Yokosuka Naval Base (Japan), May 06: Thousands of wives, husbands, daughters and sons lined the piers of this US Naval base to welcome home the USS Kitty Hawk, which returned
today after a four-month deployment in support of the war in Iraq.
"It's a relief," petty officer Ryan Belle, of toledo, Ohio, said as he hugged his pregnant wife, Sayuri. "It was a hard cruise."
Navy officials estimated about 5,000 people turned out to
welcome the Kitty Hawk, which was at sea for more than 100
days.
"I'm so excited to have him back," said Arkila Campbell, who waited for her husband with her four small children as the carrier pulled in to a loud party ashore, replete with rock
bands, hamburger stalls and free cake for all.
"It's my third time welcoming him home. But this time it has special meaning, because he went to war," said Campbell, of Sandersville, Mississippi. Her husband, Marcus, is a petty
officer aboard the ship.
Among the VIPs greeting the ship was US ambassador to
Japan Howard Baker and senior Japanese military officials.
An F/A-18 fighter from the Kitty Hawk was the first us
fighter downed in the war. It was shot down by friendly fire,
and the pilot was killed. Some 5,000 sorties were flown off
the Kitty Hawk, but only two aircraft were lost.
Also returning to port today were the uss cowpens and the
USS John S McCain. Both ships also played an active role in
the war. The cowpens was the fist ship to fire tomahawk
missiles from the Arabian Gulf.
Bureau Report
