210508-N-OA516-1254

SAN DIEGO (May 8, 2021) Lt. Gen. Karsten S. Heckl, commanding general of the First Marine Expeditionary Force, delivers remarks during the commissioning ceremony of the Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary mobile base USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5). Miguel Keith is the Navy’s third purpose-built expeditionary sea base (ESB). While originally created to operate as a support ship under Military Sealift Command, USS Miguel Keith has been commissioned to provide greater mission flexibility in accordance with the laws of armed conflict. It is the first U.S. warship named for Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Miguel Keith, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kevin C. Leitner)