Navy Names Ship After Civil Rights Activist Medgar Evers

Defense link ^ | 10/9/09 | staff

[Nachum]

The Navy announced today the newest Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo/ammunition ship (T-AKE) would be named USNS Medgar Evers. The announcement was made by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus during a Jackson State University speaking engagement in Mississippi.

Continuing the Lewis and Clark-class tradition of honoring legendary pioneers and explorers, the Navy's newest underway replenishment ship recognizes civil rights activist Medgar Evers (1925-1963) who forever changed race relations in America. At a time when our country was wrestling to end segregation and racial injustice, Evers led efforts to secure the right to vote for all African Americans and to integrate public facilities, schools, and restaurants. On June 12, 1963, the Mississippi native was assassinated in the driveway of his home. Evers’ death prompted President John F. Kennedy to ask the Congress for a comprehensive civil rights bill.

[Nachum]

You can't make this $h*t up.

[Nachum]

The list, ping

[fso301]

Seems like something other than an ammunition ship would be more appropriate

[EDINVA]

I heard that as the USN anticipates training women to serve on subs, the newest sub will be named the Bella Abzug.

[marron]

the Bella Abzug.

Now, thats funny.

[hosepipe]

Medgar Evers is known for being sunk...

[SamiGirl]

Belal Abzug — now that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time. She used to wear funny hats all the time.

[randog]

“..the newest sub will be named the Bella Abzug.”

It’s part of the Lewinsky Class—they go down a lot!

[Gaffer]

During WWII or maybe before, there was an incident of an ammunition ship blowing up and causing horrific damage and carnage. There were allegations of mistreatment of black shipworkers, etc. that I seem to recall...could this ship’s function and its naming be related to that incident?

[puppypusher]

Why did they name the ship after Evers?Was he a U.S.Navy Hero?What’s the story?

[Nachum]

I think Mabus was making some sort of civil rights speech in the south.

[Ken522]

The ship, USNS Medgar Evers, will be crewed by a civilian mariner group but will have a MILDEPT on board, and will join the fleet of Military Sealift Command.

[Gay State Conservative]

All you Navy guys out there...educate this old Army desk jockey:I know Navy vessels are named after states,cities and Presidents...and I think famous Naval officers...but are they ordinarily named after any one/thing else?

[left that other site]

You beat me to it!

[Windflier]

The Navy announced today the newest Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo/ammunition ship (T-AKE) would be named USNS Medgar Evers.

Political correctness in the Age of Obama run amok. Unreal...

[GreenLanternCorps]

It was the Ports Chicago Disaster:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Chicago_disaster

If you take a bunch of sailors, treat them like crud, don’t train them, and then have them load ammunition in an unsafe manner, you will get people killed.

[mylife]

I got nothin against Medgar Evers but WTF?

Must we name Military Ships for PC stuff now?

I can see it now...SSN Rosa Parks

[fieldmarshaldj]

Well, at least Evers served in the military (U.S. Army, WW2: 1943-45; European Theater, honorably discharged as a Sergeant).

[hinckley buzzard]

Good point. But Medgar Evers was a stand up guy, not some cryptoleftist asshole. He deserves memorialization.

[OldDeckHand]

"There were allegations of mistreatment of black shipworkers, etc. that I seem to recall...could this ship’s function and its naming be related to that incident?"

I don't remember the ship's name - it may have been a alpha/numerical designation as many of the ammo/cargo/liberty ships were - but, it sank just off the coast of Boston and I believe it was the largest single loss of black sailors in the history of the Navy.