Navy to name ship for Cesar Chavez
Well, at least he served in the Navy for two years, but they admit that it’s being done for purely political reasons.
“We suggested the name Cesar Chavez for the ship because we’re in Barrio Logan and want to be good neighbors, and we want to show respect for our workers,” said James Gill, a NASSCO spokesman.
About 60 percent of NASSCO’s 3,600 employees are Hispanic.
I should be clear, I’m in no way opposed to Cesar Chavez, nor do I disparage his work, but what’s the standard for naming ships anymore? He spent two years in the Navy from the age of 17 with an undistinguished career. He described those as the “two worst years of my life”. I hope they engrave those sage words on the bow.
ADDED: Duncan Hunter seems to agree with me says Stars & Stripes;
“If this decision were about recognizing the Hispanic community’s contribution to our nation, many other names come to mind, including Marine CorpsSgt. Rafael Peralta, who was nominated for the Medal of Honor for action in Iraq,” Hunter said.
A Navy Cross awardee sounds a little more sensible than a guy who hated his time in the Navy.
Thanks to Jeff Schogol for the link.
Category: Military issues
Chavez was an interesting character. He was very an anti-immigrant to the point where he supported a lot of policies that a lot of the people who put him on a pedestal these days vehemently oppose. His UFW crew would routinely go down to the border and beat the crap out of people whom they suspected of crossing illegally.
Great, now they’ll name an aircraft carrier after me, right? I mean, if that’s all it takes to get a ship named after ya anymore…
No Sparky, cuz yer still a danged ole Yankee.
I can’t think of a more deserving group of individuals to be honored. YES to naming the ship The USS Cesar Chavez!
Patricia? Would it make me a bad person if I suggested the ship’s emblem be a bunch of grapes?
How ironic that the ship’s crew doesn’t have to right to collectively bargain. Don’t get me wrong, they shouldn’t…but I still appreciate the irony here.
Better Cesar than Hugo.
Yeh Dan I was going to bring up that exact point!
It’s mere tokenism thats all. If you include the Susan B. Anthony(a destroyer I think) and Jimmy Carter(a submarine) it still wouldn’t be the worst named vessel in the fleet.
1) The Navy should not name ships after living people(doesn’t apply here). After someone’s death if they lived a life worth emulating, then by all means, but not before.
2) Names should be inspirational. Presidents, Battles, States, and an occasional adjective. Yeah I know that even in WWII we had an odd one or two like the Wasp. The first six frigates commissioned all had names having to do with the govenment, except the Chesapeake(which was plagued with issues and thought to be cursed!).
It’s election politics pure and simple. There are plenty of Hispanic veterans to honor. Saumel Gompers for a ship and it should have ended there.
At least it’s a non-combatant.
Its the Murtha all over again…
I think it would be great to name a garbage barge after him.