Destroyer To Be Christened Mustin

DDG 89, the 18th DDG 51 Class Aegis guided missile destroyer to be built by Northrop Grumman Corporation's Ingalls Operations in Pascagoula,Miss., will be christened "MUSTIN" at Ingalls on Saturday, December 15, 2001.. One of the nation's most prestigious naval families will be honored December 15, 2001, when the U.S. Navy's newest Aegis guided missile destroyer is christened at Northrop Grumman Corporation's Ingalls Operations. The new ship, the DDG 89, will be launched December 12 and later officially christened MUSTIN in recognition of a family that has devoted nearly a century of Navy service to America.

Lucy Holcomb Mustin, wife of ship's namesake Vice Adm. Henry C. Mustin, USN, retired;. Jean Phillips Mustin, wife of ship's namesake Thomas Mustin, former lieutenant commander, USN; and Mrs. Douglas Mustin St. Denis, sister of Vice Adm. Mustin, will christen the vessel during a ceremony to be held at Ingalls' facilities on the west bank of the Pascagoula River. Anne Howard Thomas, who served as Matron of Honor for the first ship named MUSTIN in 1938, will also serve these sponsors as Matron of Honor. Adm. Vern Clark, USN, chief of naval operations, will deliver the ceremony's principal address. MUSTIN (DDG 89) is the 39th ship in the ARLEIGH BURKE (DDG 51) Class of Aegis-guided missile destroyers, the Navy's most powerful destroyer fleet. These highly-capable, multimission ships can conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection. DDG 89 is the 18th Aegis destroyer to be launched and christened of 25 ships under contract or option to Ingalls Operations.

Ingalls' first 15 Aegis destroyers have been delivered to the Navy, with two additional ships now in production that will precede DDG 89 into the fleet. The mission of MUSTIN will be to conduct sustained combat operations at sea, providing primary protection for the Navy's aircraft carriers and battle groups, as well as essential escort to Navy and Marine Corps amphibious forces and auxiliary ships, and independent operations as necessary. DDG 89 will be capable of fighting air, surface and subsurface battles simultaneously. The ship contains myriad offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime defense needs well into the 21st century. Construction of MUSTIN (DDG 89) began on Nov. 22, 1999, and DDG 89's keel was laid on January 15, 2001. When completed in 2003, MUSTIN will be homeported in San Diego as an element of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Cmdr. Ann Phillips, USN, a native of Annapolis, Md., will be the new ship's commissioning commanding officer. MUSTIN (DDG 89) will honor the Mustin family, which has recorded a rich and honorable tradition of naval service. 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 ATLANTA (CL 51) during the naval battle of Guadalcanal. His postwar 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 USS MUSTIN (DD 413) (1939-1946), named in Capt. Henry C. Mustin's honor, earned 13 battle stars for World War II service that included the battles of Santa Cruz 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.