The Navy will fee Richard M. McCool Jr., an amphibious transport dock, September 7, 2024 at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Pensacola, Florida.
The naming of LPD 29 honors U.S. Navy Capt. Richard M. McCool Jr., who was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1945 for the heroism he displayed after his ship was attacked by kamikaze plane within the Battle of Okinawa. Regardless of affected by shrapnel wounds and painful burns, he led efforts to battle a blazing fireplace on his ship and rescue injured sailors. LPD 29 would be the first of its title.
Richard M. McCool Jr. is co-sponsored by Shana McCool and Kate Oja, granddaughters of the ship’s namesake. Because the co-sponsors, McCool and Oja lead the time-honored Navy custom of giving the order in the course of the ceremony to “man our ship and convey her to life!” In the intervening time, the commissioning pennant is hoisted and Richard M. McCool Jr. turns into a proud ship of the fleet.
Richard M. McCool Jr. would be the Navy’s thirteenth San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship.
Amphibious transport docks are used to move and land Marines, their tools, and provides by embarked Touchdown Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) or standard touchdown craft and amphibious assault automobiles (AAV) augmented by helicopters or vertical take-off and touchdown plane (MV 22). These ships help amphibious assault, particular operations, or expeditionary warfare missions and function secondary aviation platforms for amphibious operations.
