Navy commissions destroyer named for Winter Park veteran

PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. — The U.S. Navy will commission the guided-missile destroyer, USS Delbert D. Black, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020 at Port Canaveral.

The ship is named after the late Delbert D. Black, a long time resident of Winter Park.

The naming of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer comes after nearly a decade of advocacy to honor the First Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy with a ship.

Black, who joined the Navy just after graduating high school in 1940, would rise through the ranks to become the Navy’s First Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy in 1967.

Upon retirement from active duty, Black and his wife moved to Winter Park Fla. where he continued his involvement with the Navy as a member of the USO Council of Central Florida and several other organizations.

Black died at his home in Winter Park March 5, 2000, at the age of 77 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

The destroyer, which was christened in 2017 had been delayed after being damaged in a construction accident in 2019.

After commissioning, the Delbert D. Black will sail to its home port in Mayport near Jacksonville.

You can watch the commissioning ceremony here.

WFTV