PRESS RELEASE

U.S. Navy Port Visit to Da Nang City November 7-10

November 7, 2009

Da Nang City – The USS Lassen (DDG 82) and USS Blue Ridge (LCC19) will conduct a port call in Da Nang City from Nov 7-10.   This visit will mark the first time that two U.S. Navy ships are visiting Da Nang concurrently, with a combined crew of 1,700 officers and sailors.

During their four-day visit, the crew will carry out community relations projects, engage in sports activities with students of University of Da Nang, conduct ships tours for invited guests, and visit historical and cultural sites around Da Nang City.

 USS Blue Ridge, Command Ship for the Commander of the United States Seventh Fleet, based in Yokosuka, Japan, was commissioned on November 14, 1970, at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, as the most sophisticated command and control platform in the Navy. With accommodations for more than 200 officers and 1200 enlisted personnel, the ship provides all the services of a small town.  The USS Lassen is assigned to Destroyer Squadron 15 and is forward-deployed to Yokosuka, Japan, as part of the U.S. 7th Fleet.  USS Lassen is the first U.S. Navy ship to be commanded by a Vietnamese-American, Commander Le Ba Hung. Commander Le was born in Vietnam's ancient capital city of Hue.  The Le family immigrated to the U.S., settling in Northern Virginia.  The goodwill visit by his ship will mark the first time Le has been back to Vietnam since he left the country at the age of five.

Note to reporters: A pier-side welcome ceremony, immediately followed by a press conference with the two captains aboard the USS Blue Ridge at the Tien Sa Port, is planned for November 7 from 14:00-15:00 p.m.  Reporters who wish to cover the two events should register before 17:00pm, November 5.  International media must also contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in Hanoi to obtain the appropriate permits. 

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