Norfolk, Va. - On Wednesday, Sailors aboard the USS Eisenhower will return home to happy families - just in time for the holidays.
These Sailors - 4,300 total in the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group - have been on deployment for the last six months.
However, the return home won't be for a very long time.
The ship will be undergoing some maintenance, before finishing the deployment in early 2013. NewsChannel 3 was pierside for USS Eisenhower's deployment.
The Sailors on board this ship were sent out June 20.
The Navy wouldn't say what their exact job would be, but said they were going to be defending America in the Persian Gulf.
The ship will return Wednesday, so a deck can be completed, before heading back to complete the job of this deployment in February.
NewsChannel 3 was at Naval Station Norfolk to watch the deployment of the USS Eisenhower back in June.
The ship was supposed to be out for a nine month deployment, but the families of service members on board this ship are excited that they'll be home today.
That's just in time for the holidays!
The USS Eisenhower will be undergoing some deck repairs that are needed, before the ship heads back out to deployment in February.
Also returning today - the USS Hue City to Mayport in Florida.
The Navy says preparations will be made to that ship so it, too, can complete the deployment starting in February.
You can look for updates on the arrival of both ships, coming up on NewsChannel 3 at noon.
