The United States Navy has made headlines with a significant decision that bridges past heroism with present-day military values. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the USNS Harvey Milk would be renamed USNS Oscar V Peterson, marking a rare departure from traditional naval naming practices whilst honouring a remarkable Medal of Honor recipient.
Who Was Oscar V Peterson?
Oscar Verner Peterson stands as one of America’s forgotten naval heroes from the Second World War. Born in Prentice, Wisconsin, on 27th August 1899, Oscar V Peterson dedicated over two decades of his life to naval service, enlisting in 1920 and spending his entire career at sea. By the time America entered World War II, Peterson had achieved the rank of Chief Watertender, serving aboard the USS Neosho, a vital fleet oiler operating in the Pacific theatre.
The Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942 would prove to be both Peterson’s finest hour and his final act of service. On 7th May 1942, Japanese dive bombers attacked the USS Neosho during this historic naval engagement – the first battle in history where opposing fleets fought entirely through aircraft carriers without ever sighting each other. Despite suffering severe injuries during the attack, Oscar V Peterson demonstrated extraordinary courage by closing four critical bulkhead steam line valves, preventing catastrophic damage to his ship’s engine room.
Peterson’s heroic actions came at tremendous personal cost. He sustained third-degree burns to his face, shoulders, arms, and hands whilst performing this life-saving task. The USS Neosho was eventually scuttled on 11th May by the destroyer USS Henley after taking aboard 123 survivors. Tragically, Oscar V Peterson succumbed to his burn injuries on 13th May 1942 and was buried at sea several hundred miles off the Australian coast.
A Medal of Honor Well Earned
The United States Navy recognised Peterson’s extraordinary sacrifice by awarding him the Medal of Honor posthumously on 7th December 1942. His official citation reads: “For extraordinary courage and conspicuous heroism above and beyond the call of duty while in charge of a repair party during an attack on the U.S.S. Neosho by enemy Japanese aerial forces on 7 May 1942”.
The citation continues: “Lacking assistance because of injuries to the other members of his repair party and severely wounded himself, Peterson, with no concern for his own life, closed the bulkhead stop valves and in so doing received additional burns which resulted in his death. His spirit of self-sacrifice and loyalty, characteristic of a fine seaman, was in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service”.
Remarkably, Peterson’s family never received a formal presentation ceremony for his Medal of Honor, as was customary. Instead, the medal and accompanying certificate were simply posted to his widow. This oversight was finally corrected in 2010 when Rear Admiral James A. Symonds presented the medal to Peterson’s surviving son, Fred, in a ceremony attended by roughly 850 people in Richfield, Idaho.
The Renaming Decision and Its Rationale
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the renaming decision in a video posted to social media, explaining: “We are taking the politics out of ship naming. We’re not renaming the ship to anything political. 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 to rename the USNS Harvey Milk comes as part of broader changes within the U.S. military under the Trump administration’s renewed focus on what officials describe as “warrior culture”. According to Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, “Secretary Hegseth is committed to ensuring that the names attached to all DOD installations and assets are reflective of the Commander-in-Chief’s priorities, our nation’s history, and the warrior ethos”.
The timing of this announcement during Pride Month has drawn significant attention and criticism from various quarters. The USNS Harvey Milk was originally named after California’s first openly gay elected official, who served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War before becoming a pioneering civil rights activist.
Understanding Naval Naming Traditions
The tradition of naming U.S. Navy vessels follows established conventions dating back to 1819, when Congress formally placed responsibility for ship naming in the hands of the Secretary of the Navy. These conventions have evolved over time, with different classes of ships typically named after different categories of people or places.
Medal of Honor recipients have long been considered appropriate namesakes for naval vessels, reflecting the military’s highest values of courage, sacrifice, and service. The naming of ships after such heroes serves not only to honour their memory but also to inspire current and future generations of sailors.
Oscar V Peterson was previously honoured with the naming of the destroyer escort USS Peterson (DE-152) in his memory. The decision to name the USNS Harvey Milk after him marks the second naval vessel to bear his name, though the first was a much smaller warship from the World War II era.
Military Inclusion Policies
This renaming decision occurs against a backdrop of evolving military policies regarding diversity and inclusion. Whilst the United States grapples with these changes, it’s worth noting how other allied nations have approached similar issues. The United Kingdom, for instance, lifted its ban on LGBT personnel serving openly in the armed forces in January 2000.
The UK’s military has since become notably progressive in its approach to LGBT inclusion. British armed forces actively recruit LGBT personnel, participate in Pride events in uniform, and provide equal benefits to same-sex couples. In 2023, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak issued a formal apology for the previous ban, calling it “an appalling failure of the British state”.
The Royal Navy has even taken symbolic steps such as wrapping a former landing craft in Pride colours to mark 25 years since the ban was lifted. This stark contrast with current U.S. policy changes highlights the different approaches nations can take regarding military inclusion.
Reactions and Implications
The renaming decision has sparked considerable debate across American political and military circles. Critics argue that removing Harvey Milk’s name from the vessel represents an unnecessary politicisation of military naming conventions. Veterans’ groups have expressed mixed reactions, with some supporting the focus on Medal of Honor recipients whilst others criticise the timing and rationale.
Representative Nancy Pelosi characterised the decision as “a shameful, vindictive erasure of those who fought to break down barriers for all to chase the American Dream”. California Senator Alex Padilla called it an attempt to “undermine the tremendous contributions and service of the LGBTQ+ community to our country”.
However, supporters of the decision argue that naming vessels after Medal of Honor recipients like Oscar V Peterson better reflects military values and traditions. They contend that such naming practices inspire service members and honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
The Cost and Complexity of Renaming
Beyond the political and symbolic implications, renaming naval vessels involves significant practical challenges. Veteran James Seddon, who served over 20 years in the Navy, explained that “thousands of things will have to be reprinted or embroidered, from ship’s ball caps (which are part of the official uniform) to many other uniform parts that contain the ship’s name”.
The physical aspects of renaming are equally complex. Ship names aren’t simply painted on hulls but often involve raised steel lettering that must be ground down and replaced. These changes represent substantial costs in both time and resources, raising questions about the efficiency of such decisions.
Oscar V Peterson’s Enduring Legacy
Regardless of the political debates surrounding the renaming, Oscar V Peterson’s story deserves recognition. His sacrifice during the Battle of the Coral Sea exemplifies the highest traditions of naval service. The fact that he continued performing his duties despite severe injuries, ultimately giving his life to save his shipmates, embodies the selfless courage that the Medal of Honor was created to recognise.
Peterson’s legacy extends beyond his wartime heroism. His story represents the countless ordinary sailors who performed extraordinary acts of courage during World War II. By naming a vessel after him, the Navy ensures that future generations of sailors will learn about his sacrifice and draw inspiration from his example.
The USS Neosho itself played a crucial role in the Pacific War, serving as one of the Navy’s few operational tankers after Pearl Harbor. The ship’s mission of refuelling task forces and carrying vital fuel to islands throughout the Pacific was essential to American naval operations in the theatre.
Looking Forward
As the USNS Harvey Milk prepares to become the USNS Oscar V Peterson, this decision reflects broader questions about how militaries balance tradition with inclusion, honour past heroes whilst recognising diverse contributions, and navigate the complex intersection of service and politics.
Oscar V Peterson’s story, largely forgotten for decades, now receives renewed attention through this naming decision. His example of selfless service and ultimate sacrifice represents values that transcend political divisions – courage, duty, and devotion to one’s shipmates and country.
The renaming of this vessel ensures that Oscar V Peterson’s name will continue sailing the world’s oceans, carried by a ship that supports America’s naval operations just as he once did aboard the USS Neosho in the Pacific. Whether one supports or opposes the renaming decision, Peterson’s heroic actions during the Battle of the Coral Sea deserve remembrance and honour.
As debates continue about military naming conventions and inclusion policies, the story of Oscar V Peterson serves as a reminder of the fundamental values that unite all who serve: courage in the face of danger, loyalty to one’s comrades, and willingness to sacrifice for something greater than oneself. These timeless principles, embodied by heroes like Peterson, remain constant even as military policies and social attitudes continue to evolve.
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