Austin (LPD 4) - Naval Cruise Book

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Captain Frederick R, Sabine Commanding Officer ass AusUn (LPI 4) Captain Frederick R. Sabine was bom in Syracuse. h.Y. on September 10. 1928. He enlisted in the Navy in May of 1947. After completing recruit training and submarine school he served as a Commissaryman on the USS Chopper (SS342) and later the USS Spikeftsh (SS-404). After a tour of recruiting duty he attended Officer Candidate School in Newport R.I. He was commissioned an Ensign on August 3. 1956. His rirst assignment was Gunnery Officer on board the USS Hugh Purvis (DD-709). Following this assignment he served at NRS Richmond. Va. He returned to sea as Operations OfTicer on board the USS Tmckee (AO- 147). In October 1963 he became Weapons Officer of the Amphibious Training Unit located at the Naval Amphibious Base at Little Creek, Va. It was back to sea again in October 1 965 as Executive Officer of the USS Kankakee (AO-39). He then transferred to COMNAVFORV as the Current Plans Officer He then returned to Little Creek as the Director of the Special Operations Department of the NAVPHIBSCOL. During this time he quaUried as a peirachutisL Commander Sabine then served as the Executive Officer of the USS Savannah (AOR-4). It was back to Little Creek in September 1972 this time as Commander Inshore Undersea Warfare Group Two. He then served on the staff of COMNAVINSWARLANT as Operations Officer In July 1973 he assumed command of the USS LaMoure County (LSTII94). He then attended the U.S. Army War College. After graduation he became the Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans. COMPHIBGRU ONE in White Beach. Okinawa. While serving there he was promoted to Captain. Captain Sabine took command of the Naval AmphitX)us School at Little Creek Va. in July 1978. In March 1980 he assumed command of the USS Austin (LPD 4). He is married to the former Rita D. LeBtanc and they have three children.

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ass AUSTIN (LPD-4) The CISS Austin (LPD-4) was commissioned on February 6. 1965. She is the fourth ship of her type and the first of her class. In the ensuing fifteen years the name Austin has become synonomous with the word Readiness . Through these fifteen years of readiness Austin has become one of the most respected amphibious ships in the Atlantic Reel Austin showed her versatility in November 1 967 when she was called upon to act as a part of the recovery force for the Apollo 4 space mission. Laterthat same month she wets instrumental in the development of high speed underway launches of Marine Amphibious Tractors. This tactic is now used routinely in the Amphibious Fleet In 1973 Austin joined other U.S. Forces in a condition of general alert during the Yom Kippur War Austin remained on station and ultimately spent some 75 days at sea without liberty. In 1974 Austin was mimed the most deployed ship in the Atlantic Reel having spent only 83 days in her homeport of Norfolk, Va. To celebrate our nation ' s 200th birthday Austin sailed to New York City and had the honor of participating in Operation Sail . This ceremony consisted of tall sailing ships and modern warships from around the world. In June 1980 Austin weis selected to act as the Presidential Boating Support ship for President Carter ' s visit to Venice. Italy. Fifteen gigs and barges were brought aboard to transport the President, his family, and his staff through the canals of Venice. Not only did Austin provide boat semices but her Air Department was on a twenty-four hour standby status for the President ' s emergency evacuation helicopters. TheAustin is 570 feet long and 1 00 feet wide. She displaces 16,600 tons when fully loaded, she is named after the city of Austin, Texas and is the third ship in the U.S. Navy to bear the name. She is manned by 350 enlisted crewmembers and 20 officers.

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CDR, John R, Busch Executive Oftcer Commander John Robert Busch was bom in Champaign. III. on January 29. 1939. He graduated from the University of Illinois and attended Officer Candidate School in Newport R.I. where he received his commission as Ensign in 1964. His first assignment was as Operations Off icer onboard the USS Vireo (I SC-205) in Sasebo. Japan. In January 1967 he reported to the USS Charles S. Sperry (DD-697) as CIC Officer. He spent 15 months on board Speny and then attended the United States Naval Destroyer School in Newport, R.1. He then reported to the USS Strong (DD-758) as Engineering Officer. In January 1971 he reported to the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington. D.C. where he spent three years on the staff of the Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel for Enlisted Distribution. In July 1974 then LCDR Busch returned to Newport R.I. as a student at the U.S. Naval War College, Command and Staff Course. In October 1 975 he returned to sea duty as Executive Officer of the USS Dupont (DD-94 1 ) where he served until l ay 1977 when he reported for duty as Executive Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff, Support Supreme Allied Command Atlantic. Completing his tour at SACLANT in July 1979. Commander Busch assumed his current duties as Executive Officer on board the USS Austin (LPDF-4). Commander Busch is married to the former Isabel York and they have two children.