H.R. 6198: Rear Admiral Alene Duerk Ship Renaming Act of 2025

The bill titled the "Rear Admiral Alene Duerk Ship Renaming Act of 2025" aims to officially name a United States Navy vessel the "U.S.S. Rear Admiral Alene Duerk." This decision is in recognition of Rear Admiral Alene Duerk's significant contributions and acts of valor during her service in the Navy. Below are the key components of the bill:

1. Purpose

The bill expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of the Navy should honor Rear Admiral Alene Duerk by naming a naval vessel after her.

2. Background on Rear Admiral Alene Duerk

The bill provides a brief history of Rear Admiral Duerk’s service, which includes:

• Born in Defiance, Ohio, she graduated from the Toledo Hospital School of Nursing.
• Commissioned in the Nurse Corps of the U.S. Naval Reserve on January 23, 1943.
• Served as a Ward Nurse at various naval medical facilities during World War II, including at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and the Naval Hospital in Bethesda.
• Stationed on the USS Benevolence in the Pacific Theater, where she cared for wounded service members until the end of the war.
• Progressed through ranks in both the Navy Reserves and Active Duty, serving in several locations including Michigan, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Illinois, the Philippines, Japan, California, and Washington, DC.
• Made history by becoming the first woman to reach the rank of Rear Admiral on April 16, 1972.

3. Awards and Recognitions

Throughout her career, Rear Admiral Duerk received numerous awards for her service including:

• Naval Reserve Medal
• American Campaign Medal
• Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with Bronze Star
• World War II Victory Medal
• Navy Occupation Service Medal with Asia Clasp
• National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star

Conclusion

This bill seeks to ensure that Rear Admiral Duerk's legacy and contributions to the United States Navy are recognized through the naming of a naval vessel in her honor.

Relevant Companies

None found.