NORFOLK, Va. — Sunday is the grand finale of a three-day homecoming in Hampton Roads for service members assigned to the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group.
The group of four ships, nine squadrons, and 6,500 sailors returned after a nine-month deployment defending the Red Sea from relentless Houthi rebel attacks, in the midst of the Israel-Hamas war.
Several Navy Super Hornet squadrons returned Friday. Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 7 returned Saturday. And this morning the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, cruiser USS Philippine Sea and destroyer USS Gravely arrived at Naval Station Norfolk.
"I cannot even tell you how many lives they saved, but I can say I have never been more honored to serve with such a fine group of warriors in my entire life – they proved that the mighty Ike is the best damn ship in the Navy," said Captain Chris Hill, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.
After more than half a year apart, families could not contain their absolute joy as they waited pier side for their sailors and loved ones to arrive.
"It was almost like meeting him again for the first time, I was so nervous," said one woman. "I still cannot believe it's real, it's been a long nine months without hearing him too much."
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After shipping out last Oct. 14 and having the deployment extended twice, the group spent most of the past nine months in the Middle East engaged in combat operations at a tempo not seen since World War II.
"I'm quite sure that maybe one day they will make a movie of this carrier strike group and what it has done over the last nine months in the Middle East," said Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the Navy.
The Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group escorted 28 vessels, launching hundreds of missiles. Ike aircrews flew more than 13,000 sorties, accumulated more than 31,000 flight hours, and completed more than 10,000 aircraft launches and recoveries.