USS John S. McCain

I recently received an email with a picture of the USS John S. McCain.

Yes, there really is such a ship in the US Navy.  The USS John S. McCain (DDG56) is an Arleigh Burke Class, Aegis guided missile destroyer.  It is the third ship in the US Navy to carry its name, and is currently based at the Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan.

Be careful what you assume, though. Contrary to what the person who emailed me said, it is not named after presidential candidate Senator John S. McCain.  I knew that McCain’s father and grandfather were admirals, but I did not know that they were also both named John S. McCain.  The ship is named after Senior and Junior.  Senator McCain is actually John Sidney McCain III.  I can’t say that I’m surprised that he doesn’t talk up the ‘III.’

So while it is pretty darned cool that there is a USS John S. McCain, it is better not to be spreading disinformation about it.  Besides, I am pretty sure that they don’t name ships after you until you are dead, and while the Democrats are pushing the notion that McCain has one foot in the grave, he is not there yet.

UPDATE:

Apparently you don’t have to be dead to have a ship named after you, so it is not impossible that Senator McCain could have a ship named after him.  But this one isn’t.