WAVY TV 10 - News, Weather, Traffic, Sports for Hampton Roads, Virginia - North Eastern North Carolina - USS Carter Hall deploys to the Middle East with mixed emotions from those ashore
April 10,2007
USS Carter Hall deploys to the Middle East with mixed emotions from those ashore
Hundreds of local sailors are on their way to the Middle East, in support of ongoing maritime security operations.
The sailors are on board the USS Carter Hall.
There was a real range of emotions at this morning's deployment. Sailors who are excited about their mission, loved ones sad to say goodbye, and as your about to see, one man who says after today, he'll finally feel a sense of peace.
There was a tearful goodbye for Brittany Fox and her boyfriend, and one last hug.
"It's not long enough - not tight enough. It just wasn't enough - it's never enough - not when you're not going to see him for 6 months," she said.
400 sailors are deploying with USS Carter Hall to the Navy's 5th Fleet area of operations
The amphibious assault ship will conduct maritime operations in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Indian Ocean.
"Basically its pressurizing the maritime domain to deny international terrorist organizations the use of the high seas," said CO Jim McGovern.
"We have to show everybody that the Navy is strong and we're a force out there."The emotions are different for Mark Mitchell. His father, who served in the Navy in the late 40s, is being buried at sea.
The Navy will take video and pictures of the ceremony for Mitchell's family.
"I'm actually happy in a way because the last couple of months we didn't know what was going to happen and I really wanted him to have his last wish granted and this was it," Mitchell told us.
USS Carter Hall is scheduled for a six month deployment, but the commanding officer says that could change based on operations.
The USS Carter Hall's commanding officer said this is a routine deployment and it has nothing to do with the Navy's recent activity in the Persian Gulf.
USS Carter Hall leaves on six-month deployment | TOP STORIES | WVEC.com | News for Hampton Roads, Virginia
USS Carter Hall leaves on six-month deployment
06:02 PM EDT on Tuesday, April 10, 2007
USS Carter Hall
The USS Carter Hall left Tuesday morning to return to the War of Terror. They’re headed to what the military calls the Fifth Fleet area of responsibility. They’ll travel from the Suez Canal, through the Red Sea, around the horn of Africa, into the Arabian Sea, and possibly up to the Persian Gulf.
The 400 crew members of the USS Carter Hall said goodbye to their family and friends at Little Creek Amphibious Base around 10 a.m. Tuesday.
"It's hard to leave the family, as you know, you get accustomed to being at home. But, you join the military, and that's what we're here to do, do our time and come back," said Yeoman 1st class Eric Hill.
The amphibious dock landing ship is bound first for the Mediterannean Sea, ultimately for the Middle East. There, they'll conduct vital maritime security operations, working to keep the global sea lanes free of terrorist activity, and of pirates.
It's something the Navy has always done, but a mission that's gotten much more attention in the days since September 11, 2001.
"We'll be doing engagement operations with our coalition partners and gulf cooperation council states,” said Commander James McGovern. “We'll be conducting visit, board, search and seizure. We'll be conducting the spectrum, from humanitarian operations, all the way to combat operations."