U.S. Navy Renames USNS Harvey Milk After Medal of Honor Recipient Oscar V. Peterson
“We are taking the politics out of ship naming,” Hegseth stated. “This is not about political activists, unlike the previous administration. Instead, we're renaming the ship after a United States Navy Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, as it should be.”
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — The U.S. Department of Defense has announced the renaming of the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Harvey Milk to USNS Oscar V. Peterson, a move the Pentagon says reflects a renewed focus on honoring military valor over political symbolism. The announcement was made by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in a video statement published Friday on his official X account.
“We are taking the politics out of ship naming,” Hegseth stated. “This is not about political activists, unlike the previous administration. Instead, we're renaming the ship after a United States Navy Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, as it should be.”
The decision reverses a 2016 move under the Obama administration, which named the ship after Harvey Milk, one of the first openly gay elected officials in U.S. history and a prominent LGBTQ+ rights activist. The Navy at the time sought to highlight diversity and inclusion within its ranks.
However, Hegseth emphasized that the new naming aims to instill pride among sailors by honoring traditional military heroism. “People want to be proud of the ship they're sailing in,” he said.
I am pleased to announce that the United States Navy is renaming the USNS Harvey Milk to the USNS Oscar V. Peterson.
— Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) June 27, 2025
We are taking the politics out of ship naming. pic.twitter.com/2ypwAQGdAl
Honoring Chief Watertender Oscar V. Peterson
The newly renamed USNS Oscar V. Peterson commemorates a Navy chief who displayed extraordinary heroism during the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942, one of the pivotal naval engagements of World War II.
Then–Chief Watertender Peterson led a repair party aboard the USS Neosho after it was heavily bombed by Japanese forces. Despite being gravely wounded, Peterson single-handedly closed bulkhead stop valves, helping to keep the damaged ship afloat and operational. His actions resulted in additional burns and injuries, ultimately costing him his life.
Peterson was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his courage and self-sacrifice—qualities Hegseth said embody “the finest traditions of the Navy.”
“With this renaming, we welcome the USNS Oscar V. Peterson to the Navy's Vessel Register,” Hegseth declared, saluting Peterson’s legacy and reaffirming the department’s commitment to honoring battlefield valor.
