This week, General Dynamics laid the keel of a future Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer for the U.S. Navy.

Bath Iron Works celebrated the keel laying of the USS Quentin Walsh (DDG 132), named in honor of a U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Quentin Walsh, on Tuesday. Walsh received the Navy Cross for leading a small band of Seabees to help secure the Normandy port of Cherbourg three days after D-Day as a base to resupply the Allied forces’ invasion of Europe in World War II.

Walsh led a 16-man special force unit to raid an arsenal area and adjacent waterfront on the western side of the port city, capturing 400 German soldiers. He went on to capture Fort Du Homet and its garrison of 350 German soldiers while liberating 52 captured American paratroopers.

“The keel-laying ceremony marks the coming together on land level of several large units, which our shipbuilders have built to precise specifications in our production buildings,” said BIW President Charles Krugh. “When Quentin Walsh is launched and joins the fleet, it will be a powerful platform our sailors can rely on to protect our country and our families.”

Walsh’s great-granddaughter and ship sponsor, Madison Ann Zolper, authenticated the keel by striking welding sparks into a keel plate with her initials. BIW welder Eric Goldsmith, with 18 years of experience working for BIW, assisted Zolper with the welding.

In addition to the USS Quentin Walsh, BIW is currently building the Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class destroyers Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG 124) and Patrick Gallagher (DDG 127). Flight III destroyers under construction include the Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG 126), William Charette (DDG 130), John E. Kilmer (DDG 134) and Richard G. Lugar (DDG 136).