USS Carney returns to Naval Station Mayport

Jacksonville, FL — With sailors manning the rails, the USS Carney docked at its homeport at Naval Station Mayport on Sunday. For the Pettitt family, its arrival brought many emotions.

Navy wife Myia Pettitt said, “It’s different now watching your child come home. It’s amazing.”

She hasn’t seen her son in a year. And with COVID-19, there were restrictions on his homecoming. Families had to wait in the parking lot.

The USS Carney came from Rota, Spain, where it had been since 2015. Some sailors, such as Cmdr. Chris Carroll, lived in Spain this entire time with their families.

Action News Jax at 6:30 p.m. USS Carney returns to Naval Station Mayport

Carroll said, “Carney was busy, extremely busy over the last five years. And it’s really nice to come back home here and return these hard-working sailors back here to their families.”

The men and women on board the ship played a vital role in strengthening relationships with NATO allies through multi-lateral training exercises and other operations.

Carroll said, “On our last deployment, we actually went out to 5th Fleet and circumnavigated the entirety of Africa just providing our reassurance to our African ally partners out there.”

The returning sailors were proud of their accomplishments, but their smiles Sunday came from the sight of their families.

Pettitt said, “Just knowing that they’ve come home and they’re safe and they’re back on American soil it’s great.”

Cox Media Group