Posted on 05/10/2008 4:46:32 PM PDT by Dawnsblood
The Navy's newest guided missile destroyer was christened Saturday with the name of a fighter pilot who spent 7 1/2 years in captivity in North Vietnam, received the Medal of Honor and served as presidential candidate Ross Perot's running mate.
Four Medal of Honor recipients and seven former prisoners of war attended the ceremony at Bath Iron Works that marked a milestone in construction of the 9,200-ton ship named for Vice Adm. James Stockdale.
Stockdale's widow, Sybil, who suffers from Parkinson's disease and uses a wheelchair, let loose a champagne bottle propelled by rope that swung across the Stockdale's bow. On the second try, the bottle exploded, the band broke into "Anchors Aweigh" and red, white and blue streamers filled the air.
Stockdale, who died nearly three years ago at age 81, flew 201 carrier-based missions before being shot down in 1965, becoming the highest-ranking naval officer captured during the war.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Bottle broke on the second attempt? That’s bad luck, isn’t it?
At the link the yahoo article mentioned protesters at the gate. I think I would have grabbed them by the short and curlies and schooled them on history and the value of an honorable man.
I'd a taken the jail sentence for it too.
Only if you believe.
I’d place more faith in the luck of the man it’s named for.
I hope it is a great ship.It is named for a great man.God grant us more men and women like him.
RIP Admiral we honor you service.
STOCKDALE, JAMES B.
Rank and organization: Rear Admiral (then Captain), U.S. Navy. Place and date: Hoa Lo prison, Hanoi, North Vietnam, 4 September 1969. Entered service at: Abingdon, Ill. Born: 23 December 1923, Abingdon, Ill.. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while senior naval officer in the Prisoner of War camps of North Vietnam. Recognized by his captors as the leader in the Prisoners' of War resistance to interrogation and in their refusal to participate in propaganda exploitation, Rear Adm. Stockdale was singled out for interrogation and attendant torture after he was detected in a covert communications attempt. Sensing the start of another purge, and aware that his earlier efforts at self-disfiguration to dissuade his captors from exploiting him for propaganda purposes had resulted in cruel and agonizing punishment, Rear Adm. Stockdale resolved to make himself a symbol of resistance regardless of personal sacrifice. He deliberately inflicted a near-mortal wound to his person in order to convince his captors of his willingness to give up his life rather than capitulate. He was subsequently discovered and revived by the North Vietnamese who, convinced of his indomitable spirit, abated in their employment of excessive harassment and torture toward all of the Prisoners of War. By his heroic action, at great peril to himself, he earned the everlasting gratitude of his fellow prisoners and of his country. Rear Adm. Stockdale's valiant leadership and extraordinary courage in a hostile environment sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
Stockdale deserves to have an entire carrier group and a wing at Annapolis named after him. Anyone who knows his story knows what a tiger he was, and he brought great credit to the naval service and the American people. God rest him, and may he look down upon that cristening with Jones, Burke and Halsey at his shoulders.
I think POW! would be a great name for a destroyer.
Amen . May Admiral Stockdale's courage , leadership and faith be an inspiration to those who serve on this beautiful vessel .
Building? Bridge? Library? Phooey.
I can think of no greater honor than to have a warship named after a man.
That is why naming ships after persons should never be given out for political reasons. A ship named after a person should have a service record or other exceptional duty to nation worthy of the honor. Not even being a POTUS in itself should be a qualifier. Stockdale earned his namesake honor.
One of my true heroes in life.
One of my life’s goals was to meet him and shake his hand. Didn’t happen. A great man, though.
Admiral Stockdale was a fine man, he put country before himself.
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