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next 6 photos:
The decommissioned Spruance-class
destroyer ex-Paul F. Foster (EDD 964) conducts a successful demonstration of
shipboard alternative fuel use while
underway in the Pacific Ocean on a 50-50
blend of an algae-derived, hydro-processed algal oil and petroleum F-76. Paul
F. Foster has been
reconfigured as the Self-Defense Test
Ship to provide the Navy an at-sea, remotely controlled, engineering test and
evaluation platform without the risk to
personnel or operational assets - 2011
2002
2002
during overaul - Long Beach Naval
Shipyard - 1995
replenishment with USS Wichita (AOR 1) -
1993
replenishment with USS Wichita (AOR 1) -
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replenishment with USS Wichita (AOR 1) -
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Vice
Admiral Paul Frederick Foster (March 25, 1889 - January 30, 1972):
Paul Frederick Foster was born on March 25, 1889 in
Wichita, Kansas. He received a senatorial appointment from the State of Idaho
to the U.S. Naval Academy. Following graduation in 1911, he served in the
armored cruiser Washington and the battleship Utah as a midshipman and, in
March 1912, was commissioned as an Ensign. On 21-22 April 1914, Foster
participated at the intervention at Vera Cruz, Mexico, leading his landing
company with skill and courage. For his "distinguished conduct in
battle", he was awarded the Medal of Honor. After submarine instruction
on board USS Prairie, he reported on board USS G-4. In March 1915, Foster was
promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade and, in early 1916, was placed in command
of G-4. Relocating to Ireland in December 1917, he was assigned to the
submarine tender Bushnell in Bantry Bay, Ireland. Foster was temporarily
promoted to Lieutenant in May 1918. While serving in Irish waters, he took
command of the submarine L-2. Lieutenant Foster was awarded the Distinguished
Service Medal for his role in the sinking of the German submarine UB-65 off
the Irish coast on 10 July 1918.
Foster received a temporary promotion to Lieutenant Commander and had shore
duty as a Tactical Instructor with Submarine Division 2 at New London,
Connecticut. In June 1920, he was briefly assigned to the new battleship
Tennessee, then transferred to the minelayer San Francisco for six months as
her Executive Officer. In July 1921, Foster reported for duty as the Officer
in Charge of the Navy Recruiting Bureau in New York City. As the principal
Navy liaison with the city's newspapers and magazines, he organized the first
Navy radio programs and newreels. In December 1921, he was permantly promoted
to Lieutenant Commander. In early 1924, he became the Engineering Officer of
the new light cruiser Trenton. On 20 October 1924, Foster saved lives of
several crewmen when one of the ship's turrets exploded and caught fire. For
his "extraordinary heroism" in that incident, he was awarded the
Navy Cross. Lieutenant Commander Foster thus became the first person to
receive all three of the Navy's highest awards. In July 1927, he returned to
New York City for service with the Third Naval District, and in March 1929,
resigned from the regular Navy and entered the Naval Reserve.
Recalled to active duty during World War II, Foster was promoted to Captain
and assigned to the Logistics Plans Division of the Office of the Chief of
Naval Operations. He was later the Assistant Naval Inspector General and a
member of the Navy Manpower Survey Board. He retired with the rank of Vice
Admiral in December 1946. After some time in the private sector, Foster
joined the Atomic Energy Commission in June 1954 as a special assistant,
becoming its General Manager four years later. In 1959, President Dwight D.
Eisenhower appointed him to the International Atomic Energy Agency, in
Vienna, Austria, with the rank of Ambassador, and he served in that position
until 1961. Paul F. Foster died on 30 January 1972 at Virginia Beach,
Virginia and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia.
Medal of Honor citation of Ensign Paul
Frederick Foster, USN. (as printed in the official publication "Medal of
Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 99):
"For distinguished conduct in battle, engagements of Vera Cruz, 21
and 22 April 1914. In both days' fighting at the head of his company, Ensign
Foster was eminent and conspicuous in his conduct, leading his men with skill
and courage."
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USS
Paul F. Foster (DD 964):
Operating out of San Diego, Paul F. Foster
became the first Spruance-class destroyer to deploy to the Western Pacific in
March 1978. The ship deployed again in 1979 and 1982, serving in the Indian
Ocean and Western Pacific.
Paul F. Foster joined Destroyer Squadron Nine and moved to its new home port
of Long Beach, California, in August 1983. She became the Navy's first
"all electric destroyer" after major modifications at Long Beach
Naval Shipyard, which included the addition of a fourth ship's service gas
turbine generator.
On 29 August 1984, Paul F. Foster began its fourth Western Pacific deployment
as Destroyer Squadron Nine's flagship, with then DESRON NINE Commodore, T.O.
GABRIEL and his staff embarked aboard, leading a five-ship surface action
group and participating in several major allied fleet exercises.
During a fifth deployment beginning in August 1986 with DESRON NINE as part
of the Carl Vinson Battle Group, Paul F. Foster was awarded the Meritorious
Unit Commendation for her performance in Operation Kernel Potlatch in the
North Pacific and Bering Sea.
From July 1987 through July 1988, Paul F. Foster completed a regular overhaul
at Northwest Marine Iron Works in Portland, Oregon. During the overhaul the
ship received over 55 major ship alterations, including installation of the
Mk 41 Vertical Launch System for Tomahawk cruise missiles, the AN/SQQ-89
Anti-Submarine Warfare Detection System, and facilities to employ the Navy's
most sophisticated submarine helicopter, the LAMPS MkIII.
Paul F. Foster departed on its sixth Western Pacific/Indian Ocean deployment
on 24 February 1989 in company with the Ranger Battle Group. Conducting North
Arabian Sea operations, the ship was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary
Medal.
On 8 December 1990, Paul F. Foster departed Long Beach on its seventh
overseas deployment to the Persian Gulf in support of Operations Desert
Shield and Desert Storm. The first ship to fire Tomahawk missiles against
Iraqi targets, she was instrumental in the liberation of Kuwait and in
winning the campaign. Deploying for the eighth time on 20 July 1992, she
returned to the Arabian Sea, where she operated in support of Persian Gulf
Operations-Southern Watch while participating in numerous bilateral exercises
with Persian Gulf Nations.
During the ship's ninth deployment, Paul F. Foster again served with Carl
Vinson Battle Group and was the first ship on the scene to provide assistance
to a burning ocean going tug, Glorious City, putting out the fire and saving
its crew of seven.
Upon returning from deployment on 20 October 1994, Paul F. Foster entered
into a regular overhaul at Long Beach Naval Shipyard where several of the
latest technological weapons, sensors and engineering systems were added. A
major change implemented during this overhaul was a retrofit of a berthing,
to accommodate her first female crew members. After completion of overhaul,
she moved to her new home port of Everett, Washington arriving November 22,
1995, the day before Thanksgiving.
During the ship's tenth deployment which began 21 February 1997, Paul F.
Foster was a part of the multinational force during Persian Gulf Operations,
enforcing United Nations sanctions against Iraq.
Paul F. Foster departed for her eleventh deployment on 27 January 1999. While
serving as part of the Pacific Middle East Force, she participated in
Operation Iron Siren, Eager Sentry, and Arabian Gauntlet. In addition, the
ship conducted boarding's in support of United Nations sanctions against
Iraq. Shortly before departure, two children were baptized in the ship's
bell.
Paul F. Foster departed for her twelfth deployment on 11 January 2001, where
the ship once again conducted numerous boarding operations in support of the
United Nations sanctions against Iraq. Her thirteenth and final deployment
began on 18 June 2002.
Paul F. Foster was decommissioned on 27 March 2003. In 2004, Paul F. Foster
was designated to replace ex-Decatur as the Navy's Self Defense Test Ship, a
role she assumed in 2005. In support of this new role, she is assigned to
Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division. In 2008, Paul F. Foster
was used in an episode of NCIS (Road Kill) portraying USS Rubicon, a ship
about to be decommissioned. As of 2011, Paul F. Foster is the last surviving
example of the Spruance Class.
On 8 April 2011, Wired.com reported that Paul F. Foster had successfully used
the Maritime Laser Demonstrator for the first time in a sea-to-sea target
test, sinking a small inflatable motorboat at a range of one mile in rough
seas.
On 17 November 2011, Paul F. Foster demonstrated the use of shipboard
alternative fuel, while underway in the Pacific Ocean on a 50–50 blend of an
algae-derived, hydro-processed algal oil and petroleum F-76. The ship arrived
Thursday morning to the Naval Surface Warfare Center at Port Hueneme in
Southern California after traveling for 17 hours on a maiden trip from San
Diego.
source: wikipedia
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