Last modified Thu., June 11, 2009 - 11:23 AM
Originally created Thursday, June 11, 2009

USS Hue City Celebrates Veterans Of Battle For Hué City

By Ensign Nicholas Watts-Fernandez , USS Hue City PAO

Ships assigned to Carrier Strike Group 10, the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), the guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64), the Norwegian Navy frigate HNoMS Roald Amundsen (F-311), the guided-missile cruiser USS Hue City (CG 66), and the guided-missile destroyers USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) and USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) perform a break away maneuver.
MC3 Justin M. Smelley

In the winter of 1968, 2,500 U.S. Marines and soldiers of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam attacked and defeated nearly 11,000 entrenched members of the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Armies in the South Vietnamese cultural and commercial center, Hué City. More than 140 U.S. Marines lost their lives and 857 were wounded after the nearly month long battle.

Over the last weekend in May, USS Hue City invited these veterans, their spouses and families for the annual Hué Memorial. Each year, veterans of the battle gather at the only ship in the Navy named for a battle from the Vietnam War.

The keynote speaker of the weekend's events was First Lieutenant Nicholas Warr, USMC.

Warr was a First Lieutenant during the Battle for Hué City and is the author of the book Phase Line Green: The Battle for Hué, 1968. The book has subsequently been used as a training guide for Marine Urban Warfare and is required reading for officers in the United States Marine Corps.

The weekend began on Friday afternoon with a frocking ceremony for newly advanced crewmembers and a symposium at the Afloat Training Group Mayport Auditorium about the battle and the lessons learned therein.

Warr spoke of his experiences in Hué and invited the veterans in attendance to share their stories as well. The crew of USS Hue City was in attendance and was fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from the experience of these vets.

One of the most moving parts of the symposium was the salute the veterans gave to the Navy Corpsmen both past and present. Friday's festivities concluded with an evening reception at Bogey's Restaurant at Windy Harbor Golf Course. The social event offered the Officers and Chiefs of Hue City a chance to meet and mingle with the veterans.

The United States Naval Academy Class of 1966 was also in attendance and distributed their annual Class of '66 Leadership Awards. The awards were presented by retired Vice Adm. Michael D. Haskins to Lt.j.g. Craig Dziewiatkowski and Engineman 1st Class (SW) Ronricus Brantley.

Saturday morning offered crew members and veterans a chance to team up for a golf tournament at Windy Harbor Golf Course. At the same time, the wives, widows, and families were invited to join the female members and wives of the wardroom for a brunch at the Ocean Breeze Conference Center.

The brunch was hosted by Mrs. Joy Swain, wife of Hue City's Commanding Officer, Capt. A. W. Swain, and Ensign Amanda Beierl and was a rousing success.

Saturday afternoon featured a picnic at the Sea Otter Pavilion for the veterans, crew and families. During the picnic, the veterans were asked to sign a flag bearing more than 100 signatures of the Marines who fought in Hué.

The annual Spirit of Hué Leadership Award was given to Fire Controlman 1st Class (SW) Keith Jabbusch for embodying the qualities and attitude that defined the men who served in Hué. A beautiful cake was also prepared and decorated by Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Aaron Riel.

The pinnacle of the weekend was the Hué Memorial service. USS Hue City chaplain, Lt. Cmdr. Philip Bagrow, led more than 300 veterans, crew members and guests in an invocation, which was followed by a reading of the 23 Psalm by Dziewiatkowski.

The solemn remembrance continued with an address by Warr to his fellow Marines and a tribute to the Marines of Hué by Swain. Colors were presented by the Blount Island Marine Color Guard and Navy Region South East Band performed a variety of selections.

The ceremony concluded with a benediction by Chaplain Bagrow, the commemoration of a wreath in honor of those veterans both past and present, the tolling of the ship's bell, a twenty-one gun salute, and the echo of Taps to honor those who fell at Hué.

For all who participated, it was a weekend full of pride, friendship, brotherhood, memories and, above all, honor. It was a great pleasure for the crew of USS Hue City to host such a distinguished group of remarkable individuals, and plans are already in the works for next year's event.

Special recognition should be given to Lt.j.g. Jeremy Garner for his incredible efforts in planning, coordinating, and executing this marvelous event.