Navy intends to name one of its (3?) DDG-1000s after Michael Monsoor:
The Navy will name a Zumwalt-class destroyer after a SEAL who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for diving on a grenade to save three buddies during a firefight in Ramadi, Iraq.
“Michael Monsoor’s name will now be linked with one of our nation’s most visible examples of military power — a U.S. Navy warship,” Navy Secretary Donald Winter said in announcing the decision Wednesday night.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Monsoor died in 2006 while smothering an insurgent grenade that had been hurled at SEALs who were providing rooftop overwatch for Army troops. He was 25.
Acquistion problems aside – and when it comes to the DDG-1000 series, that’s a pretty big aside – I can’t think of a better name for a stealthy destroyer than Petty Officer Monsoor. Except perhaps SEAL Lieutenant Michael Murphy. Who, as it turns out, is also getting a ship named after him. Maybe we should call them the “Hero” class, rather than the “Zumwalt” class.
Couldn’t hurt in Congress. God knows NAVSEA could use the help.
I understand that if Obama gets elected, that there will be a large push for a “diversity” class vessel. It wouldn’t really do anything to help the Navy, but it will look good for pictures and recruiting posters.
Oh, we don’t need any help in the diversity push. Got that covered already.
I have always liked naming warships after heroes. It just seems to me that it gives those who sail aboard her a real standard to judge themselves by, more so than after politicians, presidents, or cities and/or states.
Famous battles? Yeah, that’s always good, but named after someone who exemplifies service and sacrifice, that’s pretty good.
Lex@4:41pm
Amen in spades. (you know, I typed reflexively, but then realized such a comment could itself be construed to be racist, very sad really how far we’ve come with the entire PC crap)
Us army guys don’t have ships to name after heroes and for the most part, tanks and whatnot are named for generals. But on some posts, streets, fields and buildings are named for warriors. How cool is it to do morning PT on Desiderio Field?
US Navy destroyers have always been named after their honored own. it’s the one tradition naming tradition that hasn’t been jacked-up…
… yet.
I love that we name some of our ships after heroes. I also like naming them after cities/communities. My Dad was on the frigate PF-8, Everett during the Korean war. When the ship was being decommisioned and lent to Japan, rumor went around that they were going to sail her back to Puget Sound and have a big party in Everett Washington. Didn’t happen, but would have been a neat thing.
The barracks buildings at Recruit Training Center, Great Lakes, are named after famous ships. So ships are named after famous people, battles etc. and then recruits join the Navy in Ships/Barracks named after them. Pretty cool.
xbradtc;
MPS and other supply ships have often been named for Army personnel, who distinguished themselves in the service of the nation. As a result of a less than winning experience with the VALOUR-IT campaign last year, I did some pay back posting and covered some of the “Army” named vessels.
Think: “Amateurs talk strategy, professionals talk logistics.” They may not be “warships” but important in a larger way.