Naval Rework: A New Tack
Removed name of American gay activist from military vessel label
Here's the scoop on the Navy renaming a ship! The vessel that was once called the USNS Harvey Milk, named after a '70s gay rights hero, is now christened the USNS Oscar V. Peterson. This change, sanctioned by Prez Trump and Defense Sec Hegseth, is part of their mission to revive the old-school warrior culture within the military.
Harvey Milk, a diving officer during the Korean War, was honorably discharged due to his sexual orientation. He later became a city council member in San Francisco and bravely advocated for the LGBTQ+ community. Tragically, he was assassinated in City Hall with liberal mayor George Moscone. His life story was portrayed in the acclaimed film "Milk" by Gus Van Sant, starring Sean Penn.
The new ship, named after Oscar V. Peterson, served in Asia during WWII. During a Japanese attack, he showed exemplary grit, stabilizing his ship despite his injuries, helping save 123 crew members, and even earning a posthumous medal for his actions. The USNS can now supply other Naval vessels with fuel, water, and other essentials at sea.
Trump and Hegseth have been vocal against promoting diversity in the military, viewing it as a potential source of weakened forces. This stance has led them to rename military bases and ships, including the USNS Harvey Milk.
What's the deal with Oscar V. Peterson, the new namesake? Well, he was a Navy chief watertender during WWII who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. He became a hero during the May 7, 1942, attack on the USS Neosho when he courageously closed bulkhead stop valves to prevent flooding and damage, even though he'd been injured during the attack.
In essence, the renaming was meant to remove political ties and honor a military legend instead. This change aligns with Secretary Hegseth's announcement in 2025 that aimed to distance ship naming from political activism and focus on military heroes.[1][2][3][4]
- The renaming of the USNS Harvey Milk to the USNS Oscar V. Peterson is a part of President Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth's mission to restore the old-school warrior culture within the military, which seems to include distancing from political activism in their ship naming decisions.
- This shift in ship naming, as seen in the case of the USNS Harvey Milk, is likely motivated by Trump and Hegseth's stance against promoting diversity in the military, with a focus on honoring military legends, such as the new namesake, Oscar V. Peterson, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during WWII.
