Naval Air Station Mayport, Florida. (January 4, 2024): A joyful reunion! In this photo by MC1 Brandon J. Vinson, a Sailor assigned to the Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner hugs his family after arriving at Naval Station Mayport after an eight-month deployment. The Hudner deployed as a part of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the Red Sea to protect freedom of navigation in this vital waterway. During the deployment, the Hudner, a guided missile destroyer, shot down multiple one-way attack drones launched from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. According to Central Command, the warship shot the drones while on patrol in the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait, a major waterway vital to the world economy. There was no damage to the ship or injuries to her crew.

The Ford was sent to the Eastern Mediterranean the day after the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel. The carrier group repeatedly intercepted incoming ballistic missiles and drones targeting Israel. The task force is arriving home after 244 days at sea with the 6th Fleet.