NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A weekend full of homecomings for the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group kicked off Friday morning at Naval Station Norfolk with a handful of the more than 6,500 sailors returning after a nine-month deployment supporting Operation Prosperity Guardian.
Members of the VRC-40 “Rawhides” arrived around 7:15 a.m. Friday with a flyover, followed by the return and flyover of the VAW-123 after a nine-month-long deployment.
WAVY 10 photojournalist Corby Slaughter captured images of people reuniting Friday morning.
More groups were expected to return to Naval Air Station Oceana Friday, including the VFA-83, VFA-131, VFA-32 and VFA-105. The HSC-7 is expected to arrive at Naval Station Norfolk Saturday afternoon.
The USS Eisenhower was engaged in combat operations in the Middle East from Nov. 2023 to June 2024, when they then traveled to the Gulf of Aden to defend commercial ships against Houthi rebels.
They deployed last October, so family and friends were ready to see their loved ones back home.
While deployed to the Red Sea, these squadrons, along with air force assets and coalition partners, led strikes against Houthi drones and missiles. Their mission was to maintain maritime freedom and ensure safe passage.
Families gathered at Naval Station Norfolk and NAS Oceana early Friday morning.
Lt. Commander Robert Nelson, also known as “Fat Goose”, got a warm welcome from his wife and parents.
“I might have been tearing up a little bit in the cockpit,” Nelson said.
“After two extensions, it just felt too good to be true, but seeing him flyover made it all real and it’s just the happiest day!” Lindsay Nelson said, hugging her husband.
“Very busy, sustained combat operations for six months, multiple missile WEZ’s (weapon engagement zones) throughout, multiple operations occurred,” Nelson said. “Everyone came back safe and sound. Just happy that I’m back home with my wife.”
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower is set to return to Naval Station Norfolk Sunday.