Seabees return home after six-month deployment

GULFPORT, Miss. (WXXV)-After six long months, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 1 has returned to Gulfport.

Jared Anson said, “Being home is just immense amount of joy. I haven’t seen my family in seven months. So just seeing them and getting a surprise from my mom and dad who I didn’t even know they were going to be here. It’s just utter tears of joy.”

For some Seabees, it was that first kiss from their partner. For others, it was holding their newborn for the first time but regardless every reunion was special. Nick Weisman said, “Honestly the feeling is overwhelming. You can’t put into words the feeling you get when you actually see your loved ones that you haven’t seen in a long time. I can’t put it into words all the emotions you go through is a lot.” 

But it’s not just those who were deployed who were longing for this day as the families of soldiers had to wait just as long. Brooke Grant said, “We’re waiting on my husband Michael Grant, we have three kids so we’re really excited. It’s the little things really just being able to hug him again and get back into our regular routine at home.”

For Camden Shortridge, seeing his dad for the first time in six months also meant filling him in the many changes in his life during that time. “I can’t wait to take him home and show him what’s changed in six months, a lot has happened. I can’t wait to tell him I got a drum kit. He’ll either be super excited or kinda upset at that. I’ve been driving. I got a job. So it’s a lot of life updates and I’m super excited to tell him.”

“It’s the culmination of a lot of emotions. Over the holidays it’s usually really hard. Being away from family is the biggest tax on families, so coming being able to hug them, hold them, kiss them, touch their hands is just the biggest thing to come home too.”