---------------------------------------------------------------- The Navy Public Affairs Library (NAVPALIB) A service of the Navy Office of Information, Washington DC Send feedback/questions to navpalib@opnav-emh.navy.mil ---------------------------------------------------------------- The following was released by the Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs). No. 035-M MEMORANDUM FOR CORRESPONDENTS February 17, 1994 Secretary of the Navy John H. Dalton announced today the names of five new Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyers and two new Osprey class coastal minehunters scheduled for construction. Arleigh Burke class destroyers are named after naval heroes and leaders. The four ships named today honor individuals who distinguished themselves in service to the nation in such wide ranging action as the Civil War, World War II, Vietnam, Lebanon and Panama. Osprey class minehunters are named after birds. The Arleigh Burke class ships being named are: MAHAN (DDG 72) honors Rear Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan, U.S. Navy, (1840-1914). Admiral Mahan served with the blockading squadrons during the Civil War, and served two terms as President of the Naval War College. He is best known as the author of the Influence of Sea Power on History, published and studied worldwide to this day. This book and his other scholarly works continue to influence strategic and geopolitical thinking throughout the world. Three previous ships have borne this name. The first MAHAN (DD 102) (1918-1930) served in the Atlantic and Caribbean. The second (DD 364) (1936-1993) earned five battle stars in World War II before being sunk by Kamikazes in 1944. The third MAHAN (DLG 11/DDG 42) (1963-1993) served off Lebanon and Libya and earned twelve battle stars in Vietnam. DDG 72 will be built at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine and is scheduled to enter the fleet in mid-1997. DECATUR (DDG 73) honors Commodore Stephen Decatur, U.S. Navy (1779-1820), famed for his raid to burn the captured U.S. frigate PHILADELPHIA in Tripoli harbor in 1804. He later served with honor in command of the frigates UNITED STATES and PRESIDENT during the War of 1812. Four previous ships were named in his honor: a sloop-of-war and three destroyers spanning the period from 1840-1983. The third DECATUR earned two battle stars in WWII; the fourth earned eight battle stars in Vietnam. DDG 73 will be built at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine and is scheduled to enter the fleet in late 1997.
MC FAUL (DDG 74) honors Chief Engineman Donald L. McFaul, U.S. Navy, (1957-1989) who was awarded a posthumous Navy Cross for service with Seal Team FOUR during Operation Just Cause. Chief McFaul left his position under heavy small-arms fire to assist his wounded comrades. While carrying a seriously wounded platoon member to safety, Chief McFaul received a mortal wound. MC FAUL will be built at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and is scheduled to enter the fleet in early 1998.
Also KIAs:
Lt. John Conners (SEAL)
Chris Tilghman BM1 (SEAL)
Issac George Rodriguez III TM2(SEAL)
KIA Panama
DONALD COOK (DDG 75) honors Colonel Donald G. Cook, U.S. Marine Corps (1934-1967), who was awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor for gallantry while a prisoner of war in Vietnam from December 1964 through December 1967. During his imprisonment, Colonel (then Captain) Cook never veered from the Code of Conduct and resisted attempts to break his will. He died in captivity in December 1967. DONALD COOK will be built at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine and is scheduled to enter the fleet in mid-1998. HIGGINS (DDG 76) honors Colonel William Richard Higgins, U.S. Marine Corps (1945-1990). Colonel Higgins was kidnapped by terrorists on February 17, 1988, while serving as the Chief, Observer Group Lebanon and the Senior United States Military Observer with the U.S. Truce Supervision Organization in the Middle East. After being held captive by terrorists in Lebanon, Colonel Higgins was executed. The exact date of his death is uncertain. However, he was officially declared dead on July 6, 1990. HIGGINS will be built at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine and is scheduled to enter the fleet in September, 1998. Secretary Dalton assigned the following names to two Osprey class minehunters scheduled to be built: RAVEN (MHC 61). Two previous ships have carried this name. The first, a schooner (1813-1815) served on Lake Ontario in the War of 1812. The second, a minesweeper (AM 55) (1940-1967), took part in landings in North Africa, Normandy and Southern France, earning three battle stars in World War II. MHC 61 will be built at Intermarine USA shipyard in Savannah, Georgia and is scheduled to enter the fleet in late 1996. SHRIKE (MHC 62). One previous ship (MSC 201) (1955-1975) has carried this name. This ship will also be built at Intermarine in Savannah and is scheduled to enter the fleet in mid-1997. -USN-