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| 19k | The ship is named in honor of Pfc. Oscar P. Austin, a native of Nacogdoches, Texas, who demonstrated extraordinary heroism and courage while serving as assistant machine gunner with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division near Da Nang, Vietnam on Feb. 23, 1969. Austin was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor and the citation reads as follows; "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an assistant machine gunner with Company E, in connection with operations against enemy forces. During the early morning hours on February 23, 1969, Pfc. Austin's observation post came under a fierce ground attack by a large North Vietnamese Army force using a heavy volume of hand grenades, satchel charges and small arms fire. Observing that one of his wounded companions had fallen unconscious in a position dangerously exposed to the hostile fire, Pfc. Austin unhesitatingly left the relative security of his fighting hole and, with complete disregard for his own safety, raced across the fire-swept terrain to assist the marine to a covered location. As he neared the casualty, he observed an enemy grenade land nearby and reacting instantly, leaped between the injured marine and the lethal object, absorbing the effects of its detonation. As he ignored his painful injuries and turned to examine the wounded man, he saw a North Vietnamese soldier aiming a weapon at his unconscious companion. With full knowledge of the probable consequences and thinking only to protect the marine, Pfc. Austin resolutely threw himself between the casualty and the hostile soldier, and in doing so, was mortally wounded. Pfc. Austin's indomitable courage, inspiring initiative and selfless devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country." | Bill Gonyo/Robert M. Cieri | |
| 133k | October 9 1997, unidentified shipyard officials and Navy officers pose for a photograph at the official keel laying ceremony of the Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin ( DDG 79 ) at Bath Iron Works, Bath Main. | Fred Weiss | |
| 99k | The launching ceremony phamphlet. | Chester O. Morris | |
| 67k | Launching of DDG 79 USS Oscar Austin, Bath Shipworks, Bath, Maine. | Bill Gonyo | |
| 90k | May 2000 at Bath Iron Works, Bath, ME. | Brian J. Johnson | |
| 97k | Portland, ME during Bravo trials. | Mike Bolton | |
| 98k | Portland, ME during Bravo trials. | Mike Bolton | |
| 21k | Steaming down the Kennebec River from Bath, Maine to Portland, Maine in July, 2000. | Jim Hocking | |
| 80k | USS Oscar Austin DDG-79 passes Fort Popham as she exits the Kennebec River leaving the Bath Iron Works to join the Fleet. May 29, 2001. | Steven A. Cardali | |
| 84k | The guided missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) steams off the coast of Florida, while underway with the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) Carrier Battle Group during a Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX). U. S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Michael W. Pendergrass. | Fred Weiss | |
| 33k | Departing Brest, France, Feb.27, 2002. | Marc Piché | |
| 77k | Brest, France, Feb.27, 2002. | Marc Piché | |
| 68k | USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79) and USS Donald Cook (DDG-75) at Brest, France, Feb.27, 2002. Notice the differences between Flight IIa and Flight II types. | Marc Piché | |
| 120k | 021102-N-3235P-510. At sea aboard USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79), November 2 2002, Lt.j.g. Ike R. Stutts recovers a SH-60B Seahawk assigned to the "Carnivorous Hellions" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light Four Eight (HSL-48), Detachment Six, from the ship’s Landing Signals Officer (LSO) station aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79). Oscar Austin is underway for a Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Michael W. Pendergrass. | Bill Gonyo | |
| 66k | Norfolk, Va., Dec. 5, 2002, friends and families give a farewell to their Sailors and Marines aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) as she gets underway with the Harry S. Truman Battle Group. U.S. Navy Photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Michael Sandberg. | Fred Weiss | |
| 62k | Norfolk, Va., Dec. 5, 2002, a Sailor washes down the forward anchor aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) before getting underway with the Harry S. Truman Battle Group on a regularly scheduled deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy Photo. | Fred Weiss | |
| 72k | The Straits of Gibraltar January 19 2003, the guided missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) escorts Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 19) into the Mediterranean Sea. U.S. Navy Photo. | Fred Weiss | |
| 96k | 030523-N-7097H-004. Norfolk, Virginia May 23 2003, USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) approaches pier 6 at its homeport of Naval Station Norfolk, Va. after its maiden deployment with the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) Carrier Strike Group. The Carrier Strike Group was deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Sondra Howett. | Bill Gonyo | |
| 118k | Atlantic Ocean, July 15 2005, the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group conducts a close quarters exercise while underway in the Atlantic Ocean. From left, USS San Jacinto (CG-56), USS Donald Cook (DDG-75), USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79), and the Spanish AEGIS guided missile frigate Álvaro de Bazán (F-101). The strike group was conducting a Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Eben Boothby (# 050715-N-8163B-028). | USN | |
| 93k | 050901-N-3541A-005. Norfolk, VA, September 1 2005, the guided missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) deploys from Naval Station Norfolk. Oscar Austin, part of the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, left on a regularly scheduled deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist Seaman Davis J. Anderson. | Bill Gonyo | |
| 99k | 050901-N-6639M-005. The guided missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) deploys from Naval Station Norfolk for the Gulf Coast in support of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. | Jack Treutle | |
| 142k | Atlantic Ocean, November 12 2007, the guided-missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) sails next to USS Harry S. Truman during a close maneuvering exercise. Truman is part of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10 and is en route to the Central Command area of responsibility as part of the ongoing rotation to support maritime security operations in the region. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Justin Lee Losack, ID# 071112-N-0455L-002, | Robert M. Cieri | |
| 72k | Mediterranean Sea, November 17 2007, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) fires her five-inch guns during a sea power demonstration for the Sailors and distinguished visitors of the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Truman is en route to the Central Command area of responsibility as part of the ongoing rotation to support maritime security operations in the region. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Daron Street, ID# 071119-N-2844S-002. | Robert M. Cieri | |
| 60k | Ship's patch. | Mike Smolinski | |
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