Who the hell named a Navy Ship “Ponce” (pronounced “Pon-Say”)???
“Who the hell named a Navy Ship “Ponce” (pronounced “Pon-Say”)???”
Politicians, that’s who. http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/names.htm
“The names for new ships are personally decided by the Secretary of the Navy. Ship name recommendations are conditioned by such factors as the name categories for ship types now being built, as approved by the Secretary of the Navy; the distribution of geographic names of ships of the Fleet; names borne by previous ships which distinguished themselves in service; names recommended by individuals and groups; and names of naval leaders, national figures, and deceased members of the Navy and Marine Corps who have been honored for heroism in war or for extraordinary achievement in peace. “
USS PONCE is designated an LPD, Amphibious Transport Dock. It is the United States Navy’s custom for LPDs to be named after cities that take their names from explorers and developers of their countries. USS PONCE is the first United States Ship to be named after the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico, which in turn is named in honor of the Spanish explorer, Juan Ponce de Leon. Juan Ponce de Leon discovered the State of Florida and served as the first Governor of Puerto Rico.
Quoting the Navy:
USS PONCE is designated an LPD, Amphibious Transport Dock. It is the United States Navy’s custom for LPDs to be named after cities that take their names from explorers and developers of their countries. USS PONCE is the first United States Ship to be named after the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico, which in turn is named in honor of the Spanish explorer, Juan Ponce de Leon. Juan Ponce de Leon discovered the State of Florida and served as the first Governor of Puerto Rico.Source: http://www.ponce.navy.mil/ Click the "Characteristics" tab.
It is the United States Navy’s custom for LPDs to be named after cities that take their names from explorers and developers of their countries.
For British speakers the name is LOL. And “Ponsay” is ROFLMAO.