Sunday, January 22, 2006
Honoring One of the Coolest Original Astronauts
The U.S. Navy has decided to name a ship after Alan Shepard, Jr. , one of the original 7 astronauts. He was the first American to travel into space (very low non-orbit), and later commanded the Apollo 14 mission to the moon (where he became the first -- and only -- man to golf on on the moon). (h/t Wizbang).
Great news! What sort of ship -- a fast attack submarine, one of the new class of guided missile destroyers, a new aircraft carrier? No. Decidedly no. The USS Shepard is a T/AKE class of auxiliary ship which has a primary mission of delivering supplies to Navy ships, transferring cargo and providing logistical support. Oh, man.
To the left is the T-AK 2046 Austral Rainbow, which may look a lot like the USS Shepard, which is still under construction in San Diego. Not exactly the Platonic ideal of a warship.
I know that we need munitions carriers, but name them after bureaucrats and put our heroes' names on the cool ships.
A naval aviator who retired a Rear Admiral, Shepard, who was awarded a Medal of Honor (space), a Navy Distinguished Flying Cross and two NASA Distinguished Service Medals, and who died in 1998, deserved better than this honor.
Great news! What sort of ship -- a fast attack submarine, one of the new class of guided missile destroyers, a new aircraft carrier? No. Decidedly no. The USS Shepard is a T/AKE class of auxiliary ship which has a primary mission of delivering supplies to Navy ships, transferring cargo and providing logistical support. Oh, man.
To the left is the T-AK 2046 Austral Rainbow, which may look a lot like the USS Shepard, which is still under construction in San Diego. Not exactly the Platonic ideal of a warship.I know that we need munitions carriers, but name them after bureaucrats and put our heroes' names on the cool ships.
A naval aviator who retired a Rear Admiral, Shepard, who was awarded a Medal of Honor (space), a Navy Distinguished Flying Cross and two NASA Distinguished Service Medals, and who died in 1998, deserved better than this honor.
# posted by Roger Fraley @ 9:41 AM 
