VIDEO RELEASE--Aegis Destroyer John Finn (DDG 113) Christened at Ingalls Shipbuilding; Ship Named for Pearl Harbor Medal of H...
03 May 2015 - 5:15AM
Huntington Ingalls Industries' (NYSE:HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding
division christened the company's 29th Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51)
Aegis guided missile destroyer, John Finn (DDG 113), today 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."
A video and photo accompanying this release are available at:
http://newsroom.huntingtoningalls.com/releases/john-finn-christened.
Huntington Ingalls Industries is America's largest military
shipbuilding company and a provider of manufacturing, engineering
and management services to the commercial and non-commercial
energy, oil and gas markets. For more than a century, HII's Newport
News and Ingalls shipbuilding divisions in Virginia and Mississippi
have built more ships in more ship classes than any other U.S.
naval shipbuilder. Headquartered in Newport News, Virginia, HII
employs approximately 38,000 people operating both domestically and
internationally. For more information, visit:
- HII on the web: www.huntingtoningalls.com
- HII on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/HuntingtonIngallsIndustries
- HII on Twitter: twitter.com/hiindustries
CONTACT: Bill Glenn
william.glenn@hii-co.com
228-935-1323
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