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Welcome to the destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) official website.
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Dark blue and gold are traditional colors associated with the Navy: red is emblematic of valor and sacrifice and white stands for integrity and purity of purpose. The reversed star refers to the Medal of Honor posthumously awarded to Private First Class Oscar P. Austin, United States Marine Corps, for his self-sacrifice and extraordinary heroism when he threw himself between an enemy grenade and an injured Marine and was mortally wounded by an enemy who was about to shoot his fallen comrade.
 

The white of the globe and the blue of the star are the colors of the ribbon of the Medal of Honor: the reverse star is the silhouette of its pendant. The white globe and anchor, suggesting the United States Marine Corps seal, represented the Navy's global mission. The flames allude to the fire-swept terrain and the enemy fire where PFC Austin gave his life to assist his wounded comrades.
 

Each tine on the trident depicts separate warfare areas: air, surface and subsurface. The two are crossed to denote multiple capabilities. The rice stalks suggest Vietnam where PFC Oscar P. Austin served: the eagle, our National Emblem, symbolized the freedom and principles for which PFC Austin gave his life
 

The crossed Navy sword and Marine mameluke represent cooperation and strength. The mameluke commemorates PFC Oscar P. Austin's service with the Marine Corps, a soldier whose courage and gallantry in the face of certain death exemplified the highest standards of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Navy.

 
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