Navy Names Newest USNS Ship for Medal of Honor Recipient

Navy Names Newest USNS Ship for Medal of Honor Recipient

(EXCERPT) Story Number: NNS031003-23 Release Date: 10/3/2003 300
PM

Special release from the U.S. Department of Defense

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy will officially name its newest
prepositioning ship USNS Lance Cpl. Roy M. Wheat, Oct. 7, during a
10:30 a.m. EDT ceremony at Blount Island Command, Jacksonville, Fla.

Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Atlantic, Lt. Gen. Martin R.
Berndt, is the ceremony's principal speaker. Margaret Taylor, wife of
Rep. Gene Taylor of Mississippi, will serve as ship's sponsor and
break a bottle of champagne across the bow to officially name the
ship.

The ship is named in honor of Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Roy M. Wheat
(1947-1967), a native of Moselle, Miss. Aug. 11, 1967, Wheat
heroically sacrificed his life to save the lives of two other Marines.
After warning his fellow Marines when he unintentionally triggered a
concealed anti-personnel mine, Wheat valiantly hurled himself upon the
mine, absorbing the impact of the explosion with his own body.

Wheat's unselfish action saved his comrades from certain injury and
possible death. Wheat's other awards include: the Navy Commendation
Medal, Purple Heart with one Gold Star, National Defense Service
Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, Vietnam Military
Merit Medal, Vietnam Gallantry Cross wit...

U.S. and friendly nation laws prohibit fully reproducing
copyrighted material. In abidance with our laws this report
cannot be provided in its entirety. However, you can read it
in full today, 03 Oct 2003, at the following URL. (COMBINE
the following lines into your web browser.) The
subject/content of this report is not necessarily the
viewpoint of the distributing Library. This report is provided
for your information and discussion.

http://www.news.navy.mil/search/disp...?story_id=9866

---------------------------
Otis Willie
Associate Librarian
The American War Library
http://www.americanwarlibrary.com