Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Hue City (CG 66), part of the George H.W. Bush Strike Group (GHWBCSG), returned to homeport here Aug. 21 after a seven-month deployment to the U.S. Navy's 5th and 6th Fleet area of operations.

Family and friends greeted the crew pier side at Naval Station Mayport as the ship moored after traveling more than 56,000 nautical miles during the deployment.

"Homecoming is always an exciting event for all our Sailors," said Command Master Chief Teri Zehnacker. "Whether it's your first, second, or fifth deployment, it's always a great feeling to moor pier-side in your homeport."

While deployed to the 5th and 6th fleet, Hue City accomplished numerous missions, participated in several joint exercises, conducted maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts as part of the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group.in support of the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group.

"We traveled from the Baltic to the Black Sea supporting the carrier and national interests on this deployment," said Capt. Dan Gillen, commanding officer, USS Hue City. "We are privileged to have supported numerous exercises such as Exercise Sea Breeze, as well as host several foreign distinguished guests throughout our deployment. We operated with our joint and international partners across a wide range of missions and I could not be prouder of how successful our Sailors operated."

Numerous Sailors reached career and personal milestones during deployment, to include more than 100 Sailors qualifying as Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist, eight junior officers qualifying as Surface Warfare Officers and nine Sailors became new parents.

Hue City also visited nine countries to include The Netherlands, Lithuania, Estonia, Spain, Seychelles, Oman, Ukraine, Romania, and Italy.

"It was a very successful deployment, both aboard Hue City and back at home" said Cmdr. Walter Manuel, Hue City executive officer. "Sailors spend months training and preparing to deploy and it doesn't stop there. Deployment is no easy task and the support we received from family and friends was tremendous. We could not have been as successful as we were without the support from back home."

GHWBCSG is comprised of the staff of CSG-2; aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77); the nine squadrons and staff of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8; Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 22 staff and guided-missile destroyers USS Mahan (DDG 72), USS Cole (DDG 67), USS Laboon (DDG 58) and USS Truxtun (DDG 103); and Mayport-based USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) and USS Hue City (CG 66).



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