Navy will name ship after late Metlakatla veteran Sol Atkinson

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy is naming a ship after decorated Alaska Native veteran Solomon “Sol” Atkinson, of Metlakatla.

Atkinson, who died in 2019, was one of the first Navy SEALs. He was deployed to Korea and completed three tours in Vietnam, for which he was awarded a Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Among his many acts of service, Atkinson also trained astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin in underwater weightless simulations.

The Navy announced plans Aug. 7 to name a future Navajo-class oceangoing tug and rescue ship — which are traditionally named for prominent Indigenous people and tri...