Senior Chief Operations Specialist Thomas Dunning and

Senior Chief Operations Specialist Thomas Dunning and Command Master Chief Anthony Decker, each assigned to the blue and gold crews, respectfully, of the littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1), escort the ship's sponsor, Birgit Smith, to the stage during Freedom's commissioning ceremony. Smith is the widow of Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith, who was awarded the first Medal of Honor in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Freedom is an innovative combatant designed to operate quickly in shallow water environments to counter challenging threats in coastal regions, specifically mines, submarines and fast surface craft. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Matthew Olay/Released)..