Under a clear blue sky, the U.S. Navy officially welcomed its newest guided-missile destroyer to the fleet in Norfolk on April 11, 2026 . The commissioning of the USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. added the 75th Arleigh Burke class destroyer to the ranks. For Norfolk, the ceremony marked a major military milestone.
The ship’s namesake, Colonel Harvey “Barney” Barnum Jr., was among the guests in attendance. A Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in Vietnam, Barnum is part of a small group of veterans who have lived to see a multi-billion dollar warship bear their name into active service.
The ceremony focused on the afternoon of December 18, 1965. General Eric M. Smith, Commandant of the Marine Corps, diverted from his prepared notes to read Barnum’s Medal of Honor citation to the crowd. The story detailed how a then-Lieutenant Barnum took command of a decimated company after his superior fell, repeatedly braving enemy fire to reorganize his unit and direct air strikes.
“There is no way that a man who stands up and exposes himself to an enemy battalion’s worth of fire survives that attack,” General Smith said. “But he did. There is a reason he did. Because he had more left to give.”
The event was sponsored by the Navy League of Hampton Roads, whose mission is to enhance the morale of active-duty personnel and their families; to focus on educating citizens and elected officials about the importance of the Sea Services to our nation’s defense and economic well-being; and to support youth through programs, that expose young people to the values of our sea services.
The Navy’s Own “Quarterback”
At the ceremony, naval leadership described the ship as a critical asset for the future of the “Golden Fleet.” Admiral James Kilby, Vice Chief of Naval Operations, called the Arleigh Burke class the workhorse and the “quarterback” of naval operations. The ship is a product of high-level engineering from Bath Iron Works, and Kilby emphasized that its true effectiveness comes from the crew’s connection to Barnum’s legacy.
During sea trials, Colonel Barnum was aboard to fire the first five inch round from the ship’s main battery. The casing from that shell is now displayed in the ship’s classroom, serving as a direct link between the veteran and the sailors who will walk those decks for decades to come.
A New Home in Norfolk
The commissioning was a major event for Norfolk, whose region serves as the cornerstone of American maritime might. In a press conference after the event, Kilby said that Norfolk is the center point of the Navy, noting that everything from the birth of naval aviation to the world’s largest naval base is rooted right here. For a city where the sight of an aircraft carrier or destroyer on the horizon is a daily reminder of the mission, the arrival of the Barnum Jr. was a victory lap for the Navy and for Norfolk.
Secretary of the Navy John Phelan said that the ship represents both national security and economic opportunity for the shipbuilders and families who call this Navy town home. The Barnum Jr. will be homeported here, standing as a permanent fixture of the Norfolk waterfront.
“Bring Her to Life”
The transition from a hull to a commissioned warship followed traditions established in 1775. The ship’s sponsor, Martha E. Hill (Barnum’s wife), watched as the commanding officer Commander Brian P. Fenton ordered the colors and the commissioning pennant hoisted. With those flags in the air, the Barnum Jr. became an official member of the United States Navy.
The ceremony reached its peak when Hill spoke the traditional order: “Man our ship and bring her to life!”
At her command, the “plank owners,” the sailors making up the ship’s very first crew, ran to their stations along the rails. As the ship’s whistles sounded and its systems began humming, the USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. prepared for its first assignment, carrying its namesake’s motto with it into the Atlantic:
“Charge on.”
