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US Navy commissions expeditionary sea base vessel Miguel Keith 10 May 2021 (Last Updated May 11th, 2021 12:22)
The US Navy has commissioned the Lewis B Puller-class expeditionary sea base (ESB) USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5) at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, California.
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USS Miguel Keith’s sister ship USNS Lewis B. Puller (T-ESB-3) at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia (USA). Credit: U.S. Navy Combat Camera Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class David Kolmel.
The 785ft-long vessel has been named after US Marine Corps Vietnam veteran Lance Corporal Miguel Keith, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his service in Vietnam War.
autoevolution 10 May 2021, 15:43 UTC ·
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USS Miguel Keith, the Navy’s newest Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) ship, was commissioned during a restricted, yet emotional ceremony on Saturday, at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, California. Its inspiring motto, “Semper in Pugna”, meaning “Always in the Fight”, is perfectly in sync with the story behind the ship’s name.
Lance Cpl. Miguel Keith is a Marine Corps Vietnam veteran and Medal of Honor recipient, who served with the Combined Action Platoon 132, III Marine Amphibious Force, in Quang Ngai Province. Like the story of many U.S. Navy heroes, Miguel Keith’s journey culminated with a mortal wound that was transformed into a victorious ending.
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For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a machine gunner with Combined Action Platoon 1-3-2. During the early morning L/Cpl. Keith was seriously wounded when his platoon was subjected to a heavy ground attack by a greatly outnumbering enemy force.
Despite his painful wounds, he ran across the fire-swept terrain to check the security of vital defensive positions and then, while completely exposed to view, proceeded to deliver a hail of devastating machine-gun fire against the enemy. Determined to stop five of the enemy soldiers approaching the command post, he rushed forward, firing as he advanced. He succeeded in disposing of three of the attackers and in dispersing the remaining two.
U.S. Navy to Commission Expeditionary Mobile Base USS Miguel Keith Our Bureau 525
USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5) ship
The U.S. Navy will commission its newest expeditionary mobile base, the future USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5), on May 8, at Naval Air Station North Island, Coronado, California.
The ship can accommodate roughly 100 military officers and crew, alongside 44 Military Sealift Civil Service Mariners. It is 785 feet in length, has a beam of 164 feet, and a navigational draft of approximately 39 feet.
The ship was built in San Diego by General Dynamics NASSCO and was delivered to the Navy on November 15, 2019.
USS Miguel Keith is the third Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB). ESB was previously known as Afloat Forward Staging Base. These vessels are flexible platforms that provide logistics movement from sea to shore supporting a broad range of military operations. The ESB is designed around four core capabilities: aviation facilities, berthing, equipment staging area, and command and