In a bold move that signals a decisive shift in military priorities, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Friday that the U.S. Navy has officially renamed a fleet replenishment oiler previously named after controversial activist Harvey Milk.

The ship will now bear the name of Oscar V. Peterson, a true war hero who earned the Congressional Medal of Honor for valor during World War II.

“We are taking the politics out of ship naming,” Hegseth declared in a video posted to X, cutting through years of politically motivated decisions made under the guise of "inclusivity."

With this announcement, Hegseth underscored a growing effort under the current administration to restore honor, heritage, and genuine heroism to America's armed forces.

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I am pleased to announce that the United States Navy is renaming the USNS Harvey Milk to the USNS Oscar V. Peterson.

We are taking the politics out of ship naming. pic.twitter.com/2ypwAQGdAl

— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) June 27, 2025

The USNS Harvey Milk, named in 2016 by then-Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, was christened in 2021 as part of an Obama-era initiative to name Navy oilers after civil and human rights figures.

Milk, who served briefly in the Navy during the Korean War before becoming one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States, was tragically assassinated in 1978.

While he is widely recognized in LGBTQ circles for his political activism, many in the military community viewed the ship's naming as more symbolic of a social agenda than a reflection of military valor.

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Hegseth made it clear that this type of symbolic naming is coming to an end. The new namesake, Oscar V. Peterson, represents the kind of warrior ethos that once defined the U.S. military.

Peterson was serving as a chief watertender aboard the USS Neosho on May 7, 1942, when the ship came under a vicious Japanese aerial assault during the Battle of the Coral Sea.

Despite being critically injured and suffering severe burns, Peterson led a repair party and managed to close the vessel’s bulkhead stop valves, actions that ultimately saved the ship and its crew. He later succumbed to his injuries—but not before etching his name into the annals of military greatness.

This renaming isn’t just cosmetic. It’s symbolic of a broader realignment under President Trump’s leadership and Pete Hegseth’s direction—a return to honoring those who demonstrated unparalleled courage, sacrifice, and love of country.

An internal Pentagon memo confirmed the renaming aligns with the administration’s mission to “re-establish the warrior culture,” a clear rejection of the social activism that had crept into military decision-making in recent years.

“People want to be proud of the ship they’re sailing in,” Hegseth said, tapping into a growing sentiment among active-duty service members and veterans alike.

Morale is not boosted by politically charged symbolism, but by tangible examples of valor and sacrifice.

For those who put their lives on the line, serving aboard a ship named after a Medal of Honor recipient carries a far deeper sense of purpose and pride than one named after a divisive political figure.

Critics of the original naming decision argued that while Milk’s service was honorable, his primary legacy lies in civilian politics—not in acts of battlefield heroism.

The shift to honoring someone like Peterson draws a clear line: the military will once again focus on celebrating those whose actions exemplify combat bravery and dedication to the mission, not social or political notoriety.

This move also sets the tone for future decisions regarding how the military honors its heroes.

It reinforces that names matter—not just for tradition, but for the message they send to every sailor, soldier, airman, and Marine.

With this renaming, Hegseth is showing that the Department of War will not be a vehicle for activism, but rather a beacon for American strength, resolve, and sacrifice.

In an age where cultural battles have reached into every corner of American life, from classrooms to boardrooms, the military must remain above the fray.

Hegseth’s announcement is more than a name change—it’s a battle cry to restore what the military was always meant to be: a fighting force built on courage, not causes.

By choosing Oscar V. Peterson, a man who gave his life so that others might live, the Navy is sending a powerful message: Honor is back. Politics is out. And America’s warriors are once again front and center.

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