MILLINGTON, Tenn. – Petty Officer 1st Class Raven Beach, a native of Lawton, Oklahoma, assigned to the U.S. Navy amphibious transport dock warship USS Richard McCool Jr., traveled to the late Capt. Richard McCool Jr.’s hometown of Tishomingo and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, from July 2-7, to honor the legacy of the ship’s namesake.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Lawton.
“My mother was a single mom,” Beach said. “Watching her while growing up taught me about personal strength and how to depend on yourself to complete goals. Bringing that into the Navy has made me a better sailor and leader.”
Beach graduated from Eisenhower High School in 2006 and joined the Navy 18 years ago. Today, Beach serves as an electronics technician.
“I joined the Navy to see the world, defend my country and keep my family safe,” Beach said.
This was the Richard McCool Jr. crew’s first visit to the area since its commissioning in 2024.
The visit provided an opportunity for the local community to engage with their U.S. Navy and witness firsthand the professionalism and commitment of its sailors, while also giving the crew a chance to learn more about the late Capt. McCool’s small-town American origins and to build upon this meaningful namesake connection.
During the visit, sailors participated in the LibertyFest Big Songs & Stripes Show and celebrated America’s 250th Fourth of July at the LibertyFest parade. The sailors also visited Capt. McCool’s hometown of Tishomingo to see an exhibit in his name at the Chickasaw Bank Museum, participated in a wreath-laying ceremony and attended an open community forum hosted by the American Legion.
The ship was named for the late Capt. Richard McCool Jr., a Tishomingo native who received the Medal of Honor in 1945 for the heroism he displayed after his ship was attacked by kamikaze aircraft in the Battle of Okinawa in World War II. Despite suffering from shrapnel wounds and painful burns, he led efforts to battle a blazing fire on his ship and rescue injured sailors.
San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock warship with the mission to land, train, and deploy a Marine Landing Force during sustained joint amphibious combat operations at sea, ashore, and in the air. The warship is crewed by sailors and Marines who support joint maritime operations using the Navy’s newest state-of-the-art combat systems, enabling the rapid deployment of Marines ashore by air or sea. Additionally, the vessel is fully equipped to provide critical support for humanitarian disaster relief and evacuation missions.
For more information about USS Richard McCool Jr., visit the ship’s official U.S. Navy page at https://www.surflant.usff.navy.mil/LPD29/ or the ship’s official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LPD29/
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber-optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Beach has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“My proudest accomplishment is being able to help other people,” Beach said. “I love training and helping each sailor grow into future leaders of the Navy and our country.”
Beach serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“The Navy has given me many opportunities that I would not have had if I had just stayed in my hometown,” Beach added. “I believe that to become a better and more well-rounded person, everyone needs to explore the world and see how different and wonderful it is. There are so many views and lessons I would not have experienced unless I took that first step. Serving in the Navy gives me an opportunity to not only protect what I hold dear, but it has pushed me to become a better person, even when it was hard.”
This year, the Navy is commemorating its contribution to the nation’s defense as the United States celebrates 250 years of independence. According to Navy officials, for more than 250 years, the Navy has sailed the globe defending freedom and protecting prosperity. More information is available here: https://www.navy.mil/navy-250/