The U.S. Navy is naming a ship after a decorated Alaska Native veteran who was one of the first Navy SEALs, trained astronauts and was mayor of Metlakatla, among his other acts of service.
Engineman Seaman Solomon Atkinson smiles for a picture, in an unknown location around 1952. Atkinson would go on to become one of the first U.S. Navy SEALs, complete 22 years of active naval service and retire in 1973 as Chief Warrant Officer 4.
Solomon Atkinson is tossed into the pool by the astronauts of Gemini and Apollo missions after proctoring their training in diving and operating under simulated weightlessness. plans Monday to name a future Navajo-class towing, salvage and rescue ship — which are traditionally named for prominent Indigenous people and tribes — after Atkinson.
The Navy named Atkinson’s widow, Joann Atkinson, and daughters Michele Gunyah and Maria Hayward as sponsors of the vessel. In that role, they will maintain a relationship with the ship and crew. Steinberg called the task of preserving Atkinson’s story “intimidating” because it spans so many historical events. In an interview, she outlined Atkinson’s experiences preparing for the Cuban missile crisis, training astronauts, serving in the Vietnam War and being in Washington, D.C., during 9/11.
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