Namesake’s Legacy Provides Sweet Stop for Crew of Future Lyndon B. Johnson

01 May 2019

The crew of the future USS Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG 1002) made a confection connection with their namesake, April 25, when they visited a Dairy Queen in Topsham, Maine.

Sixty-two members of the crew visited the site where, in 1966, President Johnson stopped on his way to an event in nearby Lewiston, Maine. To this day, the Dairy Queen proudly displays a sign stating, "LBJ ate here."

The crew arranged an outing to eat ice cream, pose for a command photograph under the sign, and continue building their bond with the legacy of the former president and the community.

“It's reassuring that people out there do care and notice what we do and we can make a good impression. We get caught up with all the work we do and forget how everyone else sees us. It was cool to see an ear to ear smile on the face of a local little girl when she got to stand with some of us in uniform. To her, it was a special day too,” Gunner's Mate Seaman Madison Reynolds of Jacksonville, Illinois.

“The community support has been amazing, and we’re proud to be part of bringing this warship to life,” said Capt. Jeremy Gray, DDG 1002’s prospective commanding officer. “We’re proud of the re-live a moment in the legacy of our namesake.”

The future United States Navy ship is named in honor of former President Lyndon B. Johnson, who served in office from 1963-1969. She will be the first ship to bear the name of the former president.

A Texas congressman, Johnson was the first member of Congress to enlist in the military following the start of World War II. After his naval service, Johnson was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1948, where he served as both minority and majority leader before being elected vice president Nov. 8, 1960.

Following President John F. Kennedy's assassination Nov. 22 1963, Johnson succeeded to the presidency, finished the remaining term, and was reelected for a full presidential term.

Zumwalt-class destroyers feature a state-of-the-art electric propulsion system, wave-piercing tumblehome hull, stealth design and are equipped with the most advanced warfighting technology and weaponry. These ships will be capable of performing a range of deterrence, power projection, sea control, and command and control missions while allowing the Navy to evolve with new systems and missions.

The ship is the third in the Zumwalt-class of destroyers and was christened during a ceremony, April 27, at General Dynamics-Bath Iron Works shipyard in Bath, Maine. Previously, the ship was launched Dec. 9, 2018, at the shipyard.