Key Facts
• June 27, 2025: Defense Secretary Hegseth announced ship renaming.
• Original name: Harvey Milk, honoring a gay activist and Navy veteran.
• New name: Oscar Peterson, a soldier killed in WWII, later awarded Medal of Honor.
• Hegseth emphasized removing political elements from ship names.
• Stated goal: Boost crew pride in their vessel.
• Trump administration policies reduced diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) focus.
• Transgender soldiers were encouraged to leave voluntarily under these policies.
Summary
On June 27, 2025, U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth announced the renaming of the Navy supply ship previously named after Harvey Milk, a prominent gay activist and Navy veteran. The ship will now honor Oscar Peterson, a WWII soldier who died in a Japanese bombing and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Hegseth stated the decision aimed to remove political elements from ship names and foster crew pride. This move aligns with the Trump administration’s broader efforts to reduce diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, including encouraging transgender soldiers to leave the military voluntarily.
