USS Bainbridge returns from 7-month deployment

NORFOLK, Va. (WVEC) — The 270 sailors of the USS Bainbridge are back home.

The guided missile destroyer returned to its homeport of Naval Station Norfolk around 10:30 Wednesday morning. The Bainbridge returned from a seven-month deployment in the US 6th Fleet area of operations, in the Mediterranean Sea, operating in waters off Europe and Africa.

The return, not a minute too soon for the sailors’ loved ones who were more than ready for this deployment to end.

“I’m going crazy,” said Kara Klecker, fiancee of a Bainbridge crew member. “I’ve been waiting long enough. I just want him home.”

Fellow fiancee Andrea Wansor agreed. “I’m so excited. I already started crying when I saw the ship in the fog,” Wansor said.

Chief Danisha Hughes was also happy to be back. “It feels real good after seven months, yes, glad to be back, yes,” she said.

ET3 Noah Mortenson was especially glad that the cruise was over. “I’m just ready to get back with my family, it’s been a a long seven months, but it’s good to be back,” he said.

This was not the first time the Bainbridge had completed important work overseas.

In 2009, the ship made headlines, following real-life events which were depicted in the Tom Hanks movie, “Captain Phillips.”

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