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The future USS Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129), the third Flight III advanced Arleigh Burke-class destroyer to be built at Ingalls, was christened in Pascagoula on Saturday.

The ship’s name honors RADM Jeremiah Denton Jr., (USNA 1947), a Vietnam War veteran who earned the Navy Cross for his heroism as a prisoner of war. Denton spent 34 years as a naval aviator, including eight years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam after his Intruder was shot down while flying from USS Independence (CV-62).

He is known for his act of genius during a televised broadcast in captivity, when Denton spelled out the word “torture” through Morse code using his eyes to blink the code signal lamp-style.

Daughters of the RADM Denton, Madeleine Denton Doak and Mary Denton Lewis, performed the traditional bottle-breaking ceremony against the bow to formally christen the ship.

Ingalls has delivered 35 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to the U.S. Navy, including the first Flight III, USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG-125), in June 2023. In addition, Ingalls Shipbuilding has five Flight IIIs currently under construction, including Ted Stevens (DDG 128), Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129), George M. Neal (DDG 131), Sam Nunn (DDG 133), and Thad Cochran (DDG 135).