Heroes forged in Afghanistan and Iraq are having their names bestowed
on a new generation of warships, joining those whose exploits in other
wars earned them the distinction of having Navy vessels christened in
their honor.
More than a decade after U.S. boots hit the ground in the Middle East,
two new destroyers bearing the names of Americans who died there are
already in service.
A third, the future destroyer Rafael Peralta, named for a Marine killed
nearly 11 years ago in Iraq, will be christened Saturday at Bath Iron
Works in Maine. Peralta was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for
heroism after he covered an insurgent’s grenade with his body to protect
his fellow Marines.
“His legacy will carry on,” said Ricardo Peralta, who was inspired by
his older brother to join the Marines and served in Afghanistan.
The Peralta is one of four destroyers named for a serviceman who died
in Iraq or Afghanistan. The Jason Dunham, named for a Marine killed in
2004 in Iraq, and the Michael Murphy, named for a Navy SEAL killed in
2005 in Afghanistan, are already in service The Michael Monsoor, named
for a Navy SEAL killed in 2006 in Iraq, is also being built at Bath Iron
Works.
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