Navy Commissions USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. into the Fleet

The Navy welcomed its newest destroyer USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG-124) into the fleet Saturday during a ceremony in Norfolk, Va., which is among the last Flight IIA configurations of the Arleigh Burke-class.

The destroyer was commissioned at Naval Station Norfolk before approximately 1,800 guests, including senior military leaders, sailors, Marines, veterans and family members. Navy Secretary John Phelan served as the ceremony’s principal speaker, joining Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. James Kilby and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith in celebrating the ship’s entry into service.

“This ship is not symbolic, it is combat power, and today she joins something bigger. The ship and her crew join the President’s Golden Fleet, the Fleet of the future – rebuilding American maritime dominance by putting more capable ships in the water, strengthening our industrial base, and ensuring we can fight tonight and win tomorrow. To be a superpower, one must be a seapower, and USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. represents exactly what that future looks like,” Phelan said.

The ship is named for retired Marine Col. Harvey Barnum Jr., who as a first lieutenant was awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in 1965 during the Vietnam War. On Dec. 18, 1965, then a 1st lieutenant, Barnum assumed command of his company after the commander was wounded. With two armed helicopters under his control, Barnum moved through deadly fire to lead air attacks against enemy positions while directing a counterattack that helped secure key terrain. He later coordinated the evacuation of wounded personnel and continued the assault to achieve the battalion’s objective.

The destroyer is one of the last Flight IIA configurations before the Navy shifts to the Flight III configuration. Flight III upgrade will feature an updated combat system centered on the new Raytheon AN/SPY-6 air and missile defense radar for simultaneous anti-air and ballistic missile defense.