Vice Admiral Henry C. Mustin, USN (Ret.), a career surface warfare officer, combat veteran, and fleet boss renowned for his tactical brilliance and demanding leadership style, and who oversaw the development of many of the ship and guided missile systems that are at the heart of the fleet’s power, passed away on 11 April 2016 at 82 years of age. He leaves a large family, countless shipmates, and many more whose careers and lives he impacted by way of his leadership and his example to mourn his loss.
The eulogy that follows was delivered at his memorial service at the Naval Academy Chapel this past Thursday by RADM Thomas C. Lynch, USN (Ret.), who considered VADM Mustin his mentor and friend. – Ed.
VADM Henry C. Mustin, 1984. Naval Institute Photo Archive.
I am honored to be here and thank Lucy, Lloyd, Tom, Kay, and John for this opportunity to help celebrate the life of this great man – your husband and father and our friend and mentor. The Mustin family legacy is legendary throughout our Navy and our country so I will not repeat what we all know. Hank’s contribution to that legacy is also legendary. He, a destroyer man first and foremost, burnished the family’s distinguished tradition of superlative devotion to duty and performance.
We are all here on planet earth for a short period of time. There are few who come across our lives and leave us with a truly meaningful impact. Hank Mustin was such a person and one who I dare say has impacted each life in this chapel and all those who have served at sea or are serving today, in a positive, meaningful way.
“Hammering Hank” Mustin – a moniker of affection or sometimes fear. No one wanted to be the nail, but all respected his “tell it like it is” persona. I can hear him now saying “Keep it short, Lynch, these people have more important things to do!” Not true, Admiral – for once you’re overruled!
I considered Hank to be a mentor, although I never had a career conversation with him. I, like most officers of my vintage, admired his professionalism from afar and we all tried to emulate his candidness, his leadership and his love for the service. We learned from him because he led by example.
I first met Hank Mustin in 1975 when I, as a lowly Lieutenant Commander, and he, a very senior Captain, were assigned to the Surface Warfare Directorate of the Navy staff. Most officers try to avoid duty in the Pentagon because of the grueling pace. Hank made it fun; he made it meaningful work. He taught us junior officers how best to navigate the bureaucracy and if you were on his team, you knew he had your back. It was a thing of beauty to watch him in action: with a wry, sweet and disarming smile, as he completely dissembled any bureaucrat who disagreed with his position. We also learned firsthand from him; “if you ain’t got the bucks, you ain’t got a program.” Advice I’ve utilized in every job since.
I am thankful to Captain Neil Bryne who reminded me recently that shortly before his duty in the Pentagon, Hank commanded Destroyer Squadron 12. The Squadron had been assigned to an overseas homeport in Athens, Greece. This being a new Navy initiative to reduce transit times, the squadron was sent there with no shore support, no pier, and 20 miles from Athens; the ships, crews and families felt abandoned. As always, when Hank took over there was an immediate change. His predecessor smoked Virginia Slims and was noted for reading poetry, and Mustin, a cigar smoking, registered National Rifle Association member, read American Rifleman. A noticeable change.
Hank quickly surmised that the ships had that unloved feeling and that pity had set in. However, rather than hosting a pity party, one of his first orders was to quadruple the standard number of fleet exercises and drills required by each ship to earn the coveted Battle Efficiency Award. Hank then organized an inspection party that visited each command. Such Mustin comments followed: “You think you are a US Navy warship? This ship is not qualified to haul garbage for the Italian Navy!” “Captain, I’ll take your commissioning pennant and keep it in my pocket until you earn it back!” Neil also remembers conducting DIVTAC (seamanship and ship handling drills among ships) when the commodore, Captain Mustin, called on PRITAC, “USS Sampson: Please inform me when you have the officers out of the wardroom to relieve the messmen who are currently conning your ship, we will then resume the exercise!” And while he created battle ready forces at sea, he also demanded and established infrastructure for the families ashore.
In the mid-eighties, with the Cold War at its zenith, Secretary of the Navy John Lehman, assigned Hank as Commander of the Second Fleet with orders to put teeth in the Maritime Strategy, a strategy Hank had helped develop. I remember being an operational squadron commander in Second Fleet at that time and the ROE were for us to take the first shot. The unstated U.S. policy was that the United States will not initiate World War III. Good policy, unless you are on the pointy end of the spear!
The following is a sea story but to me, it is very believable. The ROE was soon changed. A coincidence? I think not. In fact, I can hear him saying, “Gentlemen: ‘The new Second Fleet ROE is simple. No unit in this fleet will ever take the first SALVO. If you feel a need to discuss, come see me.'”
VADM Mustin discuses details of a fleet exercise in Norway aboard USS Mount Whitey (LCC-20). Naval Institute Photo Archive.
Hank then devised the Fjord tactic which was to operate the fleet in the Norwegian fjords where, undetected and protected from long range air attack, we were positioned to hit the Soviets in their bastion on the Kola peninsula. The strategy worked and agitated the Soviets severely. I think Hank had the Soviets’ number. At a London press conference of European reporters, he was asked: “Won’t your actions stir the Soviets to bolster their defenses?” Mustin replied, “Yeah, and they’ll need all they can get!”
Secretary Lehman in a letter of condolence to Lucy stated that Hank played an amazing and audacious role in winning the Wold War at sea in the fjords and storms of Norway. His final message as Commander Second Fleet ended as follows: “Shoot more. Talk less. God bless.” Mustin sends. This we came to expect: Clear, Concise, Courageous. A hallmark of Hank Mustin.
In my opinion, men such as Hank Mustin allowed us to win the Cold War. And if he were a fleet commander today, I doubt Vladimir Putin would have authorized his aircraft to buzz our Navy warships as happened a few weeks ago in the Baltic. Secretary of the Navy Will Ball, who is in attendance today, related that Hank was his (and the Navy’s) nominee for COMCENTCOM–the position later assigned to Gen. Schwarzkopf. I often wonder had Hank received his 4th star at that time, how different the world may look today.
He epitomized the basic definition of a leader: Know your stuff, be a leader, take care of your people. The Commanding Officer of USS Manley (DD-940) learned this first hand when his ship had a minor brush up with an oiler during the 6th Fleet UNREP, causing damage to both ships. There ensued a major brouhaha with planned investigations at all levels until Captain Mustin’s message to the entire chain of command, up to and including CINCUSNAVEUR, a Four Star Admiral, which read as follows: “CO Manley was doing as I instructed: training his junior officers in essential ship handling skills. If you want to come after anyone’s career, come after mine.” Mustin sends.
Naval Institute Photo Archive.
My final and closest association with Hank has evolved over the past ten years when I became chair of the Academy’s Athletic and Scholarship Foundation. We needed to revitalize the organization. Hank was a key and very respected long time member. No one likes to hear that their organization is in disarray and drastic change is needed, so it was with some trepidation that at my first meeting with the Trustees, I laid out my plan for the future. Hank was the first to tell me afterward that I had his total support. Thereafter, I always ran by him every major initiative because even though he may not agree I knew where he stood and his reasons to object, but in the end he made my decisions better. I also knew that whatever decision I made, I had his full support.
He faithfully attended all our Executive Committee meetings, regular Trustee meetings and as President of the Council of Presidents, he and Skip Orr led the effort to garner Athletic Excellence funds as part of the class legacy gift for each reunion class. He loved this school, he loved our Navy and he served this country honorably, as well, if not better, than any other.
The 19th century French diplomat and philosopher, Alexis de Tocqueville, once wrote to his superiors in Paris: “America is great because her people are so good, if she ever loses her goodness, she will cease to be great.” Hank Mustin was a good man!
As husband, father, grandfather, mentor, leader, warrior – he gave 100% to his family and 100% to his country. We could ask no more.
The Hank Mustin Legacy is chiseled in stone high above the bronze doors of this chapel: Non Sibi Sed Patriae – Not for self, but for country.
