Naval History and Heritage Command

Lloyd Montague Mustin was a Vice Admiral in the US Navy who served during World War II. He was born at the Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to a family rich in naval tradition. His father, Captain Henry C. Mustin, USN, was a pioneer in naval aviation. His great grandfather, Commodore Arthur Sinclair, USN, commanded the US Naval Squadron on Lake Ontario during the War or 1812. His great grandfather, Captain Arthur Sinclair, USN, commanded one of Commodore Perry's ships in the opening of Japan and later served as a captain in the Confederate States Navy during the Civil War.

He entered the United States Naval Academy in 1928. After receiving his diploma in 1932, he was assigned to the cruiser Augusta (CA 31). Four years later he was transferred to the destroyer Lamson (DD 367). He received instruction in ordnance engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School in 1938 before attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he completed course work leading to a Master of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering, awarded in June 1940. In the fall of 1940 he was assigned to duty in the Bureau of Ordnance were he served as Assistant Production Office at the Naval Gun Factory, Washington, DC and took part in developing the Mark 14 gunsight.

At the outbreak of World War II, Mustin was Assistant Gunnery Office of the cruiser Atlanta (CL 51) and was in her when she was sunk during the Battle for Guadalcanal on the night of 13 November 1942. He received the Fleet Commander's Commendation (with ribbon) for outstanding service in the battles. He landed on Guadalcanal with the survivors and served there for three months with the small naval unit attached to the First Marine Division.

In 1943-1944 he had consecutive duty in the cruisers San Diego (CL 53) and Miami (CL 89). He next served as Gunnery, Radar, and CIC Officer on the staff of Commander Battleship Squadron Two, Vice Admiral Willis A. Lee, USN, and in the summer of 1945 was with Admiral Lee in establishing the Operational Development Force, as Gunnery, Radar, and CIC Officer.

After World War II, Mustin was ordered to the Navy Department, Washington, DC, for duty as Head of the Fire Control Branch, Research Division, Bureau of Ordnance. This duty was followed by service afloat in command of the destroyer Keppler (DD 765) and later as ASW Officer and Readiness Officer on the Staff of Commander Destroyer Force, Atlantic. Between 1951 and 1954 he was assigned to the Weapons System Evaluation Group, Office of the Secretary of Defense, and after command of the destroyer tender Piedmont (AD 17), had command of Cruiser-Destroyer Force, Pacific, from April 1957 until May 1958, when he reported as Commander Destroyer Flotilla Two.

While so serving he had additional duty from May to October 1958, in command of Task Force 88, a special task force organized to plan and conduct the Argus high-altitude nuclear tests which were fired in a remote part of the South Atlantic. In October 1958 he assumed additional duty in command of Antisubmarine Defense Group "Charlie", and from February through April 1959 commanded Task force 88 conducting combined ASW training operations with the navies and air forces of the countries on the west coast of South America.

On 13 June 1959, he became Commander Naval Base, Key West, and Commander Key West Force and in May 1960 reported for duty in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, first as Antisubmarine Readiness Executive and then as Director of Antisubmarine Warfare.

On 30 November 1961, he reported to Joint Task Force Eight as Deputy Task Force Commander and Commander Joint Task Group 8.3, to plan and conduct the Dominic series of nuclear tests in the Pacific. On 2 November 1962, he was designated Commander, Joint Task Force Eight, to conduct the remaining Dominic tests and to plan for and conduct future nuclear tests.

On 1 June 1964, he became Director for Operations, J-3, Joint Staff, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, DC. In May 1967 he became Commander Amphibious Force, US Atlantic Fleet and in July 1968 assumed duty as Director of the Defense Atomic Support Agency, Washington, DC. He served in that capacity until relieved of active duty pending his retirement, effective 1 August 1971.

Promotions:
Midshipman, 14 June 1928
Ensign, 2 June 1932
Lieutenant (jg), 2 June 1935
Lieutenant, 1 July 1939
Lieutenant Commander, 15 June 1942
Commander, 1 November 1943 to date from 18 November 1942
Captain, 1 January 1951
Rear Admiral, 1 July 1958
Vice Admiral, 21 August 1964

Chronological Record of Naval Service
Jun 1932 - Apr 1936 USS Augusta (Gunnery)
May 1936 - Jun 1938 USS Lamson (Communication and Torpedo Officer)
Jul 1938 - Oct 1940 Postgraduate School, Annapolis, Maryland and MIT, Cambridge (instruction in ordnance engineering)
Oct 1940 - Aug 1941 Naval Gun Factory, Washington, D. C. (Assistant Production Officer)
Aug 1941 - Nov 1942 USS Atlanta (Assistant Gunnery Officer)
Nov 1942 - Jan 1943 Staff, Commander Naval Bases, Solomons (Guadalcanal) (Operations Officer)
Feb 1943 - May 1943 USS San Diego (Assistant Gunnery Officer)
Jun 1943 - Nov 1944 USS Miami (Gunnery Officer)
Nov 1944 - Jun 1945 Staff, Commander Battleship Squadron Two (Gunnery, Radar and CIC Officer)
Jun 1945 - Feb 1946 Staff, Commander Operational Development Force (Gunnery, Radar and CIC Officer)
Mar 1946 - Sep 1948 Bureau of Ordnance, Navy Department (Head, Fire Control Section, Research and Development Division)
Oct 1948 - Jan 1950 USS Keppler (Commanding Officer)
Jan 1950 - Jul 1951 Staff, Commander Destroyer Force, Atlantic (Readiness Officer)
Aug 1951 - Sep 1954 Weapons System Evaluation Group, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, DC (Military Studies and Liaison)
Oct 1954 - Dec 1955 USS Piedmont (Commanding Officer)
Jan 1956 - Feb 1957 Commander Destroyer Squadron Thirteen
Mar 1957 - Mar 1958 Staff, Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Force, Pacific (Chief of Staff and Aide)
May 1958 - May 1959 Commander Destroyer Flotilla Two
Jun 1959 - Jun 1960 Commander Naval Base, Key West and Commander Key West Force, Florida
Jun 1960 - Nov 1961 Antisubmarine Warfare Readiness Executive, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Deptartment
Nov 1961 - Oct 1962 Deputy Joint Task Force Commander, JTF 8, and Commander Joint Task Group 8.3
Oct 1962 - May 1964 Commander Joint Task Force Eight
Jun 1964 - May 1967 Director for Operations, J-3, Joint Staff, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, DC
May 1967 - Jul 1968 Commander Amphibious Force, U. S. Atlantic Fleet, Washington, DC (changed to Defense Nuclear Agency on 1 July 1971)
Aug 1971 - Transferred to Retired List of the U. S. Navy

Decorations and Medals:
Distinguished Service Medal, with Gold Star in lieu of 2nd Medal.
Legion of Merit, with Gold Star in lieu of 2nd medal.
Letter of Commendation (ComSoPac) (Pendant & "V")
Letter of Commendation (CinCPac) (Pendant & "V")
Presidential Unit Citation (USS Atlanta)
Presidential Unit Citation (First Marine Division, Reinforced)
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two silver stars and two bronze stars
World War II Victory Meal
China Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Badge

Foreign Decorations:
Peruvian Cross of Naval Merit in the Degree of Senior Officer White Badge
Decoration of the Grand Star of Military Merit (Republic of Chile)

Citations:

Distinguished Service Medal:

"For exceptionally meritorious service...as Director for Operations, Joint Staff, Organization of the Joint Chief of Staff, from June 1964 to May 1967. As Head of the Operations Directorate - the instrument for direction of the unified and specified commands - Vice Admiral Mustin developed a highly efficient and responsive organization, capable of directing a major war effort, from a relatively untested structure. As a result of his keen and imaginative guidance, astute judgment, comprehensive knowledge and able administration, complex operational analyses were made, and strategic plans developed and implemented, for two critical national undertakings - intervention in the Dominican Republic crisis of 1965, and combat operations in Southeast Asia. Vice Admiral Mustin played a leading role in formulating the plans for the air campaign against North Vietnam, and was personally instrumental in developing a combat reporting system to support operational analyses, resulting in reduced aircraft losses. In other fields, he took the lead in refining the National Single Integrated Operations Plan, in improving the national command and control systems, and in applying modern operations analysis techniques to military operations at the National level. By his outstanding professional competence and inspiring devotion to duty, Vice Admiral Mustin has rendered exceptionally distinguished service of enduring value to the nation, contributing greatly to the security of the United States . . ."

Gold Star in lieu of the Second Distinguished Service Medal:

"For meritorious service...as Director, Defense Atomic Support Agency, from July 1968 to August 1971 consistently displaying an outstandingly high degree of professional skill, foresight, Initiative and dedication, (he) successfully directed a wide range of technical, operational and administrative activities which substantially strengthened the entire spectrum of national nuclear weapon capabilities, while at the same time achieving major economies of personnel and money...In connection with the exchange of atomic information for mutual defense purposes, he displayed exceptional judgment and diplomacy toward strengthening existing ties and maintaining the most cordial relationships with representatives of North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries in the complex matter of the exchange of sensitive information of a politically delicate context . . ."

Legion of Merit:

"For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services as Commander Task Force Eighty-Eight, during the period May 22, 1958 through October 1, 1958, in which Task Force Eighty-Eight conducted a particularly complex and difficult special test program of great importance to the Navy. Exercising unusual technical and professional competence, Rear Admiral Mustin, planned, organized, and personally directed a major task force in carrying out extended operations at sea without external logistic support for a period of approximately sixty days. These operations were successfully completed under the most adverse conditions. By his outstanding leadership and inspiring devotion to duty throughout, Rear Admiral Mustin upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

Gold Star in lieu of the Second Legion of Merit:

"For exceptionally meritorious conduct...from November 25, 1961 to May 25, 1961...During this period, (he) served as Deputy Commander, Joint Task Force Eight, as Commander of the Naval Task Group of that force, and from October 27, 1962 to May 25, 1964 as Commander of Joint Task Force Eight. He directed planning for and execution of the most complex and most successful operations in the history of United States nuclear testing, first as Commander of Naval Forces, the largest Task Force component, and subsequently as Commander of the entire 22,000-man Task Force. His astute judgment in implementing test objectives resulted in maximum operational effectiveness without the sacrifice of safety for test participants, and enabled the United States to secure an unprecedented volume of very important scientific data that significantly increased its nuclear weapons preparedness and defense capabilities. (He) has been instrumental in achieving a readiness-to-test status which will make possible a rapid United States reaction to abrogation of the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. His actions have contributed significantly to the nation's security through the establishment of an atmospheric nuclear test capability which serves as a strong deterrent to the resumption of testing by other nations..."

Letter of Commendation (ComSoPac):

"For devotion to duty under adverse conditions while serving on board a ship which was badly damaged during the engagement with Japanese naval forces off Guadalcanal on November 13, 1942. Lieutenant Commander Mustin with complete disregard for his own safety and with outstanding ability organized crews of the remaining guns to repel further attack. He also exposed himself to extreme hazard in assisting with damage control measures, and in evaluating the damage to his ship..."

Letter of Commendation (CinCPac):

"For meritorious conduct...while serving as Gunnery Officer of the USS Miami during the Marianas, Western Carolines, Leyte, and Luzon campaigns from December 28, 1943 to February 1, 1945. His professional skill and devotion to duty contributed materially to the maintenance of the Gunnery Department in a high state of efficiency, thus enabling the ship to successfully carry out its mission. He assisted his Commanding Officer in fighting the ship during repeated enemy air attacks, shore bombardments on enemy-held territory and extensive operations in support of carrier strikes against the enemy..."

Presidential Unit Citation (USS Atlanta):

"For outstanding performance during action against enemy Japanese forces off Guadalcanal Island, November 12/13, 1942. Struck by one torpedo and no less than 49 shells, the Atlanta, after sinking an enemy destroyer and repeatedly hitting a cruiser which later went down, gallantly remained in battle under auxiliary power with one-third of her crew killed or missing, her engine room flooded and her topside a shambles. Eventually succumbing to her wounds after the enemy had fled in defeat, she left behind her a heroic example of Invincible fighting spirit."

Presidential Unit Citation (First Marine Division, Reinforced):

"The officers and enlisted men of the First Marine Division, Reinforced...demonstrated outstanding gallantry and determination in successfully executing forced landing assaults against a number of strongly defended Japanese positions...completely routing all the enemy forces and seizing a most valuable base and airfield within the enemy zone of operations in the South Pacific Ocean...This Reinforced Division not only held their important strategic positions despite determined and repeated Japanese naval, air and land attacks, but by a series of offensive operations against strong enemy resistance drove the Japanese from the proximity of the airfield and inflicted great losses on them by land and air attacks..."