NAVY WIRE SERVICE (NWS) - October 25, 1999 

NWS25oct-3. Secretary of the Navy assigns new ship name

by the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)

    WASHINGTON (NWS) -- Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig
has announced his decision to name the 39th ship of the
Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyers, "Mustin."
    Mustin (DDG 89) will honor the Mustin family, which has
recorded a rich and honorable tradition of naval service.
This tradition is marked by officers who were
extraordinarily creative innovators. The Mustins' legacy to
the Navy service lasted from 1896 until 1989 -- nearly one
century of naval history.
    Capt. Henry C. Mustin, U.S. Navy (1874-1923), a 1896
graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, earned a commendation
for distinguished service in the capture of Vigan,
Philippines, in 1899; flew the first aircraft ever
catapulted from a ship; flew the first operational missions
of naval aircraft during the Veracruz operation in 1914; and
was the first commander of Aircraft Squadrons, Battle Fleet.
    His son, Vice Adm. Lloyd Mustin, (1911-1999), a 1932
graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, took part in developing
the Navy's first lead-computing anti-aircraft gun sight,
which proved of major importance in the air-sea actions of
World War II, and served on the cruiser USS Atlantic (CL 51)
during the naval battle of Guadalcanal. His ship was lost
during that action, and with other survivors he landed on
Guadalcanal and served ashore with a naval unit attached to
the First Marine Division. His post-war service included
commands at sea and development and evaluation of weapon
systems. He later served as director of operations for the
Joint Chiefs of Staff.
    The destroyer Mustin (DD 413) (1939-1946), named in
Capt. Henry C. Mustin's honor, earned thirteen battle stars
for World War II service that included the battles of Santa
Crux and Guadalcanal and major amphibious operations in the
Pacific.
    Vice Adm. Mustin's two sons, retired Navy Vice Adm.
Henry C. Mustin, and Lt. Cmdr. Thomas M. Mustin have
continued their family's legacy of service. Vice Adm.
Mustin, a 1955 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, is a
decorated Vietnam veteran who served in the 1980's as the
Naval Inspector General; Commander, Second Fleet and Deputy
Chief of Naval Operations for Plans and Policy.  Lt. Cmdr.
Mustin, also a Naval Academy graduate (1962) earned a Bronze
Star during the Vietnam conflict for river patrol combat
action.
    Aegis destroyers are equipped to conduct a variety of
missions, from peacetime presence and crisis management to
sea control and power projection, in support of national
military strategy.  They operate with battle groups in high-
threat environments and provide essential escort
capabilities to Navy and Marine Corps amphibious forces,
combat logistics ships and convoys.
    These multi-mission ships are equipped with the Navy's
modern Aegis combat weapons system, which combines space-age
communication, radar and weapons technologies in a single
platform for unlimited flexibility while operating
"Forward...From the Sea." These destroyers replace older,
less capable ships that are being taken out of service as
the Navy reduces spending while maintaining quality as part
of its overall plan to recapitalize the fleet.
     The ship will carry Standard surface-to-air missiles
and Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from forward and aft
vertical launching systems; two fully automated, radar-
controlled Phalanx close-in weapons systems; Harpoon anti-
ship missiles; two torpedo launchers; one five-inch gun; and
electronic warfare systems.
                            -USN-