he proudly served, was DD-147, U.S.S. Roper – a destroyer.
It only seems fitting that a man who spent his life writing about the 21st Century should have a 21st Century destroyer named after him.
In the decades to come, many ships will be named after this inspiring pioneer and writer. But the U.S. Navy has the chance to name the first one after one of the Navy’s own. The U.S.S. Robert A. Heinlein. DDG-1001.
Sincerely,
Your name here
What are you waiting for? Write that letter and send it in! Congressman Dana Rohrabacher did!
The U.S.S. Robert A. Heinlein – let’s make it happen!
I’ve stolen and paraphrased this line from Arthur C. Clarke.
Naming a U.S. Naval vessel the Heinlein is, to the best of my knowledge, John Strickland’s idea.
The Navy’s new destroyer class started as the DD-21 program, it was renamed the DD(X) program, and was finally given the DDG-100x designation for its hull numbers. for these ships. DDG-1000 will be the U.S.S. Elmo Zumwalt (the Chief of Naval Operations in the late ‘60s/early 1970s). None of the other planned ships in this class have been named yet.
We used to have beautiful coinage such as the buffalo nickel and the St. Gaudens $20. Then they started putting politicians on the coins. We used to have stirring ships names such as Hornet or Yorktown. Now the politicians are taking over. FORD:
gaaaak.
Naming a ship is not all that important providing she’s named after something almost achievable; you know, something to strive for. I also like the old names, battles etc. But in thinking about this trend, can you all just imagine what the “slang” name around the fleet would be if a ship was named the “William Jefferson Clinton”? Sailors are a tough lot. Can you imagine the fist fights?
Oh, regarding “The Sense of Congress”, I, like The Grumpy Disabled Vet, believe that Congress aint got no sense.
Well, we’re naming DD-108 the Wayne Meyers, after the (living now) ADM who was “The Father of AEGIS.”
Sorry, bite me! is my response. Grace Hooper was remarkable, but between her and Wayne, what great inspiration tales can you tell? “He single handedly made sure the taxpayers were flitched out of billions when he mandated an entire, parallel organization to the existing shore based surface force training and maintenance infrastructure, tried to close a major software organization and put up a facility where the mosquitos are as large as FA-18s and are protected species…”
I could go on about his mis-spending by his legions of brainwashed. Ya know, it was all about detect to engage and BDA…just some got fancier tools than others to carry out the mission faster. “They” thought they had the corner on magic above and beyond physics, but the joke was on them, it was the same electromagnetic energy everyone else used.
I personally would thing DD-108 named CPL Jason Dunham, USMC, would be a far better legacy for the future.
But, then I’m not in the loop….
I still like the USS Fallujah.
Over 2 years on, and I’m still impressed with the extreme valor and professionalism the USMC brought to that gunfight. Never happen though….and I can’t think of any single tougher engagement the US military has ever fought.
I’ve soured to naming anything after politicos..
b2
The right name is ” America ” we should never be without a ship at sea that’s not named America….
*sigh* my life seems to be about tilting at windmills…
- Not another politician
- Not another living person
- Not another attempt at USS United States (aborted twice already where CV/CVNs are concerned)
- Why not after famous battles, beginning with Midway. America is good too (and so will Enterprise in a decade or so).
Point me to the windmill Don Q.
- SJS
I’m all for the AMERICA vice FORD. The problem is that the convention for CVNs has been given over to politicians. Nixon did a better job as president than Ford, albeit without integrity.
Who else is left? Not LBJ. Not CLINTON. Not OLYMPIA SNOWE! How about JOHN ADAMS. He never gets any respect as a president. Would force people to crack open a history book. Maybe the ANDREW JACKSON, that’d be an a$$kickin’ boat. You’d have to make sure they QSL for any cease fire orders.
Any name the pols come up with is bound to be self-serving. The Navy is just glad to get a multi-year procurement.
And as Rickover said about naming of submarines, “fish don’t vote.”
I’m all about a Ranger or Independence. Wish we’d get out of this political naming habits.
Remember people that Commmander Naval Air Forces and Chief Naval Operations in attempts to keep securing the all precious dollar for projects like new carriers need to appease the congressional critters. So there have been names to the fleet carriers of important US Navy friendly congressional critters, such as Carl Vinsion who forced the super carriers down congresses throat contrary to what LeMay wanted. Though naming a carrier after Truman a man that was so hostile to the US Navy is beyond logical thinking. Meanwhile the Navy in some sort of strange brain-fart let famous carrier names, such as Yorktown or Essex, go to the first couple flights of the Ticonderoga and the whole Wasp class of LHD.
Myself, personnally I would love to see a new Oriskany, Franklin, Bennington, and maybe Shangri-la.
It should be named America. Its time to return to usual naming conventions. Battleships after states ( we broke that one with boomers). CV’s after great historical events, Crusiers after cities ( another place we goofed with submarines..), DDG’s after important people and so forth. L class ships after great Marine Corps battles…..
Curt, I could not agree more. The SPRUANCE’s had some MOH winners in the mix (USS CARON for one), but it seems we use MOH winners for the MPF ships. Too much politics. I would much rather see Rafael Peralta, Michael Monsoor, Jason Dunham, Ross McGinnis, and Paul Smith honored with ships named after them (DDG’s seem appropriate). CVN’s: what Skippy said. SSN’s: fish…
this just in:
Iran has announced the fielding of its new sea skimming anti-ship missile, the “Squeaky Fromme”
re 22 above: Let the record show that at 0325, 19 DEC 2006, Lex and Skippy-San agreed on something.
You may relax brace – that rumbling you felt when the earth moved was no doubt a one-time event
0325? What happened? Did the SDO have your home number in the squardon duty notebook for emergency calls and no one has changed it?
I have long said that nothing should be named after a living person. In my city, the local politicos have library, street, train station. It’s a huge ego thing for them. And who knows what their final reputation will ultimately be?
I’m very proud of the Ronald Reagan, GHW Bush is okay (naval hero), but he’s still alive, violating my #1 principle.
While I supported Reagan, I just KNEW that there would some day be a Carter (ugh), and you can bet there will be a Clinton (super ugh) or even 2 (ultimate ugh). So, no ships named after politicians.
The only safe choice is names that celebrate America or naval history. For smaller ships, deceased naval heroes.
Midway would be great, but she’s still around in Sandy Eggo (although decomished).
0325 for Lex is 7:25 pm for me! While Lex sleeps I get my best pontificating done……..
Personally I see Lex agreeing with me as the begininng of a trend……..although some could say it is the begining of the end.. ;-(
Plus, I have 5 cruises on the now sunk America so I’ve got some sweat equity in the name……….
USS Langley – A new Class of Carrier for a New Century.
or
USS Crusader – The Leader of the Crusader Class of Carriers. (Some harbors might not want her for a port visit.)!;-})
Yup, I contributed to the previous one, too. “USS Lucy VanPelt” would be a good one, really. Or “Wasp”, or “Alligator”, or “Wolverine”, or “Catamount”, or maybe even “USS Curtis LeMay”!
[ducks, runs, jinking and dodging...]
No, seriously, there was nothing wrong with the old system. Tweak it a bit, to account for which kinda ships are capital, and which aren’t, these days, sure. Just don’t have it all silly, as it’s gotten lately. Yeah, “Crusader” would be a gesture I could go along with, but “America”, “Independence”, “Hornet”, and suchlike *defiant and bellegerent* names are appropriate for warships.
“Thomas Paine” would be good, too, but I’d rather have “Franklin”; he being a reasonable kind of guy who nonetheless knew when it was time to take the gloves off and kick ass. (How’s that for a mixed metaphor?)
The best ever name ever picked for any warship ever in any navy is, of course, “Warspite.”
Ahh but JTG, the Brits name things so well..
All we get for destroyers etc is places… the beige of ship names.
AWDs being HMAS Vendetta, Vampire and Voyager would have suited me fine. Perhaps some baggage with Voyager.
Hobart class… Hmmph.
While America, Ranger, Hornet, Midway, Coral Sea, and the rest are all great names, I especially like the name Challenger and alternately Columbia.
What better way to honor those two noble crafts, and the brave men and women who flew them, than to name the newest and most modern ships that we have after them.
But I’m just a former Army soldier, so what do I know?
Well, I guess it’s a moot point now.