Photographs of the USS New York

2009
by Sekou Shepard
Sekou and twin brother Bobby

Sekou Shepard aboard the USS New York
with his twin brother, and fellow Marine Vietnam Veteran, Bobby.
My twin brother, Bobby, (who is also a Marine Corps Combat Vietnam Veteran) went to see the USS New York sail into New York harbor as it sailed past Ground Zero (the former World Trade Center). She is forged with steel from the site.
 
I must say what a sight it was seeing her coming into New York City ready to take on all enemies of the United States.
 
Bobby and I went aboard her Nov. 9, 2009, the day before our Marine Corps Birthday, and the Marines and Sailors were happy to see us (we were wearing Marine Corps jackets and hats) and expressed gratitude to us for our service in Vietnam. From talking to the ship's crew I was impressed with their attitude:  ready to take her "in harm's way".  Or to say it another way:  and deliver her cargo of over 800 Combat ready Marines and Sailors to do some serious damage.

Sekou Shepard, Executive Officer of 1st M.P. Bn., web site.



The USS NEW YORK

State-of-the-art Stealth Ship

 
She is named for New York (State) because she contains 7 ½ tons of special steel from the World Trade Center forged into her bow.  The ship has a crew of 360 sailors and Marines, and carries 700 Marines when deployed.  Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) and Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft are used to deliver the Marines.

Forged from the steel of the World Trade Center, the Ship's motto: 'Strength forged through sacrifice. Never forget.'

She is the only warship with the official motto 'NEVER FORGET' emblazoned on her bridgedeck, which embodies the strength and determination of the people of the United States: to recover, to rally, to take the fight to the enemy.
The ship was docked November 2, 2009 alongside Pier 88, at 48th Street and 12th Avenue in New York City near the Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum.

The formal shipboard commissioning on Nov. 7 not only honors the memory of those who perished and those who survied the attacks, it forges an enduring alliance between the people of New York and the ship and her crew.

The visit to her namesake city is an opportunity for New Yorkers to see this magnificent vessel up close, meet the officers and crew, and witness the time-honored ceremony of a warship being inducted into the United States fleet.

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