Hegseth renames Navy tanker to honor war hero

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth just dropped a bombshell by renaming a Navy oil tanker from a nod to a political activist to a tribute to a true American hero.

In a bold move, Hegseth announced the rechristening of a fleet replenishment oiler, previously named after Harvey Milk, to now bear the name of Medal of Honor recipient Oscar V. Peterson, signaling a shift away from progressive agendas in the Department of Defense, which Nancy Pelosi once celebrated, as Fox News reports.

Let’s rewind a bit — back in 2016, under the Obama administration, the Navy named this tanker after Harvey Milk, California’s first openly gay politician, who tragically met his end when shot inside San Francisco City Hall by a former supervisor, Dan White.

From political symbol to military valor

Milk, who served four years in the Navy during the Korean War, was forced to leave due to his sexuality, a sad reflection of the era’s policies.

Fast forward to today, and Hegseth’s decision to pivot away from what many see as a politically charged name is stirring the pot.

“We are taking the politics out of ship naming,” Hegseth declared on X, a statement that cuts right to the heart of why many conservatives cheer this change.

Honoring Oscar Peterson’s ultimate sacrifice

Now, let’s talk about the man who’s getting this well-deserved honor — Oscar V. Peterson, a Navy veteran of 20 years who ran the steam engine on the U.S.S. Neosho during World War II.

On May 7, 1942, during the Battle of the Coral Sea in the Philippines, the Neosho took heavy Japanese fire, leaving Peterson and his repair party severely injured.

Despite suffering third-degree burns, Peterson heroically closed four bulkhead steam valves, an act of self-sacrifice that kept the ship afloat long enough for 123 survivors to be rescued by the U.S.S. Henley four days later on May 11.

A Hero’s legacy over political posturing

Tragically, Peterson succumbed to his wounds on May 13, just two days after the rescue, earning him a posthumous Medal of Honor for his unparalleled bravery.

Contrast that with the original naming choice, and it’s hard not to see Hegseth’s point when he says, “People want to be proud of the ship they’re sailing in.”

Let’s be real — naming a ship after a war hero who gave everything for his crew feels a lot more fitting than tethering it to a cultural debate, no matter how significant Milk’s contributions were to civil rights.

Critics cry foul

Of course, not everyone’s on board with this switch, as Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) called it a “shameful, vindictive erasure” of those who broke barriers.

“As the rest of us are celebrating the joy of Pride Month, it is my hope that the Navy will reconsider this egregious decision,” Pelosi added in a statement, doubling down on her dismay.

With all due respect to Pelosi, perhaps it’s time to recognize that not every military honor needs to double as a billboard for social causes — sometimes, valor in battle deserves the spotlight, plain and simple.