STreaming
News Pg. 2
STreaming
News Pg. 2
A LAUNCH IN THE NAME OF NITZE . . .
James Zumwalt
There has long been a tradition in the Navy of posthumously naming its ships after individuals of great
accomplishment. Such accomplishment deserving of recognition included those in and out of uniform for a broad range of
actions, from a single act of bravery in battle, to a combination of acts in a military or political leadership
role, to a lifetime of acts devoted to improving national security. Great warrior or great statesman, it mattered not
as tradition evolved that the best way to memorialize the acts of such individuals once they passed on was to name a
ship after them.
But all traditions have exceptions. Through the end of the 20th century, only six exceptions were ever made to this
particular tradition. On Wednesday, Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig announced that this tradition would be broken
for the sixth time, as a ship will be named after Cold War warrior and statesman Paul H. Nitze. For Mr. Nitze, it is a
timely birthday present as he will turn 94 six days later. Joining the likes of Presidents Carter and Reagan, of
Adms. Hyman Rickover and Arleigh Burke, Mr. Nitze will now have the opportunity to see a ship bearing his name commissioned
into service.
Perhaps not as well known today by Americans as the others honored as namesakes, Mr. Nitze, by virtue of a
lifetime of service to country, has made the world a better place in which to live. Born in 1907 during the presidency
of one Roosevelt, Teddy, Mr. Nitze's government service started in 1941 during the presidency of another Roosevelt,
Franklin. In a lifetime of government service that would extend almost half a century, allowing him to serve every
president from Roosevelt to Ronald Reagan (with the exception of Jimmy Carter), he was able to play a major role
in ensuring the United States emerged as the sole surviving superpower at the end of the 20th century.
As historians look back on the latter half of the 20th century, they will be hard pressed to find a single
individual who exerted more influence over every treaty related to arms control and the U.S. strategic defense in
the period between the end of World War II and the end of the Cold War than did Paul Nitze. From senior positions
within both the State and Defense departments, the latter including tours as secretary of Navy under President Kennedy
and as deputy secretary of defense under President Johnson, Mr. Nitze left his mark, establishing himself as a force
with which to be reckoned whenever Soviet strategic power was involved.
For the second half of the 20th century, he remained one of the chief architects of U.S. policy toward the Soviet
Union. The awesome responsibility of such a position was not lost on him as he fought to preserve our national security
at what perhaps was the most challenging time in American history. In practically every battle of the Cold War, Mr.
Nitze was in the front line of strategic defense.
It was his devotion to country —by constantly doing what was in America's best interests rather than solely
adhering to political party lines — that resulted in Mr. Nitze being asked to serve both Democratic and Republican
administrations. It is a fitting tribute to this man that his great accomplishments be memorialized during his life
rather than eulogized after it by naming a ship for him.
In announcing that the 44th ship of the Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyers, the DDG-94, will be
named after Mr. Nitze, Mr. Danzig said, "Paul Nitze, in his many central roles in and out of government, brought
strategic intellect and extraordinary courage to bear that helped shape our national security in an era when it was
uniquely challenged. As secretary of the Navy, he also demonstrated a respect and care for sailors and Marines that
directly improved their quality of service. USS Nitze will reflect Paul Nitze's toughness and care in all that the
vessel undertakes for America in the years ahead."
U.S. law gives the secretary of the Navy discretion to break with tradition in naming a ship after a great American
who is still living. In a country that produces more deserving heroes than it does ships, it is a discretion that
should only be exercised in extraordinary cases. The case of Paul Nitze is just such a case, recognizing an extraordinary
man for his extraordinary lifetime accomplishments.
The end result of the accomplishments of its namesake is that when the USS Nitze takes to sea, it will sail the
oceans of a world no longer dominated by the Soviet strategic threat.
This article from The Washington Times
http://www.washtimes.com
Copyright (c) 2001 News World Communications, Inc. All
rights reserved. Reprinted with Permission...Thanks Jim!