NORFOLK, Va. — The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) returned to Naval Station Norfolk on Jan. 17 following a more than 8-month deployment.
The carrier strike group’s deployment was extended following the outbreak of fighting between Israel and Hamas. Sailors aboard the Ford were sent to the Eastern Mediterranean after Hamas’ initial attacks on Oct. 7.
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On the bitter cold Wednesday morning, families excitedly crowded pier 11 at Naval Station Norfolk, many of them with signs in hand, to welcome home the thousands of sailors aboard the ship.
“It’s been a very long time, a long wait. I know everybody’s been waiting for their sailors and we’re just so glad that they’re coming home safe," said Alycia Metz, who was waiting with her daughter for their son and brother.
"I guess so, if I have to," her daughter said, smiling and laughing, when asked if she was going to give her brother a hug.
Carrie Morris had one word to describe how she was feeling as she waited for her husband.
“Excited," Morris said.
She had two words to describe what the deployment was like for her.
“Like Hell," she said.
Her 7-year-old son was there too, and was a little more talkative.
"I missed you," he said when asked what he was going to say to his father.
When asked what he's going to do with his father first, he said play a game.
"(We're going to play) Fortnite," he said.
After a roughly two-and-a-half-hour official process, including mooring the ship to the pier, sailors began to get off.
Petty Officer First Class Thomas Amyx got to see his new baby in person for the first time.
“It’s awesome. It makes it all worth it, you know?" Amyx said.
His wife said the family planned to spend some well-earned time together, including a family vacation.
“We’re heading to Florida next week and going to Disney World," she said.
Tristian McCallum was looking forward to surprising his family and putting in some work when he goes home for a visit.
“We have to move some cows back home, so that’ll be the first thing we have to do," said McCallum.
He wasn't all alone at the pier, though. His friend, who was also on the Ford, and his friend's mother were there with him.
"She's like our second mom, so we're always glad to have her around," McCallum said.
The strike group’s commander, Rear Adm. Erik Eslich, praised the sailors and the Ford’s commanding officer, Capt. Richard Burgess, and said he was looking forward to building on the success of the deployment.
The deployment was a first for the ship, which is the first such ship in the Navy’s Ford class.
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“I couldn’t be more proud of the team and what they’ve accomplished," Erlisch emphasized.
“Now that we know it and really like what we see, I want to see what the future possibilities are," Burgess said.
Burgess also echoed Erlisch's praise for the sailors.
“The Gerald R. Ford is everything our nation hoped it would be, and more. I am so proud of the crew, who breathed life into the world’s most technologically advanced warship and stood the watch in defense of our national interests,” Burgess said. “Though extended, we were the right ship at the right time to answer the call, and our Sailors performed admirably.”
All squadrons and all but one ship attached to the carrier strike group had also returned home as of Jan. 17.
The remaining ship, the USS Normandy, is scheduled to return over the coming weekend.
