Navy christens latest LMSR vessel.

The Navy has christened its latest Large, Medium-Speed, Roll-on/Roll-Off ship -- the USNS Benavidez -- at Northrop Grumman Avondale Industries, in New Orleans.

Christening ceremonies included remarks from Maj. Gen. Kenneth L. Privratsky, Commander, Military Traffic Management Command.

"We in the Army are very proud of the USNS Benavidez," said Privratsky, at the July 21 ceremony. "It bears the name of a soldier who is a true American hero."

The new ship is named in honor of Medal of Honor recipient Army Master Sgt. Roy P. Benavidez, of Lindenau, Texas, who died in 1998. The Special Forces soldier distinguished himself through heroic actions in a firefight in Vietnam in 1968.

Benavidez is the seventh and final Bob Hope Class ship to be built by Northrop Grumman Avondale Industries.

The $200 million vessel took two years to build. It was built to accommodate the surge sealift movement of military combat and combat support equipment overseas during wartime and other national emergencies.

The civilian-crewed vessel will be kept in a reduced operating status at a U.S. port by the Military Sealift Command.

The length of three football fields, Benavidez, is 950-feet-long, has a beam of slightly over 100 feet, a draft of 34 feet and displaces 62,000 long tons.

With more than a 65,000-shaft-horsepower, the diesel-powered ship can cruise at speeds in excess of 24 knots with an endurance range of 13,000 nautical miles. The new ship will have a 29-member crew, it can accommodate 95 people.

Equipped with a moveable stern ramp and two side port platforms with movable ramps, the vessel allows military vehicles to be driven on board.

With a cargo carrying capacity of about 380,000 square feet, the vessel can deliver the power of an entire Army armor or air assault battalion.

"The Bob Hope Class includes seven ships," said Ed Winter, Director of Communication, Northrop Grumman Avondale Industries. "They're called Bob Hope Class because he did so much for the war cause.

"The lead ship, the USNS Bob Hope, is named in his honor."

Other ships in this class include the Fisher, Seay, Mendonca, Pililaau, and Brittin. When construction is complete, the Military Sealift Command will have a total of 20 Large, Medium-Speed, Roll-on/Roll-off vessels.

The Large Medium-Speed, Roll-on/Roll-off ships will be key for wartime surge deployments, said Privratsky, they are critical to the security of our nation and the free world.

The ship's namesake, Benavidez, is of Mexican and Yaqui Indian ancestry. As a staff sergeant with Detachment B56, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, on May 2, 1968, Benavidez saved the lives of eight of his comrades in a helicopter evacuation under heavy enemy fire.

The heroic action took place May 2, 1968, as retold by Privratsky, to assembled Benavidez family and shipyard guests at the ceremony.

A 12-man Special Forces reconnaissance team came under intense assault in dense jungle in Cambodia. Benavidez had voluntarily and hastily arrived as part of reinforcements.

He was wounded two dozen times over the span of six hours.

"It is a miracle he even lived," said Privratsky.

Repeatedly, Benavidez rallied the Green Berets team and repulsed enemy assaults. Later, he assisted medical evacuation flights.

"The situation clearly seemed hopeless for the men," said Privratsky. "Staff Sergeant Benavidez gathered survivors into a defensive perimeter to await another extraction attempt. His leadership gave his fellow Green Berets a desire to live and fight. He began calling in tactical air strikes and helicopter gunship fire to suppress the enemy. He was wounded again, in the thigh, while administering first aid to a fellow Green Beret.

"It must have seemed like an eternity before another helicopter could attempt extraction."

When the helicopter arrived, Staff Sergeant Benavidez again struggled under fire to carry wounded comrades to the chopper.

Only after the entire team had been evacuated did Benavidez permit himself to be pulled into the extraction aircraft, said Privratsky.

Once on board, Benavidez collapsed. He, too, was nearly dying, and, in fact, was thought to be dead by at least one medic.

Somehow, Benavidez regained consciousness after feeling a body bag being thrust over his feet and pulled forward toward his head. He spat at the medic to signal that he wasn't dead yet.

Benavidez's actions led to the award of a Medal of Honor.

"He is truly an American hero," Privratsky said. "His courage, devotion to duty and fearless leadership epitomized the values of our Army and nation."