Military aircraft are back home at Naval Air Station in Lemoore after a 7-month deployment.
Hundreds of personnel were met by their spouses, children, and loved ones with many hugs and kisses.
"Very very excited," said spouse, Jennifer Tousignant. "Very very exhausted. Very very ready for dad to come home. I haven't seen him since October and since then, a lot of life has happened."
Like a new bundle of joy. Lt. John Tousignant met his son, three month old, Reed for the very first time.
"It's hard to describe emotions," Lt. Tousignant said.
He also reunited with his other baby who was crawling when he left but is now walking.
"Overwhelming and a big relief to be home," he continued.
The VFA-41 squadron left 210 days ago.
"Every email that we exchange at the end of the night, I'd countdown," Lt. Tousignant added.
Aboard aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis, the F-18's performed combat operations in Afghanistan and the Arabian Gulf.
Miles away, another baby, Victoria Hope was welcomed into the world.
"She was born 10 days after we deployed so I spent the entire cruise worrying about them," said Lt. Jacob Cummins.
She's the Cummins first baby together.
"I've thought about homecoming since the day he left," said his wife, Britany Cummins.
Thursday morning, there were 12 aircraft on the ground, all back home safe. Families were reunited after a mission complete.
"This is such a heart-warming experience. I'm so stoked he's finally back," Tousignant concluded.
A total of four squadrons returned to NAS Lemoore on Thursday.
The USS Stennis also returned back to Norfolk, Virginia.
15 май 2019
