First published on Thursday, October 30, 2008

By Bostonmaggie

How fitting. How utterly perfect. Many of us in the Navy blogosphere have been waiting. After all nothing is certain until it’s in writing.

Today we have it. Although, true to my contrary nature, I wish they had announced on September 29th. But no matter. It’s here now.

SECNAV Names New Zumwalt-Class Destroyer USS Michael Monsoor
Secretary of the Navy, Donald C. Winter announced at a Navy SEAL Warrior Fund Benefit Gala at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City, the name of the newest Zumwalt-class Destroyer will be USS Michael Monsoor. Designated as DDG- 1001, the name honors Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor, a Navy SEAL who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in Ramadi, Iraq, on Sept. 29, 2006.

Winter discussed the qualities, values, and dedication to duty that Navy SEAL’s exemplify, including the extraordinary acts of Michael Monsoor.

“Tonight I would like to single out one of those heroes from the community of Navy SEAL’s,” Winter said. “Those who served with ichael Monsoor will remember him always as a consummate professional who faced terrorist enemies with aplomb and stoicism.”

“The full extent of Michael’s courage, gallantry, and self-less heroism were revealed on the 29th of September, in Ramadi. When his team was surprised by an enemy grenade, Michael could have escaped and saved himself,” Winter said. “But he chose a different path, a path of honor that embodies the way of a Navy SEAL. For having chosen that path, Petty Officer Michael Monsoor joined the ranks of those who have earned our nation’s highest distinction, the Medal of Honor.”

Winter concluded that Michael Monsoor’s heroism and self sacrifice for his teammates and his nation epitomize the Navy’s core values, and will forever provide prideful admiration for our sailors.

“Michael Monsoor’s name will now be linked with one of our nation’s most visible examples of military power, a U.S. Navy warship,” Winter said. “His legacy will inspire the hearts of future Sailors who serve on the ship that bears his name.”

The USS Michael Monsoor will be a multi-mission surface combatant tailored for advanced land attack and littoral dominance. The ship’s mission is to provide credible, independent forward presence and deterrence and to operate as an integral part of naval, joint or combined maritime forces.

The USS Michael Monsoor will be the 2nd Zumwalt-class destroyer. She will be 600 feet in length, have a beam of 80.7 feet, and displace approximately 15,000 tons. Michael Monsoor will have a crew size of 148 officers and sailors, he will make speed in excess of 30 knots.

DDG 1001 named for MoH recipient Monsoor
On Sept. 29, the day he died, Monsoor was stationed with his machine gun on a rooftop between two SEAL snipers providing cover for an Army unit working in a rail yard. The two men were lying prone, aiming their rifles through holes blasted in the wall, when a grenade sailed onto the rooftop and bounced off Monsoor’s chest.

According to the official Navy biography, there was no way either of the teammates could have escaped.

“He had a clear chance to escape, but in his mind, it was not a choice at all,” President Bush said in April when presenting the medal to Monsoor’s family.
Monsoor dove on the grenade and smothered its explosion, saving the lives of the two SEALs.

There are other posts about this very fitting tribute for Master-at-Arms 2nd Class (SEAL) Michael Monsoor, who was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Bush on April 8, 2008.

The best I have read so far is Galrahn at Information Dissemination.
“This Is How To Name a Warship“, yes, yes it is.

drillanwr at Pat Dollard also does a very good post.

How Monsoor’s casket comes to look like this is demonstrated at 8:45 in this truly moving YouTube video tribute.

BZ SECNAV Winter, CJCS Mullen, CNO Roughead and everyone who made this possible.

From this day to the ending of the world, But we in it shall be remember’d; We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile, This day shall gentle his condition: And gentlemen in England now a-bed Shall think themselves accursed they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.

Yes, remember MA2 Mike Monsoor, USN, “from this day to the ending of the world”.

Posted by BostonMaggie at 9:51:00 PM

Tags: News, USS Michael Monsoor DDG-1001

USS New York will be departing Pier 88 at 6 AM, Anyone wishing to bid farewell to this fine ship and her crew should get up early, dress warmly and bring a flag and watch the greatest ship in the world will be to be leaving the Greatest City in the world, NEW YORK
New Update
USS New York will hunker down at Naval Weapons Station Earl while a Huge storm dubbed the Atlantic Assault churns offshore with waves of up to 20 feet.

http://www.weather.com/multimedia/videoplayer.html?clip=6584&from=news_top_video

Tags: News

By VERENA DOBNIK (AP)

NEW YORK — The USS New York, built with steel from the rubble of the World Trade Center, was put into Navy service Saturday both as a symbol of healing and strength.

“No matter how many times you attack us, we always come back,” Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus said at the amphibious assault ship’s commissioning. “America always comes back. That’s what this ship represents.”

He spoke on a Manhattan pier where hundreds of Navy officers and sailors joined first responders and families of Sept. 11 victims.

“I hereby place the USS New York in commission,” Mabus announced.

And with a long drum roll, the ship’s crew was set on the first watch, obeying the order, as traditionally worded: “Man our ship and bring her to life!”

From atop the vessel, decked in red, white and blue bunting, black smoke rose into the chilly fall morning to signal that the USS New York was powered up. A loud cheer accompanied a flyover by Navy planes.

The 7 1/2 tons of steel debris from ground zero had been melted down to form the bow of the USS New York as “a symbol of our unshakable resolve; this is a city built of steel,” said Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, representing the Obama administration.

Clinton was a U.S. senator from New York before she became the nation’s top diplomat.

She noted that many of New York’s iconic structures were made from steel, including the Statue of Liberty and the Chrysler building.

“But the strongest steel of New York has always been in the spines of its people,” Clinton said, calling New Yorkers “strivers and seekers, immigrants from every country, speakers of every language.”

The ceremony was staged on the Hudson River pier that is home to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum — against the backdrop of the new vessel docked at the next pier.

Among the dignitaries were newly re-elected New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York Gov. David Paterson and the USS New York’s new skipper, Cmdr. Curtis Jones.

(more…)

Tags: News