USS Kennedy battle group returns home after six months at sea in war on terrorism Sat Aug 17, 2:46 PM ET MAYPORT NAVAL STATION, Florida - Thousands of family members anxiously cheered as the USS Kennedy carrier pulled into port Saturday after a six-month deployment to the Arabian Sea as part of the war on terrorism. More than 7,000 sailors assigned to the carrier and other ships in its battle group returned to bases near Jacksonville and in Norfolk, Virginia, this week. The Kennedy left Feb. 7 and began air missions over Afghanistan ( news - web sites) on March 11. "They are on one of the great fighting machines out there protecting our liberty. We should be proud of them," Gov. Jeb Bush said after greeting the sailors aboard the Kennedy early Saturday. The crowd chanted "Jack is back" and cheered as the USS Kennedy pulled in with sailors in their dress whites waving along the edge of the ship. A large American flag flew on the ship, which also was decorated with red, white and blue cloth. "These great men and women went out there and terrorized the terrorists," Secretary of the Navy Gordon England said.
