Huntington
Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division christened the
company’s 29th Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) Aegis guided missile
destroyer, John Finn (DDG 113), may 2nd in front of nearly 1,000 guests.
DDG 113 is named John Finn after the first Medal of Honor recipient
of World War II. Finn received the honor for machine-gunning Japanese
warplanes for over two hours during the December 1941 attack on Pearl
Harbor despite being shot in the foot and shoulder and suffering numerous
shrapnel wounds. He retired as a lieutenant after 30 years of service
and died at age 100 in 2010. |
“I
often speak to the members of the Chief Petty Officer Mess about the
characteristics of a leader and, more specifically, the characteristics
I expect to see in my chiefs,” said Master Chief Petty Officer
of the Navy Michael Stevens, who was the principal speaker. “I
tell them that a model chief petty officer is a quiet, humble and servant
leader. I believe with all my heart that John Finn exemplified all of
these traits through his heroic actions that day.”
Laura Stavridis, wife of Adm. James Stavridis (U.S. Navy, Ret.) and
DDG 113 ship sponsor, smashed a bottle of sparkling wine across the
bow of the ship, officially christening DDG 113 as John Finn. “God
bless this ship and all who sail on her,” she said.
“Finn outlived 14 fellow sailors who earned the Medal of Honor
for their service in World War II,” said Mike Petters, HII’s
president and CEO. “Unfortunately, he didn’t live long enough
to know that a Navy ship would be named after him. I think he would
be as humbled by this honor as he was with the title of hero bestowed
upon him. Just remember his words: ‘There’s all kinds of
heroes.’ And if you ask me, this ship was built for heroes by
heroes. All in the name of freedom.”
Ingalls has delivered 28 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to the U.S.
Navy. Destroyers currently under construction at Ingalls are John Finn
(DDG 113), Ralph Johnson (DDG 114), Paul Ignatius (DDG 117) and Delbert
D. Black (DDG 119). Earlier this year, Ingalls received a contract modification
funding the construction of the company’s 33nd destroyer, DDG
121.
“Rest assured these shipbuilders—Ingalls shipbuilders—understand
their noble calling,” said Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian
Cuccias. “To build ships like John Finn safe, strong and proud
for the sailors and Marines who sail in her, with strength pride and
our deepest gratitude and respect.
“The future USS John Finn is the first destroyer built at Ingalls
after the Navy restarted the program,” Cuccias continued. “We
hit the ground running with the new program, re-establishing the best
destroyer team in the world with many best-in-class achievements, and
this is already proven, as DDG 113 was launched three weeks ahead of
schedule.”
Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are highly capable, multi-mission ships
that can conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and
crisis management to sea control and power projection, all in support
of the United States’ military strategy. They are capable of simultaneously
fighting air, surface and subsurface threats. The ship contains myriad
offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime defense
needs well into the 21st century.
“I have said it many times, and I mean it every time I say it
… Gulf Coast shipbuilders build the greatest warships the world
has ever seen,” said Rep. Steven Palazzo, R-Miss. “Your
craftsmanship is beyond compare, and I know that you all care very deeply
about the work you do, because you know how important your work is to
our national security and keeping America and our loved ones safe. No
matter how many times I see these ships grow from steel plate into the
great ship you see here today, I still believe it is an absolute modern
marvel.” |
