Bon jour

News item, sad as can be:

MULTIPLE injuries have been reported after an explosion and blaze hit a docked US navy assault ship late Saturday night.

Among the injured are 17 sailors and four civilians whose injuries have been described as non-life threatening. All remaining staff were evacuated from the ship.

In a statement, Rear Admiral Philip Sobeck said that the cause of the fire aboaed the USS Bonhomme Richard is not yet known, though there are initial reports that the following explosion was caused by “a backdraft of over-pressurisation as the compartment started heating up.”

This ship is the fifth US Navy vessel named the Bonhomme Richard. The last couple of days, I have heard the name of the ship being pronounced as if it were "BON home RICH ard," and your French teacher is mad at you about that. It's not "Bon" as in Bon Scott nor is it "Richard" as in Little Richard.

Here's a link to an audio pronunciation guide. Meanwhile, you may practice by saying bahnAHM reeSHAHD.

In French, Bonhomme Richard means Good Man Richard. The name is in honor of Benjamin Franklin, whom your American History teacher is sure you recall as the author of Poor Richard's Almanack (known in France as "Les Maximes du Bonhomme Richard"). Franklin, an author, publisher, inventor and statesman, was the first US Ambassador to France and is regarded there as "The First American" for his work in organizing the colonies into the United States.

The first ship known as USS Bonhomme Richard was a frigate built in France as the Duc de Duras, and was turned over to John Paul Jones in 1779 for his use in defeating the British. Renamed, it served well in battle.

Other vessels bore the name, most notably USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31),  an aircraft carrier that saw action at the end of World War II, throughout the
Korean War, and through the Vietnam War.

The current version is USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6), is an amphibious assault ship currently in service since 1995. Let's hope it's not out of service for long and that all the injured personnel are back aboard soon!