BATH, Maine (AP) — The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq began more than a decade ago — long enough that the Navy's newest warships are being named for some of those conflicts' heroes.
Shipbuilder Bath Iron Works on Saturday christened the future USS Rafael Peralta, named for a Marine who died battling insurgents in Fallujah, Iraq. Fellow Marines say Peralta covered a grenade after being shot, protecting others from the deadly blast.
The Peralta is one of four destroyers to bear the names of servicemen from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The USS Jason Dunham was named for a Marine killed in Iraq and the USS Michael Murphy was named for a Navy SEAL killed in Afghanistan. Both are already in service. The fourth is the future USS Michael Monsoor, named for a Navy SEAL who died in Iraq.