New York to target terrorists worldwide
Newly-christened USS New York to target terrorists worldwide as battalion-level Marine troop transport LPD 21
The USS New York, LPD 21, received its christening Saturday, March 1, during an Avondale Shipyards, New Orleans, Louisiana ceremony.
The battalion-level Marine transport, fifth in the San Antonio class amphibious transport dock, reflects an aggressive, boots-on-the-ground strategy following the acknowledgement of a global war against terrorist entities that came after the attacks of September 11, 2001.
Especially moving for those shepherding the New York from molten metal to sea-worthiness is the use of 7.5 tons of scrap steel from ground zero of the fallen World Trade Center.
Comments from the steel workers themselves at the Amite, Louisiana, foundry to New York Governor George Pataki, indicate the New York stands for keeping the fight on against the purveyors of jihad wherever they may hide.
Published reports indicated the steel scrap arrived to the Amite foundry September 9, 2003, to a hallowed reception by burly-tough steel workers.
“Those big, rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence,” Navy Captain Kevin Wensing, present that day, said.
Foundry operations manager, Junior Chavers, agreed. “It was a spiritual moment for everybody there,” he said, adding of his own feelings when reaching out and touching the steel scraps, “The hair on my neck stood up.”
Chavers and Wensing said the ship’s motto: “Never Forget,” says it all for them and many others they have heard from about the ship’s unique place near the heart of the nation’s collective sense of agony and loss from that day.
“It had a big meaning to it for all of us,” Chavers said. “They knocked us down, but we’re going to be back.”
Dotty England, the ship’s official sponsor, conducted the tradition of smashing a champagne bottle on the ship’s bow, christening it “New York,” early Saturday morning.
Thousands, including friends and family of 9-11 victims, gathered near the U.S. Navy vessel as it waited, trimmed in red, white and blue banners.
"May God bless this ship and all who sail on her," England said before smashing the champagne bottle against it with a loud thump as the spurting liquid flew.
“On September 11, 2001, our nation’s enemies brought their fight to New York, the USS New York will now bring the fight to our nation’s enemies well into the future,” Gov. Pataki said.
A commissioning ceremony for the New York, to make it officially a United States Ship of the U.S. Navy, is slated to take place in the summer of fall next year.
Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England commented on the ship’s name, saying it stands as a testament and a source of strength and inspiration for the ships crews as they serve.
Other dignitaries attended, including Louisiana Congressman William J. Jefferson, members of New York police and fire departments and 9/11 victim family and friends.
The 7.5 tons from the WTC ruins were melted down and utilized in the bow stem which bears a shield with two gray bars to symbolize the twin towers and a banner over it declaring "Never Forget," a 9-11slogan among New Yorkers.
The ship had been planned, but it had no name until New York Gov. George Pataki asked the Navy to commemorate the loss New Yorkers felt by reviving the New York shipping name, used five times in U.S. Navy history.
The request required an exception to Navy policy of assigning state names only to nuclear submarines. That request received the U.S. Navy okay in August, 2002.
The billion-dollar, 25,000-ton vessel is 684 feet long, 105 feet wide, and it will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines – about a battalion-strength unit.
The warship is designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists - to deliver the battalion elements ashore by helicopters and assault craft.
"The spirit of the World Trade Center towers and the fierce pride we feel as Americans is being poured into a new beginning, a new life, for the USS New York," acting secretary of the Navy Hansford T. Johnson, said of the smelting of WTC ruin metals to make the USS New York.
"This ship represents a new use of the steel that once stood as a mighty symbol of our nation's strength and economic vitality,” he added. “The strength of those we lost and will always remember has been forged in the steel of this ship that will be carried in its bow."
"For all those who…serve aboard the USS New York and for all who suffered from the attacks of 9-11 ... let us never forget," said Mrs. England.
A bow-stem is the foremost section of the hull on the water line that slices through the water. In 2002, the people of New York provided the WTC steel for use in construction of the ship.
The New York is first in its class fully designed from CAD-screen up to support the three primary Marine mobility capabilities - Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV), Landing Craft, Landing Craft Air Cushioned vehicle and the MV-22 Osprey, according to Wikepedia.
Shortly after September 11, 2001, Governor of New York George E. Pataki wrote a letter to Navy Secretary Gordon England requesting that the Navy bestow the name USS New York on a surface warship involved in the War on Terror in honor of September 11's victims.
In his letter, the Governor said he understood state names are currently reserved for submarines, but asked for special consideration so the name could be given to a surface ship. The request was approved August 28, 2002.
On September 9, 2004, the Secretary of the Navy announced that two of the New York’s sister ships will be named Arlington and Somerset, in commemoration of the places two of the other planes used in the 9-11 attacks came down: Somerset, Pennsylvania and Arlington, Virginia.
The prospective commanding officer for the USS New York is Commander F. Curtis Jones, a native of New York City.
