[Islander7]

DDG 114 is named to honor Pfc. Ralph Henry Johnson, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions that saved others during the Vietnam War. Johnson shouted a warning to his fellow Marines and hurled himself on an explosive device, saving the life of one Marine and preventing the enemy from penetrating his sector of the patrol’s perimeter. Johnson died instantly. The Charleston, S.C., native had only been in Vietnam for two months and a few days when he was killed at the age of 20.

On April 20, 1970, President Richard M. Nixon posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest recognition and honor a member of the United States military can receive. On Sept. 5, 1991, 23 years after his heroic act, the Veterans Hospital in Charleston was renamed the Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Hospital.

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Super cool time lapse video of the launch.

[Islander7]

Magnolia State PING!

[cripplecreek]

Lots of new warships coming out of construction these days.

The USS Milwaukee (Had shakedown cruise problems) The USS Zumwalt also on sea trials. The USS Detroit due to launch next summer.

[WXRGina]

Ping

[forgotten man]

It is amazing how the get the hull from dry land into the water. At the NASSCO ship yard in San Diego they still use the “sliding weigh” but the ship does not go into the water sideways. They use tide, coffer dams, hooks, and gravity. They launch during full moons. The ancient Phoenicians invented the technique. I watched a 67,000 ton 800 foot long military sea lift ship launched. What a sight.

[doorgunner69]

Sure glad someone remembered to put the bilge plugs in!