DDG 129 keel laid at HII

PASCAGOULA, Miss. - HII announced that Ingalls Shipbuilding division authenticated the keel of the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129) on Aug. 16. The ship’s name honors former U.S. Sen. Jeremiah Denton Jr. (R-Ala.), a Vietnam War veteran who was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism while a prisoner of war. Denton spent 34 years as a naval aviator. U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) delivered remarks highlighting the significance of Denton’s contributions to the nation. The ship’s co-sponsors and daughters of the namesake, Madeleine Denton Doak and Mary Denton Lewis, were in attendance and joined Ingalls' shipbuilders in welding their initials onto a steel plate, signifying the keel of DDG 129 as being “truly and fairly laid.” The plate will remain affixed to the ship throughout its lifetime. The Jeremiah Denton is the third Flight III destroyer to be constructed at Ingalls. (Source: HII 08/16/22) A photo accompanying this release is available at: https://hii.com/news/ingalls-shipbuilding-authenticates-keel-destroyer-jeremiah-denton-ddg-129.