NORFOLK, Va. — It wasn't exactly a picture-perfect kind of day for the Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9 — also known as the "Tridents" — but it was good enough. Despite all the rain and the fog, they returned to Naval Station Norfolk's Chambers Field after a more than 8-month deployment.
There to greet rescue swimmer AWS2 Ethan Brewington was his wife Laura, and their dog Basil.
"I'm still mildly overwhelmed at this moment. We were scared we weren't going to exactly make it back on time just with the weather. So, I'm just overwhelmed that we're home in general. So, really amazing," he said.
Laura Brewington added: "It's surreal. It's been a long few months. Just thankful that he's back and all the guys are back and I'm really proud of them all."
The Tridents flew their MH-60S Seahawk helicopters in a variety of missions including search and rescue, combat logistics and maritime attack.
Collectively, as part of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 aboard USS Gerald R. Ford, the nine fixed-wing and rotary squadrons flew more than 10,000 sorties, accumulating more than 17,000 flight hours. The Tridents were one of the nine squadrons of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 that deployed with the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group in May 2023.
"Our goal was to always be available and ready for any operational tasking. I feel like we successfully accomplished that throughout the entirety of the eight-and-a-half-month deployment," said Commander Robert Anderson, HSC-9 Commanding Officer.
The squadron's homecoming was scheduled for 11 a.m.
All weekend, squadrons a part of the strike group have been departing the Ford-class USS Gerald R. Ford and flying home ahead of the aircraft carrier's return to the mainland. The Ford itself is due to return on Wednesday.
The strike group also includes the Destroyer Squadron 2, USS Normandy, USS Thomas Hudner and USS McFaul.
Six months into their deployment, the strike group was extended 76 days after it was directed to the Mediterranean Sea to respond to the fallout of the Israel-Hamas war.
The Tridents' history dates back to 1952. In the 60's they participated in the Naval Cuban blockade and NASA's Mercury program.
Meanwhile, in more recent decades, the squadron flew in Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.