6000-Plus Aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt Welcomed Home

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 6000 Homesick Sailors Aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier came home after a very eventful 6 months. What an extraordinary deployment. Much love in a virtual “welcome home!”

Since she left San Diego in January over 1000 sailors contracted the SARS-CoV-2 virus; sadly, one died; the aircraft carrier laid over in beautiful Guam for two months; and under controversial circumstances in one of the US Navy’s most SNAFU’d command change, a hero Captain left the ship to recover from COVID-19 in Guam and move on to a new posting.

Coming home was also quirky. “We didn’t have our families out here after we’ve been gone for so long,” noted one crewmember.

by Rosa Yamamoto

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) is home safe following nearly 6 months on deployment. More than 6,000 sailors from Theodore Roosevelt Strike Group and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11, deployed from San Diego, California on 17 January 2020 and returned home today.

“Homecoming was bittersweet,” says a NWOB nurse who is partnered to a crewmember of the Theodore Roosevelt. “We could not be there at dockside to welcome the crew and our family members home because of the COVID-19 Pandemic,” she explained.

“I hope they [the crew] know we will all make that up someday with the biggest and most amazing ‘homecoming’ party in the history of the Navy,” she added with considerable bravado and emotion. Because of the nature of hers and her partner’s work and the employers’ policies, she feels she should not be identified.

“It was a sobering feeling seeing that we didn’t have our families out here after we’ve been gone for so long,” said ATC First Class Daniel Adam Wright to local media in San Diego.

Home at last. San Diego, CA, United States 07.09.2020 Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Pyoung Yi USS Theodore Roosevelt San Diego, CA, United States
07.09.2020
Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Pyoung Yi
USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71)
San Diego (9 July 2020) – U.S. Navy Aviation Ordnanceman 3rd Class Adrian Gomez, right, from Beaumont, Calif., and Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Ethan Boehm, from Boise, Idaho, unfold the American flag as the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) arrives at Naval Air Station North Island 9 July 2020. Theodore Roosevelt returned to Naval Air Station North Island after a six-month deployment in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Pyoung K. Yi) Art/Cropping/Enhancement: Rosa Yamamoto / Feminine-Perspective Magazine

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San Diego, CA, United States
07.09.2020
Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Pyoung Yi
USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71)
San Diego (9 July 2020) – U.S. Navy Machinist’s Mate (Nuclear) 3rd Class Alberto Garay, from Francisville, Ind., mans the rails as the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) passes by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) while arriving at Naval Air Station North Island 9 July 2020. Theodore Roosevelt returned to Naval Air Station North Island after a six-month deployment in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Pyoung K. Yi) Art/Cropping/Enhancement: Rosa Yamamoto / Feminine-Perspective Magazine

PHILIPPINE SEA (May 21, 2020) The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) operates in the Philippine Sea May 21, 2020, following an extended visit to Guam in the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Theodore Roosevelt is underway conducting carrier qualifications during a deployment to the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kaylianna Genier)

Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kaylianna Genier’s Pictures Tell a story.

Apra Harbour (June 3, 2020) The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) arrives at Apra Harbor June 3, 2020. Following an extended visit to Guam in the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic, Theodore Roosevelt completed carrier qualifications June 2 and is in Guam for resupply during a deployment to the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kaylianna Genier)
Photo Art/Cropping/Enhancement: Rosa Yamamoto / Feminine-Perspective Magazine

Better days lie ahead. Now Home at last.

Captain Brett Crozier also became ill with the SARS2 related disease and was replaced by a previous commander, Captain Carlos Sardiell who sailed USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) into Naval Air Station North Island after a six-month deployment in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.

Chief Petty Officer Charles Robert Thacker Jr. gone but not forgotten. RIP

Pearl Harbour, April 16, 2020 Official photo released of Aviation Ordnanceman Chief Petty Officer Charles Robert Thacker Jr., 41, of Fort Smith, Arkansas assigned to USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), who died from COVID-19 April 13 at U.S. Naval Hospital Guam. RIP Charles Robert Thacker Jr. Condolences to family, friends and crew.
Thacker’s spouse, an active duty member stationed in San Diego, was flown via Navy Air Logistics Office (NALO) flight to Guam, arriving April 11 (local date). At the time of his passing, Thacker’s spouse was by his side.