Comte De Grasse (DD 974) - Naval Cruise Book

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SSIONING 5TH 1978 ' II ra t w • i « STATISTICS LENGTH 563 FT 4 IN BEAM 55 FT DISPLACEMENT 7800 TONS PERSONNEL OFFICERS-18 CPO ' S-17 ENLISTED-250 ARMAMENT: TWO 5 inch 54 cal GUN MOUNTS MK 112 ASROC LAUNCHER TWO MK 32 TORPEDO TUBES SEA SPARROW MISSLE SYSTEM HARPOON MISSLE SYSTEM ANTISUBMARINE HELICOPTERS BUILT BY: INGALLS SHIPBUILDING PASCAGOULA, MS.

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COMMI AUGUST The commissioning ceremony marks the acceptance of a ship as a unit of the operating forces of the United States Navy. At the moment of breaking the commissioning pennant, USS COMTE DE GRASSE (DD-974) becomes the responsibihty of the Commanding Of- ficer, who, together with the ship ' s officers and men, has the duty of making and keeping her ready for any service required by our nation in peace or war. The commissioning pennant is beheved to date from the 17th Century, when the Dutch were at war with the English. The Dutch Admiral Maarten Harpertszo on Tromp hoisted a broom at his masthead to indicate his intention sweep the English from the sea. This gesture was answered by the English Admiral who hoisted a horsewhip, indicating his intention to subdue the Dutch. The English were victorious and ever since the narrow coachwhip pennant has been adopted by all nations as the distinctive mark of a ship of war. The modern U.S. Navy commission- ing pennant is blue at the hoist with a union of seven white stars, and a horizontal red and white stripe at the fly. In lieu of a commission pennant, flagships fly Commodores or Admirals personal flags, hence the name flagships.

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FIRST COMMANDING OFFICER C0yM iNDIMG COMMANDER FRANK J. LUGO Commander Frank J. Lugo, was born in Brooklyn, New York on January 14, 1941. He attended high school at Brooklyn Prep prior to enrolling in Spring Hill College in the fall of 1958. Following graduation in 1962, Com- mander LUGO entered Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island and received his commission as Ensign in March 1963. His initial assignment was as Naviga- tor and CIC Officer on board USS TALBOT COUNTY (LST-1153). Suc- cessive tours included Executive Officer on USS KODIAK (LSM-161) and Navigator of USS LLOYD THOMAS (DD-764). Upon completion of Naval Destroyer School in 1965, Commander LUGO served as Operations Officer on board USS HAMMERBERG (DE- 1015). In November 1967, Commander LUGO assumed the duties of Aide and Flag Lieutenant to COMNAVBASE Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and served in that billet until February 1969. From 1969 to May 1971, Commander LUGO served in the Western Pacific as Commanding Officer, USS ANTELOPE (PG-86). Following his tour on board ANTELOPE, he entered the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California as a student of Engineering Science. During a subsequent tour at the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, Commander LUGO earned a Master ' s Degree in International Affairs through a cooperative program with the George Washington University. Commander LUGO reported to the pre-commissioning unit of USS TRUETT (FF-1095) in August 1973. He served as Executive Officer until Feb- ruary 1976 when he assumed the duty of Assistant Surface Commander Assign- ment Officer at the Bureau of Naval Personnel. Commander LUGO reported to COMTE DE GRASSE in January 1978. Commander LUGO is married to the former Carol Amos. They have three children, Christopher 12, Andrea 10, John 8, and currently reside in Virginia Beach.