HII Christens Guided Missile Destroyer George M. Neal (DDG 131)

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PASCAGOULA, Miss., July 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII (NYSE: HII) christened the future USS George M. Neal (DDG 131), the fourth Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer to be built at the company’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division. The ship is named for Aviation Machinist’s Mate Third Class George M. Neal, a Korean War veteran and Navy Cross recipient. In 1951, Neal’s helicopter crashed during a rescue attempt in the North Korean mountains. He evaded enemy forces for nine days before being captured and held as a prisoner of war for two and a half years. He was released and returned to the United States in 1952 along with more than 320 fellow prisoners of war. Performing the duties of the under secretary of the Navy, William Toti delivered the keynote address. “The future USS George M. Neal honors a legacy of extraordinary courage and sacrifice,” Toti said. “As we christen this ship, we mark another step toward building the Navy our nation needs. Flight III destroyers are critical to our nation’s security, and we are proud to accept each one built by the skilled workforce at Ingalls." Photos accompanying this release are available at: http://hii.com/news/hii-christens-guided-missile-destroyer-george-m-neal-ddg-131/. Toti’s remarks highlighted the deep connection between the Navy’s mission and the dedicated Americans who design and build the ships that carry it forward. Building on that message, HII President and CEO Chris Kastner underscored the unique skill and commitment of the Ingalls Shipbuilding team. “As a company, HII does a lot of amazing things, but only people — human beings — build ships. They build ships with their hands, their minds and toughness. The people of Ingalls Shipbuilding are among the finest craftsmen and craftswomen on the face of the Earth,” Kastner said. “When she is delivered, DDG 131 will be the most powerful surface combatant in the world. She will be ready. She’ll be ready because the United States of America makes a conscious choice, generation after generation for now 250 years, to invest in U.S. Navy ships, built by Americans, in America.” The ship’s sponsor and daughter of the namesake, Kelley Neal Gray, performed the traditional bottle-breaking ceremony against the bow to formally christen DDG 131. In her remarks, she hon...

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