Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Congressman Questions Decision to Name Destroyer after Senator
Military.com ^ | April 14, 2016 | Hope Hodge Seck

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 ...


TOPICS: Government
KEYWORDS: california; carllevin; duncanhunter; michigan
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-46 next last

1 posted on 04/16/2016 12:10:22 PM PDT by DeathBeforeDishonor1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: DeathBeforeDishonor1

The USS Worthless?


2 posted on 04/16/2016 12:11:22 PM PDT by disndat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: disndat

Its Carl Leven so yeah...”USS Worthless”.


3 posted on 04/16/2016 12:12:55 PM PDT by DeathBeforeDishonor1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: DeathBeforeDishonor1

Then why does he think we called Sen. Carl Levin — Sen. Karl Lenin?


4 posted on 04/16/2016 12:19:26 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty - Honor - Country! What else needs said?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DeathBeforeDishonor1

The USS Chris Kyle would have been the perfect name.


5 posted on 04/16/2016 12:21:47 PM PDT by GeorgiaDawg32 (www.greenhornshooting.com - Professional handgun training.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DeathBeforeDishonor1
Carl Levin was not 'worthless'. He was one of the most loyal leftist partisan hacks the Democrats could ever hope for.

Our current immigration crises owes much to him.
6 posted on 04/16/2016 12:23:52 PM PDT by farming pharmer ('Your work will warm you' - overheard in a Soviet gulag...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DeathBeforeDishonor1

The POS in the WH must be dreaming of one day a USN ship in his name; “The USS LIAR, OBOZO”


7 posted on 04/16/2016 12:28:34 PM PDT by drypowder
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DeathBeforeDishonor1
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).

Exceptions: Thomas Hudner and Paul Ignatius both served in the Navy. Daniel Inouye fought in World War II as part of the 442nd Infantry Regiment, a war hero. They were military, unlike Carl Levin who never served.

8 posted on 04/16/2016 12:30:30 PM PDT by roadcat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DeathBeforeDishonor1

Naming a vessel after that dope should be a crime.


9 posted on 04/16/2016 12:30:51 PM PDT by dainbramaged (Get out of my country now)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GeorgiaDawg32
"The USS Chris Kyle would have been the perfect name."

I agree, but why would the people who carefully arranged his murder name a ship after him?

10 posted on 04/16/2016 12:34:59 PM PDT by CivilWarBrewing (u)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: DeathBeforeDishonor1

Wait until they start naming stuff after Obama !!!


11 posted on 04/16/2016 12:36:23 PM PDT by Iron Munro (Noah: 'When the animals began to pair up by specie and stand in line, I really took notice.')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DeathBeforeDishonor1
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."

One of minor, but important degenerations of American traditions in the explanation for the current anger that permeates the nation.

No longer can it be assumed that elected persons are honorable, with a solid sense of history, honor, morals, character and ethics.

Just because something absurd was allowed once and, with time, increasing more often does not make it acceptable to the People.

Perhaps the time has come to question the practice, and remove the option for exceptions from the Secretary of the Navy. Clearly some of those appointments have been corrupt political actions which should not be allowed to stand.

Also, it perhaps time to consider correcting past mistakes, and renaming politically motivated military ships.

Also, perhaps a name should be compiled of the administrations which allowed the practice to flourish, the name of the SECNAV serving at the time, and the name of the politician(s) who enabled the corrupt practice.

I realize that there are more important issues to address, but this one is costless. Traditions are much more important than tolerating the culture of corruption and cronyism rampant in OUR country, specially, as it affects the military.

Ever wonder what or who created the existence of Donald Trump?

12 posted on 04/16/2016 12:38:39 PM PDT by publius911 (IMPEACH HIM NOW evil, stupid, insane ignorant or just clueless, doesn't matter!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DeathBeforeDishonor1


13 posted on 04/16/2016 12:40:37 PM PDT by Repeal The 17th (I was conceived in liberty, how about you?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DeathBeforeDishonor1

USS century link would be appropriate. 25% of the speed for full price. Maybe it will sink in trials or permanently break down. Could be an “accidental fire’ like McCain was involved on the Forestall.


14 posted on 04/16/2016 12:49:16 PM PDT by mountainlion (Live well for those that did not make it back.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DeathBeforeDishonor1
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).

Thomas Hudner and Daniel Inouye were both Medal of Honor winners.

15 posted on 04/16/2016 12:52:53 PM PDT by DoodleDawg
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DeathBeforeDishonor1

Paragraphs are your friends.

Apr 14, 2016 | by Hope Hodge Seck

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).


16 posted on 04/16/2016 12:53:02 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: publius911

Here are a few names that need to come back:

USS Saratoga
USS Wasp
USS Ticonderoga
USS Hornet
USS Yorktown
USS Lexington
USS Bunker Hill
USS Independence
USS America
USS Midway
USS Coral Sea

and many, many, many others. Ships that had pride, prestige and fight.

Naming a ship after a weasel is a non-starter for me. (spit).


17 posted on 04/16/2016 12:53:44 PM PDT by GeorgiaDawg32 (www.greenhornshooting.com - Professional handgun training.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: DeathBeforeDishonor1; Jeff Head

I remain opposed to naming US Fleet units after politicians, living or dead.

I would have been willing to make exceptions for Washington and Lincoln, except that it was perfectly foreseeable that this would lead to the Ford, the Reagan, and the HW Bush, not to mention Carl Vinson and John C. Stennis.

And, once you concede Ford, Reagan, and HW Bush, you make the USS William J. Clinton and the USS Barack Hussein Obama inevitable. Once you concede Vinson and Stennis, you have to have the USS Charles Rangel and the USS Harry Reid.

We should have stuck with battles for aircraft carriers (or, given the fact that they replaced BBs as ships of the line, states).

I suppose it’s too late to do anything about this now, but it was wrong the first time, and it still is.


18 posted on 04/16/2016 1:03:25 PM PDT by Jim Noble (Ryan never could have outfought Trump. I never knew, until this day, that it was Romney all along.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GeorgiaDawg32

Kyle was the first guy I thought of that would be a far better choice.


19 posted on 04/16/2016 1:05:43 PM PDT by Daaave ('all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

Comment #20 Removed by Moderator


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-46 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson