After six months at sea, a locally-based aircraft carrier and its sailors came home Sunday.
The USS Eisenhower returned to its Naval Station Norfolk homeport Sunday morning, reuniting Sailors with their loved ones.
The ship deployed out into the Mediterranean Sea, where it worked with air squadrons from Naval Air Station Oceana and other naval air bases. The missions were important ones - ensuring stability in international waters, deescalating any tensions and ensuring safe passage for vessels.
The Eisenhower also played a support role in ensuring troops return home from Afghanistan as military operations in the area begin to wind down.
Deploying as the pandemic continued was considered risky, but the fleet's vice admiral says risks are needed.
"It's like any other risk you deal with," Vice Admiral Woody Lewis, commander of the US 2nd Fleet, explained. "When you're operating - if we just sat in the corner and didn't do things because they were risky, we'd never fly airplanes from an aircraft carrier."
