Retired Chief Radioman Jesse Walker and his wife watch the commissioning of the Navy's newest warship, the amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18) Saturday, March 10, 2007.

NEW ORLEANS (Mar. 10, 2007) Retired Chief Radioman Jesse Walker and his wife watch the commissioning of the Navy's newest warship, the amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18) Saturday, March 10, 2007. Walker was serving aboard the heavy cruiser USS New Orleans (CA 32) during the attack on Pearl Harbor and subsequently during the heavy cruisers service in the Pacific throughout the remainder of World War II. New Orleans is the second of the San Antonio class ship, and the fourth ship to bear the name New Orleans. As a critical element in future expeditionary strike groups, the ship will support the Marine Corps mobility triad, which consists of the LCAC (landing craft air cushion), the expeditionary fighting vehicle, and the Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft (MV-22). The ship also provides improved warfighting capabilities including an advanced command-and-control suite, increased lift-capacity in vehicle and cargo-carrying capability and advanced ship-survivability features. The ship holds the distinction of being the only ship in recent naval history built and commissioned in its namesake city. USS New Orleans will be homeported in San Diego, Calif. U.S. Navy photo by Cmdr. Jane Campbell File# 070310-N-9909C-003