USNS Comfort home from Haiti

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - A blanket of fog covered Naval Station Norfolk and the hundreds of loved ones waiting for the USNS Comfort Saturday morning.

For the Carroll family from Michigan, this was their son's first deployment after joining the Navy.

"We're just really proud of his efforts and self sacrifice that all the crew has made," said his mom, Debbie Carroll.

The ship churned towards Haiti for four days after the devastating earthquake January 12. In the months that followed, the sailors treated more than 850 patients and conducted more than 840 surgeries. It was the first time the ship reached full operational capacity since being delivered to the Navy in 1987.

The trip was an opportunity of a lifetime for their son Charles says his Dad Charles the second.

"My Dad was in the Navy, I was in the Navy, I was actually stationed out of Norfolk myself. I am very proud of my son and what he's done with his life."

Cheers poured from the crowd as the red cross became visible in the thick haze. The families filed onboard and through a maze of hallways to get to their loved ones.

Although they were only gone for three months, the crew left a lasting impression on the hundreds they cared for and gave a new sailor a glimpse into what's in store for his career.

"It was great to go see what I saw and do and help out people I got to help out," said E2 Charles Carroll.

Along with the Comfort sailors, two MH-60's helicopters and 32 personnel from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28 returned Saturday as well. While in Haiti, the squadron transported more than 1,700 passengers and 600,000 pounds of food, water and supplies.