Posted on 08/05/2009 6:52:24 PM PDT by GATOR NAVY
It’s time to return some sanity to the way ships are named. Why? Because the silliness is upon us once again:
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 83
Expressing the sense of Congress that a nuclear-powered aircraft
carrier of the Navy, either the aircraft carrier designated as CVN-79
or the aircraft carrier designated as CVN-80, should be named the
U.S.S. Barry M. Goldwater.
Bill information and status here
The nonsense began with CVN-70 and reached the height of historical blindness with the Truman (honestly, naming a carrier for a president who tried his hardest to kill naval aviation and oversaw the death of the United States (CVA-58) in favor of the B-36). Why not Enterprise (CVN-65 isn’t long for this world)? Coral Sea? Yorktown? Hornet? Midway? Enough with the politicians – these ships are going to last to the middle of the century and outlive many of us reading these words. Why not go back to naming the carriers after famous battles and reclaim some of our heritage and linkage with notable CVs from the past? And, BTW, what better way to celebrate naval aviation’s upcoming centenary?
And yes, I’m familiar with Rickover’s quote – how about standing firm this time anyway?
(h/t: SB )
UPDATE: Here’s the text of the petition – should be available online w/in the next 24-hours.
Whereas the namesake ENTERPRISE has been proudly borne by two combat aircraft carriers of the United States Navy;
Whereas the first USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6) (seventh ship to bear this name) and her embarked airwing and crew gallantly fought in every major battle in the Pacific during World War Two, including the signatory battle at Midway when vastly outnumbered by the ships and planes of the Imperial Japanese Navy’s Combined Fleet, ENTERPRISE, with YORKTOWN and HORNET struck a mortal blow, sinking four enemy aircraft carriers and turning the tide of the war in the Pacific;
Whereas the same ENTERPRISE concluded that war as the most decorated warship in the United States Navy with 20 battle stars, a Presidential Unit Citation, a British Admiralty Pennant, Navy Unit Commendation, Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, and Task Force 16 Citation among many other accolades;
Whereas the second United States Navy aircraft carrier to be named ENTERPRISE (CVAN/CVN-65) was the first such ship of her class in the world to be nuclear powered;
Whereas that ENTERPRISE, the eighth ship to bear that name in the United States Navy is concluding a half-century of service to this nation and has honorably served in every theater of operations from leading the naval quarantine off Cuba in 1962 to conducting the first strikes following the terrorist attack on the United States on September 11th, 2001;
Be It Resolved
That the next nuclear aircraft carrier to be constructed (CVN-79) should bear the name USS ENTERPRISE in recognition and honor of the fighting men and women of the United States navy who have sailed in her namesakes through the centuries.
We The Undersigned:
Call upon the Congress of the United States to remand H. CON. RES. 83 and replace it with a resolution supporting the naming of CVN-79 or the next nuclear aircraft carrier to be constructed, the USS ENTERPRISE.
Call upon the Secretary of the Navy to support this petition of the tax-paying people of these United States and name the next nuclear aircraft carrier to be constructed the USS ENTERPRISE
UPDATE 2: Here is the petition
Get a USS Barry Goldwater now and a USS Clinton is next. You know that's what they are setting up for. Give the right a bone so they can't complain when it happens. Sign the petition to support getting us back to real ship names.
Don't they have the USS George HW Bush already?
Second star to the right and straight on ‘til morning.
I agree. Politicians, even interesting ones like Sen. Goldwater, are always going to be dated. (And who the FReep was Carl Vinson, anyhow?)
I’ll bet we don’t have an “Indefatigable”!
Last Nimitz class carrier. The next generation CVN_21 carriers are already being designated as the Ford class. CVN-80 will be USS Gerald Ford.
Fully agree. We need an Enterprise, a Lexington, a Wasp.
Name a boomer after Sen. Goldwater and a garbage scow after Pres. Clinton.
Yes and a USS Gerald R. Ford.
The USS Clinton would have to be a gator freighter then, because the one basic design flaw of the Clinton would be losing too many of its seamen...I’m just saying...
USS Rickenbaucher
I just thought of something even worse than a USS Clinton-a USS Edward M. Kennedy. Don’t think it’s not possible though if we have a USS Barry Goldwater.
USS Curtiss
Whadayou got against garbage scows?
CVN-78, first of the new class, will be the Gerald Ford. Done deal. The question is what to name CVN-79 and 80.
The current Enterprise will be out of service by the time CVN-79 comes along. Should be a no-brainer.
yep
One other thought: if there ever is a USS Clinton, some scurvy old Master Chief is going to need to get some blue dresses and figure out a way to get the slugs to have to wear them during their initiation.
By the time such a ship would be commissioned, likely only the most senior Master Chief on board would even comprehend the significance.
I agree. The political naming of carriers needs to be stopped. There are quite a few carrier Vet Orgs that have tried in vain for these namings including AMERICA where Senator John Warner went behind vets backs to have the "Ford" named after a man who's term in office left the Navy in a mess that lasted several years afterward. The Navy does best morale wise when it abides in it's traditions.
I think great battles or military leaders are appropriate. Not elected politicians. They get airports and highways.
Agree 100%. Back to tradition. Enterprise, Hornet, Wasp, Intrepid, etc. I think we have a Yorktown as a cruiser, but after its decommissioning, use that name on a CVN.
I agree. There have been 8, the latest and greatest from having had real bad luck.
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