About Us
USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) honors the residence of James Monroe, the fifth president of the United States. Monroe often traveled to and from the capitol on horseback carrying his state papers in his saddle bags. The Monroe Doctrine was penned at Oak Hill, and subsequently delivered at an 1823 congressional address which asserted that the Western Hemisphere was never to be colonized again. It further stated that any attempt by a European power to oppress or control any nation in the Western Hemisphere would be perceived as a direct threat to the U.S. This doctrine continues to shape our national policy, and is the inspiration for the ship’s motto: “Nations’ Protector.” In 1830, Monroe went to live with his daughter in New York and upon his death a year later, Oak Hill passed out of family hands. USS Oak Hill is the second ship to honor the residence, and serves as a fitting monument to President Monroe and an important part of American History./p>
SHIP HISTORY
June 11, 1994: Launched in Avondale Industries (New Orleans, Louisiana). Commissioned: June 8, 1996.
July 23,1996: Served as Command and Control Ship for the recovery of TWA Flight 800 wreckage.
February-July 2000: Deployed with USS WASP (LHD 1) Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) in the Mediterranean Sea in support of exercises Dynamic Mix and Noble Shirley.
May 2001: Opened for Fleet Week at Port Everglades, Florida.
February-August 2002: Deployed with USS WASP (LHD 1) ARG and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation of Enduring Freedom.
January-March 2005: Deployed to the Caribbean Sea as part of the SAIPAN Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) in support of a New Horizons humanitarian assistance to Haiti.
January-May 2006: Deployed with USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) and USS Vicksburg (CG 49) to the Persian Gulf in support of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT).
January-July 2007: Deployed with the BATAAN Expeditionary Strike Group to the Horn of Africa in support of the GWOT.
March-October 2008: Surge deployed to the Horn of Africa to conduct maritime interdiction operations in support of the GWOT.
June-August 2009: Deployed to South America in support of the multi-national amphibious exercise, Southern Partnership Station ‘09.
July 4, 2011: Participated in Independence Day activities in Boston with USS CONSTITUTION through public tours, ceremonial guard, and training.
October –December, 2011: Deployed to South America in support of the multi-national amphibious exercise, Southern Partnership Station ’11.
May 2014: Flagship for New York Fleet Week at Pier 92 in Manhattan.
September 2014: Flagship for “Star Spangled Celebration” (bicentennial celebration of the War of 1812) at Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD.
October 2015– May 2016: Deployed with Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group to the 5th Fleet Area of Operation.
June 2016: Only US Warship to participate in the Panama Canal Expansion Ceremony.
February 2018- August 2018: Deployed to 5th and 6th Fleet AORs with Iwo Jima ARG supporting BALTOPS.
December 2019- July 2020: Deployed to 5th and 6th Fleet AORs with Bataan ARG and 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit.