CAMP PENDLETON, Calif -- Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus will announce the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, DDG 122, will be named after John Basilone in honor of the United States Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant who was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II at a ceremony here on Tuesday Aug. 16 at 10:00 a.m.

Basilone was the only enlisted Marine to receive both the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross in World War II. This is the second ship to be named for Basilone. The first USS Basilone (DD/DDE 824) was a Gearing-class destroyer, decommissioned in 1977. DDG 122 is expected to enter the Navy fleet in 2022. The ship will be 509 feet long, have a beam length of 59 feet and be capable of operating at speeds in excess of 30 knots.

Arleigh Burke-class destroyers conduct a variety of operations from peacetime presence and crisis response to sea control and power projection. DDG 122 will be capable of fighting air, surface and subsurface battles simultaneously and will contain a combination of offensive and defensive weapon systems designed to support maritime warfare including integrated air and missile defense and vertical launch capabilities.

Additional information about the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers is available at http://www.navy.mil/local/DDG/.

For more information on Basilone and his accomplishments view the below video:

*MEDIA COORDINATING INSTRUCTIONS*
Media interested in covering this event must RSVP to Camp Pendleton Public Affairs via email Pendletonmedia@usmc.mil no later than 1:00 p.m. Monday. onfirmed media members will meet at Camp Pendleton's SAN LUIS REY GATE no later than 9:15 a.m. on Tuesday to be escorted to the event.

 

-30-