It was an emotional goodbye as the Stennis strike group deployed Saturday from Naval Base Coronado.
The Bremerton, Wash.-based Stennis was joined by the San Diego-based guided-missile cruiser Antietam and destroyers Kidd and Preble with a total of 6,000 military personnel.
There were hugs, tears, pictures and a flood of emotions as the ship pulled away from port.
"A parent couldn't ask to be any more proud of their child," said a sobbing MaryAnn McLoughlin of her son LCPL Thomas McLoughlin. "Somebody has to go and he felt he needed to do this."
McLoughlin's mother says her son will be sorely missed by the entire family, including his little cousin.
"But he has his best little supporter. Kyle looks up to him so much," she said.
The deployment is scheduled for six months
