NORFOLK, Va. — Thursday is a happy day for those waiting on loved ones assigned to the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG). Thousands of Navy service members arrived at Naval Station Norfolk aboard USS Bataan (LHD-5).
The sailors and Marines returning have been deployed for eight and a half months to the U.S. 2nd, 4th, and 6th Fleet areas of operations. Marines assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit departed the Amphibious Ready Group and returned to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina from March 16 to 18.
The Bataan operated in the Mediterranean, Suez Canal, Red Sea, and beyond during its 8.5-month deployment. The ship docked around 10:30 Thursday morning, welcomed by cheers from family, friends, and loved ones.
IT3 Marquez Martinez left on USS Bataan days after his wife Katarina gave birth to their daughter.
“I just can’t wait to see him and hug him and kiss him,” shared Katarina. “It was a rough eight months with two [kids] under two.”
MM2 Adam Huggins met his daughter for the first time today after 255 days away. “It’s amazing,” he said after releasing her from a hug. “I’ve been waiting to do that for about three months now.”
Thursday’s joyful reunions contrast with the seriousness of Bataan ARG’s mission. The fleet quickly sailed to the Red Sea following Hamas’ October 7 attacks on Israel. Its mission was to stave off aggression in the region, as Houthi rebels ramped up attacks, demanding liberation for the Gaza Strip.
Bataan’s commanding officer, Capt. Paul Burkhart, called the deployment a challenge, especially as the ship rerouted to the Red Sea.
“We had to change some of the planning and focus of our mission,” he explained. “But the crew, as we got over there, got ready and got ahead of the planning. The team really banded together.”
Burkhart added he’s proud of the crew’s work in the conflict-torn region.
“I tell you what, they are Bataan tough. They took on this mission, and they never missed a beat.”
United States Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro was also on hand to commend service members for their peacekeeping efforts.
“Obviously, they deployed prepared to meet any mission they needed to,” Del Toro said. “They really defended our rights and our national interests there in the Eastern Mediterranean and then again in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf, too.”
For the Martinez and Huggins families and many others, it’s time to head home, relax, and enjoy one another’s company.
MM2 Huggins explained his Thursday evening plans, saying, “Maybe eat a nice little pizza, and hang out with my wife and my kids.”
The two other ships in Bataan ARG are headed home as well. USS Mesa Verde will dock in Norfolk on Friday, while USS Carter Hall also arrived on Thursday at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek.