Remarks
by MCPON(SS/SW/AW) James L. Herdt At the USS James E. Williams
Naming announcement ceremony Darlington, S.C. May 26, 2001
Thank you Captain Smith. Elaine, and all of the Williams
family, this is indeed a special day for all of us. It is an
honor to be in the presence of such a distinguished group of
people.
Past and present members of
the special boat community, I can't tell you how grateful I am
that you are here to help us honor one of your own.
Distinguished guests, shipmates and friends thank you for making
this day so special.
It is an honor for me to be
here today to announce the name of the Navy's forty-fifth
Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer. This is the first
time I've ever been asked to announce the Naming of a United
States Ship. And to my knowledge, this is the first time the
honor has been bestowed upon an enlisted Sailor. I am proud that
it is so in honoring this enlisted hero.
Ship naming announcements are
normally made by the Secretary of the Navy. Needless to say I
was thrilled to accept former Secretary Danzig's, and now
Secretary of the Navy England's offer, as the Navy's senior
enlisted Sailor, to formally announce the Naming of this very
special ship on his behalf.
The Navy has a unique way of
honoring its heroes, history and ideals. By naming our ships,
they become more than just another piece of hardware, they take
on a life and spirit all their own.
For more than a hundred
years, nearly all U.S. Navy destroyers have been named for
American Naval leaders and Heroes. This is certainly true for
the destroyer we are naming today. Until now this ship has been
known simply by its hull number DDG-95. However as of this
moment, this great ship in the making will take on the name of a
man who truly meets the definition of an American Naval Leader
and Hero, James E. Williams.
While I didn't know Elliott
in person, today is the second time that I have had the honor to
participate in a service honoring him on behalf of all enlisted
Sailors. The first time was at his funeral on October 16th,
1999. Today I am pleased and honored to be here in these happier
circumstances.
I can't think of a finer
example of an American patriot than James E. Williams. He served
his country as a career Sailor at a time when it wasn't the most
popular thing to do. He volunteered for combat duty in Vietnam
where his actions as boat captain and patrol officer aboard
River Patrol Boat 105 earned him the Medal of Honor and Navy
Cross. After retiring from the Navy, Elliott continued his life
of service to his country by serving as a U.S. Marshal here in
South Carolina.
I started my Navy career just
as Elliott was ending his. While a lot has changed in our Navy
since then, we still look for the same qualities of honor,
courage and commitment that he exemplified so well.
While Sailors like James E.
Williams, had the opportunity to demonstrate great and
courageous deeds that American Sailors are capable of, the
honor, courage and commitment that was present in heroes of the
past still resides in today's Navy.
I am grateful that we live in
a world not at war. We do however, live in a dangerous world,
but I am certain the men and women of today's Navy remain ready
to answer their nation's call. I am so confident of their
abilities, that I think of them as 372,000 heroes in waiting.
You need only look as far
back as the bombing of the USS COLE last October to see how
ordinary Sailors, readily step into heroic deeds. Like Elliott,
these Sailors were not looking to become heroes. They were
simply serving their nation in a world that is not always
friendly.
Americans today enjoy peace
and prosperity largely because Sailors ensure our freedom here
at home by serving at sea aboard great ships like COLE and soon
JAMES E. WILLIAMS.
Today's naming ceremony is
only one of the very first milestones in the career of USS JAMES
E. WILLIAMS. Still ahead are several more formal milestones
before the ship takes our country's flag to the four corners of
the globe.
First will be the keel laying
when the actual construction of the ship begins. This is
scheduled to take place in July of next year in Pascagula,
Mississippi.
The next milestone will be
the christening ceremony. The christening ceremony is the event
the name announced today is formally applied to the steel hull.
Finally there will be a
commissioning ceremony in which the ship's new crew will
transform the newly built skeleton of steel into a living ship,
fleshed-out by the Sailors who are made of the same right stuff
as was Elliott.
His life of service will
continue to have a positive impact as United States Ship JAMES
E. WILLIAMS carries the sovereignty of our great country to sea
and to countries around the world. The ship's future crew, their
families and friends will learn Elliott Williams' story of
heroism and service over and over, and will take it with them,
just like those who were fortunate enough to know him in person.
With that, I invite Elaine
(Williams) to join me to accept this certificate announcing the
naming of USS JAMES E. WILLIAMS. Thank you.
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