Hopper christened at Bath, Maine

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The guided missile destroyer Hopper (DDG-70) was christened on Jan. 6 at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. Mary Murray Westcote, sister of the late RADM Grace Murray Hopper for whom the ship is named, was the sponsor.

The naming of the guided missile destroyer for Hopper pays respect to her pioneering spirit in the field of computer technology. Hopper led the Navy into the age of computers. During her career, she was known as the "Grand Lady of Software," "Amazing Grace" and "Grandma Cobol" after co-inventing COBOL (common business-oriented language).

Hopper retired from the Naval Reserve in January 1967, but was recalled to active duty in August 1967 by President Lyndon B. Johnson because of her much-needed expertise in applied computer science. She retired a second time in August 1986. She passed away on Jan. 1, 1992.

This is the first time since World War II, and only the second time in Naval history, that a warship has been named for a woman from the Navy's own ranks.

(This story appeared on Navy Wire Service as NWSA1421. Excerpt from NNS878.)

-USN-

Last update: 2002-01-30 by <dennette@wiz-worx.com>