US Navy Renames USNS Harvey Milk to USNS Oscar V. Peterson, Removes Politics from Ship Naming

Renaming of USNS Harvey Milk

• 🎯 The Department of the Navy has officially renamed the Fleet Replenishment Oiler, formerly known as the USNS Harvey Milk, to the USNS Oscar V. Peterson.
• 🚫 This action is described as taking the politics out of ship naming, moving away from political activists.

Honoring a Naval Hero

• 🏅 The renaming honors Oscar V. Peterson, a United States Navy Congressional Medal of Honor recipient.
• ⚓ Peterson was a Chief Water Tender who served during the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942.
• 🚢 He led a repair party on the USS Neosho after it was severely damaged by Japanese dive bombers.

Heroic Actions and Sacrifice

• 💥 Despite his repair party being killed or wounded, Peterson single-handedly closed bulkhead stop valves to keep the ship operational.
• 🩹 He sustained grave injuries and burns while performing these heroic actions, tragically leading to his death.
• 🎖️ Peterson was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his spirit of self-sacrifice and concern for his crewmates.
• ✅ The USNS Oscar V. Peterson is now officially welcomed to the Navy's vessel register.