On Saturday, April 11, 2026, the U.S. Navy commissioned the USS Harvey C. Barnum, Jr. to honor the 1962 alumnus and Medal of Honor recipient at Naval Station Norfolk.
The missile destroyer, named for retired Col. Harvey C. Barnum, Jr. was commissioned before 1,800 people, including senior military leaders, Sailors, Marines, veterans and family members. Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan served as the ceremony’s principal speaker. President Joseph A. Favazza, Abbot Mark Cooper, O.S.B. ’71, and Senior Vice President James Flanagan represented Saint Anselm College at the event.
“This is the first vessel to bear the name of a Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient, and Col. Barnum’s actions in the Que Son Valley during Operation Harvest Moon defines what leadership looks like when everything is on the line,” said Phelan.
The ceremony featured traditional naval honors, including music from the United States Marine Band, as Sailors manned the rails and the ship was officially placed into active service. Upon the order from the ship’s sponsor, Martha Hill, Barnum’s wife, to “man our ship and bring her to life,” the crew rushed aboard amid applause and ceremonial cannon fire.
During the ceremony, Barnum reflected on the responsibility carried by the crew and the trust that defines the naval service.
“Our strength is not built on technology alone, but on trust, trust that we will stand by one another and that no one will ever be left behind,” said Barnum. “That belief shapes how Sailors and Marines fight, how they lead, and how they act when it matters most. The crew of USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. now carries that responsibility forward.”
On Dec. 18, 1965, then-1st Lt. Barnum assumed command of his company after the commander was mortally wounded. With two, armed helicopters under his control, he moved fearlessly through deadly fire to lead air attacks against enemy positions while directing a counterattack that helped secure key terrain. He later coordinated the evacuation of wounded personnel and continued the assault to achieve the battalion’s objective. He is among the few living namesakes to witness the commissioning of a ship bearing his name.
Following the ceremony, guests were invited aboard for tours of the Navy’s newest warship, offering a firsthand look at the capabilities and professionalism of the crew bringing the ship to life.