| April 28, 2006 |
FORT WORTH – Congresswoman Kay Granger Friday announced before a meeting of Downtown Rotary that she has launched a campaign to name one of the U.S. Navy’s new ships the USS Fort Worth in honor of the City of Fort Worth.
Granger made her request in a letter to Secretary of Navy Donald Winter. The Secretary of Navy has personally selected the name of all new Navy ships since 1819 when Congress designated that responsibility to the secretary.
“Fort Worth has a long history with the U.S. military as it protects America and defends freedom,” Granger said. “During the course of my work in the Congress on defense matters, I have observed that many communities throughout the United States have a U.S. Navy ship named in their honor. But Fort Worth is not one of those communities.
“I believe it is time for a Navy ship to be named for Fort Worth in recognition of our long association with the U.S. military, the men and women from Fort Worth who serve in the military and the thousands of Fort Worth residents who work in the defense industry.”
Granger has asked Secretary of Navy Winter to name a future Littoral class ship the USS Fort Worth.
The Navy describes the Littoral Combat Ship as a “next-generation” ship that is designed to be a fast, highly maneuverable, networked surface combat ship that can operate close to shores because of a shallow draft. Littoral class ships will have equipment to support anti-mine and special forces missions, plus robotic air, surface, and underwater vehicles.
Granger said naming a ship the USS Fort Worth would recognize Fort Worth’s long and proud relationship with the U.S. military. The city was founded by the U.S. Army as a frontier outpost. Throughout its history, Fort Worth has been associated with the military. Today, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth, formerly Carswell Air Force Base, is a valued part of Fort Worth.
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and Bell Helicopter-Textron are Fort Worth companies that build the best military aircraft in the world. In addition Fort Worth citizens, many of who are retired from the military, are strong supporters of the military.
The Navy lists six active-duty ships which are named for Texas cities. They are listed by type of ship:
USS Austin Amphibious Transport Dock Ship USS Corpus Christi Submarine USS Dallas Submarine USS Houston Attack Submarine USS San Antonio Amphibious Transport Dock Ship USS Waxahachie Harbor Tug
Granger said Fort Worth residents can help by writing Secretary Winter a letter urging him to name a ship the USS Fort Worth. Letters can be mailed to:
The Honorable Donald Winter
Secretary of Navy
1000 Navy
Pentagon
Washington, DC 20350-1000
Granger serves on the Appropriations Committee and the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. She also serves as a Deputy Majority Whip. Granger is the first and only female Republican to serve in the Texas House delegation. Granger represents the 12th District of Texas and is currently serving in her fifth term in Congress.
Artist Rendering of Littoral Ship at https://peoships.crane.navy.mil/lcs/Lockheed.htm