USS Gabrielle Giffords

[RichGreene]

As a former BMSN on the USS Theodore E. Chandler DD717, I concur with the Chief !!!
Remember--Anyone can make rate, Only the BEST make Boatswainsmate !!!!!!

[BackinBlackSS/RS]

Originally Posted by NavyDood

Ok, I got to vent on this one big time.

Even though I retired as a Navy Chief after 20 years in the Navy and wore my anchors with pride, honor, courage, commitment, integrity, unity, service and navigation, naming a ship after Gabrielle Giffords is absurd. There is no denying it was tragic that Congresswoman Giffords almost lost her life from an assassination attempt, but to name a ship after her is unjust. What about the other 6000+ service members that have lost there life in Iraq and Afghanistan leaving spouses and children behind without their mommy or daddy? The only thing those family's receive is a flag presented to them with the words "Sir/Ma'am, this flag is presented on behalf of a grateful nation as an expression of appreciation for the honorable and faithful service rendered by your loved one." (Wording will vary with the different branches of the service)

Sorry for the rant, but this really chaps my ass.

I could not agree more. That is absurd. It's not about what has happened to you, it's about what they have done for their country. Suffice it to say, I don't think many ever heard of her until the shooting. Tragic yes, deserving of a ship named after her. Not hardly.

[spyderbuddy]

Originally Posted by BackinBlackSS/RS

I could not agree more. That is absurd. It's not about what has happened to you, it's about what they have done for their country. Suffice it to say, I don't think many ever heard of her until the shooting. Tragic yes, deserving of a ship named after her. Not hardly.

I concer with the above statement.
This is Disrespect to the Armed Forces.

[Dr. Love]

Can't they just name an overpass or street or something after her?

[Ocikat]

Originally Posted by GunnyG

USS George H. W. Bush ring a bell? He's still alive!

Mmmmmmmm sounds vagley familiar and I'm also familiar with the USS Ronald Reagan, I'm thinking back quite a few years when I was refering to not having names of living people on warships

[Ocikat]

Originally Posted by Ladybugsmom

Thirteen ships have been named after living people. Seventeen ships have been named for women. I don't know the statistic on how many have been named for non-military people...

I understand where you're point is coming from Navydood, but please be sure not to place blame on Gabrielle Giffords - as someone already pointed out, SHE didn't name the ship.

Not a bit of disrespect intended for Gabrielle Giffords or her service to our country. I hope she has a complete recovery and returns to politics, I was a bit sadened that she is stepping down though I do understand and wish her and her family nothing but the best. I just question in my mind if naming a military ship after her is appropriate. I realize that she didn't suggest this either

Ladybugs; I'd be interested to know the 13 living people and the 17 women, could you post or send me a message? thanks

[Dznts]

Originally Posted by BackinBlackSS/RS

I could not agree more. That is absurd. It's not about what has happened to you, it's about what they have done for their country. Suffice it to say, I don't think many ever heard of her until the shooting. Tragic yes, deserving of a ship named after her. Not hardly.

+1 couldnt agree more

[heRS]

I guess all you guys who are disgruntled over this should up your game so you can get on the boat-naming committee yourself and change things. As it stands, those in power found her and her support of the military deserving, which is an honor. Why denigrate their choice, which is to undermine the authority of those who lead those who serve?

[The_Blur]

As a current member of the Navy, the point this drives home for me is that I don't serve so that I can represent my country. My country is a republic based upon timeless values that philosophers have debated for ages, and my service to those ideals is not so that someone will bestow honor unto me. It is my duty and honor that I bestow upon others. I serve my elected government and its democratic institutions, and in so doing, I represent the names of those who lead me.

As a democracy with a strong military, we have to know what is more important, the democracy. With that in mind, there are reasons that the names on our ships usually come from political leaders, not sailors. These ships show up in foreign ports to represent that America is there to protect both our interests and their interests. If our allies were to pull into an American port, would you rather them arrive in a ship named after a diplomatic or political leader or someone who died in battle against your people? Keep in mind that in order to have thousands of brave warriors die in battle, we must be fighting someone. If we are to eventually befriend the country we once fought, would it be wise to remind them that we defeated them at the cost of the blood the spilt every time we arrive in their ports?

It is true that Ms. Giffords may not be the kind of hero that we expect to place on the side of a ship. She did not courageously fall in battle or lead us to a great victory. She suffered a horrible attack at home with no known foreign intervention. That being said, she represents her part of America, and naming a ship after her reminds all of us serving who we serve—the American people and its strong democracy.

Please continue this discussion without involving politics.

[GunnyG]

Originally Posted by Ocikat

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't it used to be that ships could only bear someones name if they were deceased ? I agree with Navy Dood, as far as I know Gabrielle Giffords hasn't ever served in the military

Your quote was correct you if you're wrong...I corrected you, because you were wrong. USS Ronald Reagan was commissioned AFTER he died. That's the point I was making. There ARE ships named after living people. USS George H. W. Bush being that. Nice discussion, though. OP wondered why no ships named after OEF/OIF fallen heroes. USS Jason Dunham was named after an OIF vet.

[Ivas]

Originally Posted by goval

Carriers are named after presidents. Destroyers are named after deceased Sailors, or an active duty military enlisted..

Amphibious ships (LHD, LHA, LPD) are named after deceased Marines.

Makes sense?

Oh and Submarines are named after U.S. states

I think naming this ship after this senator was strictly political. I'm not sure on her history, but maybe she was very much involved with the military... VA Affairs, etc... Who knows? I seriously doubt it was strictly political though... The Navy has a lot of tradition and I doubt they would just let a ship be named after a senator, regardless if she got shot or not.

Are you certain about the naming of subs? I recall the loss of a nuclear sub with all hands during the 1960's. Its name was the "Thresher". And the states' names were given to battleships, like the "Missouri" also called the "Big Mo'", not to mention the "Arizona" which sank in Pearl Harbor under Japanese attack.

[ColdCamaroSS]

Why doesn't someone look into how she got nominated to have a ship named after her? I mean, why doesn't someone who cares enough to rant about whether or not a person is deemed worthy enough to be named after a ship on a car forum, look into the actual process of naming a ship after a shot in the face congresswomen rather than just speculating the fairness of the decision.

[Ivas]

Originally Posted by ColdCamaroSS

Why doesn't someone look into how she got nominated to have a ship named after her? I mean, why doesn't someone who cares enough to rant about whether or not a person is deemed worthy enough to named after a ship on a car forum, which in turn enables some of the mindless comments above?

I think I resemble that remark. Mindless, eh? Grrr.

[Ladybugsmom]

Originally Posted by Ocikat

Not a bit of disrespect intended for Gabrielle Giffords or her service to our country. I hope she has a complete recovery and returns to politics, I was a bit sadened that she is stepping down though I do understand and wish her and her family nothing but the best. I just question in my mind if naming a military ship after her is appropriate. I realize that she didn't suggest this either

Ladybugs; I'd be interested to know the 13 living people and the 17 women, could you post or send me a message? thanks

Those stats were included in the news reports about the USS Gabrielle Giffords. But research doesn't take long these days!

Article about ships named after living people:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...ving_Americans

Article about ships named after women:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...ed_after_women