Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group returns to San Diego

SAN DIEGO – The ships, sailors and helicopter crews of the Carl

Vinson Carrier Strike Group are scheduled to return to San Diego today

following a deployment lasting more than nine months.

The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker

Hill and guided-missile destroyers Dewey, Gridley and Sterett left San Diego in

August to support strikes on Islamic State targets in the Middle East.

During the height of the battle, a website believed to be friendly to

ISIS published a list of 100 U.S. military personnel, including names, photos

and purported addresses. Four officers in charge of aviation aboard the Vinson

appeared on the list. Military officials subsequently stressed the need for

personnel and their families to be cautious with their social media postings.

The Navy said aircraft aboard the Vinson conducted 12,300 sorties --

including 2,382 combat missions – and dropped 869 precision guided bombs while

underway.

"The successful completion of such a lengthy deployment is a testament

to the high quality of men and women who volunteer to serve in our United

States Navy,'' said Rear Adm. Chris Grady, commander of the Carl Vinson strike

group.

"Whether supporting strike operations over Iraq and Syria or being

ambassadors during overseas port visits, these sailors represented our country

with great distinction and honor,'' Grady said. "I'm extremely proud and

honored to lead this team.''

The strike group was relieved by the aircraft carrier USS Theodore

Roosevelt's task force in mid-April. The "Big Stick'' is scheduled to relocate

to San Diego at the end of its deployment.

While the Vinson was en route to San Diego, its crew and the "Red

Lions'' of embarked Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 15 rescued an ailing mariner

about 400 nautical miles off the Hawaii coastline, Navy officials said. The 70-

year-old man had been alone at sea on his 35-foot sailboat for more than 30

days during a trans-Pacific trip.

Texts the mariner sent to his wife via satellite phone triggered a

series of calls between the Coast Guard and Navy officials, who sent the Vinson

to assist the man on Sunday. He received treatment from the ship's medical

department.

Air squadrons aboard the ship returned to bases around the Western

United States Wednesday, including North Island Naval Air Station in Coronado.

One of the squadrons was based in Virginia.