Congress wants next carrier named USS Goldwater; I say piss on Congress!

[Chris_]

111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 83
Expressing the sense of Congress that a nuclear-powered aircraft
carrier of the Navy, either the aircraft carrier designated as CVN-79
or the aircraft carrier designated as CVN-80, should be named the
U.S.S. Barry M. Goldwater.
Link to the Congressional Register

A Petition to Name the next US Navy Aircraft Carrier USS Enterprise

Whereas the namesake ENTERPRISE has been proudly borne by two combat aircraft carriers of the United States Navy;

Whereas the first USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6) (seventh ship to bear this name) and her embarked airwing and crew gallantly fought in every major battle in the Pacific during World War Two, including the signatory battle at Midway when vastly outnumbered by the ships and planes of the Imperial Japanese Navy's

<snip>

Whereas the same ENTERPRISE concluded that war as the most decorated warship in the United States Navy with 20 battle stars, a Presidential Unit Citation, a British Admiralty Pennant, Navy Unit Commendation, Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, and Task Force 16 Citation among many other accolades;

<snip>

Whereas that ENTERPRISE, the eighth ship to bear that name in the United States Navy is concluding a half-century of service to this nation and has honorably served in every theater of operations from leading the naval quarantine off Cuba in 1962 to conducting the first strikes following the terrorist attack on the United States on September 11th, 2001;

Be It Resolved
  That the next nuclear aircraft carrier to be constructed (CVN-79) should bear the name USS ENTERPRISE in recognition and honor of the fighting men and women of the United States Navy who have sailed in her namesakes through the centuries.

<snip>

I wholeheartedly agree.  The time for naming the fighting ships of the United States Navy after POLITICIANS needs to be drawn to a close.

[Eupher]

Agreed, D6.

If, for some reason, "Enterprise" doesn't work, then how about a couple of these? -

USS Owen Francis Patrick Hammerberg
USS Milton Ernest Ricketts
USS Norman Scott

These are all honored US Navy Medal of Honor recipients. Naming a combat vessel after one of these heroes is infinitely better than naming her after a mere politician.

[thundley4]

Hell, I'd rather it be named after an Army, Air Force or Marine combat veteran, than just another politician. When it comes to politicians, the only ones even close to being considered should be presidents.

[JohnnyReb]

Hell, I'd rather it be named after an Army, Air Force or Marine combat veteran, than just another politician. When it comes to politicians, the only ones even close to being considered should be presidents.

Barry was in the Air Force you know. ....and back in the 70's, he wrote an article for Readers Digest about flying the SR-71 that I thoroughly enjoyed.

[Zathras]

I agree that CVN-79 or 80 shouldn't be named for Goldwater but you can't name it USS Enterprise as the current USS Enterprise (CVN-65) is still in service and will be till 2014 or 15.

[BlueStateSaint]

I agree that CVN-79 or 80 shouldn't be named for Goldwater but you can't name it USS Enterprise as the current USS Enterprise (CVN-65) is still in service and will be till 2014 or 15.

That's what I thought, too.

And, I like Euph's suggestion.  Medal Of Honor recipients should override everyone else--including Presidents.

[Chris_]

That's what I thought, too.

And, I like Euph's suggestion.  Medal Of Honor recipients should override everyone else--including Presidents.

And when they've run out of the names of MoH recipients, an LHA named the USS Lewis B. Puller ought to be just about right.

[djones520]

And when they've run out of the names of MoH recipients, an LHA named the USS Lewis B. Puller ought to be just about right.

http://www.badassoftheweek.com/puller.html

As long as they read that at the christening.   

[DumbAss Tanker]

Of the carriers that were in commission at the start of WW2, Enterprise, Wasp and Ranger were all named after early warships of the Republic from the War of 1812 era, the rest after Revolutionary War battles.  Constitution is of course still in commission as the frigate she was then.  The other frigates of the era include the great name of Constellation which has also been used for an aircraft carrier.  One of their sister whom I know NONE of you would want to see used for this ship is the Congress...

 

[franksolich]

I dunno; normally I don't favor naming things after people, especially live ones.

But if they're dead, and did the military some good, I don't see any problem with it.

I have no problem with the Stennis, for example, as John Stennis of Mississippi was one of the great U.S. Senators of the 20th century.  Ditto for other illuminaries such as James Eastland, Richard Russell, Allen Ellender, John Sparkman, Sam Ervin, Harry Byrd, John McClellan, and of course Strom Thurmond.

[Chris_]

Here's a ship suitable for bearing the name of just about any congresscritter.

[Crazy Horse]

That's what I thought, too.

And, I like Euph's suggestion.  Medal Of Honor recipients should override everyone else--including Presidents.

They are reserved for Cargo ships and also Destroyers, though not restricted to any one class of ship

[Rebel]

The Big E must never be allowed to die. It must live throughout the the rest of this country's history.

[rich_t]

Agreed, D6.

If, for some reason, "Enterprise" doesn't work, then how about a couple of these? -

USS Owen Francis Patrick Hammerberg
USS Milton Ernest Ricketts
USS Norman Scott

These are all honored US Navy Medal of Honor recipients. Naming a combat vessel after one of these heroes is infinitely better than naming her after a mere politician.

How about the "USS Don't **** with the USA"?

Too long to fit on the ball cap?

[DumbAss Tanker]

How about the "USS Don't **** with the USA"?

Too long to fit on the ball cap?

 

Heheheheh!

[Zathras]

And when they've run out of the names of MoH recipients, an LHA named the USS Lewis B. Puller ought to be just about right.

Actually that would be an LHD, not an LHA, but I agree with your idea.

[TheSarge]

Bring back some of the legendary Flattop names.


Coral Sea

Midway

Langley (CV-1 The original aircraft carrier)

Oriskany

America

Lexington

Saratoga

Yorktown

Hornet


I agree naming them after congress critters needs to stop.  It's bad enough we've got a USS Jimmy Carter in our fleet.

Let's stop before we get a USS Ted Kennedy or USS Barack Obama

[Chris_]

I thought the ships were named for people with honor so Teddy boy should not be honored at all

[franksolich]

It's bad enough we've got a USS Jimmy Carter in our fleet.

Surely you're kidding, sir.

Please, please, please tell me you're kidding.

[thundley4]

Surely you're kidding, sir.

Please, please, please tell me you're kidding.

Unfortunately, he is not.  http://www.navysite.de/ssn/ssn23.htm

[franksolich]

Unfortunately, he is not.  http://www.navysite.de/ssn/ssn23.htm

Damn.

That's disgusting.

Who an honorable person would want to serve on a Jimmy Carter?

[YupItsMe]

I do like the old names, like Enterprise, Yorktown, Lexington, etc.  but I really think the next carrier should be nicknamed the "W".      We all know there would be mass suicides at the dump.  After that we can stop naming them after politicians. 

[thundley4]

I do like the old names, like Enterprise, Yorktown, Lexington, etc.  but I really think the next carrier should be nicknamed the "W".      We all know there would be mass suicides at the dump.  After that we can stop naming them after politicians. 

Those names all sound familiar.    That's right, their all names of starships on Star Trek.  Just let the Navy think of retiring the name Enterprise, and they will earn the wrath of Trekkies forever.

[Chris_]

I am offering to make them a special Kool Aid to make a toast to them  

[Chris_]

Actually that would be an LHD, not an LHA, but I agree with your idea.

Wasp class carries the LHA- designation, last I saw.  They were what I had in mind.