HII Christens Guided Missile Destroyer Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129)
PASCAGOULA, Miss., June 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII (NYSE: HII) christened today the future USS Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129), the third Flight III Arleigh Burke -class destroyer to be built at the company's Ingalls Shipbuilding division.
The ship's name honors former U.S. Sen. Jeremiah Denton Jr., a Vietnam War veteran who was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism as a prisoner of war. Denton spent 34 years as a naval aviator, including eight years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. He is known for his act of genius during a televised broadcast in captivity, when Denton spelled out the word 'torture' through Morse code using his eyes to blink the code. Following his Navy career, Denton was elected to the U.S. Senate representing his home state of Alabama in 1980.
'Today, we honor the skilled work of our Ingalls shipbuilders and the enduring spirit of Adm. Jeremiah Denton, a man who, under unimaginable pressure, exemplified strength, sacrifice, leadership and resilience,' Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Blanchette said. 'When we christen a ship, we celebrate a joint mission with our Navy industry partners, one that connects the work we do here in Pascagoula to the safety and security of our nation and the free world.'
Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research Development and Acquisition Brett Seidle was the keynote speaker. He highlighted the importance of naval ships, the legacy of the ship's namesake, and recognized the shipbuilding workforce as a vital national asset.
Photos accompanying this release are available at: http://hii.com/news/hii-christens-guided-missile-destroyer-jeremiah-denton-ddg-129/.
'Today we christen not just a ship, but we make a statement — a powerful steel forged testament to America resolve,' Seidle said. 'The future USS Jeremiah Denton will sail as a reminder to the world, much like her namesake, the United States does not back down. The United States does not break and we do not forget our heroes. That is the legacy that this warship carriers forward.'
The ship's co-sponsors and daughters of the namesake, Madeleine Denton Doak and Mary Denton Lewis, performed the traditional bottle-breaking ceremony against the bow to formally christen the ship. Madeline represented the family by providing remarks and paying tribute to her late father and mother who were Alabama natives.
'This magnificent ship was built by their neighbors (Mississippi), men and women who understand their skills, hard work and precise attention to detail that are vital in keeping our world safe.'
Flight III Arleigh Burke -class destroyers represent the next generation of surface combatants and incorporate a number of design modifications that collectively provide significantly enhanced capability. Upgrades include the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) and the Aegis Baseline 10 Combat System required to keep pace with the threats well into the 21st century.
Ingalls has delivered 35 Arleigh Burke -class destroyers to the U.S. Navy including the first Flight III, USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), in June of 2023. In addition, Ingalls Shipbuilding has five Flight IIIs currently under construction including Ted Stevens (DDG 128), Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129), George M. Neal (DDG 131), Sam Nunn (DDG 133) and Thad Cochran (DDG 135).
Video of the ceremony, along with additional information on DDG 129, and the Arleigh Burke -class program, can be found at Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129) Christening - HII.
About HII
HII is a global, all-domain defense provider. HII's mission is to deliver the world's most powerful ships and all-domain solutions in service of the nation, creating the advantage for our customers to protect peace and freedom around the world.
As the nation's largest military shipbuilder, and with a more than 135-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities extending from ships to unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII's workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:
HII Contact:
Kimberly K. Aguillard
228-355-5663
[email protected]
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7a81bdc3-ed45-4963-971e-f44d4588da00
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Fort Worth firefighters recover personal belongings from historic 6-alarm apartment fire
The Fort Worth Fire Department is going above and beyond, showing their service does not stop just because a fire is out. Monday, the department shared photos of crews returning to the Cooper Apartments, the complex that was devastated by a six-alarm fire last week. Firefighters went in to recover what personal belongings they could from home after home, and brought them out to the emotional residents. Glen E Ellman, FWFD Items the firefighters recovered included essentials like clothes and shoes, but also priceless family photos and heirlooms. Glen E Ellman, FWFD Firefighters battled the apartment fire for nearly nine hours. The department said floors and roofs collapsed on top of each other. More than 800 tenants were displaced, and many still have not been able to go back inside the partially collapsed building. Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday asked the U.S. Small Business Administration to assess the damage done by the fire and see if residents could qualify for any federal disaster assistance.
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
What happens to trash pickup in Philadelphia if city workers go on strike? What to know as DC 33 strike looms
Employees with AFSCME District Council 33, Philadelphia's largest blue-collar workers union, could go on strike Tuesday morning at 12:01 a.m. if representatives do not reach a deal with the city by then. That includes many Department of Sanitation workers who pick up trash from Philadelphians' homes. Starting Tuesday morning, if workers are on strike, Mayor Cherelle Parker says city residents should not put their trash and recycling out on the curb. Residents can take their trash to one of 63 temporary locations that will open in the event of a strike. The mayor said the list would be available on the city's website, and residents should bring their garbage on their regular collection days. She said the city will open more locations if needed. "Obviously, this is the topic that is on everyone's minds today. How will the city dispose of my trash if there's a work stoppage? If there is a work stoppage, the Department of Sanitation will be operating on what we refer to as a modified capacity," Parker said during a press conference Monday. "There will be no residential trash collection or recycling effective Tuesday, July 1. We encourage residents, and we ask you to please refrain from placing any trash or recycling out for curbside collection until further notice." Street sweeping, bulk collection and clean block Saturdays will stop if a strike happens, officials said. Recycling will only be collected at sanitation convenience centers. A list of sanitation convenience centers is on the city's website. DC 33 includes about 9,000 blue-collar city workers from the streets, water and sanitation departments, as well as police dispatch and airport operations. The union is seeking an 8% pay increase every year for four years and health care benefits for all employees. Parker claimed over the weekend that the city offered a more than 12% wage increase over her four-year term to the table — and kept health care coverage intact. She said the city will continue to come to the table. Photos from the last time this union went on strike in 1986 show trash piled up in the street.
CBS News
2 hours ago
- CBS News
Plum house deemed uninhabitable after grill fire
A family in Plum has been displaced from their home after their grill sparked a fire this weekend. With the Fourth of July holiday, countless families will host cookouts in the coming days. If you're not careful, you could be in the same situation. Larry Wood was sitting on his deck when he heard a loud noise Sunday evening. "It was just like a poof," Wood said. He then heard a woman screaming and turned around to see a fireball on his neighbor's porch. "I ran over to see what I could do to help," Wood said. It was coming from the grill leaning against the home on Greendale Drive off Old Leechburg Road. He quickly decided to run back to his place and grab his fire blankets to cover it. "That kept the fire from going up, but it still was burning the grease and everything underneath," Wood said. The gas line was also melted. "I asked him if he could turn the gas off, and he said, 'I can't reach in, and I can't touch it because it's too hot,'" Wood said. Before they knew it, the propane tank caught fire, and flames spread to the roof. Unity Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Glenn Kopec Jr. said the man who lives there with his wife was treated at the hospital for minor burns. A firefighter also received care for heat exhaustion. "It sounds like there may have been a leak from the propane tank while they were using the grill, and the propane ignited from the tank, thus causing a little bit of an explosion," Kopec said. The home was not condemned, but ruled uninhabitable. The Allegheny County fire marshal's office told KDKA the fire was determined to be an accident. "You should have it anywhere from 5 to 10 feet away from the building," Kopec said. Kopec said that's one step the homeowners could have taken to protect their home, but it's unclear whether they conducted any maintenance. You'll want to check if any animals got inside if you leave your grill out year-round, make sure your ignition is working properly, and if not, shut off the fuel source. Also, clean your grill if there is any grease left behind, and if there's a fire inside with food, leave it closed until first responders arrive. Take these steps, because as Wood said, the homeowner told him, 50 years of grilling with no problems can go up in flames in seconds. "It takes just an instant," Wood said. It's also important not to leave the grill unattended and keep an eye on it if you're using it, and if you're manning the grill, be responsible with alcohol.
