Commissioning of the USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) at Port of Tampa Draws Thousands
During a ceremony attended by thousands at the Port of Tampa on Saturday, the USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) was officially commissioned into active service for the United States Navy.
“The commissioning of the Jack H. Lucas signifies our commitment to providing the Navy with swift, adaptable, and connected surface combatants. The Jack H. Lucas is purpose-built for combat, possessing high speed, agility, versatility, and formidable firepower to excel in any assigned mission,” stated the Honorable Erik Raven, Under-Secretary of the Navy, during the ship’s commissioning in Tampa, Florida.
It will ensure the Navy and Marine Corps remain agile and prepared, reaffirming our commitment to safeguarding uninterrupted global commerce, deterring military threats, and facilitating swift responses to natural disasters worldwide,” stated Raven.
This state-of-the-art guided missile destroyer, measuring 511 feet in length, represents the Navy’s latest technological advancements.
The ship bears the name of Private First-Class Jack H. Lucas, a WWII U.S. Marine recognized with the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary bravery at Iwo Jima.
“At the age of 14, he enlisted in the Marine Corps, and by the time he turned 17, he was on Iwo Jima, heroically shielding nearby Koreans by throwing himself on two grenades,
According to a Department of Defense press release, Lucas was not only the youngest Marine but also the youngest service member in WWII to receive the United States’ highest military honor for valor.
The ship’s next destination is the naval base in San Diego, California, where it will undergo a training cycle before receiving deployment assignments.