New York City (Nov. 08, 2024)—During the week before their commissioning, the crew of the USS John Basilone made a special visit to New York City and Raritan, New Jersey, the hometown of their namesake. They also visited the Battleship New Jersey (BB-62), the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island, further connecting with the area’s rich history.

For John Basilone’s sailors, this trip is a moment to reflect on their time bringing the ship to life. When asked about what this week means to her, Chief Operations Specialist Nadine Battle, a Brooklyn native, remarked that she had been part of the ship-building process for the last three years and that this trip finally meant that “We get to be part of the fleet now.”

For Electronics Technician Second Class Odo, a native of Los Angeles, being in New York City, wearing “our uniform and representing the Navy” is a chance to be a role model to others, noting that as he walks around, “kids wave at us…amazed”, making him feel like part of a community and a mission “way bigger than myself.”

That role of being part of something bigger extended to the crew’s visit to Raritan, where John Basilone’s legacy is steeped into street corners, murals, statues, and every citizen of the New Jersey town. Actively engaging with the local community, USS John Basilone sailors toured Marotta Industries, participated in a wreath-laying ceremony, and interacted with the people and places that shaped John Basilone into the heroic figure he was.

Later in the week, John Basilone Sailors were provided lunch by the staff of the former USS Intrepid, along with some crew members from the former USS Basilone (DD 824), a Gearing-class destroyer decommissioned on Nov. 1, 1977. As the crews came together, a palpable feeling of the handing off of the torch was noticed, the ship-borne legacy of John Basilone passing from one group of sailors to another.

To showcase their hard work and dedication to the public, the ship hosted multiple tours throughout the week, including the Honorable John F. Lehman, 65th Secretary of the Navy from 1981 to 1987.

DDG 122 honors U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone who received the Medal of Honor for his heroism during the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942. Killed in action during the February 1945 invasion of Iwo Jima, Basilone was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross. Basilone is the only enlisted Marine to be honored with the Navy Cross and the Medal of Honor. DDG 122 will be the second ship named in his honor.

Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are the backbone of the U.S. Navy’s surface fleet. These highly capable, multi-mission ships conduct various operations, from peacetime presence to national security. Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers provide a wide range of warfighting capabilities in multi-threat air, surface, and subsurface environments. Flight IIA DDGs host dual helicopter hangers, allowing for expanded anti-submarine, anti-surface, and anti-air warfare capabilities through integrated operations with helicopter squadrons.

The ceremony will be live-streamed at http://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/35147. The link becomes active approximately ten minutes before the event at 9:50 a.m. EST.

The mission of CNSP is to man, train, and equip the Surface Force to provide fleet commanders with credible naval power to control the sea and project power ashore.

For more news from Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, visit https://www.surfpac.navy.mil/.