U.S. Navy Christens Flight III Destroyer USS George M. Neal in Mississippi
The U.S. Navy christened the future USS George M. Neal (DDG 131), the fourth Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, on July 13, 2026, in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The ship honors Korean War hero Aviation Machinist's Mate 3rd Class George M. Neal, a Navy Cross recipient. The ceremony featured remarks by acting Navy Under Secretary William Toti and Neal’s daughter, Kelley Neal Gray. The destroyer is equipped with the advanced AN/SPY-6(V)1 radar. HII President Chris Kastner highlighted tensions with the Pentagon over foreign shipbuilding contracts.
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Navy christens destroyer USS George M. Neal honoring Black sailor from Korean War rescue mission
The U.S. Navy christened the future destroyer USS George M. Neal on July 11, 2026, at Huntington Ingalls Industries in Pascagoula, Mississippi, honoring Aviation Machinist's Mate Third Class George Milton Neal. Neal, one of the first Black aircrewmen in the Navy, volunteered in 1951 to rescue a downed Marine pilot in North Korea. His helicopter was shot down, and he evaded enemy forces for nine days with two pilots before being captured. Neal was awarded the Navy Cross; the pilot, Lt. j.g. John Kelvin Koelsch, received the Medal of Honor posthumously. Neal's daughter, Kelley Neal Gray, christened the ship, expressing gratitude for the honor. The destroyer will carry Neal's legacy of courage and sacrifice, as noted by Navy officials.
Navy Christens Destroyer USS George M. Neal Honoring Black Sailor from Korean War Rescue Mission
The U.S. Navy christened the future destroyer USS George M. Neal on July 11, 2026, at Huntington Ingalls Industries in Pascagoula, Mississippi, honoring Aviation Machinist's Mate Third Class George Milton Neal. Neal, one of the first Black aircrewmen in the Navy, volunteered in 1951 to rescue a downed Marine pilot in North Korea. His helicopter was shot down, and he evaded capture for nine days with his pilot, Lt. j.g. John Kelvin Koelsch, and the rescued pilot. Koelsch died in captivity and received the Medal of Honor; Neal was awarded the Navy Cross. Neal's daughter, Kelley Neal Gray, christened the ship. Neal and the rescued pilot were released in 1953. The destroyer will carry his legacy of courage and sacrifice.
Navy Christens Destroyer USS George M. Neal Honoring Black Sailor from Korean War Rescue Mission
The U.S. Navy christened the future destroyer USS George M. Neal on July 11, 2026, in Pascagoula, Mississippi, honoring Aviation Machinist's Mate Third Class George Milton Neal. Neal, one of the first Black aircrewmen in the Navy, volunteered in 1951 to rescue a downed Marine pilot in North Korea. His helicopter was shot down, and he evaded capture for nine days with the pilot and rescued Marine before being captured. Neal was awarded the Navy Cross; the helicopter pilot, Lt. j.g. John Kelvin Koelsch, received the Medal of Honor posthumously. Neal's daughter christened the ship, which will carry his legacy of courage and sacrifice.
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U.S. Navy Christens Flight III Arleigh Burke-Class Destroyer USS George M. Neal
The U.S. Navy christened the future USS George M. Neal (DDG 131), the fourth Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer built by Huntington Ingalls Industries, in a ceremony in Pascagoula, Mississippi on July 13, 2026. The ship is named after Aviation Machinist's Mate 3rd Class George M. Neal, a Korean War veteran awarded the Navy Cross for his valor during a 1951 search-and-rescue mission over North Korea. Neal was captured and remained a prisoner of war until 1952. The ceremony featured remarks by William Toti, performing duties of the under secretary of the Navy, and Kelley Neal Gray, Neal's daughter, who broke a bottle on the ship. HII President Chris Kastner highlighted tensions with the Pentagon over shipbuilding. The Flight III destroyer features the advanced AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar, described as the most powerful radar ever fielded on a U.S. Navy surface warship.
U.S. Navy Christens Flight III Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer USS George M. Neal
On July 13, 2026, the U.S. Navy christened the future USS George M. Neal (DDG 131), the fourth Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer built by Huntington Ingalls Industries in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The ship is named after Aviation Machinist's Mate 3rd Class George M. Neal, a Korean War veteran awarded the Navy Cross for valor during a 1951 search-and-rescue mission over North Korea. Neal was shot down, evaded capture for nine days, and remained a prisoner of war until 1952. The ceremony was presided over by William Toti, performing duties of the under secretary of the Navy. Kelley Neal Gray, Neal's daughter, performed the traditional bottle-breaking. The Flight III destroyer features the advanced AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar, described as the most powerful radar ever on a U.S. Navy surface warship. HII CEO Chris Kastner's remarks highlighted tensions between shipyards and the Pentagon over potential foreign shipbuilding.
U.S. Navy Christens Flight III Arleigh Burke-Class Destroyer USS George M. Neal
The U.S. Navy christened the future USS George M. Neal (DDG 131), the fourth Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, on July 13, 2026, at Huntington Ingalls Industries in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The ship is named after Aviation Machinist's Mate 3rd Class George M. Neal, a Korean War veteran awarded the Navy Cross for valor during a 1951 search-and-rescue mission over North Korea. Neal was shot down, evaded capture for nine days, and remained a prisoner of war until 1952. His daughter, Kelley Neal Gray, performed the traditional bottle-breaking ceremony. The Flight III destroyer features the advanced AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar, described as the most powerful radar ever fielded on a U.S. Navy surface warship. HII CEO Chris Kastner's remarks highlighted tensions between dockyards and the Pentagon over foreign shipbuilding, emphasizing the importance of American-built ships.
U.S. Navy Christens Flight III Arleigh Burke-class Destroyer USS George M. Neal
The U.S. Navy christened the future USS George M. Neal (DDG 131), the fourth Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer built by Huntington Ingalls Industries, during a ceremony in Pascagoula, Mississippi on July 13, 2026. The ship is named after Korean War veteran Aviation Machinist's Mate 3rd Class George M. Neal, a Navy Cross recipient who volunteered for a rescue mission in 1951, was shot down, evaded capture for nine days, and remained a POW until 1952. William Toti, performing duties of the under secretary of the Navy, presided over the ceremony. The Flight III destroyer features the advanced AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar, described as the most powerful radar ever on a U.S. Navy surface warship. HII President Chris Kastner's remarks highlighted tensions between shipyards and the Pentagon over potential foreign shipbuilding contracts, emphasizing the importance of American-built ships.
Navy christens Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer after Korean War hero
The U.S. Navy christened the future USS George M. Neal (DDG 131), the fourth Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer built by Huntington Ingalls Industries, in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The ship honors Aviation Machinist's Mate 3rd Class George M. Neal, a Navy Cross recipient for valor during a 1951 search-and-rescue mission over North Korea. Neal was shot down, evaded capture for nine days, and remained a POW until 1952. The ceremony featured remarks by acting Navy Under Secretary William Toti and Neal's daughter Kelley Neal Gray. HII CEO Chris Kastner highlighted tensions with the Pentagon over foreign shipbuilding. The Flight III destroyer features the advanced AN/SPY-6(V)1 radar, described as the most powerful ever on a U.S. Navy surface warship.
Navy Christens Flight III Arleigh Burke-Class Destroyer After Korean War Hero George M. Neal
The U.S. Navy christened the future USS George M. Neal (DDG 131), the fourth Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer built by Huntington Ingalls Industries, in Pascagoula, Mississippi on July 13, 2026. The ship is named after Aviation Machinist's Mate 3rd Class George M. Neal, a Korean War veteran awarded the Navy Cross for valor during a 1951 search-and-rescue mission over North Korea. Neal was shot down, evaded capture for nine days, and remained a prisoner of war until 1952. The ceremony featured remarks from acting Navy official William Toti and Neal's daughter, Kelley Neal Gray, who broke a bottle on the ship. The Flight III destroyer features the advanced AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar, described as the most powerful radar ever on a U.S. Navy surface warship. HII CEO Chris Kastner emphasized the importance of American shipbuilding amid tensions with the Pentagon over outsourcing.