May 2022 — MHCE Newsletter

WWW.MHCE.US Monthly Newsletter | 25
Navy Christens Destroyer Named for
First Black Marine General Officer
CHARLESTON, South Carolina —
With Secretary of the Navy Carlos
Del Toro calling it “the very best
ship that our nation has to offer,” the
U.S. Navy christened Aegis-class
destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr.
(DDG 121) during ceremonies in
Charleston, S.C., Saturday.
The Petersen, built by Ingalls
Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, is named
in honor of U.S. Marine Corps Lt.
Gen. Frank E. Petersen Jr., the first
black Marine Corps aviator and the
first black Marine to rise to the rank
of three-star general.
Serving two combat tours — Korea
in 1953 and Vietnam in 1968 —
Petersen flew more than 350 combat
missions and had over 4,000 hours in
multiple fighter and attack aircraft.
In 1979, Petersen was promoted
to brigadier general, becoming the
first Black general officer in the
Marine Corps. He retired in 1988,
with awards and honors including
the Defense Superior Service Medal,
Legion of Merit with Combat “V”,
Distinguished Flying Cross; Purple
Heart; Meritorious Service Medal,
Air Medal, Navy Commendation
Medal with Combat “V”, and the Air
Force Commendation Medal.
Petersen died in August 2015 at the
age of 83. He is buried in Arlington
National Cemetery.
Saturday’s keynote speaker was
Carlos Campbell, former Navy
aviator and assistant Secretary
of Commercie for Economic
Development, who served alongside
Petersen and spoke of Petersen’s
courage and dedication.
American warship,” said Chief of
Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday.
“Sailors aboard this mighty warship
will deploy wherever, whenever
needed, with General Petersen’s
fighting spirit and tenacity, for
generations to come.”
Marine Corps Commandant Gen.
David Berger, was also among the
dignitaries on hand.
“General Petersen was a man of many
firsts,” Berger said. “There’s a saying
that ships take on the characteristics
of their namesakes, and if that’s true,
then God help any adversary to ever
confronts the Frank E. Petersen Jr.”
Members of Petersen’s family were
on hand for the christening, with his
daughter, Gayle Petersen, speaking
for the family and paying tribute to
one special person in her father’s life.
“We would not be having this
ceremony today if not for a
gentleman named Robert Adams,”
Gayle Petersen said. “When my dad
was shot down in Vietnam, he was
rescued by Robert Adams.”
She also paid tribute to the Ingalls
shipbuilders who brought DDG 121
to life.
“I would like to thank all who had a
hand in building this ship, from stem
to stern.”
The Petersen’s commanding officer,
Cmdr. Daniel Hancock, reported the
ship ready, and — assisted by Gen.
Petersen’s daughters Gayle Petersen,
Dana Petersen Moore, Lindsay
Pulliam and Monique Petersen —
ship sponsor D’Arcy Ann Neller gave
the traditional order to “man our ship
and bring her to life.”
Neller is the wife of former Marine
Corps Commandant Gen. Robert
Neller. Co-sponsor Alicia J. Petersen,
Gen. Petersen’s widow, died last
September.
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“He received a (fragment) wound, he
was treated in the field, and returned
to combat,” Campbell recalled of
Petersen.
“It is fitting that a name synonymous
with service and sacrifice be
emblazoned on the steel of this
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