USS Oscar Austin’s keel was laid on Oct. 9, 1997, at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. The ship is the first of the Flight IIA Arleigh-Burke Class Destroyers. She was launched and christened on Nov. 7, 1998, then commissioned on Aug. 19, 2000. The ship was named after Pfc. Oscar P. Austin, U.S. Marine Corps, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the Vietnam War. OSCAR AUSTIN’s exceptional fighting capability is the product of teamwork between well qualified and highly trained professionals.