Ouellet (FF 1077) - Naval Cruise Book

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flax sd George Ouellet was born in Newton, MA, on June 3 5 5044. son of Chester J. and Elizabeth E. Ouellet. He xfuated from Hardy School, Wellesley, MA, in 1958, at- xted Wellesley Junior High School, and subsequently was ti.:FllL1rL'ed by the Alfred Fisher Trucking Company in Welles- fm On July 28, 1964 he enlisted in the US. Navy at Boston, MA. and had recruit training at the Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, IL. Completing his training in October 1964, he Joined Assault Craft Division TWEL VE, and while attached to that division served for Hve months in 1965 in the Vietnam area. Between June and August 1966 he had river patrol boat training at the Naval Schools Command, Vallejo, CA, after which he had training at the Na val Amphibious Base, Corona- do. CA. On September 21, 1966 he reported for duty with River Squadron FIVE and was attached to My Tho Detach- ment 532 of that squadron at the time of his death on March 6, 1967. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor and cited as follows: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with River Section 532, in combat against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. As the forward machine- gunner on River Patrol Boat IPBRI 124, which was on patrol on the Mekong River during the early evening hours of March 6, 1967, Seaman Ouellet observed suspicious activity near the river bank, alert- ed his Boat Captain, and recommended movement of the boat to the area to investigate. While the PBR was making a high- speed run along the river bank Seaman Ouellet spotted an incoming enemy grenade falling toward the boat. He immedi- ateiy left the protected position of his gun mount and ran aft for the full length of the speeding boat, shouting to his fellow crew members to take cover. Observing the Boat Captain standing unprotected on the boat, Seaman Ouellet bounded onto the engine compartment cover, and pushed the Boat Captain down to safety. ln the split second that followed the grenade ls landing and in the face of certain death, Seaman Oueilet fearlessly placed himself between the deadly missile and his shipmates, courageously absorbing most of the blast ifagments with his own body in order to protect his shipmates from injury and death. His extraordinary heroism and his selfless and courageous actions on behalf of his comrades at the expense of his own life were in the Hnest traditions of the Lnfted States Naval Service. He was also awarded the Pur- ple Heart Medal for wounds received in enemy action. Seaman Da vid George Ouellet, USN N 1944-1967 0 U E L L Q S t ... . .. t E r .... A t to X TN .t N' ,t gn. X ,ik T LSNXG is--4 Q Xl x R YN N .X K . If M X - ' xxx NN 5 it-XX 'xxx I . . xx, XX XXX. Nest represents the ship 's namesake. The twenty-two stars signifies Seaman tk -,N A. g et s age at the time of his death and the three stripes for his rank. The light blue v 'fp N Xxx A XX, for the Medal of Honor awarded him posthumously. XXX in 5-'iq . r t, M xx, jf N X . F . ,WN 'x .- ,ff 5 .

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Welcome Aboard USS OUELLE T IFF 10771, a Knox class frigate, is the Hrst ship of the United States Navy to bear the name of Seaman Da vid George Ouellet. Ouellet's keel was laid at A vondale Shipyard in Westwego, LA on 15 Jan 69. Specihcally designed to locate and destroy enemy submarines, she was commissioned at Charleston Naval Shipyard, SC on 12 Dec 70. OUELLE T arrived at her homeport in Pearl Harbor, Hl on 15 Apr 71, with her Hrst deployment to the Western Pacihc commencing on 27 Jan 72. OUELLE T twice came under hostile North Vietnamese tire during this deployment with no casualties sustained. During ceremonies re-establishing the U S. Third Fleet on 1 Feb 73, OUELLE T became the Hrst Third Fleet flagship since WWII. OUELLE T made her second deployment to the Western Pacihc from May - Sep 73. OUELLE T was selected as the CINCPA CFL T flagship for the U.S. Navy's 200th birthday ceremonies. OUELLE T completed Hve more Western Pacific deployments prior to overhaul in Feb 85. OUELLE T deployed for her eighth time in Apr 87 to the Gulf of Oman for the Iran crisis returning to Pearl Harbor on 5 Oct 87. OUELLE T made her ninth deployment in mid Dec 88, returning May 89 and departing again Sep 89 for Pacific Exercises 89. Upon return to Pearl Harbor in Nov 89 she went into drydock, refloating in Feb 90. After extensive preparations and an exhaustive inspection cycle OUELLE T departed in Aug 90 to Central America in support of Law Enforcement Operations where she transmitted the Panama Canal. After returning in Nov 90 OUELLE T was awarded the Battle E for overall excellence and the Joint Meritorious Unit Citation. In Jun 91 OUELLE T participated in Pacific Training of Midshipmen 91, L IL Ill and Anti Submarine Operations 91. OUELLE T made her tenth deployment on the Western Pacihc Rim to make up what was called Pacihc ASW Exercise 92, from 25 Mar 92 - 24 Jul 92. swim-s?swa2'fgi.?1?g U55 Ouellet IFF-1 0772

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Commanding OfHC2I' 13711 '+V QW WV c A 12:5 Capt lSell Alexander Y Watt Commander Alexander Y. Watt, Jr. was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil on 4 February 1950. He graduated from the Uni versity of Notre Dame in 1971, receiving his commission through the NROTC program. ln January 1972, Commander Watt reported aboard USS SELLERS IDDG 111 and served as CIC Officer, making two Mediterranean deployments and an around-the-world cruise. He reported to Surface Warfare Officer Basic Course ir: February 1975 as EngineerfDC and Tactical Maneuvering Instructor. Following Department Head School, Commander Watt reported aboard USS MOOSBRUGGER KDD 9801 as the PRECOM Chief Engineer from October 1978 to July 1981. ln September 1981, Commander Watt reported to S WOSCOLCOM Newport, Rl as DD 963 Course Coordinator Sensor Instructor. Commander Watt 's first tour in Hawaii was as Executive Officer in USS WILLAMETTE KAO 1802 from February I 984 to November 1985. This was followed by a two year tour at Commander in Chief U. S. Pacific Fleet as the Surface l?eadrnass Ofhcer lN354l from December 1985 to January 1988. On September 12, 1991 Commander Watt assumed command of USS OUELLE T IFF 107 71 in Pearl Harbor Han r A Commander Watt 's awards include a Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star, a Navy Commendation Medal with fu 9 ld go stars and a Navy Achievement Medal. He also wears a Meritorious Unit Citation, National Defense Service .'Weda.' mn. Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. Commander Watt and his wife Meredith have two daughters, Korin and Meredith Jr., and a son Kevin