The U.S. Navy christened the USNS Billy Frank Jr. (T-ATS 11) during a ceremony on Saturday. The ceremony was held at Austal USA in Mobile with the family of Billy Frank, Jr.
William Frank III, former chairman of the Nisqually Tribe and son of the ship's namesake, delivered the principal address.
"Billy Frank Jr. taught us the importance of family, kinship, community, respect, love and patience," Frank said of his father.
Korean War veteran and Nisqually tribal member Billy Frank, Jr. received an Albert Schweitzer Prize for humanitarianism and a Martin Luther King, Jr. Distinguished Service Award. He was also honored posthumously with a Presidential Medal of Freedom for his over 30 years of service to the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission.
Ship Sponsor Peggen Frank, wife of William Frank III, christened the ship by breaking a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow.
The Navajo-class ship will deploy to support towing, rescue, salvage, humanitarian assistance, oil spill response and surveillance.
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