US Navy aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush and more than 7,000 sailors assigned to its carrier strike group are set to conclude their seven-month deployment returning home to Norfolk on August 21.
The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), commanded by Capt. Will Pennington, and the guided missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG 103) are returning to Naval Station (NS) Norfolk.
USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) returns to NS Mayport, Florida, August 19, and USS Hue City (CG 66) returns August 21.
The ships of DESRON-22, commanded by Commodore Benjamin Nicholson, departed at various times from Naval Station Norfolk and Denmark. DESRON-22 ships deployed with GHWBCSG included USS Truxtun (DDG 103), USS Laboon (DDG 58), USS Cole (DDG 67), USS Mahan (DDG 72) and Danish frigate HDMS Peter Willemoes (F 362).
While deployed, the strike group served in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and missions in support of Operation Inherent Resolve over Iraq and Syria. Mahan, Cole and Laboon returned in June and July.
Other CSG-2 ships include USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) and USS James E. Williams (DDG 95), both conducting independent deployments. Leyte Gulf departed from Norfolk March 27 and James E. Williams departed Norfolk May 24.