Hundreds of sailors deployed for six months with the Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group return to Naval Station San Diego Monday morning.
For hours, several families waited for their loved ones to arrive at San Diego's Naval Base. Some Marines kissed their newborn baby for the first time as they set foot on the base.
"We drove all the way from Wisconsin to meet him," said Christine Baker.
The USS Cape St. George, USS Benfold and USS Halsey made up the first wave of the returning ships. The group deployed on May 4. The Cape St. George and Benfold conducted maritime security patrols in the Persian Gulf during the deployment.
The Halsey conducted security patrols off the Horn of Africa and also went to Malaysia and Australia.
On Tuesday, the USS Peleliu, USS Dubuque and USS Pearl Harbor will return to San Diego.
