Tuesday, September 23, 2008

We're Back!!


We’re back! After a six month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea as part of the Standing NATO Maritime Group Two, GONZALEZ is home again. And what a homecoming! Not only was it great to see all of our family and friends, but Mrs. Dolia Gonzalez, our sponsor and mother of our namesake Sergeant Freddy Gonzalez, was on the pier to greet us. Even better, the day of our homecoming was also her 79th birthday, and we helped her celebrate in style with a 200 strong chorus of GONZALEZ Sailors in their dress white singing “Happy Birthday’ to her from the bow of the ship. In addition to Commander Second Fleet, Commander Carrier Strike Group Twelve, and Commander Destroyer Squadron Two, we were honored to also be welcomed home by a contingent of Marines, both active duty and retired. To see our entire GONZALEZ family gathered together as one on homecoming was a great reminder of the experience of serving with the best crew in the Navy!

Now that we are home, I intend to update our blog every other week or so to keep our family and friends up to date with all of the great things we will be involved in between now and our next deployment. In case you missed them, enjoy the new links to the media coverage of our homecoming. All the best, Captain.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I am the mother of a young lady who is a Navy Sailor on your ship. I can't begin to tell you how much it means to me to be able to read your blogs about your ship and crew. I know that you care about all your sailors, my daughter included. I was not able to be there for her homecoming to the United States like I wanted to because I am currently living in Germany! Even though I was not there, I am so proud of the job you all have accomplished on this voyage. Please keep up the great work. Thank you for keeping me and other family members posted on how things are going. For me, being able to read your stories and visit the USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) web page is much appreciated. One last note for you sir; it was a pleasure meeting you and many of your crew in Rota, Spain back in August on the ship. Every one was nice and extremely accommodating to me and my daughter there. Please thank everyone for me. Signed a Navy Mom keeping watch from Germany