NOTE: X-post at the end of the article.
In a bold and controversial move, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has declared that a U.S. Navy fleet oiler—previously named after gay rights icon Harvey Milk—will now bear the name of World War II Medal of Honor recipient Oscar V. Peterson. The decision signals a significant shift in the Pentagon’s stance on how military ships are named, emphasizing military valor over political symbolism.
The announcement came via a video posted on Hegseth’s official X account, where he plainly stated: “We are taking the politics out of ship naming.” His remarks indicate a broader policy change aimed at prioritizing service-based recognition rather than sociopolitical representation.
Oscar V. Peterson, a Chief Watertender in the U.S. Navy, earned the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions aboard the USS Neosho during the Battle of the Coral Sea in 1942. Despite being mortally wounded, Peterson continued his duties to save his fellow sailors and the ship. His courage and selflessness represent the traditional military values that Hegseth says should guide such honors.
The decision to rename the ship was met with outrage from House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic leaders. Pelosi, a staunch advocate of LGBTQ+ rights and a longtime supporter of honoring Harvey Milk—a San Francisco supervisor and one of the first openly gay elected officials in the U.S.—described the renaming as a “shameful erasure” of progress and inclusivity in the armed forces. She accused Hegseth of using the military to push a political agenda under the guise of neutrality.
Critics of the original naming had long questioned the appropriateness of honoring Milk in a military context, arguing that the naming was more about identity politics than military legacy. Hegseth’s move now seems to reflect those concerns, framing the change as a course correction rather than a rollback.
Supporters of the renaming have applauded the decision, viewing it as a reaffirmation of merit-based recognition in the military. “This isn’t about politics,” said one veteran advocacy group. “It’s about remembering those who gave everything for their country, regardless of identity or ideology.”
Still, the debate has reignited broader cultural tensions over how history should be remembered and who deserves national honors. As the nation heads into another election cycle, such symbolic decisions are likely to remain flashpoints in the wider battle over America’s cultural and political identity.
For now, the ship bearing the name of Oscar V. Peterson will sail as a tribute to wartime heroism—whether that choice is seen as unifying or divisive depends entirely on whom you ask.
https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1930289955332304975
