Homecomings

Amphibious Task Force West, left San Diego on Jan. 17 for the Persian Gulf, USS Comstock and USS Anchorage, both dock landing ships, arrived home earlier this month. The amphibious assault ships USS Boxer and USS Bonhomme Richard, dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor and transport dock ships USS Cleveland and USS Dubuque arrived Saturday, July 27 at 32nd Street Naval Station. It may take a minute or longer to load the next page with pictures. More....

Constellation Battle Group Arrives Home

Besides the carrier Constellation, the guided-missile cruisers Bunker Hill and Valley Forge, the guided-missile destroyer Milius, and the guided missile frigate Thach returned home to San Diego June 1, 2003.

The group includes the San Diego-based Strike-Fighter Marine Squadron 323, out of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, and these squadrons out of Naval Air Station North Island: Sea Control Squadron 38, Helicopter Squadron 2, Helicopter Light Anti-Submarine Squadron 47 and Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 30 Detachment 1.

The guided-missile destroyer Higgins, part of the Constellation battle group, remains on station with a new crew while the original Higgins' Sailors fly back home. The operation is part of the Navy's new Sea Swap program. It is designed to enable ships to remain operating overseas for longer periods of time without having to return to their home ports.

Monday morning June 1, 2003 was a typical San Diego "June gloom" day with a light fog near the entrance to the bay. Not a great day for pictures but the weather did not dampen anyone's joyous moods.

On and off throughout the region there were light sprinkles. But the weather did not interfere with thousands of well wishers who lined the bay to see the Sailors and their ships arrive home. Family and friends were anxious for the loved ones to return home. The return home caps a seven month deployment.

Pictures of the Connie and Milius entrance into the bay along with Thach's arrival at 32nd Street are provided. To save an image, right click on a large image and follow the instructions for your specific browser. The downloaded image should be a large enough to print a 4 x 6 image.

Larger digital images of the same pictures are available. Sailors and family members can request specific images by sending an e-mail to webmaster@quarterdeck.org. Please note the last three digits of the photograph number when you view the photo and include this number in the email. Digital photos will be emailed to a .navy.mil email address or the specific family members that I spoke with during the arrival of the ships.

Lincoln Battle Group Arrives Home

Thousands witnessed the return of the Lincoln stateside Friday April 25, 2003 after nearly a ten month deployment. Accompanying the aircraft carrier were San Diego home ported cruisers Mobile Bay and Shiloh. Lincoln made the stop in San Diego on its way to its homeport and is due home in Everett, Wash., on May 6.