ABOUT THE SHIP
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Richard M. McCool Jr. (1922-2008)
U.S. Navy Captain Richard M. McCool Jr., a Medal of Honor recipient, is the heroic namesake of the Navy’s 13th San Antonio (LPD 17) class amphibious landing platform dock.
While serving as a Lieutenant aboard a landing support craft, June 10, 1945, McCool observed a kamikaze attack by enemy Japanese aircraft near Okinawa. He and his crew secured their ship to the battered, sinking destroyer, USS William D. Porter (DD-579) to rescue survivors.
The suicide planes later attacked McCool’s own ship. His crew shot several down before one exploded on the ship. Burned and wounded from shrapnel, McCool marshalled his crew to fight the fire and rescue trapped sailors. His rescue efforts took place exactly 77 years prior to the day the Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29) will be christened.
Ms. Shana McCool
Shana McCool is the granddaughter of Richard McCool and Elaine McCool. Shana was born in Edmond, Oklahoma and was raised in Gig Harbor, Washington. She attended the University of Portland and graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice.
Shana She worked in Portland, Oregon before accepting a position with Army National Guard and moving to Northern Virginia in 2009. She currently works for the Department of the Army as a DoD Civilian for Expeditionary Energy and Sustainment Systems (E2S2) under the Program Executive Office for Combat Support and Combat Service Support (PEO CS&CSS).
Shana and her husband, Garth, currently live in Bristow, Virginia and have two children, son Declan (8) and daughter Parker (4). Shana, as well as her cousin Kate, have both been named as sponsors and are deeply honored to be part of this momentous occasion in commemorating their grandfather’s legacy.
Ms. Kate Oja
Kate Oja is the granddaughter of Richard Miles McCool, Jr. and the daughter of Carolyn McCool and Juri Oja. She was born and raised in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, with her brother Nicholas Oja. She attended law school at the University of Toronto in Toronto, Canada and was called to the bar in 2010. Kate currently lives in Canada’s far north, practicing as a criminal defense lawyer throughout the Northwest Territories.
Milestones in Construction
April 2018
Burner Paul Bosarge initiates the Start Fab for Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29), the first Flight II ship, observed by, from left, Braxton Collins, Gene Ramsey, Shawn Wiseman, SUPSHIP, LPD production manager; and Stephen Janowski.
December 2018
Shipbuilders land grand block B311 for Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29). Sister ship Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) is shown alongside her.
March 2019
Goliath and a 300-ton portal crane move a five-unit keel grand block for Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29) to the ship’s build area.
July 2019
Ship’s sponsors Ms. Kate Oja and Ms. Shana McCool sign the keel plate for Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29).
January 2020
One of the ship's service generators that provide electricity for the ship is lifted into place.
November 2020
Ingalls’ Goliath crane moves the 550-ton grand block 3270 into position establishing the forward end of the flight deck.
December 2020
The 540-ton aft section of LPD 29’s flight deck is landed into place using Goliath.
February 2021
Three cranes work together to lift the 744-ton superstructure megablock onto Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29).
January 2021
After moving to the floating drydock by a rail system, Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29) is launched by slowly lowering the drydock from beneath her.
Translation and Launch
The U.S. Navy amphibious transport dock Richard M. McCool Jr. (LPD 29) was launched at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, on Wednesday, January 5, 2022.
HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division, located in Pascagoula, Mississippi, employs over 11,000 shipbuilders. Ingalls is the largest manufacturing employer in the state of Mississippi and a major contributor to the economic growth of both Mississippi and Alabama. Ingalls is the largest supplier of U.S. Navy surface combatants having built nearly 70% of the U.S. Navy fleet of warships.
HII is an all-domain defense and technologies partner, recognized worldwide as America’s largest shipbuilder. With a 135-year history of trusted partnerships in advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities ranging from the most powerful and survivable naval ships ever built, to unmanned systems, ISR and AI/ML analytics. HII leads the industry in mission-driven solutions that support and enable an all-domain force. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s skilled workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information please visit:
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