On Saturday, at Naval Station Norfolk, the Navy commissioned the USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr, a namesake ship named for a Medal of Honor and Purple Heart recipient who resides in Reedville.

The Navy’s latest warship is an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer. Equipped with the Aegis Combat System and a range of advanced weapons systems, it is a multi-mission ship designed to conduct operations ranging from peacetime presence to national security. The vessel packs warfighting capability across multi-threat air, surface, and subsurface environments.

This vessel is the first to bear Barnum’s name and the first to bear the name of a Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient.

“This ship is a deterrent for the bad guys about taking us on. They know the capabilities of this ship and it’s going to make them think twice before they fix bayonets,” said Barnum. “Because if they fix bayonets, they’re going to find out reality—They’re going to lose.”

December 1965

In late 1965, Barnum deployed to Vietnam for what was supposed to be a temporary assignment, but it ultimately became a defining moment in his military career.

On Dec. 18, a first lieutenant at the time, Barnum was bringing up the rear of a unit moving off a mountain toward a village when they suddenly came under fire. Pinned down by a large North Vietnamese force, the ambush separated his company from the rest of the battalion, according to the Department of the Navy.

“It was the first time I’d been shot at,” Barnum said. “So, I hit the deck.”

However, he realized the radio operator and his commander had been hit. Barnum ran into an open field to grab his commander, who died in his arms. Barnum then returned to the field to retrieve the radio, which he strapped on and reported he was taking command of his company.

“In communist doctrine, you pick out the leadership and everyone else falls apart,” said Barnum. “Not in the Marine Corps.”

Fixed-wing aircraft were unable to immediately conduct rescue due to bad weather so Barnum decided they would have to fight their way out because staying overnight wasn’t an option. With two helicopters under his control, according to the Dept. of War, Barnum moved fearlessly through deadly fire to lead air attacks against the enemy’s well-entrenched positions while directing a platoon in a successful counterattack.

Having cleared a small area, Barnum requested and directed the landing of two transport helicopters to evacuate the deceased and wounded. He then led the mission to evacuate the rest of the men, a 500-meter journey across open rice paddies to reach the village.

From Service to Warship

Days after that December 18 battle, Barnum learned he was recommended for a Medal of Honor, which he received Feb. 27, 1967. The colonel retired from the Marine Corps in 1989 after 27 years of service, although he has continued to work with the military in an official capacity as well as with veterans and service members through various organizations.

In 2016, it was announced that a guided- missile destroyer would be named in his honor. Five years later, in April 2021, Barnum attended the keel-laying for his namesake ship. The USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. arrived at its home port in Norfolk on March 20, 2026, with Barnum on the pier to greet the vessel and its crew.

“Colonel Barnum represents the very best of our naval service: courage under fire, selfless sacrifice, and an unwavering commitment to mission and to others,” said Gen. Eric M. Smith. “The crew of USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. carries forward that legacy, and with it, the warrior ethos required to deter aggression and win when it matters most.”

“This ship is not symbolic. It is combat power,” Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan stated.

Photo: Navy Seaman Apprentice Jackson C. Rott “The ship and her crew join the President’s Golden Fleet, the fleet of the future—rebuilding American maritime dominance by putting more capable ships in the water, strengthening our industrial base, and ensuring we can fight tonight and win tomorrow. To be a superpower, one must be a seapower, and USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. represents exactly what that future looks like,” Phelan stated.

Barnum is among only a few who were alive to see their namesake warship commissioned.

Reflecting on being aboard USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr., the colonel said, “It was emotional. It’s an awesome responsibility, and I feel part of it. My whole life has been about Sailors and Marines.”

“This warship represents the enduring bond between the Marine Corps and the Navy, and I have the utmost confidence in the crew to carry on the legacy of service and courage that defines our naval forces,” Barnum said.

Bringing the Ship to Life

On Saturday, Barnum’s wife, Martha Hill, gave the traditional order to “man our ship and bring her to life.” The crew then rushed aboard and hoisted the commissioning pennant, officially marking the USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. as a warship in the Navy’s fleet.

According to the Navy, approximately 1,800 people attended the ceremony, including senior military leaders, Sailors, Marines, veterans, and supporters from the Northern Neck.

Among the attendees were Harriet Dawson and Phillip Cross. Cross, a resident of Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury, became aware of Barnum after the colonel gave a presentation at the Irvington retirement community.

“He was a great speaker and that’s how we got interested in going,” Cross said.

Cross described getting an early start to the day, waking at 5 a.m. to arrive in Norfolk before 7:30 a.m. The affair began at the Waterside Marriott, where there were hundreds of people, including Barnum. Guests were greeted with breakfast before being bused to the Naval Station.

Not only were there a number of people from Reedville at the ceremony, but others came from all over. Cross said the couple sitting next to him were from Texas. After the official ceremony, lunch was served and guests were given the opportunity to board and explore the USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr.

“It was amazing. I don’t know how they did it. I really don’t,” said Cross of the event. “It was just so much more than I thought it could be. If I hear of any more ships commissioning, I’m going to try to go—whether I know them or not—because it was really impressive.”