Destroyers Hudner, Pinckney Return From Deployments

The Arleigh Burke-class USS Thomas Hudner (DDG-116) returned to Naval Station Mayport, Florida, after a nearly nine-month deployment across the U.S. 4th, 5th and 6th Fleet areas. Commanding officer Cmdr. David Cook praised the crew for resilience and tactical proficiency across three fleets as families welcomed them home. The deployment included support for Operation Southern Spear in the Caribbean and broader actions in the Indo-Pacific and Middle East under Epic Fury, with the ship helping to enforce maritime security and conduct missile strikes against Iranian targets. About 300 sailors returned with Hudner, reflecting the ship’s crew size and the scale of the mission. This event aligns with other destroyers, such as the USS Pinckney, also returning from long deployments, illustrating a broader redeployment cycle for U.S. Navy forces.