The "Ford" completes its mission in the Middle East and returns to its home port in the United States.

According to a report by Reference News on May 19, the world's largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, returned to its home port in Virginia on the 16th, concluding an 11-month deployment. This deployment is the longest since the Vietnam War, during which the ship supported U.S. operations in Venezuela and participated in military actions against Iran.

The most advanced warship of the United States, along with two accompanying destroyers, docked at Naval Station Norfolk, where approximately 5,000 sailors were waiting for their first reunion with family since June of last year.

During this deployment, in addition to executing combat missions and transoceanic voyages, the carrier also encountered a non-combat-related fire, which left hundreds of crew members without accommodations and necessitated a lengthy repair period on the Greek island of Crete.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin personally welcomed the ship back to port, accompanied by the USS Benfold destroyer.

Austin praised the crew of the USS Benfold for their "outstanding performance." He stated on the deck of the ship, "You not only completed your mission but also made history, making the nation proud."

For its exceptional performance during operations against Iran, the USS Ford and its accompanying vessels were awarded the prestigious "Presidential Unit Citation," recognizing their "extraordinary combat performance" in confronting "resistant enemies." This is the highest honor that U.S. military units can receive, typically awarded only to those that achieve significant accomplishments.

According to the U.S. Naval Institute News, the USS Ford was deployed at sea for a continuous 326 days, marking the longest deployment duration for an aircraft carrier in the past 50 years, breaking the record for the longest since the Vietnam War. Historically, only the USS Midway in 1973 (332 days) and the USS Coral Sea in 1965 (329 days) had longer deployment times.

The USS Ford's extended time at sea has raised concerns about the impact of prolonged absences on service members and their families, as well as increasing attention to the wear and tear on the hull and equipment, aside from the fire incident.

According to a report by AFP on May 16, the Pentagon announced that on the 16th, the USS Ford, which was urgently dispatched to the Middle East at the beginning of the Iran War, has returned to the U.S. mainland after completing its record-setting maritime mission.

The U.S. Department of Defense stated on social media that the world's largest aircraft carrier returned to its home port in Norfolk on the East Coast of the United States, with Secretary Austin attending the welcoming ceremony. The USS Ford completed 326 days of maritime missions. The Pentagon noted that this is the longest duration for an aircraft carrier task force since the Vietnam War.

Before being dispatched to the Middle East and participating in the Iran War, the USS Ford had already conducted operations in the Caribbean, where the U.S. carried out intensive airstrikes against vessels allegedly involved in drug trafficking, seized several sanctioned tankers, and forcibly took control of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in early January.

In mid-February, Trump sent this aircraft carrier to the Middle East to participate in operations against Iran.

According to the U.S. military, during this extended deployment, a fire broke out in the carrier's laundry room on March 12, injuring two sailors and severely damaging about 100 berths. Subsequently, the carrier made a brief stop in Croatia at the end of March for repairs.

The USS Ford also faced a series of serious issues related to sanitary facilities. U.S. media reported that clogged toilets forced crew members to queue for long periods in front of the restroom doors. (Translated by Zhu Li, Lu Longjun)