USA: NORFOLK: USS NIMITZ RETURNS FROM PERSIAN GULF

(1 Mar 1998) English/Nat The U-S-S Nimitz docked at its home port of Norfolk in Virginia on Sunday, after spending five months patrolling the Persian Gulf. The Iraq crisis is now a world away for the 5-thousand strong fleet who stepped back on solid ground and into the waiting arms of anxious family and friends. The Nimitz has been relieved by the U-S-S Independence. The U-S-S Nimitz returned to a hero's welcome. Families packed the pier on Norfolk's Navy base on Sunday as mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, sons and daughters, came home. The U-S-S Nimitz docked at its home port in Virginia after five months at sea cruising the Persian Gulf. The five thousand-strong crowd were swamped by family and friends as they finally touched ground. The U-S-S Nimitz was on a potentially hazardous tour in the Gulf as part of the fighting force amassed to combat Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. But no shots were fired, and Sunday's homecoming was more about catching up with loved ones than rattling sabers. After five months touring the gulf, these sailors were anxious for some shore time, and for marines like Josh Archer, it was an emotional reunion meeting the newest member of his family for the first time. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Oh, man, it's amazing. It just doesn't compare with the pictures and everything. It's so great." SUPER CAPTION: Josh Archer, U.S.S. Nimitz The Navy put new mothers at the head of the line and tried to get new fathers off the ship first to see their families. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I've seen videos and stuff of him, but just to have him holding my finger, it's the best feeling I've ever felt. Wow. He's awake." SUPER CAPTION: Matt Bows, U.S.S. Nimitz Along with the 5 and a half thousand sailors quarters aboard the Nimitz, the Navy flew two thousand family members to the ship to make the last leg from Florida to Norfolk. The tradition used to be limited to men and boys, but with women serving aboard the carrier, women and girls as young as eight years old are welcome to make the brief tour. Many of the women serving aboard the Nimitz are mothers who face long periods away from their children. SOUNDBITE: "It's kind of weird having her back, but then, it's like, she's my mom, so..." SUPER CAPTION: Janeice Williams, Daughter The U-S-S Nimitz was in the Gulf as the world watched Iraq push the allied forces to the brink of war. These men and women admit that the prospect of war was frightening. SOUNDBITE: (English) "It was really tense, it was really heated up over there and nobody really knew if we were going to get to come home or not, luckily it all worked out for us, we got a relief and got to come home." SUPER CAPTION: Chris Mize, US Navy The U-S-S Nimitz has been relieved by the U-S-S Independence. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...