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July 28, 2010

By Meredith Kruse
The Virginian-Pilot
© July 28, 2010
NORFOLK

About 5,000 sailors returned home to the cheers and hugs of their loved ones Wednesday as the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower group arrived at Norfolk Naval Station following a seven-month deployment.

The Eisenhower and Carrier Air Wing 7 conducted missions in support of the war in Afghanistan. Aircraft began returning Saturday and more arrived Tuesday at Chambers Field and Oceana Naval Air Station.

For members of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Five, the Nightdippers, this was a homecoming to a new home - the squadron relocated from Jacksonville Naval Air Station to Norfolk's Chambers Field. During the deployment, more than half the squadron’s families moved to Hampton Roads. The remainder will move after the homecoming.

The squadron flies the HH-60F and HH-60H Seahawk helicopter.

Three other members of the Eisenhower carrier strike group - the destroyers Carney and Farragut and the cruiser Hue City - will be returning to Mayport, Fla., where they are based. The Norfolk-based destroyer McFaul is due home next week.