NMCB 11 Seabees return home

After six months of operations in Europe, more than 160 Seabees returned home today. News 25 was on base as this heartwarming reunion took place in Gulfport.
After waiting half a year to see her dad, seven-year-old Cassidy Torres got a big surprise when she found out her father, Petty Officer Hugo Torres, would be coming home. “My mom kept it a secret and like, when she told me in the car, I had happy tears.”
“(What’s the first thing you’re going to do when you see your daddy?) I’m going to give my mom this sign and I’m going to run to him and hug him,” said Cassidy.
That’s exactly what she did. Petty Officer Torres is one of 169 Seabees returning home after six months of operations overseas. Warm welcomes, hugs, kisses, and happy tears were abundant as the Seabees were reunited with family and friends. Daughter of returned Seabee Kaylee Martin said, “We’re really excited to have our dad home because it’s been a while and we missed him.”
While deployed, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11 executed mission support, direct labor training, construction and more in various countries and territories spanning across multiple continents. NMCB 11 Commanding Officer Commander Jim Brown said, “Contingency construction, a lot of support to special operaters, so they have different locations where they will operate as a home base. Our job is to make sure their lights stay on, their plumbing still works and we can enable them to go out and do their job.”
But on this day, their job is just to spend time with family. “We have a piñata at home and we just have a lot of stuff at home for him,” said Cassidy.
“Having the family together again, like I said, it’s the best feeling in the world,” said Petty Officer Torres.