Hegseth announced the formal renaming of the USNS Harvey Milk to the USNS Oscar V. Peterson (ARIANA DREHSLER/AFP via Getty Images)
He served four years in the Navy in the Korean War but left due to his sexuality.
Peterson was awarded the Medal of Honor after his death, having died of his wounds during battle in World War II in an act of self-sacrifice that saved lives.
"People want to be proud of the ship they’re sailing in," Hegseth said of the change. "We're not renaming the ship to anything political. This is not about political activists, unlike the previous administration."
Rep Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), pictured in 2016 at the naming ceremony for the USNS Harvey Milk, called the ship's renaming "shameful." (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
The renaming comes amid a push from Hegseth to remove DEI and "woke" policies from the Department of Defense.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
When the move was first reported earlier this month, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called the move a "shameful, vindictive erasure of those who fought to break down barriers for all to chase the American Dream."
"As the rest of us are celebrating the joy of Pride Month, it is my hope that the Navy will reconsider this egregious decision," Pelosi said in a statement.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hegseth-announces-navy-oil-tanker-named-after-gay-rights-leader-renamed-after-medal-honor-winner