USNS Harvey Milk Renamed for WWII Hero

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the renaming of the USNS Harvey Milk, a Navy ship named after pioneering gay rights activist and former San Francisco supervisor Harvey Milk, to the USNS Oscar V. Peterson in honor of the World War II Medal of Honor recipient. Hegseth stated the change aims to 'take the politics out of ship naming,' arguing ships should honor military heroes rather than political activists. Oscar V. Peterson received the Medal of Honor for his heroism during the Battle of the Coral Sea. The renaming, announced during Pride Month, has sparked controversy, with Democratic leaders accusing Hegseth of erasing LGBTQ+ history and legacy. Critics argue the move is politically motivated amid wider efforts to roll back diversity and inclusion in the military. The Navy is updating the ship's markings and materials to reflect the new name, with no plans to rename other ships in the class.