The keel for the future Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS John E. Kilmer (DDG 134) was laid during a ceremony on September 10 at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works.
A keel laying ceremony represents the joining together of the ship’s first major modular components at land level. During the ceremony, the keel is authenticated when a welder etches the initials of the ship’s sponsor into the keel plate.
The ship is named for Hospital Corpsman John Edward Kilmer, who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for actions during the Korean War. On Aug. 13, 1952, Kilmer braved heavy fire to provide critical medical aid to Marines of Company H, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force Pacific. He was mortally wounded during the Battle of Bunker Hill while shielding a Marine from enemy fire. Kilmer was 21 years old.
“We honor John Kilmer by building a Navy worthy of his legacy,” said Neil W. T. Hogg, Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy for Management.
“The ship that carries his name will bring that same fighting spirit to the Fleet, built by American workers for the Sailors who will take her to sea.”
Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are highly capable, multi-mission ships that conduct various operations from peacetime presence to national security and provide a wide range of warfighting capabilities in multi-threat air, surface, and subsurface domains.