Posted on 04/16/2016 12:10:22 PM PDT by DeathBeforeDishonor1
A member of the House Armed Services Committee wants an explanation for why the next Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer will be named for a politician instead of a war hero. Rep. Duncan Hunter, a Republican from California and a Marine Corps veteran, sent a letter to Navy Secretary Ray Mabus Wednesday, asking him to explain his decision to name DDG-120 after former Sen. Carl Levin, a Democrat from Michigan, who retired last January after 36 years in office. The letter was first reported by Defense News. Hunter cited July 2012 Congressional Research Service report to Congress that showed that destroyers are traditionally named for deceased members of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, including former secretaries of the Navy. The report, however, notes that exceptions to ship-naming rules can be made by the secretary of the Navy. "A secretary's discretion to make exceptions to ship-naming conventions is one of the Navy's oldest ship-naming traditions," the report found, noting that exceptions in order to name ships for presidents or lawmakers happened often enough to constitute a "special cross-type naming convention." "It is my firm belief that Senator Levin served this country honorably as a member of the United States Senate and was a strong advocate for our men and women in uniform," Hunter wrote. However, the congressman added, "it is important that the Navy adhere to its own ship naming rules and take every effort necessary to avoid politicization of this process." Other recent exceptions to the destroyer-naming tradition have included the Thomas Hudner (DDG-116), the Paul Ignatius (DDG-117), and the Daniel Inouye (DDG-118).
(Excerpt) Read more at military.com ...
I’ve got a good idea what to do with this — strip it bare of any worthwhile technology, hide a tracking device aboard, then change the “V” in LEVIN to an “N”; then sell it to the Russians.
The USS Harvey Milk is coming.
Especially since he did serve in the Navy.
Just another way to stick it to the white Americans that never gave this useless arrogant loser a fair chance in life because he was a half breed who poses as a black man and a poor a## excuse for a human
The a## hat on the white hut I mean
Recipients.
And he has a worthless brother Sander, who is a Congressman although he looks like a walking corpse. Come on Michigan, off these turds!
Will they paint drooping spectacles on the bow?
How lovely. I can not wait until they name a sub the SSN Teddy (the swimmer) Kennedy.
Seems more than a little appropriate.
USS Al Sharpton. Taking the bling out to sea.
I would reject that...
"Nameleless muslim..."
And leave it at that. I don't need another time out...
My Dad served on the U.S.S. Dixie during WWII - imagine giving a new vessel that name today.
Maybe because Levin WAS a destroyer?
Unfortunately, carriers are almost obsolete; and we probably never again will see the numbers we once had.
They have become trillion$ targets...
...and then there's the necessity to surround them with another trillion$ of support ships.
But the basic objection to politicizing the naming of capital ships still holds.
Perhaps, fittingly, garbage scows can be reserved for failed or treasonous politicians.
At least Carter was both a President and a Navy man. He deserves a boat.
If the Democrats really want to name a ship after someone, they can name a ship the USS KKK after Robert Byrd. They can always blame the Republicans for it.
“carefully arranged his murder”
I never heard of this conspiracy.
At least Jimmy Carter was a submariner.
Seems to me Levin never met a defense cut he didn’t love...
I remember this picture. The USS Obama, USS Pelosi, and the USS Gore flanking a tugboat.
Why not name ships for Native American warriors. The USS Crazy Horse has a nice ring to it
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