The Name

Vinson Massif was named after Carl G. Vinson, a U.S. congressman from Georgia who persuaded the U.S. Government to pledge support for the exploration of Antarctica.  Explore it they did though, curiously, the United States never laid claim to any part of the continent.  Those who are quick to charge the U.S. with "Imperialism" should note that, in this instance at least, they were beaten out by the countries of Russia, Chile, New Zealand, Britain, and France. Some parts of Antarctica are claimed presently by as many as three different countries. While there is evidence to suggest this causes some tension among them, the region's monopoly-equivalent value of Baltic Avenue prevents the kind of escalation that might prompt one to take up arms and freeze to death holding them. 

In addition to the mountain, Carl Vinson is honored in namesake by the Institute of Government at the University of Georgia  as well as a nuclear power aircraft carrier.  In the course of a federal legislative career that spanned 50 years and one month, Carl Vinson was reelected to the U.S. House of Representatives for 26 consecutive terms. Along the way the United State evolved from the Springfield rifle being their principal weapon to Polaris-class submarines, owing in no small measure to the efforts of Carl Vinson.
 
 
Perhaps best known for his support of a strong national defense, Carl Vinson was variously called "Mr. Armed Services" , "Mr. Navy", and "Mr. American." (Reports that he was also "Mr. October" confuse this great American with a male stripper by the same name.) Early in his career, Vinson earned a seat on the House Naval Affairs Committee, then going on to become the committee chairman in 1931. He served in that capacity until 1947, when the Navel Affairs Committee and the Military Affairs Committee combined to become the House Armed Services Committee, over which he served as chairman the remainder of his career. (Correction: In fact there was a four year period of Republican control of Congress during which Carl Vinson was not chairman. Largely regarded as the nation's first experiment in "kinder, gentler" diplomacy, this approach was quickly abandoned the first time some upstart nation needed to be taken to the woodshed.) Carl Vinson set foot outside the United States only once in his entire lifetime, a fact which might invite speculation that he saw the rest of the word as either too dangerous ("somebody get me a frickin' laser beam") or just plain worthless. Whatever the case,his service made a tremendous contribution to America and, in 1964, he was honored with the highest award that a President can bestow upon a civilian, The Presidential Medal of Freedom with Special Designation.