A Battle-Scarred Vessel
The USS HUE CITY is named after a battle in the Vietnam War where three U.S. Marine battalions, consisting of fewer than 2,500 men, defeated more than 10,000 entrenched enemy troops. The North Vietnamese and Vietcong had invaded the cultural capital and "Imperial City," during a religious holiday where half of South Vietnam's army was on leave. The American offensive involved taking back the city, block by block. Marine casualties numbered 142 dead and 857 wounded. While the city was in the hands of the North Vietnamese, they executed 5,000 civilian political enemies.

Launched in 1991, HUE CITY is the 20th Ticonderoga-class Aegis guided-missile cruiser. Her mission is to conduct combat operations at sea in support of a carrier battle group or amphibious assault group.