NORFOLK

Family, friends and loved ones cheered and jumped for joy as the amphibious transport dock New York made its maiden homecoming today.

The ship arrived at Norfolk Naval Station ahead of the amphibious assault ship Iwo Jima, the flagship in the amphibious ready group that was deployed in the Mediterranean and pulled in a short time later.

The group was already heading home from a seven month deployment when it was told to turn around because of fighting that broke between Israel and the Palestinians in Gaza. Family members who’d been disappointed before were ecstatic to see their sailors come home.

“This is my third plane ticket out here,” said Ken Marghugh, who booked and cancelled his November flight from north-central Kansas. An eager father, he immediately booked again before his daughter told him to hold off on buying a ticket until they could be sure of dates.

“I just can’t wait to see her,” he said.

It is the third day of homecomings this week for the Navy.

The carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower returned Wednesday while the dock landing ship Gunston Hall came home Tuesday.

For more coverage, return to PilotOnline.com and read tomorrow’s Virginian-Pilot.