The Navy’s 10th San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock will be named for Rep. John Murtha, the long-serving Pennsylvania Democrat who chaired the powerful House appropriations defense subcommittee before he died in February.I won't speak more of the dead - but I can't think of any OIF veteran who would like to sail her - and I think the CNO should read the newspaper more - maybe vets from OIF should mail him clippings of this.
According to a Navy memorandum obtained by Navy Times, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus notified Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead that he had selected “John P. Murtha” for the previously unnamed LPD 26. It’s the latest example of the Navy breaking a convention for naming its warships; the previous ships in the San Antonio class have been named for American cities.
UPDATE: The Washington Time editorial for 15 APR has a good title, Sink the Murtha:The Navy can do better than honoring this hack.
CDR Salamander thoroughly enjoyed the last line.
UPDATE II - Electric Boogaloo: Fred has something very snerkable - check it out.
It's doubtful that the ship naming will do much to honor Murtha. The brave Marines and sailors who serve aboard this vessel probably will refer to it only as LPD 26 or come up with a colorful nickname like "Porky Pig" or the "Fat Bastard" (the Marine favorite). Perhaps Murtha could still be useful in supplying the ship's slogan: "Cold Blooded Killers."
UPDATE II - Electric Boogaloo: Fred has something very snerkable - check it out.
