Military:

Navy names ship for former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords

Associated Press

Friday, Feb. 10, 2012 | 12:40 p.m.

The Navy has named a ship for Gabrielle Giffords, the recently retired congresswoman from Arizona who is recovering from a gunshot wound to the head received in January 2011.

In a ceremony at the Pentagon, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus unveiled an artist's rendering of the USS Gabrielle Giffords.

The littoral combat ship is among the Navy's most versatile and can operate in shallower coastal waters than larger ships.

Mabus said: "God bless the USS Gabrielle Giffords and all who sail in her."

Mabus also announced that the ship's "sponsor" is Roxanna Green. She's the mother of Christina-Taylor Green. The 9-year-old was among six people killed in the shooting. Thirteen, including Giffords, were wounded. The sponsor's initials will be welded into the keel of the ship.

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By Malous (Dennis Hill)

Feb. 10, 2012

8:59 p.m.

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A brave lady who I admire but the recent trend of naming naval warships after politicians, however brave or worthy, is a bad idea. She needs to have a Federal building named after her and not a warship.

Another politician who had been semi-disgraced in office recently had his name affixed to a ship with the fig leaf that he had a short career as a marine. Another carrier was named after a President who had no effective military career, I guess because he helped our military buildup. Two carriers are named after Presidents whose naval careers were somewhat non-heroic. Being a marginally successful one term president and having a past as an obscure engineering officer OR as a pilot who was shot down and rescued does not make you worthy to have your name carried on a fighting carrier's stern.

Ships names in the past were used to represent/emulate/foster daily traditions and steadfast courage under wartime conditions for crews who consistently sail into danger. With all the actual wartime American naval heroes we have from the past century there are literally hundreds of examples of better name choices.

One example? How about ANY one of the 22 seals just killed by the Taliban while needlessly crammed into a single heavy lift coptor? Of course, that might go to show how politicians have failed our navy with misplaced POLITICAL appropriations and we can't have that eh? All glory to politicians who, after all are out there in all weathers attending committee meetings and fundraisers.

When a naval vessel is out alone on patrol in heavy weather and darkness awaiting the unknown, any of the multiple unsung heroes now deceased, maybe one of those who hold the Navy Cross or Medal of Honor would have been a better choice to inspire behavior.