The US Navy has renamed a naval ship after Oscar V. Peterson, a chief watertender who died in action during World War II. The decision comes after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that the ship would no longer be named USNS Harvey Milk, which was originally christened in honor of late gay San Francisco supervisor Harvey Milk.
The new name sparked outrage from Milk’s nephew, Stuart Milk, who oversees the Harvey Milk Foundation. “We are taking the politics out of ship naming,” Hegseth said, adding that the ship is being named after a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor as it should be. However, Stuart Milk criticized Hegseth’s remarks, saying they were “petty and dishonest” and that his uncle had served honorably in the Navy.
The USNS Harvey Milk was originally announced to be renamed in June 2023 by Military.com. The ship was part of the John Lewis class of vessels, which were named after civil rights heroes. Despite Hegseth’s decision, Stuart Milk remains committed to preserving Harvey Milk’s legacy and has called on supporters to continue celebrating his life and work.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie also spoke out against the decision, saying that Harvey Milk is a symbol of hope for those seeking acceptance and love. He added that the city will continue to celebrate Harvey Milk’s legacy, regardless of the federal government’s actions.
Source: https://www.ebar.com/story/155541