USS Lassen DDG 82 / Commander Clyde Everett Lassen / Arleigh Burke class Guided Missile Destroyer – US Navy

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Guided Missile Destroyer
DDG 82 - USS Lassen
		USS Lassen (DDG 82)					BiW photo
Type, Class:		Guided Missile Destroyer; Arleigh Burke – class / Flight IIA; planned and built as DDG 82;
Builder:		Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi, USA
STATUS:		Awarded: January 6, 1995; Laid down: August 24, 1998; Launched: October 16, 1999; Commissioned: April 21, 2001; ACTIVE UNIT/ in commission (Pacific Fleet)
Homeport:		forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan
Namesake:		Named after and in honor of Commander Clyde Everett Lassen (1942 – 1994); > see history, below;
Ship's Motto:		> FROM COURAGE LIFE <
Technical Data: (Measures, Propulsion, Armament, Aviation, etc.)		see: INFO > Guided Missile Destroyer / Arleigh Burke - class.
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Clyde Everett Lassen
Photo credits: US Navy, US Naval Historical Center
Namesake & History:
Commander Clyde Everett Lassen (March 14, 1942 – April 1, 1994);
Clyde Everett Lassen, a native of Fort Myers, Florida, earned the Congressional Medal of Honor for his courageous rescue of two downed aviators while commander of a search and rescue helicopter in Vietnam. On June 19, 1968, Lassen, then a 27 year old Lieutenant flying a UH-2 Seasprite, embarked on a mission to recover two downed naval aviators whose plane had been shot down deep in North Vietnamese territory. Upon reaching the hilly terrain where the aviators were hiding, LT Lassen made several attempts to recover the aviators, but dense tree cover, enemy weapons fire and intermittent illumination frustrated his efforts. Determined to complete his mission, LT Lassen turned on the landing lights of the helicopter, despite the danger of revealing his position to the enemy. After the pilots made their way to the helicopter and with his damaged helicopter dangerously low on fuel, LT Lassen evaded further antiaircraft fire before landing safely at sea onboard a guided missile destroyer-with only five minutes of fuel left in the helicopter’s fuel lines. The account of the rescue was logged as a successful, routine search and rescue mission. But at the home base for Helicopter Combat Squadron Seven, the rescue flight of June 19, 1968, will always be acclaimed as one of the most daring feats of flying to come out of the Vietnam Conflict. LT Lassen became the first naval aviator and fifth Navy man to be awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery in Vietnam. Summary of Service             14 September 1961 – 11 October 1965  Enlisted member, USN             12 October 1965 – Ensign, USNR             16 December 1966 – Lieutenant Junior Grade             20 February 1968 – Ensign, USN             20 February 1968 – Lieutenant Junior Grade             01 July 1968 – Lieutenant Duty Stations              Helicopter Combat Support Squadron One             Aviator             Helicopter Combat Support Squadron One, Detachment Atsugi             Maintenance Control Officer             Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Seven             Officer in Charge, SAR DET Decorations and Medals             Air Medal (First Strike/Flight Award)             Presidential Unit Citation – awarded Delta River Patrol Group (Task Group 116.1)             Good Conduct             National Defense Service Medal             Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze stars             Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device Medal of Honor citation CLYDE EVERETT LASSEN Lieutenant, United States Navy Helicopter Squadron 7, Detachment 104 Embarked in USS PREBLE, Republic of Vietnam 19 June 1968 CITATION: "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as pilot and aircraft commander of a search and rescue helicopter, attached to Helicopter Support Squadron 7, during operations against enemy forces in North Vietnam. Launched shortly after midnight to attempt the rescue of 2 downed aviators. Lt. (then Lt.(jg.)) Lassen skillfully piloted his aircraft over unknown and hostile terrain to a steep, tree-covered hill on which the survivors had been located. Although enemy fire was being directed at the helicopter, he initially landed in a clear area near the base of the hill, but, due to the dense undergrowth, the survivors could not reach the helicopter. With the aid of flare illumination, Lt. Lassen successfully accomplished a hover between 2 trees at the survivors' position. Illumination was abruptly lost as the last of the flares were expended, and the helicopter collided with a tree, commencing a sharp descent. Expertly righting his aircraft and maneuvering clear, Lt. Lassen remained in the area, determined to make another rescue attempt, and encouraged the downed aviators while awaiting resumption of flare illumination. After another unsuccessful, illuminated rescue attempt. and with his fuel dangerously low and his aircraft significantly damaged, he launched again and commenced another approach in the face of the continuing enemy opposition. When flare illumination was again lost, Lt. Lassen, fully aware of the dangers in clearly revealing his position to the enemy, turned on his landing lights and completed the landing. On this attempt, the survivors were able to make their way to the helicopter. In route to the coast he encountered and successfully evaded additional hostile antiaircraft fire and, with fuel for only minutes of flight remaining, landed safely aboard U.S.S. Jouett (DLG-29). Lt. Lassen's extraordinary heroism at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Navy." The medal was officially presented 16 January 1969.
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