Posted on 05/18/2011 11:26:19 AM PDT by jazusamo
The Navy's weighing a decision to name a cargo ship now under construction after labor activist Cesar Chavez has drawn sharp criticism from one veteran lawmaker who says that a military war hero should receive the honor instead.
Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, said he understands the Navy's desire to honor Hispanic leaders, but the Navy may want to skip the politically divisive names and opt for an outstanding service member.
"If this decision were about recognizing the Hispanic community's contribution to our nation, many other names come to mind, including Marine Corps Sergeant Rafael Peralta, who was nominated for the Medal of Honor for action in Iraq. Peralta is one of many Hispanic war heroes -- some of whom are worthy of the same recognition," said Hunter, a Reserve lieutenant in the Marines.
"And we cannot forget about John Finn, a lifelong San Diego resident who won the Medal of Honor for what he did during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor," Hunter, who represents eastern and northern San Diego county, said in a statement. "Finn is another worthy candidate that was evidently overlooked in the selection process."
Finn died last May at the age of 100.
Peralta was 25 when he died in a battle in Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004. After he was shot in the head by friendly fire, he pulled a grenade lobbed by an insurgent under his body before it detonated. He was nominated for the Medal of Honor for sacrificing his life to save the lives of several of his fellow comrades.
Peralta has not been awarded the Medal of Honor, but was offered the Navy Cross, the second highest honor in the Navy. His family declined to accept it.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
If they want to name a ship after a marxist, why not just ‘pull out all the stops’ and call it the USS Fidel Castro?
I didn’t say he deserved or didn’t deserve the CMOH. I asked how does one refuse a Navy Cross and whether he might be better honored with a Burke destroyer named after him rather than a USNS cargo ship!
I’ll ask again how is a family offered a Navy Cross?
Survivors’ benefits, IIRC.
The family wanted the ‘upgrade’.
If this travesty goes ahead, can a new Sec. of the Navy UNDO it in a new and hopefully Conservative administration next time around?
An officer shows up on your doorstep with the Navy Cross. The family says thanks but no thanks. What goes on his record and whether or not the family accepts the medal when physically offered are two different things.
I’m not sure what could be done in the future to rename the ship.
But in a worst case scenario I suppose a future SecNav could order all personnel off the ship and then let a submarine use it for torpedo practice...
That’s much more along the lines of what I understand, certainly wasn’t presented that way in the article.
Thanks for the follow up.
Easy, FRiend. If I would have remembered all the particulars about the family I would have related them, they were covered in articles posted here.
I keep going back to the USS vs USNS designation. May not seem like much but it actually is a pretty big difference. Boiled down to brass tacks, USS is Navy crewed and USNS is civilian crewed with a handful of sailors onboard.
You just posted it, don't kill the messenger.
This article has a bit of background and seems a touch more evenhanded. IMO
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2011/05/navy-duncan-hunter-blasts-ship-name-cesar-chavez-051711w/
Finn died last May at the age of 100.
Based on what has been posted here RE: the 'USS' vs. 'USNS' designations, I think they should definitely pass on naming it after Mr. Finn, and save his name for a ship that will receive the 'USS' designation.
I agree. A Medal of Honor recipient should have their name on a warship.
Hispanic leaders?? That is a joke right? leading the white hate!
He definitely was a communist, I remember his protest marches and how he supported communism. I grew up in San Francisco, a few blocks from Army Street, a main street in SF. More than a decade ago SF renamed it to Cesar Chavez Street, over the protests of many patriotic residents. Many of us (me included) still call it Army Street. These Democrat libs want to destroy anything related to our military.
If the leftists want to rename a street to Chavez let em rename Castro or Haight Sts.
Sounds like a plan to me......:)
Don't be so harsh! A garbage scow would be appropriate.
This little man's claim to fame was merely giving voice to the illegal flood of Mexicans who chose to come here and become victims. They became very loud criminals instead.
Not that it matters to Americans. Army Street is still Army Street, Charter Way is still Charter Way and in dozens of other cities and towns throughout California the traditional street names prevail regardless of how many criminals move along the street with the new name.
Makes total sense to me. The award was given to Marine Corps Sergeant Rafael Peralta, not to his loser family. I suspect they still view themselves as victims, not having received the higher honor. I suspect he could have been awarded both.
In any case, I agree that he deserves the honor of a Ship's name much more than the other little "Commie Community Organizer."
Ray Mabus is not as bad as SecDef Robert McNamara - yet. But that is faint praise indeed.
I served on various ships long ago, even visiting some with stupid names (congresscritter names), and I would not have been amused at the ship’s namesake for the recent anti-American names. The name does matter.
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