Christening of the USNS SOLOMON ATKINSON (T-ATS 12)
On May 2, 2026, members of the namesake family, community leaders and friends joined Navy Special Forces representatives and gathered at the AUSTAL USA shipyard in Mobile, Alabama to christen the future USNS SOLOMON ATKINSON (T-ATS 12).
The USNS SOLOMON ATKINSON (T-ATS 12) is named for CWO Solomon Atkinson, a legendary “frogman” and special forces operator who was a plankowner of the legendary Seal Team One. This is the first US Navy vessel named for a native-American from Alaska. Solomon Atkinson, a member of the frog and raven clans, was from the Metlakatla Indian Community on Annette Island, just west of British Columbia and south of Ketchican, from where hundreds of his Ts’msyen people had relocated in 1887. The Metlakatla Indian Community is the only Indian Reserve in the state of Alaska. Solomon was born the youngest of ten children and learned to free dive in the frigid waters off the coast and then became a commercial salmon fisherman. He joined the Navy in 1952 as a member of the underwater demolition team (UDT) and served in both Korea and Vietnam as well as Japan, the Bikini Atoll, and the Philippines.
Sol was actively involved in Vietnam and returned for a second tour despite a serious injury. He was a founding member of the elite Seal Team One and contributed mightily to the ethos of the naval special warfare community. He helped train aspiring Seals during the infamous BUDs school in Coranado, California and despite his deep humility and good humor, candidates knew him as the “Mean Machine”.
He trained 47 astronauts in weightlessness from the Gemini and Apollo programs including Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldren. Sol retired from the Navy as a Chief Warrant officer in 1973 and returned to Metlakatla. During his career, he was awarded a Bronze Star, Combat Action Ribbon, Cross of Gallantry, Navy Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation and Purple Heart. While stationed in San Diego, he met his future wife, Joann, a Pittsburg, Pennsylvania native. He and Joann were married for 60 years.
Upon retirement, the couple with their family moved back to Metlakatla, where he continued to serve his community. Described as ever humble we joined the tribal council, served two terms as mayor, and served on the school board. He founded an organization to help veterans obtain benefits and medical care on Annette Island. He was described as a “Pathfinder” as he was a willing mentor to all in his community, He died in 2019 at the age of 89, his funeral well represented by comrades from Seal Team One. He was transported to Metlakatla from Ketchican by a flotilla of boats, led by his grandson. His casket was carried by members of Seal Team One a distance of two miles to his final resting place.
The USNS SOLOMON ATKINSON (T-ATS 12) is a Navajo-class rescue and salvage ship. These ships combine the functionality of older towing vessels and salvage and rescue ships. They can support a range of missions, including towing, rescue, salvage, humanitarian assistance, oil spill response, and search and surveillance. Navajo-class ships can tow large U.S. Navy combatant ships and will have 6,000 square feet of deck space for operations. It is powered by twin Wartsila 6300 HP engines which can achieve 15 knots speed and travel 8100 nautical miles. His wife Joann and daughters Michele Gunyah and Maria Hayward serve as the three ship Sponsors. The Maids of Honor for the ship are the namesake’s great granddaughters Liv K. J. Martinez, Novalle Sky Schwehm-Hayward and Ma’Kari Martinez. Ma’Kari could not attend the events in person due to scheduling conflicts but was able to live stream the Christening ceremony.
On Friday afternoon, the co-sponsors and guests toured the ship and participated in the traditional mast-stepping ceremony. During this ceremony, people placed mementos/good luck charms into a box that is welded near the mast. This box acts as a time capsule – it will be unsealed when the ship is taken out of service or decommissioned. Mast-Stepping is an ancient maritime tradition dating back two thousand years or more. Commemorative coins were placed in the metal receptacle by ship builders, Navy commands and friends and family. Rear Admiral Walter Allman III, Commander, Naval Special Warfare and a Member of SEAL TEAM One, placed a coin honoring his teammate. The Society of Sponsors of the United States Navy President, Ann Zumwalt, placed her challenge coin as well. She spoke directly to the three sponsors sharing the special pride they all feel in sponsoring a ship with their father’s name on it.
Solomon Atkinson served under Ann Zumwalt’s father when he was Commander Naval Forces Vietnam and later as Chief of Naval Operations during the period up to and during his retirement. Tralene Hunston, Director of Special Events SECNAV, placed the Honorable Hung Cao’s coin as he is the current Acting Secretary and recent Under Secretary of the Navy. A old friend, Melissa Peters, travelled to Mobile to attend the christening from New York City. She arrived in Metlakatla in her twenties as a volunteer teacher, with no pre-arranged lodging. She was told ‘Go over there to Sol and Joann, they will take care of you.” She stayed with them and they remained life-long friends. She added a bright “lucky” penny to the other coins, a collector’s item shortly. Finally, JoAnn placed a ring which Sol had presented her as a gift in memory of their sixty-years of marriage. Navy personnel and family did reminder her that should would never see the ring again. She told those in attendance that she wanted to do it anyways.
Submitted by Ann Zumwalt
