A familiar emotional homecoming as NAS squadrons return from long sea duty

In all, three Naval Air Station Lemoore-based squadrons assigned to the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group, after nearly 11 months at sea,  returned to NAS Lemoore Thursday, Feb. 25 to the usual fanfare of family members and well-wishers.

The Lemoore contingent included Strike Fighter Squadrons VFA 137, 94, and 22.

The Nimitz cruise was the first carrier strike group to embark on a deployment for the U.S. Navy after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Nimitz was escorted and joined by a flotilla including Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, Carrier Strike Group 11, Destroyer Squadron 9, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton, and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett.

“The Sailors and Marines of Nimitz Strike Group and their families have given it their all for almost a year. They successfully kept COVID out of the strike group beginning in April of 2020 and stayed healthy throughout our time standing the watch for our nation,” said Rear Adm. Jim Kirk, commander, Carrier Strike Group 11.

“These young men and women worked tirelessly to incorporate mitigations that ensured the health, safety, and readiness of the crews. They made important contributions to the security and stability in the Middle East, Africa, and Western Pacific during a period of tension and transitions. I am immensely proud of this team and all that they accomplished during this unprecedented deployment.”

The flagship crew arrived at the Nimitz on April 1, 2020, at their homeport Naval Base Kitsap, Bremerton, Washington. Sailors stationed in San Diego embarked later that week aboard Princeton and Sterett for a restriction-of-movement period to ensure the crew's health and safety during the pandemic.

While deployed, the strike group completed five dual-carrier operations with U.S. 7th Fleet with the Ronald Reagan and Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Groups. Included in the cruise and hosted by India was the multinational Exercise Malabar 2020 with the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force and Australian Navy in the Bay of Bengal.

The Nimitz and NAS Lemoore squadrons were kept busy with operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, and Syria. The Nimitz also found its way to the Indian Ocean near Somalia in December to support a Joint Task Force during the repositioning of U.S. forces in East Africa.

“It's hard to express in words the overwhelming sense of accomplishment and pride felt by all hands aboard Nimitz as this long deployment comes to a close,” said Capt. Max Clark, Nimitz’s commanding officer. “I am so very proud of this crew and the grit and teamwork they demonstrated day in and day out to complete all missions assigned. They and their families have my deepest respect and gratitude.”

Photos by Gary Feinstein, Feinsteinfotos