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Subscribe to RSSIt's hard to resist these reunion scenes. Welcome home sailors.
Win McNamee / Getty Images
The crew of the USS Enterprise lines the flight deck during the carrier's homecoming at the Norfolk Naval Station, July 15, 2011, in Norfolk, Va. In its 184 days away from Norfolk, the USS Enterprise cruised nearly 60,000 miles while supporting operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Win McNamee / Getty Images
Relatives shout to sailors on the flight deck during the homecoming ceremony.
Win McNamee / Getty Images
Christopher Tubbs embraces his wife Sarah after arriving at Norfolk Naval Station on Friday.
Win McNamee / Getty Images
Lt. Brian Dennison hugs his twin boys Logan and Grant.
According to the USS Enterprise's website the ship is the eighth to bear this name, and it is the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. It is also the world's largest active warship.
The Enterprise was commissioned on Nov. 25, 1961. It was designed for a 25-year service life, but she has served for almost 50 years. The Enterprise has been involved in every major combat operation over the past five decades.
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America! These are ALL our sons and daughters. ALL to be welcomed home as our beloved family members. Wow! As a very proud Blue Star Mother of a Navy Son I remember his homecoming - each and every moment! Nothing like it. God Bless all of them both seaman and families - wishing them all fairwinds and following seas on this homecoming!
Welcome home Enterprise, welcome home, job well done!
The feeling of seeing your loved ones after a long deployment is something that cannot be explained in words. Those who have experienced it have something they will remember their entire lives. Welcome Home Shipmates. Wishing you all Smooth Seas and Prevailing Winds.
Wonderful pictures....they make me so happy that these military men and women are home with their families....and so sad to think what Lt. Dennison missed in the lives of his twins during his deployment. I wish them all the best.
They were only away for six months on one of the largest ships in existance, surrounded by destroyers and protected by fighters, they were probably on the safest place on the planet. Not like they were slumming in the trenches in Afghanistan...but then that's probably why they choose to go to sea in the first place.
Oh wait...maybe the sailors ran out of ice cream at sea, the horrors! The horrors!
Working on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier during flight ops is one of the most dangerous places on earth my friend. Don't slight these guys. Believe me, even being at the DMZ in Vietnam had it's relatively BORING moments, interrupted by episodes of sheer terror. ALL of our service personnel deserve our respect and gratitude.
What is your service record, you a**hole?
wjmknight - you silly horsesarss (you'll just have to pardon this proud Navy Blue Star Mother) - clearly you lack education. A bit of history. The battle for Okinawa began on April 1, 1945 and the allies claimed victory on June 22, 1945. U.S. losses were over 62,000 casualties of whom over 12,000 were killed or missing. This made the battle the bloodiest that U.S. forces experienced in the Pacific war. Several thousand servicemen who died indirectly (from wounds and other causes) at a later date are not included in the total. One of the most famous U.S. casualties was the war correspondent Ernie Pyle, who was killed by Japanese machine gun fire on Ie Shima. At sea, 368 Allied ships—including 120 amphibious craft—were damaged while another 28—including 15 amphibious ships and 12 destroyers—were sunk during the Okinawa campaign. The U.S. Navy's dead exceeded it’s wounded with 4,907 killed and 4,874 wounded, primarily from kamikaze attacks.
That older white haired vet who walks slowly with a slight stoop? Has Okinawa on his Veteran ball cap? He was there.
...so ends this tiny nugget lesson of US Military History. Might suggest you do a bit of reading.
What a jerk.
wjmknight.....What are your military credentials ? Or are you even out of high school ?
I spent 9 months at sea on the Big "E", anchored off the Suez Canal during Christmas and New Years, was on port and starboard watches (12 on and 12 off) for 7 months, and had a bunk near the #2 catapult and just below the resting gear. Further I spent 15 years at sea on eight different ships and was involved in two wars.
I am sure I can get permission from SecNav to go back on active duty for 1 day to enlist you into a branch of service of your choosing, however I would retain the right to select your first duty station.
wjmknight --- go in front of a mirror and keep saying to yourself ... "I am a moron."
You're kidding right? Next time just keep your dumb ass comment to yourself...moron.
That sure is a beautiful sight!
@wjmknight....before you criticize any branch of the military why don't you try serving yourself. Oh wait you are probably a lazy piece of $hit that sponges off the backs of others.
amen to that
It's good to see that our servicemen and women are coming home!
BTW-Enterprise is 11th largest warship, not 1st.
Good job men and women of the Enterprise and welcome home from a former 1st Cavalry Division infantry captain on the ground in Viet Nam.
She looks just like I remember the last time I left her in 1982. She was much younger then. Can't help reflecting on the fact that the sailors manning her now we not even born when I got off.
Looks like Logan and Grant are flying high with daddy back home with hugs!
After 22yr navy career I retired as a Senior Chief Petty Officer, I have seen this from the position from on the Ship or Flight deck a few times to see the family and friends on the pier awaiting for their family and friends coming back from all types of assignments. Each time is special, always has been and always will be, knowing that if needed you can be gone again in a couple of weeks.All our Military troops face this dilema 24hrs a day 360 days a year.Do not forget to give them a handshake or Salute when you see them in Public or on the sidewalks. Makes us feel happy and grateful for the acknowledgement!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ED - Thank You for your Service. I also retired as a Senior Chief after 25 years, retired in '89. I was on smaller ships, my last command was the U.S.S. Lewis B. PULLER (FFG-23). Peace to you and I wish you Smooth Seas and Prevailing Winds. Oh! the ONE thing I DO remember from the past is that West Pac's back then lasted for a year or more. It is GOOD that they cut them down to 6 months. And we thought a year or more was long, going back to the China Fleet Sailors in the 20's and 30's a deployment last for many years. How things have changed.
As a former COMMO on BIG E I say welcome home old friend and good that your crew is safe.
Steve - Good to see a post from a Communications Officer, I'm a Retired Senior Chief Radioman, worked in the Crypto Vault. Peace.
welcome home and may God bless you and your families
Yes. Nice to see the sailors returning home and with praise. Somehow, it doesn't mean sheet to me. I remember returnijng home from Vietnam and getting spit on for going there in the first place. Didn't have a choice though. Got drafted. But I'll never forget how my "fellow Americans" treated me (us) with such disdain. Unless you went through it you haven't got a clue to the lasting memory of "returning home" from Vietnam. Get over it you say! Oh, I got over it.....take advantage of every opportunity I get. It works too. It's every man for himself. I learned that the hard way.
John - Been there Done that. Welcome Home and Thank You for your Service. Please go to www.riflewarrior.com/vietnam.html I wrote that for you and me in 1967. There were SOME who thanked us, let's not just remember the A-Holes. Peace.
I don't think there's a more beautiful sight than that of our military personnel being welcomed home by their families.
WJMKNIGHT-----Sailors don't go to sea in hopes of getting ice cream, although I wish we had it more than maybe once a month on a Destroyer. Every single job that is done in any branch of the military is an important one and we have hundreds of SAILORS on the front line in the Middle East, who VOLUNTEER to be there. We also risk our lives every time we go through any strait like the Suez or the Turkish Strait, which each put us in a very vulnerable position.
To agree with PJ, please open your eyes and learn something about the Navy and the importance of the job before you marginalize it. It makes you seem really ignorant. We are making history everyday and in a very proud and awesome way.
Melissa - You are correct, people need to remember that 70% of the earth is covered with water. That's Navy territory.
This will make a big splash.
I was fortunate enough to serve aboard the Forrestal during the Vietnam era and the movies of the 67 fire was shown to all recruits to teach them that no matter how safe you think you are just because your on a carrier is not always the case.Never ever forget all the service members,no matter what branch,who paid the ultimate price so we can enjoy freedom.Gods speed to all that served and to all in service today!
Good job!!! Thanks or keeping us safe at home.
It must feel so terrible being away from your loved ones...truly, arriving home safe and sound is priceless..