US Navy Renames Ship Previously Honoring Harvey Milk

The United States Navy has officially renamed a ship previously dedicated to Harvey Milk, a prominent gay rights activist, to the USNS Oscar V. Peterson, honoring a WWII Medal of Honor recipient.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth explained that the change aims to remove political influence from ship naming, emphasizing that the new name honors a distinguished Navy hero. “This is about celebrating a Medal of Honor recipient,” he stated, highlighting the importance of fostering pride among service members.

Oscar V. Peterson was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during WWII.

The vessel, a replenishment oiler supporting naval operations at sea, was originally christened in 2021 during the Biden administration in honor of Harvey Milk, who served as a sailor during the Korean War but was discharged due to his sexuality.

Harvey Milk made history as one of the first openly gay elected officials in the U.S. when he ran for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. Unfortunately, he and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated in 1978 by a former city supervisor opposing Milk’s efforts to combat discrimination based on sexual orientation.

USNS Harvey Milk at launch — The USNS Harvey Milk was launched in a ceremony in San Diego in 2021.

Chief Watertender Oscar V. Peterson was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery during the Battle of the Coral Sea in 1942, where he played a crucial role in saving his damaged ship despite severe injuries, sacrificing his life in the process.

Japanese maritime exercise — Crewmembers of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force during an exercise in the Virginia Capes.

The renaming effort coincides with the end of Pride Month and follows directives from Navy leadership to review ship names, including those honoring figures associated with civil rights and social justice. Names under consideration include Thurgood Marshall, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Harriet Tubman, Cesar Chavez, and others.