The Eisenhower cuts through a layer of fog off the coast of Virginia as it heads home to Naval Station Norfolk, July 14, 2024, as seen from a navy helicopter. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
The Eisenhower cuts through a layer of fog off the coast of Virginia as it heads home to Naval Station Norfolk, July 14, 2024. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Sailors man the rails as the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) returns to Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia, on July 14, 2024. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Petty Officer third class Austin Blakely plays an air guitar as a Guns N Roses song is played on the flight deck while the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) returns to Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia, on July 14, 2024. “I’m just so happy to finally be home,” Blakely said. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro shakes hands with fathers who’s children were born while on deployment as the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) ports in Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia, on July 14, 2024. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Sailors manning the rails turn to watch as Strike Fighter Squadron 106 perform a flyover while the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) returns to Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia, on July 14, 2024. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Sailors walk along the flight deck as they begin to man the rails as the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) returns to Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia, on July 14, 2024. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Lt. Junior Grade Jennifer Chatwell looks for land from the Bridge as the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) returns to Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia, on July 14, 2024. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Enroute Care nurse Kyle Rowland stands for a portrait as the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) makes its way to Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia, on July 14, 2024. Rowland is part of the first Enroute Care System onboard the ship. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
From left, Austin Anderson, Robert Shank, and Elias Ogechi, get their photo taken in front of the Virginia Beach shoreline by Emmanuel Rojas as the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) returns to Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia, on July 14, 2024. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Rear Admiral Kavon Hakimzadeh laughs while talking to reporters from the flag bridge as the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) returns to Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia, on July 14, 2024. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
A sailor waves to friends and family waiting in the crowd at Naval Station Norfolk as the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) returns from deployment in Norfolk, Virginia, on July 14, 2024. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
A sailor hangs the combat strips on the ship as the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) returns to Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia, on July 14, 2024. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
Commander Quentin Lease embraces his children Adyson and Cooper after disembarking the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Va. on Sunday, July 14, 2024. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)
Kasen Napier, 5 months, sleeps while waiting with his mother for Petty Officer Second Class Cameron Napier to disembark the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Va. on Sunday, July 14, 2024. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)
The USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) pulls into the pier at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Va. on Sunday, July 14, 2024. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)
Ellie and Wyatt Campfield stand with their mother Tia as the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) pulls into the pier at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Va. on Sunday, July 14, 2024. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)
Water casts a pattern onto the ship as sailors wait to disembark the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Va. on Sunday, July 14, 2024. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)
Sailors disembark the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Va. on Sunday, July 14, 2024. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)
Ryan and Alica Birdsey reunite during the homecoming of the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Va. on Sunday, July 14, 2024. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)
Maryrose Hamrick embraces her son, Aviation Structural Mechanic Third Class Bryce Lane, while he holds her grandson, Benny Smith, during the homecoming of the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Va. on Sunday, July 14, 2024. The family traveled up from Jacksonville, Florida to welcome Lane back from his first deployment. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)
Elena Hill plugs her ears while people around her cheer as the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) pulls into the pier at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Va. on Sunday, July 14, 2024. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)
A young girl wears a camouflage bow and patriotic dress while waiting for the arrival of the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Va. on Sunday, July 14, 2024. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)
Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro holds a press conference in front of the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Va. on Sunday, July 14, 2024. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)
Petty Officer First Class Adam Peterson reunites with his family after disembarking from the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Va. on Sunday, July 14, 2024. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)
Sailors look for their loved ones as they wait to disembark the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Va. on Sunday, July 14, 2024. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)
Maya and Kamden Severson wave as the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) pulls into the pier at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Va. on Sunday, July 14, 2024. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)
Sailors disembark the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Va. on Sunday, July 14, 2024. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)
Electronics Technician Chief Petty Officer Michael Combs holds his 5-month-old son Eligius after disembarking the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Va. on Sunday, July 14, 2024. (Kendall Warner / The Virginian-Pilot)
The Eisenhower cuts through a layer of fog off the coast of Virginia as it heads home to Naval Station Norfolk, July 14, 2024, as seen from a navy helicopter. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
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The USS Eisenhower returned to Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia, on July 14, 2024, after nearly nine-months at sea. The ship saw the longest sea battle since World War II and faced the longest deployment since the Cold War.