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US Navy - Guided Missile Destroyer DDG 79 - USS Oscar Austin |
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| 10/24 | ||
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Type,
class: Guided Missile Destroyer - DDG; Arleigh Burke
class, Flight IIA Builder: Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, USA STATUS: Awarded: July 20, 1994 Laid down: October 9, 1997 Launched: November 7, 1998 Commissioned: August 19, 2000 IN SERVICE Homeport: forward deployed to Naval Station Rota, Spain Namesake: PFC Oscar Palmer Austin, USMC (1948-1969) Ships Motto: HONOR AND SACRIFICE Technical Data: see: INFO > Arleigh Burke class Guided Missile Destroyer - DDG |
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| images | ||
 arriving at her new homeport, Naval Station Rota, Spain - October 15, 2024  departing Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia for a scheduled homeport shift to Naval Station Rota, Spain - September 30, 2024  departing Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia for a scheduled homeport shift to Naval Station Rota, Spain - September 30, 2024  Atlantic Ocean - August 2024  Atlantic Ocean - August 2024  during Exercise Formidable Shield - Northern Atlantic Ocean - May 2023  firing a Standard Missile SM-2MR during Exercise Formidable Shield - Northern Atlantic Ocean - May 2023  Tromso, Norway - May 2023  Tromso, Norway - May 2023  arriving in Tromso, Norway - May 4, 2023  returning from sea trials after a Depot Modernization Period (DMP) - Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - February 17, 2022  returning from sea trials after a Depot Modernization Period (DMP) - Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - February 17, 2022  returning from sea trials after a Depot Modernization Period (DMP) - Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - February 17, 2022  returning to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - November 17, 2017  Atlantic Ocean - November 2017  Atlantic Ocean - November 2017  Atlantic Ocean - November 2017  Atlantic Ocean - November 2017 
 Atlantic Ocean - November 2017  Atlantic Ocean - November 2017  Faslane, Scotland, UK - October 2017  Brest, France - October 2017  Eckernforde, Germany - October 2017  Eckernforde, Germany - October 2017  shaft control console - Baltic Sea - September 2017  Baltic Sea - September 2017  Baltic Sea - September 2017  Stockholm, Sweden - September 2017  Danish Straits - September 2017  Arctic Circle - September 2017  Mk.45 gun live fire exercise - Arctic Circle - September 2017  Mk.45 gun control console - Arctic Circle - September 2017  Mk.38 Mod. 2 machine gun live fire exercise - Arctic Circle - September 2017  flight deck control - Arctic Circle - September 2017  Bergen, Norway - August 2017  Theoule-sur-Mer, France - August 2017  Theoule-sur-Mer, France - August 2017  with Bulgarian Navy Frigate Drazki (F 41) - Black Sea - May 2017  with Romanian Navy Frigate Regele Ferdinand (F 221) - Black Sea - May 2017  with Romanian Navy Frigate Regele Ferdinand (F 221) - Black Sea - May 2017  Constanta, Romania - May 2017  aft Mk.41 vertical launching system (VLS) 64 cells - Bosphorus Strait - May 2017  Mk.45 gun fire exercise - Black Sea - May 2017  Mk.32 torpedo tubes exercise - Mediterranean Sea - May 2017  departing Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - April 2017  returning to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - July 2015  returning to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - July 2015  replenishment at sea (RAS) - Mediterranean Sea - June 2015  departing Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - November 2014  Mk.45 gun fire exercise - Atlantic Ocean - July 2014  Tallinn, Estonia - June 2014  Mk.45 gun fire exercise - Baltic Sea - June 2014  departing Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - May 2014  returning to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - February 2013  departing Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - July 2012  Atlantic Ocean - May 2012  Atlantic Ocean - May 2012  Atlantic Ocean - November 2007  Atlantic Ocean - November 2007  Fleet Week New York - May 2007  Mk.45 gun fire exercise - Atlantic Ocean - April 2007  Fleet Week Port Everglades, Florida - May 2006  Persian Gulf - October 2005  Persian Gulf - October 2005  departing Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - September 2005  departing Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - September 2005  departing Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia - September 2005  Atlantic Ocean - July 2005  with USNS Comfort (T-AH 19) - Strait of Gibraltar - January 2003  flight deck control - November 2002  Atlantic Ocean - October 2002  Electric Plant Control Console in the Central Control Station - Mediterranean Sea - February 2002  sea trials - April 2000  sea trials - April 2000  sea trials - April 2000  sea trials - April 2000  sea trials - April 2000  sea trials - April 2000  sea trials - April 2000 
 sea trials - April 2000 
 sea trials - April 2000  sea trials - April 2000  sea trials - April 2000  undated  launching ceremony at Bath Iron Works, Maine - November 7, 1998  keel laying ceremony at Bath Iron Works, Maine - October 9, 1997 |
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USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79): ... history wanted ... |
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Private First Class Oscar Palmer Austin, USMC (January 15,
1948 - February 23, 1969): DDG 79 proudly bears the name of Private First Class Oscar P. Austin, United States Marine Corps. Displaying indomitable courage and selfless devotion to duty. PFC Austin was killed near DaNang, Vietnam in February 1969 when he sacrificed his own life to save an injured companion. He has been recognized with numerous medals and decorations, including the Medal of Honor, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze stars, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Oscar Austin was born January 15, 1948, In Nacogdoches, Texas and grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. He graduated from Phoenix Union High School in 1967, and enlisted in the United Stated Marine Corps in April the following year. Upon completion of Basic Training, Austin was promoted to Private First Class in October 1968. He was transferred to the Republic of Vietnam where he served as an assistant machine gunner with Company E, Second Battalion, Seventh Marine, First Division(Rein), and FMF. During the early morning hours on February 23, 1969, PFC Austin's observation post came under a fierce ground attack by a large North Vietnamese Army force using a heavy volume of hand grenades, satchel charges and small arms fire. Observing that one of his wounded companions had fallen unconscious in a position dangerously exposed to hostile fire, Austin unhesitatingly left the relative security of his fighting hole and, with complete disregard for his own safety, raced across the fire swept terrain to drag the marine to safety. As he neared his companion, he observed an enemy grenade land nearby. Leaping between the grenade and the injured marine, Austin took the full force of the explosion himself. Although he was badly injured, Austin turned to help his fallen companion and saw a North Vietnamese soldier aiming a weapon at the unconscious man. With full knowledge of the probable consequences, Austin threw himself between the injured marine and the hostile soldier. In doing so, he was mortally wounded. It is fitting that the first Flight IIA AEGIS Destroyer is named for PFC Oscar Austin, a soldier whose courage and gallantry in the face of certain death exemplified the highest standards of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Navy. A complete list of his medals and decorations include: the Medal of Honor, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Medal of Honor citation: The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to PRIVATE FIRST CLASS OSCAR P. AUSTIN UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS for service as set forth in the following CITATION: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an Assistant Machine Gunner with Company E, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division in connection with operations against enemy forces in the Republic of Vietnam. During the early morning hours of February 23, 1969, Private First Class Austin's observation post was subjected to a fierce ground attack by a large North Vietnamese Army force supported by a heavy volume of hand grenades, satchel charges and small arms fire. Observing that one of his wounded companions had fallen unconscious in a position dangerously exposed to the hostile fire, Private First Class Austin unhesitatingly left the relative security of his fighting hole and, with complete disregard for his own safety, raced across the fire-swept terrain to assist the Marine to a covered location. As he neared the casualty, he observed an enemy grenade land nearby and, reacting instantly, leaped between the injured Marine and the lethal object, absorbing the effect of its detonation. As he ignored his painful injuries and turned to examine the wounded man, he saw a North Vietnamese Army soldier aiming a weapon at his unconscious companion. With full knowledge of the probable consequences and thinking only to protect the Marine, Private First Class Austin resolutely threw himself between the casualty and the hostile soldier and, in so doing, was mortally wounded. Private First Class Austin's indomitable courage, inspiring initiative and selfless devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country. /S/RICHARD M. NIXON
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