a proud fast ship that will go into harm's way... God speed
Posted on 11/28/2016 6:45:47 PM PST by Brad from Tennessee
TOPEKA, Kan. — A U.S. Navy destroyer warship has been named in honor of a Topeka three-star general who became the first black aviator, first black general and first black base commander in the Marine Corps.
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced that the destroyer, which is under construction, would bear the name of Lt. Gen. Frank E. Petersen Jr., according to the Topeka Capital-Journal.
Petersen enlisted in the Navy in 1950, and left in 1952 to accept a commission as a second lieutenant and become the first black pilot in the Marine Corps. He flew over 350 combat missions and more than 4,000 military aircraft hours throughout the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
"The courage and perseverance of Lt. Gen. Petersen throughout his distinguished and groundbreaking career make him especially deserving of this honor," Mabus said when he announced the honor Nov. 9. "Those who serve aboard DDG 121 will, for decades, carry on the storied legacy of this Marine Corps hero. . ."
(Excerpt) Read more at realcleardefense.com ...
Nice to see the Navy giving the honor of a ship’s name to someone who actually deserves it for a change.
What happened did Obama run out of sodomites?
Active Duty ping.
What? We don’t get another USS “Gabbie Gifford”?
Agreed.
I was thinking the same thing! For once I’m excited to hear an honor like this being bestowed on someone who deserves it, the skin color is secondary.
Don’t get used to it, I hear the next ship is going to be the SS Clock Boy!
Good news.
Circa 1980 I was in Pohang, Korea. I don’t remember the exact date (probably for Team Spirit), but I was riding in the back of a 5 Ton going around the airfield. We passed by a black Marine one star standing by himself beside the road with his bag apparently waiting for a ride. We passed by within 15-20 feet and I was looking down at him. Vivid memory - it was Peterson. Later I thought how odd, almost surreal to see a BG standing alone anywhere.
Amen!
LtGen Petersen Jr. deserves the honor unlike some Mabus has named.
Mabus finally does something right.
“... the skin color is secondary.”
Actually I think you would agree that it’s irrelevant.
I feel better about this than having a ship named after SF pervert Harvey Milk.
Good choice. Here is another First Black Navy Diver, Master Diver & Master Chief, Carl Brashear.
Bravo! In the “old days”, those guys had to put up with lots of sh!t. I’ve heard it - personally. When I was in the Air Force (’68-’73), my last Squadron Commander was LtC Robert O. Goodman, Sr. http://www.staufferfuneralhome.com/notices/RobertOliver-GoodmanSrLtColUSAFRet
His son, Robert Jr. was the Naval Aviator who was shot down after the Marine Barracks bombing in Lebanon and rescued by “TV Revn’d.” Jesse Jackson. You may remember that Bobby cold-shouldered Jackson: “Nice to meet you; now, I’ve got to get back to my ship”.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Goodman
Our base NCO club occasionally had mock “slave auctions” - and the command structure would just laugh it off. Nice.
a proud fast ship that will go into harm's way... God speed
Good show.
Now, scuttle the Harvey Milk.
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