On July 11, 2026, the future USS George M. Neal (DDG 131), a Flight III Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, was christened at Ingalls shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The ship honors Aviation Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class George Milton Neal, a Korean War veteran awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism during a 1951, search-and-rescue mission deep in North Korea. Neal volunteered as a crewman on a helicopter attempting to extract a downed Marine pilot. After the rescue helicopter was shot down, he helped his companions evade capture for nine days before becoming a prisoner of war. He remained a POW for two and a half years before returning home.

At the sponsor dinner the evening before the christening, Under Secretary of the Navy Bill Toti remarked on a photograph of young George Neal that was displayed behind him on the stage. He noted on how genuine Neal’s smile was, and said that is how we should remember him. The ship’s sponsor, Kelley Neal Gray, gave an emotional account her father, and how much he meant to her and the entire Neal family. Many Neal family members who traveled to Pascagoula for the event shared her sentiments about his character.

During the christening, Mrs. Gray performed the traditional bottle-breaking ceremony, and again delivered a heartfelt address to the attendees, including many of the shipbuilders who had gathered for the event. She proudly broke the bottle on the first swing and the crowd erupted in applause. Representing the Secretary of the Navy, Undersecretary Bill Toti delivered the principal address, noting that the vessel “honors a legacy of extraordinary courage and sacrifice,” something that George M. Neal personified. 

The Neal family members all seemed genuinely excited about becoming involved with the ship and her crew and forming a lifelong relationship. The ship is truly honored and blessed to have Kelley as its sponsor. 

Submitted by Beth Asher, Sponsor USNS POINT LOMA (T-EPF-15)