President Joe Biden announced Monday that two of the Navy's future aircraft carriers will be named after former commanders-in-chief Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
“Construction of the future USS William J. Clinton (CVN 82) and the future USS George W. Bush (CVN 83) will begin in the coming years,” Biden said in a statement. statement Released just one week before Donald Trump replaced him in office.
“When completed, they will join the most capable, flexible and professional Navy ever put to sea,” Biden said. “Their crews will be comprised of sailors from every corner of the United States, and who will man these ships out of harm's way, protecting our interests abroad and protecting ours here at home.”
The United States has a long tradition of naming some of its aircraft carriers – huge battleships that carry crews of thousands and carry dozens of aircraft – after former presidents.
The latest series of American carriers is named Gerald R. Ford, and one of the multi-billion dollar ships is named John F. Kennedy – the second time he has been honored in this manner. according to navyThe Ford-class aircraft carriers are the first new class in more than 40 years and begin the phased replacement of Nimitz-class carriers.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Jacob Mattingly/AP
Clinton – who did not serve in the military – was president from 1993 to 2001, during which period US warplanes carried out strikes in Iraq and Yugoslavia, and US troops fought Somali militiamen in the infamous Black Hawk Down incident, among other conflicts. . ,
Bush, who served as a pilot in the Air National Guard, served as America's highest ranking officer from 2001 to 2009.
His presidency was defined by the so-called “War on Terrorism”, which he launched after the September 11 attacks, a military effort that spanned the globe and included the devastating, long-running wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. In which dozens of people were killed. Thousands of people died.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin praised the choice of names, saying that the ships “will serve as a lasting tribute to the legacy of each leader in the service of the United States.”
“Like their namesakes, these two future carriers and the crews that operate them will serve to protect our national security, remind us of our history and inspire others to serve our great republic,” Austin said in a statement. Will inspire you.” statement,