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Sailors man the rails and bring the ship to life as part of the commissioning. Photo by
Jackie Nunnery
From left are fellow Medal of Honor recipients retired
Col. Walter Marm Jr., U.S. Army, and retired Maj. Gen.
James Livingston, U.S. Marine Corps. Also in attendance
were Medal of Honor recipients, retired Col. Paris Davis,
U.S. Army, retired Lt. Col. William Swenson, U.S. Army,
and retired Lt. Michael Thornton, U.S. Navy. Former
Prisoner of War retired Cdr. Everett Alvarez Jr., U.S.
Navy, also was recognized. Photo by Mass Communication
Specialist Seaman Oliver McCain Vieira, U.S. Navy
Retired U.S. Marine Corps Col.
Harvey C. “Barney” Barnum Jr.
urged the crew of the USS Harvey
C. Barnum Jr. to “Charge on!” He
also gifted them his Lone Sailor
award. “This will go aboard the
Barnum and sail the seas around
this country as an example of
who sailors are, what they are,
what is expected of them and
the traditions that go with this.”
Photo by Jackie Nunnery
As part of setting the first watch, retired Col. Harvey C. Barnum Jr. passed the long
glass to the first officer of the deck, Lt. Calla Hilliard. Other members from left, petty
officer of the watch, Operation Specialist Second Class Jai Veal, messenger of the watch,
Yeoman Seaman Judah Jones and boatswain mate of the watch, Chief Boatswain Mate
Matthew Barham. Photo by Jackie Nunnery
Escorted by Command Chief Kenson Jacques, the
ship’s sponsor, Martha Hill said, “A commissioning is a
moment when this ship, which is steel, is brought to life.
It becomes a living thing. It is a spirit of our nation as it
sails the seas of the world. Wherever you sail, the spirit
of her namesake, his grit, his humor, his devotion to his
Marines and to this country, will sail with you. May this
ship always be a force of peace through strength, May
her crew return home safe from every mission, and may
the values she represents endure for generations.” Photo
by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Oliver McCain Vieira, U.S.
Navy
The USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG124), the newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer,
has a crew of 329. According to the Navy, the ship has a displacement of 9,700 long tons with a length
of 510 feet. The four gas turbine engines and two shafts generate a total of 100,000 shaft horsepower,
giving the ship a speed in excess of 30 knots with a range of 12,000 nautical miles. In addition to missiles,
the ship is armed with torpedoes and a 5-inch MK 45 gun. Two light airborne multi-purpose system
(LAMPS) helicopters carried on board are armed with missiles and torpedoes. Photo by Jackie Nunnery







