Brigade Commander's Plaque

February 14, 2002

Greetings 79ers!
I was recently asked by the USNA Alumni Association Foundation to see if the Class of 1979 would fund a renovation of the Brigade Commander's Plaque in the Rotunda area of Bancroft Hall. You may remember that it was located across from the main office where we stood watch. The plaque is just about full of names, one from each class, so a new addition is needed. Since the Class of 1879 funded the original (in 1926), the Foundation thought that we would be the logical link. After discussion with the Class Officers and few other local 79ers, we decided to proceed with this project. When completed, we will have some good visibility in the Rotunda of Bancroft Hall.

Omnes Viri!
Sean Cate
Class President

			DDG-79

The Class of '79 is the proud sponsor of DDG 79 USS OSCAR AUSTIN. The ship is named for PFC Oscar Austin, USMC, a Medal of Honor winner in Vietnam. The OSCAR AUSTIN is the first Flight IIA Arleigh Burke Class Aegis destroyer, which means it's the first of the Arleigh Burkes that can embark SH-60 LAMPS helicopters. So the last of its kind (Omnes Viri) shares the same number as the first of its kind (helo-capable Burke).

DDG 79 USS OSCAR AUSTIN		PFC Oscar Austin USMC

Here are some interesting links about DDG 79. Have fun browsing!

• http://www.oscar-austin.navy.mil (ship's official web site - not too much here)
• http://www.hazegray.org/features/ddg79/ (info on commissioning of ship - includes some photos
• http://www.mishalov.com/Austin.html (Oscar Austin's Medal of Honor citation, with his official photo
• http://www.marzone.com/7thMarines/MOH0DDG794.htm (a couple more photos, including a candid shot of namesake
• http://www.flagshipnews.com/archives/sep272001_15.shtml (news article - ship's first birthday September 2001
• http://www.gdbiw.com/image_gallery/Bath_Built_Ships/0466_c_DDG-79/default.htm (Bath Iron Works - has a couple high-resolution photos of the ship)

And for those of you who would like a DDG 79 ball cap or that all-important plaque (PLAQUE! PLAQUE! PLAQUE!), click on these:

• http://www.historyshopping.com/forms/shopping/*ws4d-db-query-QuickShow?CAPdg79
• http://www.historyshopping.com/forms/shopping/*ws4d-db-query-QuickShow?PLAQUEdg79