Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129) Christening
Date: Saturday, Jun 28, 2025
Location: Pascagoula, Mississippi
Type: Ceremony
CHRISTENING CEREMONY
Ingalls Shipbuilding will christen Arleigh-Burke class destroyer Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129)
on Saturday, June 28, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. CST. To watch the live stream on Facebook click here.
Email IngallsEvents@hiicomstg.wpengine.com to RSVP
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https://youtu.be/PyDBE_Merq0Namesake
Rear Admiral Jeremiah A. Denton Jr. was a decorated naval officer, statesman, and war hero whose legacy is defined by unwavering courage, leadership, and service to his country.
Born in Mobile, Alabama, in 1924, Denton graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1946 and went on to become a skilled naval aviator. During the Vietnam War, he served as a squadron commander and was shot down over North Vietnam in 1965. Captured and held as a prisoner of war for nearly eight years — including four in solitary confinement — Denton endured some of the harshest conditions imaginable.
He became a national symbol of resilience when, during a televised propaganda interview arranged by his captors, he famously blinked the word “TORTURE” in Morse code. This was the first confirmation that American POWs were being mistreated. His act of defiance exemplified his loyalty, strength, and strategic thinking under pressure.
Upon his release in 1973, Denton was promoted to Rear Admiral, having spent more time as a POW than any other U.S. Navy flag officer in history. He later continued his service as a U.S. Senator from Alabama, where he became the first Republican elected to the Senate from that state since Reconstruction. In public office, he remained a strong advocate for national security, defense, and family values.
Watch His Story: Learn more about Jeremiah Denton’s heroism with a captivating documentary produced by Alabama Public Television.
Stream it here: JEREMIAH | PBS
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Ship Sponsors
Mrs. Madeleine Denton Doak
Sponsor, Daughter of Jeremiah Denton
Ms. Mary Denton Lewis
Sponsor, Daughter of Jeremiah Denton
Mrs. Micah Doak
Matron of Honor, Granddaughter of Jeremiah Denton
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Mrs. Allison Denton Shumate
Matron of Honor, Granddaughter of Jeremiah Denton
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Special Guests
Mr. Brian Blanchette
President of Ingalls Shipbuilding and Executive Vice President of HII
Dr. Brett Seidle, DON
Acting Assistant for the Navy for Research, Development & Acquisition (ASN RD&A)
VADM James Downey, USN
Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command
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Rear Admiral Brian Metcalf, USN
Program Executive Officer, Ships
Mr. Louis Detrisac, USN
Deputy Program Manager, DDG 51 Class Shipbuilding Program
Jonathan Graves
Executive Director, Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Gulf Coast
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CDR Commander Jeffrey Perry, CHC, USN
Command Chaplain, Bougainville (LHA 8)
Click here to read the sponsor and guest biographies
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https://youtu.be/7XGPdsTdnVAJeremiah Denton is the third Flight III destroyer to be constructed at Ingalls Shipbuilding. The Flight III upgrade incorporates a number of design modifications that collectively provide significantly enhanced capability.
An Arleigh Burke-class Flight III destroyer features the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) and the Aegis Baseline 10 Combat System that is required to keep pace with the threats well into the 21st century.
Ingalls has delivered 35 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to the U.S. Navy including the first Flight III, Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), to the Navy in June 2023 as part of the transition to Flight III destroyers. Ingalls now has five Flight III destroyers 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).
In addition, Ingalls is in early – pre-planning and material procurement phases for John F. Lehman (DDG 137), Telesfordo Trinidad (DDG 139), Ernest E. Evans (DDG 141) and Charles French (DDG 142).
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Ship Milestones
About HII
HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.
With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong.
