Navy to christen USS Tig Ol Bitties after service allows people to vote online for ship's name
WASHINGTON – Heads are shaking while others cheer after a failed publicity stunt led to the Navy's next Zumwalt-class destroyer being named the USS Tig Ol Bitties, sources confirmed today.
The Navy earlier this year had allowed active duty Sailors and Marines to vote on the name for its new $4-billion dollar stealth attack ship, all in an effort to boost force morale and social media presence.
"I thought there was no way in hell any of the finalist names would fly," said Marine Staff Sgt. Steve Kovacs, "But then I said, hell, you miss 100% of the shots you don't take."
Kovacs and many other Marines were hoping to clench the name USS Lord Mattis in honor of the Defense Secretary, but support for Tig Ol Bitties became overwhelming after the polling website was shared by service-members, civilians, and tweeted repeatedly by musician Kid Rock.
"At first, I was planning to scrap everything," said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson. "That's when I saw the tweet."
Shortly after the vo…
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