Navy Oil Tanker Renamed from Harvey Milk to Oscar V. Peterson

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses has revealed that the Navy’s oil tanker, previously named after gay rights pioneer Harvey Milk, will now bear the name of Medal of Honor recipient Oscar V. Peterson. In a communication via X, he noted, “We’re removing politics from the naming of ships,” also sharing a video to explain the rationale behind the change.

For some context, Milk was tragically murdered by Dan White, California’s first openly gay politician, in San Francisco. The ship, designated as the fleet’s replenishment Euler, had been named in Milk’s honor back in 2016 during the Obama administration.

Peterson, who served in the Navy for four years during the Korean War, left due to the challenges around his sexuality. He posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his sacrifices during World War II.

“People take pride in the ships they serve on,” Hegses commented regarding the renaming. “This isn’t a politically motivated change like what we’ve seen previously.” There’s a sort of relief in distancing these decisions from political agendas, although reactions tend to vary. It’s a complicated issue.

Peterson commanded steam engines on the USS Neosho, where he faced significant peril from Japanese forces in the Philippines in 1942. During the Battle of the Coral Sea that May, the Neosho was heavily damaged, and Peterson suffered serious injuries while ensuring the ship remained afloat—a heroic act that ultimately cost him his life shortly after being rescued.

The renaming aligns with a broader attempt to distance the Department of Defense from certain progressive policies. Yet, not everyone is on board with this transition. Nancy Pelosi recently termed the decision “shameful,” lamenting the erasure of significant figures who broke down barriers for others to realize their American dreams. “I hope the Navy reconsiders this regrettable choice,” she stated, especially during a month recognized for pride and celebration in the LGBTQ+ community.