The U.S. Navy on Saturday christened the future USS George M. Neal (DDG 131), the fourth Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer to be built by Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc.
William Toti, performing the duties of the under secretary of the Navy, presided over the ceremony in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Toti assumed the role after Hung Cao became acting Navy secretary following John Phelan’s removal in late April.
“The future USS George M. Neal honors a legacy of extraordinary courage and sacrifice,” said Toti. “As we christen this ship, we mark another step toward building the Navy our nation needs. Flight III destroyers are critical to our nation’s security, and we are proud to accept each one built by the skilled workforce at Ingalls.”
The Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer is named in honor of Korean War veteran Aviation Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class George M. Neal, who was awarded the second-highest military decoration, the Navy Cross, for his valor during a search-and-rescue mission over North Korea.
In 1951, Neal volunteered for a helicopter mission deep in enemy territory to rescue a downed aviator, according to the Navy. Downed by enemy fire, Neal helped fellow crew members evade apprehension for nine days before they were captured. Neal remained a prisoner of war until his release in 1952.
“On behalf of my family, I express my deepest gratitude to the United States Navy, to the incredible honor, for this magnificent destroyer after my father, George Milton Neal,” Kelley Neal Gray, Neal’s daughter, said during the ceremony. “We are forever grateful that his life of service, sacrifice and courage will be remembered through a ship that will one day defend our nation and carry his legacy throughout the world.”
Remarks by HII President and CEO Chris Kastner at the ceremony, however, underscored growing tension between dockyards and the Pentagon as the Navy looks abroad to build out its backlogged fleet.
“As a company, HII does a lot of amazing things, but only people — human beings — build ships,” Kastner said. “They build ships with their hands, their minds and toughness. The people of Ingalls Shipbuilding are among the finest craftsmen and craftswomen on the face of the Earth.”
“When she is delivered, DDG 131 will be the most powerful surface combatant in the world. She will be ready. She’ll be ready because the United States of America makes a conscious choice, generation after generation for now 250 years, to invest in U.S. Navy ships, built by Americans, in America.”
The first Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, the USS Jack H. Lucas, named after the youngest Medal of Honor recipient during World War II, was commissioned in 2023.
Though the Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer resembles other destroyers, its upgraded internal capacities represent the next generation of surface combatants with its AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) — the most powerful radar ever fielded on a U.S. Navy surface warship, according to the Navy. In addition, redesigned power and cooling systems help to accommodate the destroyer’s increased power demands.
“It’s like going from a flip phone to an iPhone,” said Chief Sonar Technician (Surface) Nicholas Cederblom in a release. “It does the calling, it does the texting, but it does so much more. And moving from that system into the advanced capabilities build, what we have right now, definitely is a lot more. No one else has done this.”
Claire Barrett is an editor and military history correspondent for Military Times. She is also a World War II researcher with an unparalleled affinity for Sir Winston Churchill and Michigan football.
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