FAMILY AND FRIENDS GATHERED TOGETHER ON NAVAL STATION NORFOLK TO WELCOME HOME USS CARR AND USS HAWES FROM THEIR SIX-MONTH DEPLOYMENTS. "WE COULDN'T DO THIS JOB WITHOUT OUR FAMILIES. WHILE WE WERE OUT THERE DOING OUR JOB, THEY WERE HERE KEEPING EVERYTHING RUNNING SO WE'RE BLESSED HERE TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF OUR FAMILIES WE DO." BOTH GUIDED-MISSILE FRIGATES WERE DEPLOYED TO U.S. SOUTHERN COMMAND'S AREA OF OPERATIONS. THIS RETURN MARKS THE COMPLETION OF HAWE'S FIRST COUNTER-NARCOTICS DEPLOYMENT. "WE'RE DOING SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT, THAT'S VERY TANGIBLE BECAUSE WE'RE STOPPING SOMETHING SPECIFICALLY FROM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES AND WE'RE WORKING IN OUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD. WE'RE IN OUR BACKYARD, OPERATING SO YOU REALLY THE FEEL THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT WE'RE AS A MISSION." REPORTING FOR THE NAVY, I'M PETTY OFFICER BRANDON SHELANDER.