After 11 Months at Sea, USS Gerald R Ford Docks in Virginia

America’s largest and most modern aircraft carrier has returned to its homeport following an unprecedented 326-day mission. The USS Gerald R Ford arrived at Naval Station Norfolk on Saturday, concluding a deployment that took it from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean and eventually to the Middle East. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth personally welcomed the crew of nearly 5,000 sailors, sharing emotional images of the homecoming on social media. The sailors overcame various challenges, including technical malfunctions and a laundry room fire, to fulfill their long-duration duty across global waters.