Bath Iron Works (BIW) BATH, MAINE (US Navy Commissioning, USS JOHN S. MCCAIN (DDG-56), 7/2/1994 in the ship’s wardroom).
This is a picture of myself (Tom Broussard, USNA 1973), Mrs. Cindy McCain, President George H. W. Bush, and Senator John McCain (USNA 1958). I was the Chairman for the JOHN S MCCAIN Commissioning Ceremony at the time. I heard on the news recently that there was a rededication ceremony (7/11/2018) for Senator John McCain who was added as a namesake, along with his father and grandfather. I am so glad they added his name to it. The ship’s nickname is “Big Bad John” and we always thought that it was for him! But at the time of the commissioning, the Senator made sure that the ship was only named for his father and his grandfather and NOT him. He was a great man and I am honored to have met him and his family.
Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd’st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
