Congressman Duncan Hunter (above right) was on hand for the recent launch of the USNS RED CLOUD, built by National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO), in San Diego.

    The 950-foot ship is among several built by NASSCO and assigned to the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command, carrying armored personnel carriers, tanks, tractor-trailers, helicopters, and high-mobility military vehicles.

    As Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Procurement, Congressman Hunter (above left) authorized funding to build the critically needed ships in recent years.

    Christening the ship with ceremonial bottles of champagne were two sponsors, Annita Red Cloud, daughter of U.S. Army Corporal Mitchell Red Cloud, Jr., for whom the ship is named; and Marilyn Paddick Clemins, wife of Admiral Archie R. Clemins, Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. The respective Matrons of Honor were Tris Yellow Cloud, daughter of Annita Red Cloud, and Rebecca Clemins Lewis, the Clemins' daughter.

    Corporal Red Cloud is a posthumous recipient of the U.S. Army Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in Korea in 1950.

    USNS RED CLOUD (T-AKR 313) is the fourth of seven Sealift New Construction ships awarded to NASSCO. All seven ships are being named for U.S. Army Medal of Honor recipients. The first three ships - USNS WATSON, USNS SISLER, and USNS DAHL - have been completed and delivered to the Navy ahead of schedule.