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ESB 4 Hershel 'Woody' Williams

The Navy commissioned its newest Expeditionary Sea Base, USS Hershel "Woody" Williams (ESB 4), during a 10 a.m. EST ceremony Saturday, March 7, in Norfolk, Virginia. The Hershel "Woody" Williams is the first ship to bear the name of Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer Four Hershel Woodrow Williams, the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient recognized for heroism at the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II. U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia delivered the commissioning ceremony's principal address. The ceremony was highlighted by a time-honored Navy tradition when Ms. Tracie Jean Ross and Ms. Travie Jane Ross, ship sponsors and daughters of Hershel "Woody" Williams, gave the first order to "man our ship and bring her to life!"

"This ship honors a man who dedicated his life to service–heroic service as a Marine, and continued service to his fellow veterans," said Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly. "This dedication will live on in USS Hershel 'Woody' Williams as the ship is deployed around the world bringing additional capability to our growing fleet. The ceremony on Saturday will also represent the dedication to service demonstrated by the men and women who worked tirelessly to build this ship and their commitment to quality and innovation."

The Navy accepted delivery of its second Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) ship, USNS Hershel "Woody" Williams (ESB 4), 22 February 2018. The delivery marked the official transfer of the ship from the shipbuilder to the Navy. ESB 4 will be owned and operated by Military Sealift Command. "The delivery of this ship marks an enhancement in the Navy's forward presence and ability to execute a variety of expeditionary warfare missions," said Capt. Scot Searles, Strategic and Theater Sealift program manager, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships. "Like the ship's namesake, USNS Hershel 'Woody' Williams will exemplify the Navy's commitment to service."

ESBs are highly flexible, modular platforms that are optimized to support a variety of maritime based missions including Special Operations Force, Airborne Mine Counter Measures operations, humanitarian support and command and control of traditional military missions. The ESBs include a four spot flight deck, hangar, and a versatile mission deck; and are designed around four core capabilities: aviation facilities, berthing, equipment staging support, and command and control assets. The ESBs will operate as the component commanders require, providing the fleet with a critical access infrastructure that supports the flexible deployment of forces and supplies.

USNS Hershel "Woody" Williams was constructed by General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego. NASSCO was also constructing the future USNS Miguel Keith (ESB 5). USNS Hershel 'Woody' Williams was launched 19 August 2017 at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego. The launch of Williams involved slowly flooding the launching dock with water until the ship could freely float for the first time. Following the launch, the ship completed construction and final outfitting before going to sea to complete a series of trials. Williams will primarily support aviation mine countermeasure and special operations force missions. The Hershel Williams is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy in 2018.

A keel laying ceremony for the future USNS Hershel "Woody" Williams (ESB 4) was held, Aug. 2, in San Diego, representing the formal beginning of the ship and recognizing the first joining together of ship components.

The ship is an expeditionary sea base and the fourth ship of the Montford Point-class. It is optimized to support a variety of maritime-based missions and designed around four core capabilities: aviation facilities, berthing, equipment staging support, and command and control assets. ESBs can be enhanced to meet special operations force missions through increased communications, aviation and unmanned aircraft system support.

Chief Warrant Officer Hershel "Woody" Williams, the ship's namesake and the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from the Battle of Iwo Jima, was in attendance for the ceremony. During the battle of Iwo Jima, then- Cpl. Williams bravely went forward alone against enemy machine gun fire to open a lane for the infantry. Williams continues to serve his fellow men and women in uniform through his foundation, the Hershel Woody Williams Medal of Honor Foundation, established to honor families who have lost a loved one in service to their country.

The keel was authenticated by Williams' daughters, Ms. Tracie Jean Ross and Ms. Travie Jane Ross, who etched their initials into the keel plate. "It is an honor to have [Chief Warrent Officer] Williams and his family here to celebrate this milestone," said Capt. Henry Stevens, Strategic and Theater Sealift program manager, Program Executive Office, Ships. "With these platforms based on commercial designs, we're strengthening our capabilities at sea, while doing so in an affordable manner."

Built by General Dynamics NASSCO, the Montford Point-class is comprised of five ships across two variants: expeditionary transfer docks and expeditionary sea bases. USNS Montford Point (ESD 1), USNS John Glenn (ESD 2), and USNS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3) have been delivered to the fleet. ESB 4 is planned to join the fleet in 2018, with the future procurement of ESB 5 planned for contract award in fiscal year 2017.

The platform has an aviation hangar and flight deck that include two operating spots capable of landing MH-53E equivalent helicopters, accommodations, work spaces, and ordnance storage for an embarked force. The platform will also provide enhanced command and control, communications, computers, and intelligence capabilities to support embarked force mission planning and execution. The reconfigurable mission deck area can store embarked force equipment including mine sleds and rigid hull inflatable boats.

As one of the DoD's largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships, special mission and support ships, boats and craft.