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Emotional day at Naval Station Norfolk for thousands of families

Kiahnna Patterson and Jane Alvarez-Wertz

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – It was an emotional day at Naval Station Norfolk, as USS Harry S. Truman set out to sea.

Loved ones gathered pierside to say their goodbyes Monday to those aboard the Norfolk-based aircraft carrier. About 6,500 Sailors will deploy with the Truman carrier strike group through Wednesday.


USS Harry S. Truman deployed from Naval Station Norfolk on Sept. 23, 2024 (Photo courtesy: Kiahnna Patterson/WAVY)

In a press conference, Navy officials said the strike group will visit U.S. Naval Forces Europe, Africa and the U.S. Six Fleet Area of Operations. Commanding officers explain the warship will deter threats of aggression overseas.

“In 2022, the USS Harry S. Truman deployed to the Mediterranean and Sea in response to Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, where the carrier strike group served as a visible deterrent to potential threats, promoted stability and reassured our NATO allies in the region and around the world,” said USS Truman Commanding Officer Cpt. Dave Snowden. “Today, nearly two years later, we are ready to deploy once again, prepared to provide prompt and sustained combat operations if and when called upon to do so. Our crew has undergone months of rigorous training to ensure we are ready to face any threat during this deployment.”

Nicole Titsworth , a Navy wife, was with her one-year-old Astrid at her side to say goodbye to their loved one as he headed off for his first deployment, at 20 years old. The young military spouse said she is mostly concerned about a possible extension and the current world conflicts.

“I know right now they say that they are going somewhere on the safer side, but anything can happen and not knowing is the scariest thing,” said Titsworth.

Many families are most concerned about the conflict in the Red Sea. With so much unsettled in the Middle East right now, the next few months could be a test for many of our men and women in uniform.

Snowden said the crew is ready to answer any call. “My pledge to our Sailors, and more importantly their families, is to bring every crew member back that we leave with. And these Sailors, young men and women, are incredibly well trained to perform in any environment, any day of the week, over the next, the better part of a year.”

Parents Beth and Donny Feely were at Naval Station Norfolk Monday to see their 22-year-old daughter off on her second deployment.

“It’s a different time of the year with everything that’s going on in the world,” said Beth.

Her husband, Donny adds, “I’m proud, but I’m scared… [I’m] just happy for her that she’s doing something with her life. She’s seen more of the world than I ever had at 22.”

The couple is already planning for her homecoming in several months, after not being able to attend her return from her first deployment.

To help Sailors on the flagship while they are away, the Navy recently installed a commercial Wi-Fi system on some parts of the ship.

“It is strictly for crew morale for sailors in certain spots of the ship. They can use their wireless devices to stay connected to their family. The bandwidth, surprisingly, is actually good enough for them to text, Internet call, or sometimes even face time video chat with their families,” said Snowden.

The United Service Organization (USO) funded four new lounge areas for sailors to relax when possible.

“That allow(s) our sailors the opportunity to unplug and decompress from shipboard life on a day to day basis and kind of gives a sense of not really being on an operating warship at sea,” said Capt. Snowden. “This will be my first Christmas missed in almost 29 years of service. So a little concern for my family, even as much as it is for our young sailors who’ve not done this one day yet of being on deployment.”

WAVY News 10 will continue to provide updates as the days of deployments continue this week. Other ships with the Carrier Strike Group will leave on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“To our spouses, partners, families and friends who serve on the home front while we are gone. I extend my deep appreciation for your love and support. Your support is invaluable to us. We leave today as a highly trained, combat ready war fighting team following a robust work cycle,” said Rear Admiral Sean Bailey, USS Harry S. Truman Commander.

The carrier strike group consists of the flagship USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75); Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 with nine embarked aviation squadrons; staffs from Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 8, CVW-1, and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 28; the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64); and two Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, USS Stout (DDG 55) and USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109).

The squadrons of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 embarked aboard Harry S. Truman include:

The USS Harry S. Truman carrier, commissioned in 1998 and saved from a possible early retirement in 2019, returned home from its last deployment in 2022. Earlier this year, Huntington Ingalls Industries was awarded a contract for a complex overhaul and refuel overhaul of the Truman at its Newport News shipyard.

Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.