Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Hue City (CG 66) rendered emergency medical assistance to an injured fisherman off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida, May 24.

At approximately 7:20 a.m., Hue City was notified by the U.S. Coast Guard that a small fishing vessel, about 10 nautical miles north of the ship's position, reported that they had an injured mariner with a compound fracture, possibly going into shock.

Hue City's commanding officer, Capt. Jake Douglas, and the ship's crew turned toward the fishing vessel and began making the best speed. Approximately 20 minutes later, the cruiser spotted the vessel.

Hue City launched their rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB), accompanied by the ship's Hospital Corpsman Chief Cory Butler, and began to approach the vessel and render assistance.

Butler provided initial assessment and treatment of the injured fisherman. The RHIB boat crew, made up of a team of four Sailors, assisted the corpsman with transferring the mariner into their boat and returned aboard the ship.

"I was proud to see how everyone responded to a real life emergency," said Butler. "From the boat crew to my corpsmen back here on Hue City, our daily training paid off with everyone executing their part with skill and speed."

Within an hour of receiving the notification from the Coast Guard, the injured mariner was stabilized onboard Hue City.
Following the transfer, the ship transited to Mayport Naval Station where emergency medical services were standing by to transfer the fisherman to the hospital.

"Hue City executed the mission flawlessly this morning," said Douglas. "They showed they are always ready to respond to any situation and uphold the tradition of assisting fellow mariners at sea."

Hue City is underway supporting the deck landing qualifications of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadrons HSM-70, HSM-46, and HSM-40.

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