Aaliyah Scott huddled pierside with her family as they waited for the destroyer USS Forest Sherman to arrive at Naval Station Norfolk.
Her husband Corpsman Kagin Scott was on his first deployment. One of the few things he was able to tell her during his deployment was t how he was able to help a crewman.
“Someone ate crawfish and they were allergic and they went into anaphylactic shock, and he did some life-saving measures and saved his life,” she said. “I was so proud of him.”
USS Forrest Sherman left Norfolk in May. The original plan was to be home by Christmas, but the Navy often extends deployments so coming back on time was a welcome surprise, said CDR. Andrew Darjany, captain of the ship.
“This is something that we've been preparing for, seeing our families after seven months,” Darjany said. “It's a special part of any sailor's career, coming back, seeing your family and really enjoying the moment after so long separation.”
The destroyer is part of the USS Ford Carrier Strike group, which is in the Caribbean. USS Sherman deployed separately, so they haven’t seen the carrier since the ships trained together before leaving Norfolk in the spring.
This is the last deployment for the destroyer before it enters a major overhaul. BEA Systems Norfolk was awarded a $139 million contract to begin work in February to modernize the ship.
It will undergo hull repairs and upgrades to its command and control equipment and revamp the crew quarters. Work is scheduled to be completed in 2027.
