T-AO 206 USNS Oscar V. Peterson
USNS Harvey Milk
In alignment with the mandate from the President and the Secretary of Defense to "to restore the warrior ethos to the military", and in line with other policies seeking to combat DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) frameworks throughout the US Government, the Secretary of the Navy announced on 27 June 2025 that the John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oiler USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO 206) had been renamed to the USNS Oscar V. Peterson (T-AO 206).
USNS Oscar V. Peterson (T-AO 206) honors U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Oscar Verner Peterson, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty during World War II.
Peterson was born on August 27, 1899, in the small town of Prentice, Wisconsin. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on December 8, 1920, and over two decades at sea, rose to the rank of chief water tender. At the time of his final act of courage, he was assigned to USS Neosho, a fast fleet oiler that sustained American warships in the midst of heavy battle.
On May 7, 1942, during the Battle of Coral Sea, Japanese dive bombers struck Neosho, setting her ablaze. Peterson, wounded and lacking assistance, manually closed four bulkhead steam line valves to keep the ship operational. In so doing, he suffered third-degree burns on his face, arms, shoulders and hands. He died six days later from his injuries and was buried at sea, leaving behind his wife Lola and two sons Fred and Donald. His actions helped keep the oiler afloat for another four days, saving the lives of 123 of his shipmates who were later rescued. For his act of profound courage, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Today, the Navy will carry forward his legacy by naming a John Lewis-class oiler in his honor. This vessel will quietly and powerfully sustain those on the front lines, like Peterson himself.
USNS Harvey Milk
Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus announced 16 August 2016, that the second ship of the next generation of fleet replenishment oilers (T-AO 206) will be named USNS Harvey Milk after the civil and human rights leader who became one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977.
The announcement was made at a ship-naming ceremony in San Francisco. "The future USNS Harvey Milk will play a vital role in the mission of our Navy and Marine Corps while also forging a new path in fleet replenishment," said Mabus. "Naming this ship after Harvey Milk is a fitting tribute to a man who had been at the forefront of advocating for civil and human rights.
Milk graduated from New York State College for Teachers (now State University of New York) in Albany, in 1951 and enlisted in the Navy. He attended Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, and subsequently was based in San Diego, where he served as a diving instructor. In 1955, he was discharged with the rank of lieutenant junior grade.
After becoming a leading political spokesman for the gay community, he was elected as a San Francisco City-County Supervisor in 1977. A commitment to serving a broad constituency, not just gay people, helped make Milk an effective and popular leader. He was an eloquent speaker with a winning sense of humor and was able to build coalitions between diverse groups. His achievements gave hope and confidence to gay people at a time when the community was encountering widespread hostility.
Milk believed that government should represent all citizens, insuring equality and providing needed services. His career was tragically cut short nearly a year after he took office, when he and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone were assassinated. In the years since his death, there have been hundreds of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender public officials in America.
In August 2009, President Obama honored Harvey Milk posthumously with America’s highest civilian medal, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, with the following citation: "Harvey Bernard Milk dedicated his life to shattering boundaries and challenging assumptions. As one of the first openly gay elected officials in this country, he changed the landscape of opportunity for the nation's gay community. Throughout his life, he fought discrimination with visionary courage and conviction. Before his tragic death in 1978, he wisely noted, "Hope will never be silent," and called upon Americans to stay true to the guiding principles of equality and justice for all. Harvey Milk's voice will forever echo in the hearts of all those who carry forward his timeless message."
Highlighting a hero is a common response to including the history of marginalized people in the curriculum. Harvey Milk is becoming that hero as social studies curriculum responds to calls for including LGBTQI people. These materials carry limitations: reinforcing heteronormativity, ignoring homophobia, perpetuating the "great man" notion of history, and obscuring long-term struggle by other individuals and coalitions of diverse groups. By studying Milk, what might young people learn about LGBTQ people, issues, and movements? What opportunities and limitations exist for moving beyond one hero and learning about justice for LGBTQI people? How might social studies teachers address limitations and capitalize on opportunities in such curriculum?
"T-AO 206 will, for decades to come, serve as a visible legacy of Harvey Milk's committed service to his nation, both as a Sailor and as an activist. By adorning one of our ships with his name, his example will live on in the steel of that ship and in all those who will serve aboard her," said Mabus. The future USNS Harvey Milk will be operated by Military Sealift Command and provide underway replenishment of fuel and stores to U.S. Navy ships at sea and jet fuel for aircraft assigned to aircraft carriers. Construction is expected to begin in 2018.
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