Latest news with #USNSOscarV.Peterson
UPI
2 days ago
- Politics
- UPI
Hegseth: USNS Havey Milk to be renamed USNS Oscar V. Peterson
1 of 5 | Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday, the USNS Harvey Milk will be re-named the USNS Oscar V. Peterson, adding the Defense Department is "taking the politics out of ship naming.' File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo June 27 (UPI) -- The USNS Harvey Milk is being renamed after Oscar V. Peterson, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced Friday. "I am pleased to announce that the United States Navy is renaming the USNS Harvey Milk to the USNS Oscar V. Peterson," Hegseth said on X, in a post accompanied by a video. "We are taking the politics out of ship naming. We're not renaming the ship to anything political. This is not about political activists, unlike the previous administration," Hegseth said in the video Friday. Peterson received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his service in World War II, after the Navy chief petty officer was wounded in battle. "During the Battle of the Coral Sea in May of 1942, Chief Watertender Peterson led a repair party on the USS Neosho. The ship was severely damaged by Japanese dive bombers, and the entire repair party was either killed or severely wounded," Hegseth said Friday. "Peterson himself was gravely wounded, yet he managed to single-handedly close the bulkhead stop valves, thereby helping to keep the ship operational." Hegseth previously confirmed he had ordered the U.S. Navy to rename the replenishment oiler, which bears the name of Milk, a gay rights activist assassinated in 1978. The Defense Secretary at the time said the move was being made to align "with president and SECDEF objectives and SECNAV priorities of re-establishing the warrior culture." A Defense Department official said at the time the renaming was intentionally done during Pride month. Milk won a San Francisco supervisor seat in 1977. The U.S. Navy veteran served in the Korean War and became the first openly gay person in the country to be elected to public office. His name has remained synonymous with the LGBTQ movement. Milk was assassinated the year after taking office and was in 2009 posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama. The decision to remove his name from one of the six John Lewis Class ships was met with protest from Democrats. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., at the time called the decision "shameful." Pelosi's Congressional District includes San Francisco. The ship was first named after Milk in 2016, becoming the first naval vessel named after an openly-gay person. It was launched in 2021.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Pete Hegseth renames USNS Harvey Milk, says 'people want to be proud of the ship they're sailing in'
Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of Defense under President Donald Trump, has announced the renaming of the USNS Harvey Milk. Vowing to 'take the politics out of ship naming', Hegseth criticized the trend of naming US Navy ships after political activists. Harvey Milk was notable for being the first openly gay politician to be elected to public office, with him becoming a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. The ship, which is a fleet replenishment oiler, will now be named the USNS Oscar V. Peterson. As Pete Hegseth explained in his announcement, Oscar Peterson was a World War 2 soldier who served on the USS Neosho and died in battle against Japanese forces in the Battle of the Coral Sea. Pete Hegseth said USNS Harvey Milk name was a political statement I am pleased to announce that the United States Navy is renaming the USNS Harvey Milk to the USNS Oscar V. are taking the politics out of ship naming. Stating his belief that naming the ship USNS Harvey Milk during the Obama administration had been a politically motivated exercise, Pete Hegseth claimed that renaming the ship to USNS Oscar V. Peterson was an effort at making the entire process apolitical. He stated that 'people want to be proud of the ship they're sailing in', and that honoring Oscar V. Peterson's sacrifice would bring about that pride. As Hegseth noted, Oscar V. Peterson was posthumously rewarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his sacrifice. Despite his claims of removing political bias from the ship naming process, however, his decision drew sharp reactions from his detractors and political opponents, with many Democratic politicians characterizing his announcement as a deliberate attempt at erasing Harvey Milk's legacy. Democratic lawmakers have slammed Pete Hegseth's decision Erasing Harvey Milk's name is disgusting, blatant discrimination—and during Pride Month to served the U.S. Navy and his country honorably, and he was assassinated while serving the public and fighting for LGBTQ+ should be ashamed of himself and reverse… Pete Hegseth had first revealed his intention to rename USNS Harvey Milk earlier this month on June 3, prior to today's formal announcement. Democrat lawmakers were quick to announce their disapproval in response. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer said that 'Hegseth should be ashamed of himself and reverse this immediately'. Nancy Pelosi called Pete Hegseth's plan "a shameful, vindictive erasure of those who fought to break down barriers for all to chase the American dream.' She also accused Hegseth of being spiteful, and said that his decision would do nothing to strengthen America's national security interests. Sean Penn, who'd portrayed Harvey Milk in the 2008 biopic "Milk", has also mocked Pete Hegseth's decision by claiming that the Secretary of Defence had demoted himself to the rank of 'Chief PETTY officer'.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Who is Oscar Verner Peterson, after which naval ship USNS Harvey Milk has been renamed?
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the new name for the naval ship USNS Harvey Milk will be the USNS Oscar V. Peterson ."We are taking the politics out of ship naming," Hegseth said in a statement to officially announce the name change. In a video posted to the Department of Defense X account Friday morning, Hegseth said the oiler ship, originally named for the gay San Francisco city councilor assassinated in 1978, would now be known as the USNS Oscar V. Peterson. '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,' Hegseth proclaimed in the video. 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. ALSO READ: New twist in Trump's immigration crackdown: Kristi Noem drops bombshell, names target countries accepting deported migrants Live Events Who is Oscar V Peterson? According to Pacific Wrecks, Oscar Verner Peterson was born August 27, 1899 in Prentice, Wisconsin. On December 8, 1920 he enlisted in California into the U.S. Navy (USN) and was assigned to sea duty. During World War II, Peterson attained the rank of Chief Water Tender (CWT) aboard USS Neosho (AO-23) operating as a fleet oiler in the Pacific. He was serving as chief watertender on the U.S.S. Neosho when it came under air attack by the Japanese in the Battle of the Coral Sea on May 7, 1942, during WWII. On May 7, 1942 during the Battle of the Coral Sea around 11:15am USS Neosho (AO-23) was targeted by D3A Val dive bombers and severely damaged and Peterson was severely wounded. Despite his injuries, Peterson was in charge of a repair party and managed to close the bulkhead stop valves and was severely burned but saved the ship from sinking. On May 11, 1942 the surviving crew members including Peterson were rescued by USS Henley (DD-391) then at 2:28pm afterwards scuttled USS Neosho (AO-23) with gunfire. On May 13, 1942 Peterson died of his wounds. He earned the Medal of Honor and Purple Heart. Peterson is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Peterson died as a result of the battle and was buried at sea. But he later received the Medal of Honor "for extraordinary courage and conspicuous heroism above and beyond the call of duty while in charge of a repair party" during the attack, his citation says. "Lacking assistance because of injuries to the other members of his repair party and severely wounded himself, Peterson, with no concern for his own life, closed the bulkhead stop valves and in so doing received additional burns which resulted in his death," it says. "His spirit of self-sacrifice and loyalty, characteristic of a fine seaman, was in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country." Peterson was 42 years old and left behind a wife and two sons.
Time of India
2 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."
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
Pete Hegseth sparks buzz by renaming USNS Harvey Milk after World War II hero Oscar V. Peterson
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 report. 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 Hegseth 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 Newsweek. ALSO 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 report. ALSO READ: California, the world's fourth largest economy, to charge road tax as people go electric, citizens furious Why was the ship originally named after Harvey Milk?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 report. Why did Pete Hegseth change the ship's name? Hegseth said the move was to remove politics from ship naming, favoring a military hero over what he called a "political activist."
