USS Gonzalez DDG 66

• Namesake Heroism: USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) is named after Sergeant Alfredo Cantu Gonzalez, a U.S. Marine who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his heroism during the Vietnam War at the Battle of Huế in 1968. • Commissioning Date: The ship was commissioned on October 12, 1996, at Naval Station Ingleside, Texas. • Arleigh Burke Class: USS Gonzalez is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, one of the most advanced and heavily armed classes of destroyers in the world. • Operation Allied Force: In 1999, USS Gonzalez participated in NATO’s Operation Allied Force, launching Tomahawk cruise missiles during the Kosovo conflict. • Counter-Piracy Operations: On March 18, 2006, USS Gonzalez, together with USS Cape St. George, engaged and repelled Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean, marking one of the first direct ship-to-ship engagements with pirates in modern U.S. Navy history. • First Female Commander: In 2008, Commander Cynthia A. Thebaud became the ship's commanding officer, making history as one of the first female commanders of a U.S. Navy destroyer. • Humanitarian Missions: USS Gonzalez has participated in humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations, including relief efforts in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. • Advanced Technology: The ship is equipped with the Aegis Combat System, capable of tracking, targeting, and engaging multiple air, surface, and subsurface threats simultaneously. • Slogan: The ship’s motto is “Follow Me,” inspired by Sergeant Gonzalez’s leadership and courage under fire. • Homeport: USS Gonzalez is homeported at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, serving as part of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet.