Release Date: 3/27/2018 5:25:00 PM
By By Ensign Nicholas Vandiver, USS Hue City (CG 66) Public Affairs Officer
ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) -- Guided-missile cruiser USS Hue City (CG 66) rescued three fishermen March 27 off the coast of Georgia.
At approximately 4 a.m. Hue City was notified by the U.S. Coast Guard and guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57) that a small craft in their vicinity had issued a distress signal and needed assistance.
Hue City Commanding Officer, Capt. Jake Douglas, and the ship's crew turned to the last known position of the distressed vessel, fishing vessel Barbara Lynn, and began the search. Approximately 20 minutes later, the cruiser's lookout spotted the flashing strobe light of the life raft and its three passengers
Hue City deployed their Search and Rescue Swimmer, Sonar Technician (Surface) 3rd Class Nathan Andrade, a native of Stockton, California, who swam to the life raft and assisted in attaching the rescue harness to each passenger. The ship recovered survivors using medical litters and a rescue davit.
"When I woke up to the call that someone needed to be rescued, I was just praying to God that everyone was safe," said Andrade. "Thanks to great teamwork from the boatswains mates and everyone else willing to help, we were able to save everyone and bring them on board safely."
Two hours after receiving the distress call, all three passengers were aboard Hue City with no significant injuries.
Following the rescue, the recovered personnel were transferred by an embarked helicopter from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 70 to Naval Station Mayport, Florida, for further assessment and treatment.
"The Hue City team did a great job this morning," said Douglas. "They showed their excellence in seamanship and exemplified the Navy Core Values. We are glad to have been able to assist fellow mariners at sea."
Hue City is underway supporting Carrier Strike Group 4 Task Force Exercise 18-2.
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