USS Oscar Austin DDG 79 / PFC Oscar Palmer Austin / Arleigh Burke class Guided Missile Destroyer – US Navy
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Naval Forces Technology, History & Information

 

Guided Missile Destroyer

DDG 79   -   USS Oscar Austin

USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79)

BiW photo

Type, Class:

 

Guided Missile Destroyer; Arleigh Burke – class / Flight IIA;

planned and built as DDG 79;

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;

ACTIVE UNIT/ in commission (Atlantic Fleet)

Homeport:

 

Norfolk, Virginia, USA

Namesake:

 

Named after and in honor of PFC Oscar Palmer Austin, USMC (1948 – 1969);

> see history, below;

Ship's Motto:

 

> HONOR AND SACRIFICE <

Technical Data:

(Measures, Propulsion,

Armament, Aviation, etc.)

 

see: INFO > Guided Missile Destroyer / Arleigh Burke - class.

 

Pictures, photos & more ...

 

Oscar Palmer Austin

 

Photo credits: US Navy, US Naval Historical Center

 

Namesake & History:

Private First Class Oscar Palmer Austin, USMC (January 15, 1948 – February 23, 1969);

 

Oscar P. Austin, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam in February 1969, was born 15 January 1948, in Nacogdoches, Texas. He attended Booker T. Washington Elementary School in Phoenix, Arizona, and Phoenix Union High School.

 

Inducted into the U.S. Marine Corps at Phoenix, 22 April 1968, he completed recruit training with the 3d Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, in July 1968; individual combat training with Company T, 3d Battalion, 2d Infantry Training Regiment, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, California, in August 1968; and basic infantry training with Weapons Company, Basic Infantry Training Battalion, 2d Infantry Training Regiment at Camp Pendleton, in September.

 

Promoted to private first class, 1 October 1968, he was transferred later that month to the Republic of Vietnam where he served as ammunitions man with Company E, 2d Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. While participating in combat 6 ½ miles west of Da Nang on 23 February 1969, he was killed in action.

 

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:

Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, Company E, 2d Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, (Rein), FMF. Place and date: West of Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam, 23 February 1969. Entered service at: Phoenix, Ariz. Born: 15 January 1948, Nacogdoches, Tex. 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, in connection with operations against enemy forces. During the early morning hours Pfc. 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 1 of his wounded companions had fallen unconscious in a position dangerously exposed to the hostile fire, Pfc. Austin unhesitatingly left the relative security of his fighting hole and, with complete disregard for his 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 effects 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, Pfc. Austin resolutely threw himself between the casualty and the hostile soldier, and, in doing, was mortally wounded. Pfc. Austin's indomitable courage, inspiring initiative and selfless devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

(-Richard M. Nixon-)

 

USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79):

 

… DDG 79 history wanted …

 

… and patches …

 

 

 

 

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