SAN DIEGO — Sailors and servicemembers aboard the USS Carl Vinson returned home to San Diego on Friday after being deployed for four months in the Indo-Pacific.
Thousands of active duty personnel returned home to the sight of fanfare and families awaiting their arrival.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our Sailors. They executed with precision and discipline while strengthening our relationships with allies and partners. They were superb naval ambassadors in foreign ports,” said Capt. Matthew Thomas, Carl Vinson’s commanding officer. “These highly trained Sailors showed they are reliable, resilient, and ready to support and defend the American way of life every day.”
The Vinson Strike group was deployed along with the U.S. 3rd and 7th Fleets for security purposes and operating alongside several partners, allies, and the U.S. Joint forces in heavily navigated waters.
The strike group consists of teams of ships, aircraft, and over 6,000 Sailors that carry out operations around the globe.
“This Carrier Strike Group and our Sailors’ deployment accomplishments demonstrate our unwavering contribution to the Navy’s global engagement strategy,” said Rear Adm. Carlos Sardiello, CSG-1 commander. “During the past four months, we routinely flew and sailed anywhere international law allows to assure Americans, allies and partners of our commitment to bolstering regional security and stability in the Indo-Pacific. With the unwavering support of our families and friends, we were proud to sail and fly forward as a symbol and the promise of America’s advantage at sea.”
The USS Carl Vinson is the third Nimitz-class carrier built by the U.S. Navy. It was named after the noted Georgia representative, Carl Vinson.
He served as Chairman of the House Naval Affairs and Armed Services Committee and played a vital role in passing the Two-Ocean Navy Act of 1940, which greatly increased shipbuilding efforts during WWII.