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The U.S. Navy will christen the future USS William Charette (DDG 130), an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, at 10 a.m. EDT on Saturday, August 1, at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine.
Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao will deliver the principal address. “Serving as the shield of the Fleet, protecting the Carrier Strike Group from air and missile threats and maintaining open sea lanes for maritime commerce— this premier surface combatant will be a cornerstone of America’s new Golden Fleet,” said Cao. “But this warship will carry more than just advanced technology, she will also set sail bearing the legacy of Master Chief Petty Officer William Charette, whose heroic actions represent the very best of our naval service. His spirit of self-sacrifice is now permanently woven into the steel of this warship, becoming a part of the ship’s culture and soul as she sails forth to defend our homeland.”
Other scheduled speakers include Maine Governor Janet Mills; U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King of Maine; Rear Adm. Matthew Case, Acting U.S. Navy Surgeon General and Acting Chief of the U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery; Col. Harvey C. Barnum, Jr., a Medal of Honor recipient; Michael Charette, son of the ship’s namesake; and Charles F. Krugh, president of General Dynamics Bath Iron Works.
In keeping with naval tradition, ship sponsor Kathryn Charette Donovan, daughter of the namesake, will perform the christening by breaking sparkling wine across the bow. She will act on behalf of her sisters and co-sponsors, Margaret Ann Henderson and Laura Charette Bennett, who are unable to attend. She will be joined by the Maid and Matron of Honor, Michelle Charette and Sara Charette Wright, the namesake’s granddaughters.
DDG 130 honors Master Chief Hospital Corpsman William Richard Charette, a Korean War veteran and Medal of Honor recipient. Serving with a Marine rifle company during the battle for Outpost Vegas on March 27, 1953, Charette repeatedly braved heavy enemy fire to treat wounded Marines. When a grenade landed near him and a casualty he was aiding, he shielded the Marine with his body. Despite being knocked unconscious, wounded by shrapnel, and losing his medical kit, he resumed treating the injured, improvising bandages from his own torn uniform.
Arleigh Burke-class destroyers serve as the backbone of the Navy’s surface force. The multi-mission ships operate across peacetime and national security missions and bring capabilities to counter threats in the air, on the surface, and below it—tools the service says are central to protecting U.S. prosperity and deterring future conflict.
The christening aligns with the Navy’s stated push to build what it calls America’s Golden Fleet, a vision tied to sustained global presence and continuous modernization. The ceremony will be available via livestream at https://vimeo.com/event/5993803.
