USS Ouellet (FF-1077)

• Namesake: USS Ouellet (FF-1077) was named in honor of Corporal David George Ouellet, a U.S. Navy sailor posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the Vietnam War. • Class: The Ouellet was a Knox-class frigate, designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare, and was part of the largest class of frigates built for the U.S. Navy at the time. • Commissioning: The ship was commissioned on 12 December 1970 at the Avondale Shipyards in Louisiana, marking the start of her nearly 23 years of service. • Vietnam Service: USS Ouellet served in the Vietnam War, participating in Operation Market Time, which aimed to prevent the flow of supplies to North Vietnamese forces via the sea. • First West Coast Knox-class Ship: Ouellet was the first Knox-class frigate to be homeported on the U.S. West Coast, at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. • Notable Rescue: In 1972, Ouellet rescued 36 Vietnamese refugees adrift in the South China Sea, demonstrating the Navy’s humanitarian role during wartime. • Awarded for Excellence: The ship earned multiple awards, including the Battle Efficiency "E" Award for operational excellence and several campaign ribbons. • Technological Upgrades: Throughout her service, Ouellet received several upgrades, including the addition of the Sea Sparrow missile system and modernization of sonar and radar equipment. • Decommissioning and Transfer: USS Ouellet was decommissioned on 6 August 1993 and then transferred to the Royal Thai Navy, where she was renamed HTMS Phutthaloetla Naphalai (FFG-462). • Legacy: The ship’s crest and memorabilia are preserved in various naval museums, serving as a tribute to her namesake and her crew’s service.