The Navy christened one of its newest Arleigh Burke Flight IIA guided missile destroyers, the future USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG 124), during a ceremony held on Saturday, July 29.
During a ceremony at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works in Maine, the US Navy christened the future USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG 124), an Arleigh Burke Flight IIA destroyer, named in honor of Col. Harvey C. Barnum Jr., USMC, a Vietnam veteran.
Col. Barnum twice served in Vietnam and is a Medal of Honor recipient for heroic actions taken against communist forces at Ky Phu in Quang Tin Province in December 1965 after his company came under enemy fire and was separated from the rest of their battalion.
During the ceremony, Chuck Krugh, the president of General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, addressed the gathering of approximately 2,000 shipbuilders, family members, and invited guests, stating, “the future USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. will be a fitting tribute to its namesake’s answering the call of his nation during Vietnam, his bravery in battle, his loyalty to his fellow Marines, and his leadership and service throughout his life.”
Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Carlos Del Toro also delivered the principal address saying: “I have always looked to Harvey Barnum as a personal mentor, someone whose judgment I value in all of my decisions and considerations, including in my current role as Secretary of the Navy.”
DDG 124 is the 73rd ship in its class and a Flight IIA Technology Insertion (TI) destroyer equipped with Aegis Baseline 9, which provides improved integrated air and missile defense capabilities, increased computing power, and radar upgrades that improve detection range and reaction time against modern air warfare and ballistic missile defense threats.
Aside from Harvey C. Barnum Jr., Bath Iron Works is presently engaged in the construction of several other destroyers, including the Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class destroyers John Basilone (DDG 122) and Patrick Gallagher (DDG 127), along with the Flight III destroyers Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG 126), William Charette (DDG 130), and Quentin Walsh (DDG 132).
