Several U.S. Navy aircraft squadrons that had been deployed for nine months in fierce combat against Houthi rebels in Yemen returned to the United States on Friday to be greeted by families who leapt into their waiting arms.
Heartwarming video Children dressed in red, white and blue rushing to the arms of soldiers, A woman being lifted and spun A man in uniform presented her with a bouquet of roses in Virginia.
Photos showed other families waving American flags and holding patriotic “welcome home” signs for their heroes.
“USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (translator) to U.S. Navy Europe and translation: “They are now returning home,” U.S. Fleet Command posted on Twitter.
The carrier was leading the response to attacks on shipping by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Indian Ocean.
Navy carrier strike groups and air wings conducted significant strikes against Yemeni rebels while protecting warships and commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The Virginian-Pilot reported..
Ships have come under repeated armed attack in and around the Red Sea, and U.S. Central Command continues to fight back.
According to the outlet, Eisenhower crews, along with the U.S. Air Force, conducted seven planned strikes on Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, while Ike pilots flew thousands of aircraft launches and recoveries, according to the Navy.
Lt. Russell Hill served with Carrier Air Wing 3 on his first deployment, spending several months in the Red Sea and returning home to his wife, Hannah Cate, on Friday.
“I personally have a craving for the weird,” Hill said. He told The Virginian-Pilot.“I want to go to the gym without a uniform. And I want to go to Walmart right after my workout. I’m going to take advantage of all the freedoms we have. And waking up in my own bed, having a backyard, things like that.
“There are so many great things on the ship and great people, but I’m also excited to spend quality time with my wife,” he added.
“Waiting for Dad” by Riley Hendershot He told WVEC“We are very excited to meet him and are filled with anticipation.”
“It’s very bittersweet,” VRC-40 crew member Kiara Marsh told the outlet. “We’re so happy to be able to see our family and friends.”
Among the aircraft arriving Friday were crews from VRC-40 and VAW-123, who were headed to Norfolk, Virginia, and squadrons VFA-83, VFA-131, VFA-32 and VFA-105, who were headed to Virginia Beach. Their return marked the end of their mission with the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group.
The group’s deployment has been extended twice.
“I am incredibly proud of our service members for responding with precision in their time of need to protect freedom of navigation in the Red Sea,” Capt. Starvin Marvin Scott, commander of Carrier Air Wing 3, told The Virginian-Pilot.
“When the Houthis started to escalate the conflict, [Carrier Strike Group] “We engaged Carrier Air Wing Two, Carrier Air Wing Three and Ike Strike Group, and we were ready to respond,” Scott said.
The return marks the beginning of a three-day return period for the Carrier Strike Group, which includes four ships, nine squadrons and 6,500 sailors, WVEC reported.
