The World’s Largest Aircraft Carrier Just Won Another Award

The USS Gerald R. Ford recently won the annual Fund Award—less than a year after receiving the Battenberg Cup, which honors the “best all-around ship in the Atlantic Fleet.”

The United States Navy’s nuclear-powered supercarrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) has the distinction of being the largest and most advanced warship in service in the world today. Although it has only been in service for two years, it has already won several noteworthy awards, including the Battenberg Cup, two Battle “E” Efficiency Awards, and two Chief of Naval Operations Aviation “S” Safety Awards. It also recently won the Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award for the second time.

CVN-78 was recognized for the award days after the carrier departed from Naval Station Norfolk for a regularly scheduled deployment.

Why Did the Ford Carrier Win the Award?

The USS Gerald R. Ford is, of course, not a battleship—making its victory in an award named for battleships somewhat peculiar. However, the annual Fund Award is presented by the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) to one warship from both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets in recognition of outstanding performance in the respective fleet’s battle efficiency. The winning warship receives a small stipend, which supports the crew’s Morale, Wellness, and Recreation (MWC) programs.

“The Sailors aboard USS Gerald R. Ford represent the best of our nation’s highly trained warriors,” said Capt. David Skarosi, commanding officer of the supercarrier. “I’m thankful every day for the privilege of leading such an inspirational crew, and I’m proud of their hard work and dedication that is so deserving of this award.”

This latest honor comes less than a year after CVN-78 had received the Battenberg Cup, which serves to honor the “best all-around ship in the Atlantic Fleet.” USS Gerald R. Ford received that award following its extended deployment in 2023. During that time, the nuclear-powered supercarrier was dispatched to the region to deter escalation following the outbreak of conflict between Israel and Iranian-backed Hamas in Gaza. There is speculation that the carrier might return to the Middle East in light of the recent escalation between Israel and Iran.

What Is the Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award?

This particular award is also noteworthy in that Marjorie Sterrett had no ties to the US Navy when it was established in 1917. Just a year earlier, the then-13-year-old Miss Sterrett had written a letter to The New York Tribune explaining that she wanted to contribute her weekly 10-cent allowance to the building of a battleship “for Uncle Sam.”

In her letter, Sterrett stated that if she were a boy, she would be a soldier, but as she was not, she wanted to offer what she could instead. In her letter, the young spitfire suggested, “A lot of other kids would give their errand money to start a fund.”

The newspaper of record published the letter, and soon after, former President Theodore Roosevelt responded to Sterrett, offering a dollar of his own. As many as two million children were also reported to have contributed a dime or more. The New York Tribune Association soon established a fund, but it was not used to build a battleship; instead, it awarded prizes to turret and gun crews who achieved the highest scores during practice drills, and to submarine crews for their performance in torpedo exercises.

The award is “now used to recognize those ships which display battle efficiency and emphasize readiness and fitness of the ship,” the US Navy explained.

Sadly, Miss Sterrett did not live to learn of the dozens of US Navy warships that would go on to win the award named in her honor. According to a YouTube video that documented her story, she passed away suddenly from a heart condition in March 1927. She was only 24. However, nearly 100 years later, her legacy endures through the Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund.

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].

Image: Wikimedia Commons.