Military

Navy to Commission Destroyer Mustin

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS030725-01

Release Date: 7/25/2003 9:17:00 AM

From Naval Sea Systems Command Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy will commission the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Mustin (DDG 89), during a ceremony July 26 at Naval Air Station North Island.

Adm. Vern Clark, Chief of Naval Operations, will deliver the principal address. Mustin's sponsors, Lucy Holcomb Mustin, wife of ship's co-namesake retired Vice Adm. Henry C. Mustin, II; Jean Phillips Mustin, wife of ship's co-namesake retired Lt. Cmdr. Thomas M. Mustin; and Douglas Mustin St. Denis, sister of Henry C. Mustin, II and Thomas M. Mustin, will give the order to "man our ship and bring her to life!"

Mustin, the Navy's 39th Arleigh Burke destroyer, honors a family with a legacy of naval service spanning more than a century.

Capt. Henry C. Mustin (1874-1923) earned a distinguished-service commendation in the capture of Vigan, Philippines, in 1899; flew the first aircraft ever catapulted from a ship; in 1914, flew the first operational missions of naval aircraft during the Veracruz operation; and was the first commander of aircraft squadrons, battle fleet.

Henry C. Mustin's son, Vice Adm. Lloyd Mustin (1911-1999), contributed to the development of 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 aboard the cruiser USS Atlanta (CL 51) during the battle of Guadalcanal. His postwar service included the role of operations director, Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Lloyd Mustin's sons, Henry C. Mustin II and Thomas Mustin, continued the family legacy during the later half of the 20th century. Henry C. Mustin II is a decorated Vietnam veteran who was naval inspector general, 2nd Fleet commander and deputy chief of naval operations for plans and policy in the 1980s. Thomas Mustin earned a Bronze Star during the Vietnam conflict for river patrol combat action.

Cmdr. Ann Phillips, a native of Annapolis, Md., is Mustin's commissioning commanding officer. The ship will be homeported in San Diego.