A Change of Name for a Navy Ship

The USNS Harvey Milk, a Navy ship, is getting a new name. It will now be called the USNS Oscar V. Peterson. This decision came from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. He said they want to remove politics from ship names. Hegseth shared this news in a video on X. He explained that the new name honors a brave Navy man. Oscar V. Peterson was a chief watertender. He received the Medal of Honor after his heroic actions during World War II. He saved lives during an attack on the USS Neosho in 1942. The ship was originally named after Harvey Milk, a famous gay rights activist. Hegseth said the previous administration chose names based on politics. He believes ships should honor military heroes instead. This change is part of a broader effort to focus on military values. Hegseth said they want to celebrate those who served and sacrificed. The Navy is still working on the details of this change. People have different opinions about this decision. Some agree with honoring military heroes. Others think the original name was important. It's a debate about what names should represent. The ship is a John Lewis-class replenishment oiler. It's used to supply other ships at sea. It was launched in December 2024. The renaming process is ongoing.