US Navy unveils name for first ship in new medium landing ship class

Secretary of the US Navy, Carlos Del Toro, has announced the name of the first ship in the new class of medium landing ships. The vessel will be named USS McClung (LSM 1), honoring Major Megan M.L. McClung, a US Naval Academy graduate and Public Affairs Officer who was killed in action in Iraq. This marks the first time a Navy vessel will bear her name.
Honoring a Fallen Hero
Major Megan M.L. McClung graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1995 and served on active duty until 2004. After joining the Marine Corps Reserve, she was recalled to active duty in 2005. McClung deployed to Al Anbar Province, Iraq, as the media relations officer for the I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward). Tragically, on December 6, 2006, she lost her life due to a roadside improvised explosive device in Ramadi, alongside two US Army soldiers. McClung holds the distinction of being the first female Marine officer killed in the Iraq War and the first female USNA graduate to die in the line of duty.
Secretary Del Toro expressed his honor in naming the ship after McClung, stating, “She was a selfless leader and hero who embodied the highest ideals of service, honor, and loyalty to our nation.” The USS McClung will serve as a vital asset to the Marine Corps’ amphibious capabilities, enhancing operational flexibility and combat readiness.
The Medium Landing Ship (LSM) program, previously known as the Light Amphibious Warship (LAW) program, aims to procure between 18 to 35 new amphibious ships. These vessels will support the US Marine Corps in executing the Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO) concept. The Department of the Navy plans to begin construction of the USS McClung in fiscal year 2025. The LSMs will be rugged, steel displacement vessels designed to transport troops and equipment from ship to shore and support humanitarian and maritime operations.
Source: https://www.navaltoday.com/