Special
release from the U.S. Department of Defense
Secretary of the Navy Gordon R. England has selected the
names of three great naval heroes for the next Arleigh Burke
class guided-missile destroyers. Fleet Adm. William F. Halsey,
Jr., Adm. Forrest Sherman and Adm. David Glasgow Farragut will
each have a guided-missile destroyer sail under their names.
The Halsey honors Adm.
William F. Halsey, Jr. (1882-1959). During World War I, Cmdr.
Halsey was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions while in
command of USS Benham and USS Shaw during convoy escort duties.
Designated a naval aviator in 1935 at the age of 52, he took
command of USS Saratoga from 1935 until 1937. In February 1942,
then Vice Adm. Halsey while serving as commander, Carrier
Division Two aboard the flagship USS Enterprise, led the first
counter-strikes of World War II against the Japanese with
carrier raids on the Gilbert and Marshall Islands. Later that
year, his task force launched the famous "Doolittle Raid"
against targets on the Japanese homeland. Assigned as commander,
South Pacific Force and South Pacific Area on Oct. 18, 1942,
Halsey led the Navy, Marine Corps, and Army forces that
conquered the strategically important Solomon Islands.
Subsequently as commander, Third Fleet, his task forces
consistently won hard fought victories during campaigns in the
Philippines, Okinawa, and other islands. Nicknamed "Bull"
Halsey he embodied his slogan, "Hit hard, hit fast, hit
often." On Dec. 11, 1945, he became the fourth officer to
hold the rank of fleet admiral. One previous ship has been named
Halsey (1963-1994), which earned eight battle stars for Vietnam
Service in addition to a Navy Unit Commendation and a
Meritorious Unit commendation, and participated in contingency
operations in Korean waters (1969-1971) and in the Indian Ocean
(1980). Northrop-Grumman Ship Systems in Pascagoula, Miss., will
build Halsey.
The Forrest Sherman honors
Adm. Forrest Percival Sherman (1896-1951). Sherman served as
Chief of Naval Operations from November 1949 until his death on
July 22, 1951. Following World War I service, he was designated
a naval aviator and later served in USS Lexington during the
carrier's first year in commission. He twice held squadron
commands on the USS Saratoga and served as navigator on the USS
Ranger prior to joining the staff of commander, U.S. Fleet in
February 1940. When World War II began, he served in the War
Plans Division under the Chief of Naval Operations. After
assuming command of the USS Wasp in May 1942, he attained the
rank of Captain and earned the Navy Cross for his leadership of
that ship during early phases of the occupation and defense of
Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. After a Japanese submarine
sank the Wasp on Sept. 15, 1942, he became chief of staff, to
commander Air Force, Pacific Fleet and served in that capacity
until November 1943, when he became deputy chief of staff to
Adm. Chester W. Nimitz. He earned a Distinguished Service Medal
for his role in planning the capture of the Gilberts, Marshalls,
Marianas, Western Carolines, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. Following a
brief tenure as commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Mediterranean,
Sherman became the youngest man ever to serve as Chief of Naval
Operations on Nov. 2, 1949. One previous ship, USS Forrest
Sherman (1955-1982) was named in his honor, earned a Navy Unit
Commendation and performed distinguished service off Lebanon
(1958), Quemoy-Matsu (1958), Cuba (1961), and in the Indian
Ocean (1980). Northrop-Grumman Ship Systems in Pascagoula,
Miss., will build the Sherman.
The Farragut honors Adm.
David Glasgow Farragut (1801-1870). One of the Union's great
heroes, Farragut gained famed for his exploits while in command
of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron during the Civil War. In
1862 his ships fought past Confederate forts to capture New
Orleans, proving for the first time that cities could be taken
by naval forces. In 1863 at Vicksburg, he gained control of the
Mississippi splitting the Confederacy. In 1864 he boldly led his
squadron through a minefield to win the Battle of Mobile Bay.
Four previous ships have been named Farragut: A Torpedo Boat
(1899-1919); a destroyer (1920-1930); a destroyer (1934-1945)
that earned fourteen battle stars in World War II (including
Pearl Harbor, Coral Sea, Eastern Solomons, Iwo Jima, and
Okinawa); and a guided-missile destroyer (1960-1989) that took
part in contingency operations in the Atlantic and Mediterranean
and earned a Navy Unit Commendation. Bath Iron Works, a General
Dynamics Co., in Maine will build Farragut.
The Halsey, Sherman and
Farragut are Flight IIA variants of the Arleigh Burke class
guided-missile destroyer, and incorporate a helicopter hangar
facility into the original design. The ships can carry two
SH-60B/R helicopters. Guided-missile destroyers operate
independently and in conjunction with carrier battle groups,
surface action groups, amphibious groups and replenishment
groups.
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