NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — The USS Gonzalez’s deployment has been delayed.
The Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer was scheduled to leave Wednesday morning, but crews spent the day fixing its anti-submarine warfare.
Families were pierside to say goodbye to their loved ones before the delay.
Those who have been through a few deployments say its still hard leaving.
Keyon Houston, who is going on his first deployment, was joined by his family who prayed over him.
“Just for protection, safe travels, making sure they come back, every port they hit to just be safe,” said his wife Chianne, who is also in the Navy.
Commanding officer Commander Christopher Schwarz says about 60 percent of the sailors will also be on their first deployment.
He’s excited to get underway and believes his crew is the best on the East Coast.
“Morale is great. We’ve been working towards this for a while now. We’re ready to go and do what we’re trained to do,” he said.
The Gonzalez will conduct ballistic missile defense and security cooperation.
The Navy would not say where the ship is headed.
“We’re ready to go wherever we’re needed,” Schwarz said.
The Gonzalez is now scheduled to leave Thursday.
