Our Hero is Back

I’m coming home
I’m coming home
tell the World I’m coming home 
Song by Diddy – Dirty Money

A Homecoming Story

 
Navy Photographer Photographs Eager Families

Clear security. 
Find the pier.
Clear more security. 
Join other families awaiting the arrival of a loved one 
they haven't seen in 6 months. 


Creative Signs Abound 

Wait, wait, and wait some more. 
And then...
Rumors. 
They are close. 
Up the adrenaline a notch. 


Sailor Boy's Sister Made Spider Man Themed Signage
Sailor Boy is aka Buddy, his childhood nickname. 
Sailor Boy is my son-in-law. 

Catch a glimpse. 
They're coming home!  


The First Glimpse

But where is our Sailor Boy? 
We squint, we scan, 
our Sailor Boy is not seen. 


Other Sailor Boys

Where, oh where, is our Sailor Boy?
..........................
THERE HE IS!
He was down below
manning his weapon
during the approach into port.

Our Sailor just arrived - on the left. 

We cheer, we jump, we wave 

and Sailor Boy flashes his wonderful smile. 

The Captain's Speech

The Commanding Officer makes a speech. 

We share pride in all our Sailors accomplished 

in intercepting the 2nd largest 

amount of cocaine in naval history.
Way to go Sailors! 

First Hug

Loved ones bid for their sailor to be one of the first off the ship. 

They bid for the first kiss. 

They bid for the first hug. 

Daddy Meets His Baby Boy

Next off, 

sailors who have yet to meet their babies. 

If that doesn't tug at your heartstrings .... 

 

Daddy Meets His Baby Girl

And then comes the Commanding Officer.


Commanding Officer Greets His Family 

Finally,
Our Sailor Boy!


Sailor Boy and Teacher Girl 

Reunited at Last! 

 

Coming Home

What's Next? 

Sailor Boy is home for 3 months. 

His ship is being decommissioned. 

He has some leave time 

and then he and Teacher Girl 

relocate from Virginia Beach back to San Diego. 

(They moved from San Diego just under 2 years ago.) 

His new ship just deployed. 

That means Sailor Boy will be joining 

the ship while it is already underway.  

They'll be another homecoming sometime next year.  

News Link on the Homecoming 

Of Naval Interest....

The ship, the USS Kauffmann FFG 59,  

is a guided missile frigate. 

All the other naval frigates have already been decommissioned. 

This deployment was significant 

in that is was the last frigate still sailing. 

Their deployment was in and around 

Central America 

with the goal of keeping illegal drugs 

from reaching our country. 

Of Photographic Interest...

I used the world's worst lens for these images. 

(I was trying out a lens.) 

The lens is being returned TOMORROW. 

I would have been happier with images from a point and shoot 

than with this crappy lens. 

Welcome Home Sailors!