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American Military News
3 days ago
- Politics
- American Military News
Video: SECDEF Hegseth unveils new name for the USNS Harvey Milk
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the renaming of the USNS Harvey Milk to the USNS Oscar V. Peterson on Friday. By changing the ship's name to honor a U.S. Navy Congressional Medal of Honor recipient instead of a gay rights activist, Hegseth claimed the Trump administration is 'taking the politics out of ship naming.' In a video message shared Friday on X, formerly Twitter, Hegseth said, 'Well, I'm pleased to officially announce that the Department of the Navy is renaming the fleet replenishment oiler, formerly known as the USNS Harvey Milk, to the USNS Oscar V. Peterson.' 'We are taking the politics out of ship naming,' Hegseth added. 'We're not renaming the ship to anything political. This is not about political activists, unlike the previous administration. Instead, we're renaming the ship after a United States Navy Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, as it should be.' In Friday's video message, the secretary of defense claimed that the USNS Harvey Milk was being renamed to the USNS Oscar V. Peterson in honor of a former Navy chief because 'people want to be proud of the ship they're sailing in.' READ MORE: SECDEF Hegseth orders Navy to rename ship named after gay rights activist: Report Hegseth explained that Peterson led a repair party on the USS Neosho during the Battle of Coral Sea in 1942. Hegseth noted that the USS Neosho was 'severely damaged by Japanese dive bombers,' and all the members of Peterson's repair party were severely wounded or killed. While Peterson was 'gravely wounded' in the battle, Hegseth said he was able to 'single-handedly' close the ship's bulkhead stop valves, which kept the ship operational during the battle. 'In performing his historic actions and heroic actions, Peterson received additional injuries and burns, which tragically resulted in his death, but his spirit of self-sacrifice and concern for his crew mates was in keeping with the finest traditions of the Navy, and for his heroic actions, Oscar Peterson was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor,' Hegseth added. I am pleased to announce that the United States Navy is renaming the USNS Harvey Milk to the USNS Oscar V. Peterson. We are taking the politics out of ship naming. — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) June 27, 2025 Earlier this month, Hegseth ordered the U.S. Navy to change the name of the USNS Harvey Milk. According to CBS News, the ship was originally named after Harvey Milk under former President Barack Obama's administration in August of 2016. The outlet noted that Milk was a gay rights activist and the first openly gay official to be elected in California. Milk was assassinated in 1978. A memorandum obtained by explained that the ship's name change was part of the 'alignment with president and SECDEF objectives and SECNAV priorities of reestablishing the warrior culture.'
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Pete Hegseth sparks buzz by renaming USNS Harvey Milk after World War II hero Oscar V. Peterson
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth renamed a naval ship. The USNS Harvey Milk is now USNS Oscar V. Peterson. Hegseth stated this move removes politics from ship naming. Peterson was a Medal of Honour recipient. Lawmakers criticised the decision. Chuck Schumer called it blatant discrimination. Nancy Pelosi deemed it a shameful erasure. The original naming honoured Milk's civil rights legacy. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Pete Hegseth Renames USNS Harvey Milk, Saying 'Taking the Politics Out of Ship Naming' I am pleased to announce that the United States Navy is renaming the USNS Harvey Milk to the USNS Oscar V. Peterson. We are taking the politics out of ship naming. undefined Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) June 27, 2025 Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Backlash From Lawmakers FAQs US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth drew national attention on Friday after announcing the US Navy would rename the naval ship USNS Harvey Milk to USNS Oscar V. Peterson , as per an ABC News name of the ship, which was once dedicated to the pioneering gay rights activist, will now be dedicated to the Medal of Honour recipient Oscar V. Peterson, for heroism during an attack on the USS Neosho by Japanese bombers during the Battle of Coral Sea in 1942, according to the ABC News announced about the name change in a video he posted on his social media platform X account, with the caption, "I am pleased to announce that the United States Navy is renaming the USNS Harvey Milk to the USNS Oscar V. Peterson," as per his X Post. He also emphasised in his X post's caption, "We are taking the politics out of ship naming."ALSO READ: Trump channels Xi's China surveillance playbook as ICE deploys facial recognition app to identify people According to a Newsweek report, Hegseth said while announcing that, "We're not renaming the ship to anything political. This is not about political activists, unlike the previous administration," as quoted in the report. He also highlighted that, "Instead, we're renaming the ship after a United States Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, as it should be. People want to be proud of the ship they're sailing in," as quoted in the Newsweek report.A New York Democrat, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, said on X, "Erasing Harvey Milk's name is disgusting, blatant discrimination—and during Pride Month to boot. He served the U.S. Navy and his country honorably, and he was assassinated while serving the public and fighting for LGBTQ+ rights. Hegseth should be ashamed of himself and reverse this immediately," as quoted by READ: Palantir Under Siege: Protesters rage over surveillance, ICE links in NYC office blockade While, a California Democrat, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, told previously this month, "The reported decision by the Trump Administration to change the names of the USNS Harvey Milk and other ships in the John Lewis-class is a shameful, vindictive erasure of those who fought to break down barriers for all to chase the American dream. Our military is the most powerful in the world—but this spiteful move does not strengthen our national security or the "warrior" ethos. Instead, it is a surrender of a fundamental American value: to honor the legacy of those who worked to build a better country," as quoted in the READ: California, the world's fourth largest economy, to charge road tax as people go electric, citizens furious Harvey Milk was one of the first openly gay elected officials in the US and served in the Navy and naming the ship after him honored his legacy as a civil rights pioneer and veteran, as per Newsweek said the move was to remove politics from ship naming, favoring a military hero over what he called a "political activist."
3 days ago
- Politics
Hegseth announces USNS Harvey Milk is being renamed USNS Oscar V. Peterson
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Friday the USNS Harvey Milk is being renamed the USNS Oscar V. Peterson, after he ordered the Navy to strike the name of the pioneering gay rights activist from the ship. Hegseth made the announcement in a video posted to X. "We are taking the politics out of ship naming," Hegseth said. "We're not renaming the ship to anything political. This is not about political activists, unlike the previous administration. Instead, we're renaming the ship after a United States Navy Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, as it should be." Peterson, Hegseth said, was a chief watertender who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during an attack on the USS Neosho by Japanese bombers during the Battle of Coral Sea in 1942.
Miami Herald
21-04-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Car found parked in hangar of sunken WWII ship, baffling historians. See photos
Defying all logic, a vehicle has been found parked in the hangar of the USS Yorktown, which was famously sunk in the Pacific by a Japanese submarine during World War II. The baffling discovery was made Saturday, April 19, when NOAA Ocean Exploration sent a remotely operated camera inside the massive wreck, about 1,000 miles northwest of Honolulu. Yorktown was an 809-foot-long aircraft carrier, known to host about 2,200 personnel, 90 aircraft ... and apparently, one car. 'It's a car. That's a car,' one surprised researcher was heard saying when tires sporting shiny hubcaps came into view. 'That is a full car.' 'Why is there a car on this boat?' another is heard asking. The vehicle was found upright near the carrier's elevator 3, and immediately had historians scrambling for explanations. One possibility: It's Rear Admiral Frank Fletcher's flag car, they guessed. (USS Yorktown was his flagship.) Closer inspection by the camera revealed flared fenders, hints of a rag top, chrome trim and and a spare tire, researchers said. However, make and model could not be determined, despite the team visiting the vehicle a second time on Sunday. 'Here's an open request to all your automobile vehicle folks out there,' one researcher said in the livefeed. 'I'm sure you are being attentive to this and you understand what you are looking at. Please post on this. It really helps.' NOAA Ocean Exploration marine archaeologist Phil Hartmeyer told McClatchy News the car was 'an exciting find.' 'Yorktown's salvage crew worked tirelessly to jettison anti-aircraft guns and aircraft to reduce its list (after the torpedo strike), but did they leave the car, something they could roll off the side?' Hartmeyer said. 'Perhaps the car belonged to someone important on the ship or to the fleet: the captain or admiral.' The vehicle may have been brought aboard at Pearl Harbor during a very brief visit for repairs 'sustained during the Battle of Coral Sea,' officials said. A Reddit debate about the vehicle quickly appeared online, with commenters noting 'none of the literature ... mentioned a car being onboard for the battle.' 'Wonder if the car was intended to be offloaded on Midway following the anticipated engagement with the Japanese (if the US was victorious),' one Reddit commenter wrote. 'Hangar space on carriers was (and still is) extremely valuable. Having a car occupying space would be remarkable.' Yorktown was serving at the Battle of Midway in 1942 when Japanese carrier bombers successfully struck it with three bombs, NOAA says. The ship was being towed back to Pearl Harbor for repairs when additional torpedoes from a Japanese submarine hit the starboard side, 'causing the carrier to capsize and sink on the morning of June 7, 1942.' NOAA Ocean Exploration visited the wreck twice as part of a 28-day expedition to explore and map deep water regions of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, 'the largest contiguous fully protected conservation area under the U.S. flag' at 582,578 square miles. The expedition marks the first time cameras have been sent inside the wreck, which was first discovered in 1998, officials said. It sits more than 3 miles deep, experts say.
