U.S. Navy christens future USS William Charette (DDG 130) at Bath Iron Works

Published Aug 3, 08:04 AM UTC

On August 1, 2026, the U.S. Navy christened the future USS William Charette (DDG 130), a Flight III Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. The ship honors Master Chief Hospital Corpsman William Charette, a Medal of Honor recipient who shielded a wounded Marine from a grenade blast during the Korean War and continued treating casualties under fire. The ceremony featured a traditional bottle-breaking by the ship's sponsor, Kathryn Charette Donovan, the daughter of the namesake. Attendees included Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, Maine Governor Janet Mills, Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, and fellow Medal of Honor recipient Col. Harvey C. Barnum Jr. The ship's motto is 'Valor in Service.' DDG 130 is the fifth Flight III destroyer, equipped with the advanced AN/SPY-6 air and missile defense radar.