Ingalls Shipbuilding christened the U.S. Navy’s newest amphibious assault ship, the future USS Bougainville (LHA 8), during dockside ceremonies at the Pascagoula, Miss., shipyard Saturday morning.
“(These) ships, like the future USS Bougainville, make our Navy and Marine Corps team a potent fight; providing forward-posture across the globe, ready to respond to crisis and disaster,” said Under Secretary of the Navy Erik Raven, the event’s keynote speaker.
Raven also paid tribute to Ingalls’ shipbuilders.
“I see why the Department of the Navy has enjoyed such a long and successful relationship with this yard,” he said. “You are special, and together you represent the finest qualities of our great nation. Please remember this and remember that what you do matters. You play a critical role in defending our way of life.”
U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. James Adams III also spoke during the ceremony. Adams was nominated in July for promotion to lieutenant general and to serve as commandant for the Marine Corps Programs & Resources, but his promotion is one of hundreds that has been held up by U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who announced Tuesday he was ending his blockade of those promotions.
“Bougainville’s christening symbolizes their enduring legacy – a legacy etched into the very soul of this vessel,” Adams said. “As was the case with Bougainville, the nation needs modern amphibious…
