THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 25, 1996 TAG: 9602250054
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL CLANCY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
How do you carry a rose while coming down a gangway with your arms full?
Gripped in your teeth.
How do you kiss your girlfriend after six months at sea?
Drop everything and crush her.
How do you react to seeing your husband among thousands of others, six stories up against a clear blue sky?
Scream and gasp, ``Oh, my God!'' and let the tears flow.
This was the scene of joy and bedlam at the Norfolk Naval Base on Saturday as six ships of the America Battle Group, with thousands of sailors and Marines aboard, took turns lumbering into port after seeing action in the Adriatic Sea near Bosnia.
In came guided missile cruisers Normandy, South Carolina and Scott, the fleet oiler Monangahela, the attack submarine Oklahoma City and the aircraft carrier America, home after its final tour of duty.
Friday, the America's air wing of F-14 Tomcat fighters arrived at Oceana Naval Air Station. Last but not least, four amphibious ships will return this Wednesday.
The America looked formidable as it made a tight, tug-guided turn into Pier 12 and crept alongside the dock, its flags snapping smartly in the cool breeze. Thousands of navy-blue figures packed every available space and, at the blast of the ship's horn, hundreds of white caps sailed in the wind.
``Yay! My daddy's coming!'' exclaimed 3-year-old Kelsey Hartman.
``I see him!'' shouted Carol Breckenridge of Gouverneur, N.Y., waving to her son, Todd.
``He's grown hair!'' exclaimed Diana Cosby, hanging on to a large Texas flag. Her husband, Robert, obliged by taking off his cap. ``This is my best birthday present,'' said his son, Eric, who turned 7 that morning.
There were lots of new moms waiting to greet their long-lost husbands.
``This will be the first time we'll be living together,'' said Roxanna Hood, cradling 4-month-old Sara Marie in her arms. They were married just before Petty Officer Milton Hood sailed in September. ``It was awful. I didn't have any friends to help with the baby. My biggest fear was not being able to find him.''
Stacia Gravatt held 4-month-old David Jr., waiting for a glimpse of her husband, a new father. ``I'm anxious, nervous and scared,'' she said. ``It's all new. We'll be getting used to each other all over again.''
There were several soon-to-be moms, too. One, with long brown hair and ankle-length dress, kept shouting, ``I love you!'' And pointing to her stomach, she called out, ``She's kicking!''
Another hour's wait seemed to last forever as people separated for so long kept waving while gangways were swung into place and secured.
William Miller of Wilmington, Del., sat patiently in a wheelchair. He and his family were waiting for his son, Glen, and his grandson, David, both on board.
``We're a military family, through and through,'' starting with a distant grandfather who fought in the American Revolution, he said. ``I served in the 88th Division in 1945 in Yugoslavia on the same border where Glen just served. I guess you can say we started in the Revolution and went right up to Glen here. I'll tell you one thing, I'm proud of that boy.''
At last the gangways were down and a sea of hand-waving, duffle-bag-toting, boombox-carrying sailors came pouring off the ship.
EM1 Frank Santos was greeted by his wife, Paula, and four children - one more than when he left. One has started kindergarten, one has learned to walk, and Acacia, 5 months, can say one word - ``Daddy.'' Returning home for the fourth time, Santos said, grinning, ``I'll tell you, every time it's a new miracle.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos
VICKI CRONIS/The Virginian-Pilot
Petty Officer 3rd Class Vernon Williams is greeted by his wife,
sisters, son and other relatives as he leaves the America for the
last time. This was the ship's last deployment, a six-month tour in
the Adriatic Sea.
HUY NGUYEN/The Virginian-Pilot
Earlier this week, while some crewmen work others take advantage of
the flight deck of the aircraft carrier America for a little
exercise. The America pulled into Norfolk Naval Base on Saturday.
by CNB