Home Comings

A Very Special Event in the Life of a Sailor

NORFOLK, Va. (June 12, 2009) Family members await the return of Electronics Technician 3rd Class Louis Catanzaro aboard USS Nashville (LPD 13), returning after a five-month deployment. Nashville served as the Africa Partnership Station for the U.S. Africa Command in the U.S. Sixth Fleet Area of Responsibility providing maritime security operations throughout the Gulf of Guinea and West Africa. This is the last deployment before decommissioning of the Nashville. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class John Suits/Released)

I, The Flower Child, remember my three homecomings from major deployments on three different Navy Ships.

My first homecoming was in 1963 when I was assigned to the USS Ranger (CVA-61), which was an attack aircraft carrier. We were returning from a major deployment to the Western Pacific as a major component of the U. S. Seventh Fleet. We returned to our homeport of Alameda, California. No one was waiting for me even though I was hoping against hope that someone from Iowa would be there.

My second homecoming was in 1971 when I was assigned to the USS Sellers (DDG-11), which was a Guided Missile Destroyer homeported in Charleston, South Carolina. We were returning from a major deployment to the U. S. Sixth Fleet.

My third homecoming was in the Fall of 1978 when I was assigned to the USS Hull (DD-945), a true destroyer homeported in San Diego, California. We were returning from a major deployment to the U. S. Seventh Fleet. This homecoming was very special to me. My Bride of six years and our two sons were on the pier waiting for me. A great day to be certain.

PACIFIC OCEAN (June 9, 2009) Capt. K.J. Norton, commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), left, salutes Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Noel Myers as he holds the flag that was presented to him after his father was laid to rest during a burial at sea ceremony aboard the ship. Ronald Reagan is on a routine deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Specialist 3rd Class Chelsea Kennedy/Released)

I can recall one burial at sea ceremony during my tour of duty in the USS Ranger (CVA-61). It was a very emotional and memorable event.

Yes, the return from a deployment and a burial at sea are certainly memorable "Homecoming " events in the life of a Sailor and his Family.