Military

DD 978 Stump
"Tenacity: Foundation of Victory"

The heroic and distinguished naval career of Admiral Felix B. Stump is reflected in the ship's Coat of Arms.

The many decorations received by Admiral Stump for his exemplary service in the Pacific Theater during World War II are represented in the shield. The blue silhouette cross refers to the Navy Cross twice awarded him while in command of Carrier Division 24; the white central star denotes the Silver Star Medal awarded "for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action" against enemy-held islands. The Legion of Merit (which he was awarded three times) is indicated by the crossed arrows in scarlet and white. The U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal, received for exceptionally meritorious services as commander of a combined operations center during the early part of the war, is represented by the colors scarlet, white and blue, the colors of the suspension ribbon of the medal. The four smaller stars in gold are in recognition of the attainment of the rank of Admiral. The gold shield is symbolic of knowledge and achievement.

Admiral Stump's Navy career, his noted boldness, and his service aboard six aircraft carriers are presented by the griffin holding an anchor.

Perhaps the best way to summarize Admiral Stump's philosophy towards his naval career, as well as the best way to summarize the conduct of the proud ship that bears his name, is the ship's motto: TENACITY: FOUNDATION OF VICTORY.

USS Stump is the 16th SPRUANCE-class destroyer. Built by Ingalls Shipbuilding, West Bank, Pascagoula, MS, her keel was laid on July 21, 1975. She was launched on January 8, 1977 and commissioned on August 19, 1978.

The USS Stump's 1980 maiden deployment was to the Mediterranean, serving as flagship for COMDESRON FOURTEEN. Stump conducted Black Sea operations, port visits and extensive USW operations. As a result of her outstanding performance, Stump was awarded the "Hookem Award" for USW excellence by the Commander U.S. Sixth Fleet.

A year later Stump deployed as USCOMSOLANT Flagship for UNITAS XXII. It was on this cruise that Stump obtained it's mascot Felix, a Bluefronted Amazon Parrot, during a port visit to Brazil.

In October 1982, Stump deployed to the Persian Gulf as a part of the Middle East Force to conduct radar picket operations. Returning home in March 1983, Stump participated in Solid Shield '83, a complex exercise involving U.S. NATO ships and the U.S. Air Force.

March 1984 was highlighted by Stump's adoption as state Flagship of West Virginia. Stump than traveled to New Orleans as the U.S. Navy's Host Ship for the 1984 World's Fair. Also in 1984, Stump won the James F. Chezek Memorial Gunnery Award by shooting an extraordinary 496 out of 500 during Naval Gunfire Support Qualifications.

Admiral W. L. McDonald, Commander in Chief Atlantic Fleet, embarked in March 1985 for CARIBOPS '85. While in the Caribbean, Stump again shot Naval Gunfire Support Qualifications and scored 495 out of 500 winning the Atlantic Fleet "Top Gun" award for an unprecedented second year in a row. Stump then deployed for UNITAS XXVI/WATC '85. During the deployment, Stump showed the Flag in port visits to eight South American Nations and six West African Nations. The year 1986 was significant for two reasons. First, Stump was chosen to become the test platform for the Navy's newest Hull Mounted Sonar, the AN/SQS-53C. Using advanced technology, the "53C" will be the sonar for the U.S. Navy combatants well into the twenty-first century. Secondly, Stump was awarded the COMDESRON TEN Battle "E" Efficiency award for overall excellence.

In 1988, Stump deployed to the Mediterranean as part of the USS Eisenhower Battle Group (MED 3-88). In April, and on 48 hour notice, Stump was directed to detach and proceed to the Persian Gulf to replace the USS Samuel B. Roberts which had suffered extensive damage from a mine explosion. Stump returned to Norfolk in August. Stump was underway again in October for six weeks of Caribbean Law Enforcement operations. In December, Stump was presented her second consecutive Battle "E" award by RADM Donnell, Commander Naval Surface Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet.

In October 1989, Stump again deployed to the Mediterranean as part of the Forrestal Battle Group (MED 1-90). During this deployment, Stump was extremely successful in conducting anti-submarine warfare exercises and was once again presented the "Hookem" award for excellence in the area of USW.

In August 1990, Stump transited to Avondale Shipyards in New Orleans, LA for overhaul and major Combat Systems Upgrade. She received the Vertical Launch System (VLS) which is designed to carry, among other things, the battle-proven Tomahawk missile. Stump also received the integrated AN/SQQ-89 USW system, the most sophisticated underwater surveillance system employed by surface vessels. The combination of these two systems makes Stump the most formidable destroyer of its kind in the world today.

In November 1992, Stump deployed to the Arabian Gulf and North Red Sea as part of MEF (1-93) to serve as a ready strike platform. The highlights of the deployment was the devastating Tomahawk missile strike launched against Iraq in support of Operation "Southern Watch" on January 17, 1993.

In July 1994, Stump again deployed to South America for UNITAS XXXV serving as the Flagship for Commander U.S. South Atlantic Force. Stump re-visited eight South American nations, as well as completing another successful transit of the Chilean Inland Waterway.

In February 1995, Stump deployed to the Caribbean Sea in support of Counter Drug Operations, transiting the Panama Canal. During this period Stump participated in a Search and Rescue mission in the Pacific Ocean. In cooperation with a Colombian Coast Guard Cutter, Stump located and recovered a survivor of a wrecked Colombian vessel. Stump returned in April 1995.

As part of a reorganization announced in mid-1995 of the Atlantic Fleet's surface combatant ships into six core battle groups, nine destroyer squadrons and a new Western Hemisphere Group, the USS Stump was reassigned to Destroyer Squadron 2. The reorganization was to be phased in over the summer and take effect on Aug. 31, with homeport shifts to occur through 1998.

Stump deployed in August 1996 for a Middle Eastern Force cruise to conduct Maritime Interception Operations and act as Ready Strike Destroyer in the Arabian Gulf. The USS Stump (DD 978) relieved the USS Laboon (DDG 58) on September 28 as the maritime interception operations/strike platform in the North Arabian Gulf. While in the Gulf, Stump completed over 40 boarding in support of Maritime Interdiction Operations and participated in 11 Arabian Gulf Tomahawk exercises, including one as Launch Area Coordinator. A mainstay during this deployment, Stump remained underway for over 80 percent of the time she was in the Gulf.

Following the return from its Middle Eastern Force deployment in February 1997, Stump conducted an extensive DSRA and immediately commenced a rigorous training cycle which culminated in a highly successful Final Evaluation Period. In January 1998 Stump commenced work-ups for its upcoming Sixth Fleet deployment by participating in COMPTUEX and JTFEX as part of the USS Eisenhower Battle Group. In March of 1998 the Sara Ann (a Fishing Trawler) was operating off the Virginia Cape when the seas became to much and she started taking on water. Stump was able to assist in rescuing the crew and provide safe passage back to Norfolk, VA.

The USS Stump (DD-978), while conducting routine operations on April 17, 1998, was informed by Coast Guard Station Portsmouth that the fishing vessel Sara Ann was in distress. The destroyer subsequently rescued four civilians about 65 nautical miles off Cape Hatteras, NC.

Stump deployed to the Mediterranean as part of Sixth Fleet in June 1998. The USS Stump, as part of Destroyer Squadron Two, joined five other nations and other U.S. Navy warships in the central Mediterranean for the execution of SHAREM 125, from July 9-15, 1998. SHAREM 125 was the latest in a series of SHAREM exercises designed to test and evaluate undersea warfare tactics, weapons, sensors and procedures. SHAREM is a Chief of Naval Operations program established in 1969 to continuously improve the quality of undersea warfare.

The USS Stump (DD 978), took part in the Fleet Battle Experiment Hotel (FBE-H) which was conducted by units of the 2nd Fleet and personnel of the Navy Warfare Development Command (NWDC) from August 28 to September 12, 2000 off the Virginia Capes and in the Gulf of Mexico. This was the eighth in a series of fleet battle experiments designed to evaluate new naval warfare concepts and technological capabilities. Under U.S. Joint Forces Command's overarching experiment, "Millennium Challenge 00," FBE-H ran concurrently with the U.S. Army's Joint Contingency Force Advanced Warfighting Experiment, the U.S. Air Force Joint Contingency Force Experiment 2000 and the U.S. Marine Corps' Millennium Dragon.

The focus of FBE-H was the application of network centric operations in gaining and sustaining access in support of follow on joint operations. Access denial was expected to be the focus of any potential adversary's strategy. Specifically, FBE-H further developed NWDC's draft Access Concept entitled "Poseidon's Presence". In addition, the NATO exercise "Unified Spirit" ran concurrently with the JTFEX, with forces from Canada, Denmark, France, Germany and the United Kingdom playing major roles.

The USS Stump deployed in late November 2000 along with the USS Harry S Truman Battle Group. Prior to that, the USS Stump took part in Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 01-1, to certify the carrier battle group for deployment. This was the first deployment for the USS Harry S Truman, which was commissioned in 1998. The deployment included extensive operations in the Mediterranean Sea, Indian Ocean and primarily the Persian Gulf. While operating in the Persian Gulf, the Truman Battle Group enforced United Nations sanctions against Iraq by diverting 22 vessels with more than $5 million of suspected contraband cargo. Throughout the deployment, the battle group also participated in numerous international exercises, including Arabian Gauntlet, an 11-nation exercise that involved more than 20 ships. Additionally, U.S. Sailors worked with military forces from Oman, Jordan, Tunisia, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, improving interoperability and strengthening relationships with those countries. The USS Stump, along with the rest of the CVBG and ARG ships returned home on May 24 2001.

By 2001 corrosion under insulation on shipboard piping was a serious problem, in particular as USS Stump (DD 978) got older. Visual inspection techniques that require removal of pipe insulation are prohibitively expensive in both labor and material costs, and are very time consuming. Responding to a request by the Port Engineer for the USS Stump (DD 978), NTIAC applied newly developed guided wave ultrasonics NDE technology to inspect bleed air piping on the USS Stump. The bleed air piping is a high temperature system that is fully insulated. The request was made by the Stump's Port Engineer because the ship had experienced an unexpected failure in the bleed air piping during a previous deployment and a rapid turnaround was needed since the ship was to be redeployed shortly.

NTIAC had previously participated in development of the guided wave ultrasonics NDE technology under sponsorship of the Office of Naval Research. Using guided waves travelling down the length of an insulated pipe, this technology is capable of detecting corrosion pitting and generalized wall thinning with removal of only minimal patches of insulation periodically for application of the sensors to the pipe. Using this technology, pipe lengths 20 to 30 feet long can be inspected without removing insulation.

NTIAC demonstrated application of the guided wave technology by inspecting approximately 180 feet of bleed air piping aboard the USS Stump in Norfolk, Virginia. Although the vast majority of the piping was found to be for service, areas suspected to contain damage were marked for additional inspection by the Navy prior to redeployment and to direct monitoring of the piping systems during sea operations.

Stump and its embarked detachment from Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 42 departed their homeports of Norfolk, Va., and Mayport, Fla., respectively, June 2, 2003 for a routine six-month deployment to the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command area of responsibility, which includes the Caribbean Sea, eastern Pacific and southern Atlantic.

Acting on an international distress call relayed by U.S. Coast Guard District 11, USS Stump in August 2003, conducted an 11-hour, high-speed transit to render assistance to a distressed fishing vessel and its six crew members, while conducting counter-drug operations in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Responding to the call for assistance, the destroyer made best speed to the Salvadoran-flagged fishing vessel Vikingo's last known position, 200 nautical miles west of Costa Rica. When within range, Stump's embarked "Proud Warrior" helicopter deployed to quickly locate the drifting Vikingo.

This was Stump's second search and rescue operation in the eastern Pacific. June 19, 2003, Stump assisted the U.S.-flagged sailing vessel Okiva, becalmed with engine and sail problems 200 miles west of Ecuador. Stump's R&A Team provided Okiva with fuel and effected engine repairs, allowing her to continue her voyage from Panama to the Galapagos Islands.

Stump had been slated to remain in service until the year 2006, but decomissioned on 22 October 2004.

Admiral Felix Budwell Stump

A native of Parkersburg, WV, Felix Budwell Stump was appointed to the Naval Academy from that state in 1913. He graduated in March 1917, just prior to the United States' entrance into World War I, during which he served in the gunboat YORKTOWN and as Navigator of the cruiser Cincinnati, operating on escort duty in the Atlantic.

After the war, he served in the battleship Alabama, had flight training at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, and post-graduate instruction in Aeronautical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He subsequently served in Torpedo Squadron 2 of the experimental carrier Langley; as Assembly and Repair Officer at the Naval Air Station, Hampton Roads, Virginia; and in command of the Cruiser Scouting Wing and on the Staff of Commander, ruisers, Scouting Fleet. He then had two tours of duty in the Bureau of Aeronautics; and was Commanding Officer of the Saratoga's Scout Bombing Squadron 2, and Navigator and Executive Officer, respectively, of the carriers Lexington and Enterprise.

In command of the Langley in Manila Bay at the outbreak of World War II, he was transferred in January 1942 to the Staff of the Commander- in-Chief, Asiatic Fleet. For exceptionally meritorious service "as Commander of the combined operation center of the Allied-American, British, Dutch and Australian Air Command..." he was awarded the U.S. Army's Distinguished Service Medal.

In 1942, he had eight months' duty as Air Officer for Commander, Western Sea Frontier, then commanded the new carrier Lexingotn, which was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for heroism in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands operations in 1943. He was awarded the Silver Star Medal for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against enemy Japanese-held islands..." from September to December 1943. He later commanded Carrier Division 24, and was awarded the Navy Cross twice, the Legion of Merit (three awards) and has the Ribbon for the Presidential Unit Citation to his flagship, the Natoma Bay.

He was Chief of the Naval Air Technical Training Command from May 1945 to December 1948, after which he served successively as Commander Air Force, Atlantic Fleet, and Commander Second Fleet. He became Commander-in-Chief, Pacific and U.S. Pacific Fleet, with Headquarters at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 10 July 1953. In February 1958, when the command was divided, he was relieved of duty as Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet, but continued to serve as Commander-in-Chief, Pacific until his retirement, effective 1 August 1958. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for "exceptionally meritorious service..." as Commander-in-Chief, Pacific, Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet; United States Miliary Advisor to the Southeast Treaty Organization; and United States Military Representative to the Australia, New Zealand, United States Treaty Organization.

After his retirement, he was appointed to the position of Vice Chairman of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, PA.