Five-year-old Nicolas Gazca of San Diego, whose mother, Rebecca Church, is a crew member, mimics the sailors of the USS Michael Monsoor before they boarded the ship. Photo by Chris Stone
If Michael A. Monsoor was looking down from the heavens Saturday, he’d probably wonder why everyone was making a big fuss about him.
That’s what his cousin surmised at the commissioning of the Navy’s newest Zumwalt-class destroyer, the USS Michael Monsoor, at Naval Air Station North Island.
“I think that he would want to share any glory that came his way,” said John Cassidy, who flew from Alaska with his family to see his cousin’s name on a futuristic-looking vessel manned Saturday morning.
Cassidy called it an “incredible honor” to attend the event.
“To have something like this built after anyone you know, much less a family member, is hard to put into words. His family is incredible people and they did the right thing putting his name on a boat.”
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Five-year-old Nicolas Gazca of San Diego, whose mother, Rebecca Church, is a crew member, mimics the sailors of the USS Michael Monsoor before boarding the ship. Photo by Chris Stone
Maj. Gen. Ronald Clark was among the officers who spoke at the commissioning of the USS Michael Monsoor, the newest ship in the Navy. Photo by Chris Stone
Families of the crew of the USS Michael Monsoor were honored during the commissioning ceremony. Photo by Chris Stone
Children get acquainted with the vehicles used by SEALs before the ceremony. Photo by Chris Stone
Joseph Cassidy, 6, of Alaska, looks at himself in the visor with the lettering Bad Ass Unlimited in an M1288 Humvee. Photo by Chris Stone
Before the commissioning ceremony, children play in a Humvee used by SEAL Team 3 in Iraq. Photo by Chris Stone
Sea Cadets distribute programs and bottles of water before the ceremony on Naval Air Station North Island. Photo by Chris Stone
Five-year-old Nicolas Gazca of San Diego, whose mother, Rebecca Church, is a crew member, mimics the sailors of the USS Michael Monsoor before boarding the ship. Photo by Chris Stone
The crew of the USS Michael Monsoor run to take their stations on the new ship. Photo by Chris Stone
Sailors of the USS Michael Monsoor run up the stairs to board the new ship. Photo by Chris Stone
The newest ship in the Navy, the USS Michael Monsoor, sits in San Diego Bay at Naval Air Station North Island on Coronado. Photo by Chris Stone
Crew members of the USS Michael Monsoor take their positions on new ship. Photo by Chris Stone
Crew members of the USS Michael Monsoor take their positions on new ship. Photo by Chris Stone
Retired Navy SEALs honor their fallen team member whose name was given to the newest Navy ship. Photo by Chris Stone
Heavily decorated officers and sailors take part in the commissioning ceremony of the USS Michael Monsoor. Photo by Chris Stone
Capt. Scott Smith, commanding officer of the USS Michael Monsoor, speaks about the attributes of the namesake of the ship. Photo by Chris Stone
Sailors of the USS Michael Monsoor stand watch on their new ship. Photo by Chris Stone
Rep. Scott Peters speaks of Michael Mansoor and the courage and commitment he displayed. Photo by Chris Stone
Sailors of the new USS Michael Monsoor observe the commissioning ceremony before boarding the ship. Photo by Chris Stone
The American flag is raised for the first time on the USS Michael Monsoor at Naval Air Station North Island on Coronado. Photo by Chris Stone
Petty Officer Jorge A. Cardona carries the Long Glass onto the new USS Michael Monsoor. Photo by Chris Stone
Sally Monsoor, mother of Michael Monsoor, called, “Man the ship and bring her to life.” Photo by Chris Stone
Crew members of the new destroyer, the USS Michael Monsoor, run to man the ship. Photo by Chris Stone
To shade herself from the sun, a spectator used the program showing Michael Monsoor on duty in Iraq. Photo by Chris Stone
1/506 Regiment, USS Michael Monsoor and SEAL Team 3 advance the colors in the ceremony in Coronado. Photo by Chris Stone
Members of the Navy Region Southwest Band perform the National Anthem and military tunes for the attendees. Photo by Chris Stone
The crew of the USS Michael Monsoor stand ready to board their new ship. Photo by Chris Stone
The crew of the USS Michael Monsoor stand ready to board their new ship. Photo by Chris Stone
The crew of the USS Michael Monsoor display their numerous medals at the ceremony. Photo by Chris Stone
Rep. Scott Peters and Navy officers receive the color guard from the USS Michael Monsoor and SEAL Team Three. Photo by Chris Stone
A 19-gun salute honoring Michael Monsoor began the commissioning ceremony. Photo by Chris Stone
The new destroyer, USS Michael Monsoor, stands ready opposite the San Diego Bay from the San Diego skyline. Photo by Chris Stone
The futuristic-looking destroyer is the second in the Zumwalt class. Photo by Chris Stone
The crest of the USS Michael Monsoor incorporates a wing of St. Michael the Archangel. Photo by Chris Stone
Andrew Zhang, 13, of Canada poses with uniforms of Navy SEALs on display in front of the ship. Photo by Chris Stone
Children enjoy checking out the Humvee on display near the ship. Photo by Chris Stone
The new ship with Michael Monsoor’s creed of “You Never Quit” was commissioned on Jan. 26 in Coronado. Photo by Chris Stone
John Cassidy, cousin of Michael Monsoor, said his relative deserved every one of the honors bestowed on him. Photo by Chris Stone
The futuristic destroyer USS Michael Monsoor was commissioned Saturday morning in Coronado. Photo by Chris Stone
Petty Officer Michael Monsoor in Iraq. Photo courtesy of the Navy
Petty Officer Michael Monsoor in Iraq. Photo courtesy of the Navy.
Following speeches and ceremonies, Sally Monsoor, Michael’s mother, made the ritual declaration: “Man the ship and bring her to life.”
Despite a chance to escape the danger, 25-year-old Monsoon fell on a grenade Sept. 29, 2006. For saving two fellow SEAL Team 3 members in that selfless action in Ramadi, Iraq, he was posthumously awarded the nation’s highest military decoration — the Medal of Honor.
Speakers at the ceremony included Rep. Scott Peters, Maj. Gen. Ronald Clark, Vice Adm. Timothy Szymanski and Capt. Scott Smith, the ship’s commander.
Smith summed up Monsoor this way: “He was a good dude.”
On a warm day that felt more like spring than winter, an estimated 5,000 naval personnel and dignitaries heard the story of the late Petty Officer Second Class Monsoor, who also received the Bronze Star, Silver Star and Purple Heart.
Peters said Monsoon’s friends called the machine gunner a “leader, jokester, a loyal teammate and a silent warrior.”
He recalled that Monsoor died on the feast day of St. Michael the Archangel, the patron saint of warriors, and so St. Michael is represented on the ship’s crest as a winged arm holding a sword.
Calling Monsoor a kind and honorable man, Peters noted that Monsoor was a devoted Catholic and attended Mass every day, even when in the theater.
Born in 1981 in Long Beach, Monsoor grew up in Garden Grove, played football in high school, entered the Navy in 2001 and became a SEAL in 2005.
His former commander, Maj. Gen. Ronald Clark, said Monsoor “was a great warrior and even better man.”
Clark recalled the fighting in Ramadi as “unlike anything I’ve experienced before or since in my 30 years in military service.”
Therefore, Clark said, there is pride in knowing that the ship that bears Monsoor’s name will be on watch for all, as he was in his life.
“This ship will keep Mikey’s service alive,” Clark said. “Legions of shipmates here today will learn Mikey’s story and be inspired by his life, his bravery and his service.”
His Navy biography states: “Mike was one of the bravest men on the battlefield, never allowing the enemy to discourage him.”
The second of three Zumalt class guided missile destroyers, the 610-foot USS Michael Monsoor is one of the most technologically advanced surface combatants in the world, the Navy says.
The ship, with a low-profile outline, has a wave-piercing tumblehome hull, small crew (148), stealth design and the latest fighting technology and weaponry available. It was christened in 2016.
The nearly 16,000-ton ship is powered by two Rolls-Royce main turbine generators, two Rolls-Royce auxiliary turbine generators and two 34.6 MW advanced induction motors to speeds up to 30-plus knots.
Its mission is to perform deterrence, power projection, sea control and command and control, according to the Navy.
On the ship’s crest, the three stars represent the Navy SEALs saved by his actions in 2006. The winged arm represents St. Michael. The lightning flashes represent a boldness in leadership and the ship’s unique propulsion.
The large, inverted star is in the shape of the Navy Medal of Honor, and the flintlock pistol from the Naval Special Warfare insignia represents the ship’s Advanced Gun System.
Standing dockside before the commissioning ceremony, Monsoor’s cousin Cassiday said: “Just to see his name across the back of his ship is astounding.”
