Posted on Apr 14, 2016
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As the Obama administration this week named another warship after a politician, a report circulating in Congress shows that nearly 200 Navy and Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipients have never been awarded such an honor, contrary to naval guidelines and tradition. Is this the new trend? The latest ship, a missile destroyer the USS Carl M. Levin.
http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/12/politics/uss-carl-levin-navy-destroyer/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/12/politics/uss-carl-levin-navy-destroyer/index.html
Politics
Tradition
Shipbuilding
Naval Historical Foundation
Edited 8 y ago
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 49
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Why do we need to give a politician an ego boost? I am sure that Mr. Levin did some good while he was in Congress, but let him retire and go home and rest. There are far more worthy people (as the aforementioned 200 Navy and Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipients) that should be honored, other than this political hack.
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MCPO Joseph Wright
I hope that as our next President, Donald Trump will right the wrongs in many areas, including this one by properly renaming this DDG after a deserving Navy person.
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Obvious answer is they are trying to pander to the egos of politicians that control the purse strings.
Our ship naming tradition is out the window anyways.
How it should be IMO:
Name Carriers after famous battles.
Name SSBNs after states (since we aren't getting any more Battleships)
Name Cruisers after cities
Name SSNs after fish
Name Destroyers after Admirals
Name Frigates/Corvettes (LCS) after MoH recipients or other famous/heroic sailors & marines.
Name Supply ships after (dead) Presidents.
Exceptions of course for cases like USS Jimmy Carter (since Carter was a Submariner) and USS George H.W. Bush (since he was a Naval Aviator) but Presidents should still wait till they pass away till we name a ship after them.
Our ship naming tradition is out the window anyways.
How it should be IMO:
Name Carriers after famous battles.
Name SSBNs after states (since we aren't getting any more Battleships)
Name Cruisers after cities
Name SSNs after fish
Name Destroyers after Admirals
Name Frigates/Corvettes (LCS) after MoH recipients or other famous/heroic sailors & marines.
Name Supply ships after (dead) Presidents.
Exceptions of course for cases like USS Jimmy Carter (since Carter was a Submariner) and USS George H.W. Bush (since he was a Naval Aviator) but Presidents should still wait till they pass away till we name a ship after them.
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PO2 David Allender
PO2 Robert Aitchison: I agree with you on almost all, but if you look up destroyers, you will find that they were named for MOH holders in the Navy and Marine Corp. The names of Aircraft Carriers should be changed for battle, except fo the Roosevelt. FDR help the Navy thru the hard times and during World War 2.
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PO3 William Carrien
Actually CV's were also named after previous vessels of historic value hence, Constellation, Enterprise, Ranger as well as famous battles hence Lexington, Bunker Hill, and historic places hence Kitty Hawk. President Theodore Roosevelt had one named after him also long time ago.
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I think it's SHIT, and Ray Mabus should be tarred and feathered and run out of D.C. This man is doing all he can to destroy the traditions and morale of the Navy and Corps. There is not room to list all the crap he has done to the Navy and Corps as its secretary under Obama.
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CDR Jon Corrigan
Levin was communicating with top IRS officials on targeting conservative groups, according to documents obtained from Judicial Watch after winning a FOIA lawsuit. Then Levin conveniently retired in 2015. Perhaps the ship's motto can be: 'Not a Smidgeon of Corruption'.
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Do you really have to ask? Those bastards are always looking for fame and glory anyway they can get it!
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SPC David S.
While he was the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee he never served. I much rather have a shipped named for a MoH winner or really any other individual that served in a maritime duty - including Merchant Marines than a political figure.
Recalling about being assigned to the committee seat - "I had never served, and I thought there was a big gap in terms of my background and, frankly, felt it was a way of providing service."
Recalling about being assigned to the committee seat - "I had never served, and I thought there was a big gap in terms of my background and, frankly, felt it was a way of providing service."
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Sgt David G Duchesneau
SSgt (Join to see) - Now that would be Outstanding! Who better deserves such an Honor as Chris? Thanks Brother!
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I just threw up a little.
There is a small number of politicians who deserve to have a tombstone named after them, never mind a warship.
Washingtron, yes. Teddy Roosevelt, yes. Grant, Yes. Eisenhower, yes. Even George Bush Senior I can understand as he was a Navy Veteran. As a side note, "Eisenhower was offered the Medal of Honor for his leadership in the European Theater but refused it, saying that it should be reserved for bravery and valor." Beyond the aforementioned, ships should be named for heroes, not politicians.
What's next selling the naming rights for ships like they do stadiums? It is the McDonald's Battle Group with the USS Dr. Pepper, USS Golden Corral, USS Coke, and USS McDonald's. Oh, the pride that would instill in the crews.
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Dwight_D._Eisenhower
http://burnpit.us/2013/01/teddy-roosevelt-awarded-medal-honor-103-years-after-san-juan-hill
There is a small number of politicians who deserve to have a tombstone named after them, never mind a warship.
Washingtron, yes. Teddy Roosevelt, yes. Grant, Yes. Eisenhower, yes. Even George Bush Senior I can understand as he was a Navy Veteran. As a side note, "Eisenhower was offered the Medal of Honor for his leadership in the European Theater but refused it, saying that it should be reserved for bravery and valor." Beyond the aforementioned, ships should be named for heroes, not politicians.
What's next selling the naming rights for ships like they do stadiums? It is the McDonald's Battle Group with the USS Dr. Pepper, USS Golden Corral, USS Coke, and USS McDonald's. Oh, the pride that would instill in the crews.
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Dwight_D._Eisenhower
http://burnpit.us/2013/01/teddy-roosevelt-awarded-medal-honor-103-years-after-san-juan-hill
Dwight D. Eisenhower - New World Encyclopedia
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was the highest ranking American military officer during World War II and the 34th President of the United States. During the war he served as Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in Europe with the rank of General of the Army, and in 1949 he became the first supreme commander of NATO.
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This isn't new, honestly. Two in-service Aircraft Carriers are named after Senators and a third is named after an Admiral, while the rest are named after Presidents(all in the Nimitz class). Frankly, I just wish the Navy would pick a naming convention and stick with it. Want to name Ballastic missile subs(Ohio class) after states? Fine. Just don't go and name Attack submarines after states as well(Virginia class). If you want to name Carriers after Admirals, Senators or Presidents, do it. We have enough of each to do it. Don't keep jumping back and forth.
And then there's the Ford Carrier class which is going to be the Ford, The Kennedy, and then the Enterprise. Again, because apparently keeping to a theme is just too hard.
And then there's the Ford Carrier class which is going to be the Ford, The Kennedy, and then the Enterprise. Again, because apparently keeping to a theme is just too hard.
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PO3 Donald Murphy
Well again, the Navy started breaking its rules early on (1942). So this isn't new. Fast attacks have taken on state names as there will be no more boomers being built. Once the new boomer design gets approved and they start retiring the Ohio Class, then maybe fast attacks will revert to being cities again.
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PO2 David Allender
Just to break up what is going on, I do hope that the Ford Carriers have no recalls like the Ford auto industry. By the way, the Enterprise has been a Naval tradition for nearly two hundred years. The Kennedy was named for John F. Kennedy who served in the Navy in World War 2, then as President of the United States was murdered by person(s) unknown in November 23, 1963, on my watch. Ford, all I can say about him, He let Nixon off the hook when he should have been prosecuted. I guess that this made him a hero for the politicians though.
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If they are going to name it after a politician at least they should pick one who actually served his country instead of a liberal scumbag who not only never served but spent his career trying to gut the military.
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SPC David S.
Obama skirted and renamed Mt. McKinley to Denali in 2015. McKinley was a republican.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/31/us/mount-mckinley-will-be-renamed-denali.html?_r=0
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/31/us/mount-mckinley-will-be-renamed-denali.html?_r=0
Mount McKinley Will Again Be Called Denali
On the eve of his visit to Alaska, President Obama announced the restoration of the Alaska Native name for the tallest peak in North America.
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SPC It like Obama is sending a message to other nations. See we name our ships after liberals in place of heros'. It is also another way Obama can disrespect the military
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