Family and friends gathered at Naval Air Station Jacksonville Saturday afternoon to welcome back the “Proud Warriors” – a team of servicemembers who have been gone on deployment for months.
They make up Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 72, which embarked on its latest mission back in September, eight months ago.
NAS Jax says the squadron was never meant to be gone so long -their time away was extended three times before Saturday’s homecoming.
“It definitely never gets easier. This is, this is the longest one I’ve done,” said Commanding Officer John Zilai. “Eight hurts. But you know, whatever. It’s been fantastic to come home.”
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