Captain Paul X. Rinn, USN 1968-1998

Was the commissioning Commanding Officer of the USS Samuel B. Roberts FFG 58.  During first deployment the ship conducted aggressive anti-ship operations against Iranian Surface forces and Iraqi Air forces as well as completing 12 successful "Earnest Will Convoys" as convoy commander. On 14 April 1988 Samuel B. Roberts transits into a mine field in the central Persian Gulf. While attempting to back out down its own wake, the ship struck an Iranian mine sustaining catastrophic damage of sinking, progressive flooding, conflagration fire, loss of propulsion/electric power and personnel injuries. Simultaneously, the Samuel B. Roberts was circled by an Iranian frigate and missile carrying aircraft. Roberts was able to warn off the threats circling the minefield. Commander Rinn led his heroic crew in stopping the progressive flooding, controlling the sinking of the ship and extinguishing the fires. Rinn then evacuated his wounded sailors and navigated his damaged ship out of the mine field, which contained 11 additional mines. At one point the Roberts passed between two submerged mines separated by only a few hundred yards.  Eventually the ship was able to transit 24 miles on auxiliary power units to clear the mine danger area saving Samuel B. Roberts without the loss of a single life. The Samuel B. Roberts received a Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Atlantic Fleet Stockdale nominee, U.S. Navy League "Steven Decatur Operational Excellence Award" and was the Squadron Battle E winner. 

For his action, Commander Rinn was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat "V". He went on to major command, serving as Commanding Officer, USS Leyte Gulf (CG-55), winning two consecutive Battle E's. While in command, the ship was a Battenberg Cup nominee, and Captain Rinn received the U.S. Navy league "John Paul Jones Inspirational Leadership Award."

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