>From the “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,” 

(1970) Vol. 5, p.190.





OUELLET





	David George Ouellet was born 13 June 1944 in Newton, 

Mass.  After finishing school, he enlisted in the Navy 

28 July 1964 and upon completion of his training, joined 

Assault Craft Division Twelve for duty in Vietnam.  After 

five months in Vietnam, he was ordered to San Diego for 

training in river patrol boats.  Upon completion of this 

training, he returned to Vietnam and joined River Squadron 

Five, My Tho Detachment 532.  He was on patrol in PBR-124 on 

6 March 1967 as the forward machine gunner.  While 

patrolling near a river bank, Seaman Ouellet saw an enemy 

grenade coming towards his boat.  He ran back towards the 

stern shouting for everybody to take cover and when seeing 

the Boat Captain unprotected, he pushed him down a hatch to 

safety.  Between the split second the missile landed in the 

boat and exploded, Seaman Ouellet placed himself between the 

missile and his shipmates and absorbed the impact of the 

blast.  As a result, Seaman Ouellet was mortally wounded.  

For his heroic sacrifice, he was posthumously awarded the 

Medal of Honor.





DE-1077

Displacement:  3,011 t.

Length:  438’

Beam:  47’

Draft:  25’

Speed:  27 k.

Complement:  245

Armament:  1 5”; 2 21” torpedo tubes; ASROC; 

	DASH helicopter; Sea Sparrow SAM fitted in 1970s; 

	LAMPS helicopter fitted in 1975; 

	Harpoon missiles fitted in early 1980s

Class:  KNOX



	The first OUELLET was laid down 14 January 1969 by 

Avondale Shipyards, Inc., Westwego, La.; launched 17 January 

1970; sponsored by Mrs. Chester J. Ouellet; and commissioned 

12 December 1970, Comdr. Albert L. Henry in command.



	[Redesignated a frigate on 30 June 1975, OUELLET’s hull 

number changed to FF-1077.  She was decommissioned on 6 

August 1993 and stricken from the Navy Register on 11 

January 1995.  Transferred to Thailand as part of a five 

year lease agreement on 27 November 1996, she was renamed 

frigate PHUTTHA LOETIA NAPHALAI (FFG-462) and arrived in 

November 1998 after refit.]



K. Jack Bauer and Stephen S. Roberts, “Register of Ships of 

the U. S. Navy, 1775-1990,” p.243, 244.

“Conway’s All The World’s Fighting Ships, 1947-1995,” p.598.

“Jane’s Fighting Ships, 1983-84,” p.682; “1997-98,” p.704; 

“1999-2000,” p.699.

Internet:  

  “United States Naval & Shipbuilding Museum” 

	http://www.uss-salem.org/worldnav/usa/decom.htm





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com