Defense Secretary Hegseth cites “taking the politics out of ship naming.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revealed Friday that the USNS Harvey Milk, a fleet replenishment oiler named in honor of a gay rights leader, will be renamed the USNS Oscar V. Peterson.
The announcement was made by Hegseth in a social media video on Friday. The ship’s new namesake, Oscar V. Peterson, was a Navy chief watertender who died heroically in World War II and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
The USNS Harvey Milk was christened in 2021 during Biden’s administration. Hegseth stated that the renaming aligns with his department’s goal of “taking the politics out of ship naming.”
READ: Supreme Court Curbs Nationwide “Lawless Injunctions,” Bolstering Trump’s Executive Power
“We’re not renaming the ship to anything political,” Hegseth asserted in the video. “This is not about political activists, unlike the previous administration.” He added that “People want to be proud of the ship they’re sailing in.”
Hegseth lauded Peterson’s bravery, recounting how he was gravely wounded in May 1942 while leading a repair party on the USS Neosho during an aerial attack by the Japanese in the Coral Sea. Peterson is credited with single-handedly maintaining the ship’s operations after the rest of his repair party was killed or severely wounded.
“His spirit of self-sacrifice and concern for his crewmates was in keeping with the finest traditions of the Navy,” Hegseth said, highlighting the rationale behind the new name.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
