Sailors aboard Bremerton-based aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) will reunite with their families and friends Friday, July 10, 2009.
Stennis departed Bremerton January 13th for a regularly scheduled six-month Western Pacific deployment to the 3rd and 7th Fleet Areas of Responsibility.
Stennis deployed with Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 3, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS Kidd (DDG 100) and USS Preble (DDG 88) of Commander, Destroyer Squadron 21 and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser, USS Antietam (CG 54). Kidd and Preble arrived home June 16 and Antietam returned July 2.
CVW-9 is also comprised of the “Argonauts” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147, the VFA-146 “Blue Diamonds,” the VFA-154 “Black Knights,” the “Death Rattlers” of Marine Strike Fighter Squadron (VMFA) 323, the “Yellow Jackets” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 138 and the “Golden Hawks” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 112.
While deployed, Stennis CSG supported the Chief of Naval Operations’ Maritime Strategy, which calls for continuously postured, credible combat power to protect America’s vital interests. The strategy assures our friends and allies of our continued commitment to regional security, and to deter and dissuade potential adversaries and peer competitors.
