The U.S. Navy will christen the future USS William Charette (DDG 130), an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, during a 10 a.m. EDT ceremony Saturday, August 1 at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine.
The principal address will be delivered by acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao.
"Serving as the shield of the Fleet, protecting the Carrier Strike Group from air and missile threats and maintaining open sea lanes for maritime commerce— this premier surface combatant will be a cornerstone of America's new Golden Fleet," said Cao. "But this warship will carry more than just advanced technology, she will also set sail bearing the legacy of Master Chief Petty Officer William Charette, whose heroic actions represent the very best of our naval service. His spirit of self-sacrifice is now permanently woven into the steel of this warship, becoming a part of the ship's culture and soul as she sails forth to defend our homeland."
Additional speakers include the Honorable Janet Mills, Governor of Maine; the Honorable Susan Collins, U.S. Senator, Maine; the Honorable Angus King, U.S. Senator, Maine; Rear Adm. Matthew Case, Acting U. S. Navy Surgeon General and Acting Chief of the U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery; Col. Harvey C. Barnum, Jr., Medal of Honor Recipient; Michael Charette, son of the ship's namesake; and Charles F. Krugh, President of General Dynamics Bath Iron Works.
In a time-honored tradition, ship sponsor, Kathryn Charette Donovan, daughter of the namesake, will christen the ship by breaking bottles of sparkling wine across the bow on behalf of her sisters and co-sponsors, Margaret Ann Henderson and Laura Charette Bennett, who are unable to attend the ceremony. Ms. Donovan will be accompanied by the Maid and Matron of Honor, Michelle Charette and Sara Charette Wright, granddaughters of the namesake.
DDG 130 is named in honor of Korean War veteran and Medal of Honor recipient Master Chief Hospital Corpsman William Richard Charette. While serving with a Marine rifle company during a fierce battle for Outpost Vegas on March 27, 1953, Charette repeatedly exposed himself to heavy enemy fire to aid wounded Marines. When an enemy grenade landed near him and a casualty he was treating, Charette threw himself over the Marine to shield him from the blast. Despite being knocked unconscious, suffering shrapnel wounds, and losing his medical kit, he awoke and continued treating casualties, tearing his own uniform to use as bandages.
Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are the backbone of the U.S. Navy's surface fleet, providing protection to America around the globe. These highly capable, multi-mission ships conduct various operations from peacetime presence to national security and provide a wide range of warfighting capabilities in multi-threat air, surface, and subsurface domains. These elements of sea power enable the Navy to defend American prosperity and prevent future conflict abroad.
The christening of DDG 130 underscores the Navy's commitment to building America's Golden Fleet. For 250 years, American naval power has projected strength globally, operating forward 24/7, 365 days a year. This operational tempo demands continuous capability, and the Fleet of the future is our answer. Join the ceremony live stream.
