Love is in the air. . . and it’s never more apparent than on the piers and tarmacs and parking lots where families celebrate their loved one’s return from deployment. These romantic welcome home kisses are precious memories for the subjects and reminders for the rest of us that distance truly does make the heart grow fonder.
Lt. Cmdr. Charles Harris, the operations officer of the Littoral Combat Ship Crew 102, embraces his wife and daughter during a homecoming celebration at Naval Air Station North Island. Crew 102 was relieved by Crew 101 aboard USS Freedom (LCS 1) in Singapore, Aug. 6, the midway point of the ship’s maiden deployment to the Asia-Pacific region. Fast, agile, and mission-focused, LCS platforms are designed to employ modular mission packages that can be configured for three separate purposes: surface warfare, mine countermeasures, or anti-submarine warfare. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel M. Young/Released)
U.S. Navy Logistics Specialist 3rd Class Michael Zegarra shares the traditional first kiss with his wife Caterina Zegarra, after the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) pulled into port at Naval Base Kitsap, Washington, Dec. 10, 2017. The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group completed a regularly scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific. The U.S. Navy has patrolled the Indo-Asia-Pacific region routinely for more than 70 years promoting peace and security. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Greg Hall)
Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Jesse Ibarra, assigned to the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), greets his wife, Alexandra, during a homecoming celebration at Naval Base San Diego. The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group returned today from a nearly 10-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operations and includes Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), embarked squadrons from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 1 with the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) and guided-missile destroyers USS Gridley (DDG 101), USS Sterett (DDG 104) and USS Dewey (DDG 105). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Stacy M. Atkins Ricks/ Released)
Capt. Daniel Miller, an AV-8B Harrier pilot with Marine Attack Squadron 211, returns home from a six-month deployment to his wife at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., Saturday, April 11, 2015.
Chief Petty Officer Andrew French, a boatswains mate aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Sherman (WHEC 720), a 378-foot high endurance cutter homeported in Honolulu, kisses his wife after returning home after a 76-day patrol to the Bering Sea, Jan. 23, 2018. This homecoming was the last time Sherman will return from deployment as the crew prepares to decommission the ship in March, after nearly 50 years of meritorious service. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Tara Molle/Released)
U.S. Navy Logistics Specialist 3rd Class Michael Zegarra shares the traditional first kiss with his wife Caterina Zegarra, after the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) pulled into port at Naval Base Kitsap, Washington, Dec. 10, 2017. The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group completed a regularly scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific. The U.S. Navy has patrolled the Indo-Asia-Pacific region routinely for more than 70 years promoting peace and security. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Greg Hall)
BREMERTON, Wash. (Dec. 10, 2017) U.S. Navy Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Robert Story, from Chicago, and assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), kisses his girlfriend Sindel Williams, from Powder Springs, Ga., during their homecoming, Dec. 10, 2017, in Bremerton, Wash. The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is returning from a regularly scheduled deployment from the Indo-Asia-Pacific region and Arabian Gulf which supported Operation Inherent Resolve and numerous multi-national exercises promoting peace and security. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Leon Wong)
U.S. Marines with Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (VMAQ) 3, greet their loved ones as they return from deployment at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Oct. 14, 2017. VMAQ- 3 was reunited with their families after a six month deployment to Turkey. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Joselyn Jimenez)
Capt. Rendi Clegg, 700th Airlift Squadron navigator, kisses her wife at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, September 18, 2017. Glegg returned to Dobbins after a four month deployment to Al Udeid Air Base, and found wife waiting for her, along with the friends and family of the other Deployers who arrived with Clegg. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sergeant Miles Wilson)
Damage Control Fireman Isaiah Verboonen, assigned to the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70), greets his wife after returning to Naval Base San Diego after a 7-month deployment. Lake Erie is part of the Nimitz Strike Group (CSG 11) and it returned to San Diego from a seven-month deployment to the Western Pacific and U.S. 5th Fleet in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Abby Rader/Released)
Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Jason Smith hugs kisses his wife during a homecoming celebration for the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83) at Naval Base San Diego. Howard is part of the Nimitz Strike Group (CSG 11) that returned to San Diego from a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific and U.S. 5th Fleet in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Reymundo A. Villegas III/Released)
Machinist’s Mate (Nuclear) 1st Class Brandon Stiles, assigned to the submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40), kisses his wife upon Frank Cable’s homecoming to Apra Harbor, Guam, Jan. 23. Frank Cable departed Guam March 7, 2017, supporting maritime expeditionary operations in the 3rd Fleet area of operations and underwent a dry-dock phased maintenance availability at Vigor Industrial ship yard in Portland, Ore. Frank Cable, forward-deployed to Guam, repairs, rearms and reprovisions deployed U.S. Naval Forces in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alana Langdon/Released)
Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Nicholas Reese, from Fort Walton Beach, Fla., kisses his wife during the homecoming of the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego (LPD 22). San Diego, part of the America Amphibious Ready Group, with embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is returning from a regularly scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific and Middle East. The U.S. Navy has patrolled the Indo-Pacific region routinely for more than 70 years promoting peace and security. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jesse Monford/RELEASED)
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Samuel Taylor, combat videographer with Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division is welcomed home by his family, at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Dec. 19, 2017. Lance Cpl. Taylor was deployed in support of operations against ISIS as part of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR). (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tanner Seims)
Fireman Recruit Mary Dobbins kisses her husband, Collin Reeme, at Naval Base San Diego. Pearl Harbor, part of the America Amphibious Ready Group, with embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is returning from a regularly scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific and Middle East. The U.S. Navy has patrolled the Indo-Pacific region routinely for more than 70 years promoting peace and security. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Jeffery L. Southerland/Released)
Damage Controlman 1st Class David Heath, assigned to the amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50), kisses his wife and daughter after returning to homeport at Naval Station Norfolk. USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) arrives at Naval Station Norfolk as part of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (BAT ARG) homecoming in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the Europe and the Middle East. BAT ARG includes Commander, Amphibious Squadron 8, USS Bataan (LHD 5), USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) and 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin E. Yarborough)
A Sailor assigned to the amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50), kisses his wife after returning to homeport at Naval Station Norfolk. USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) arrives at Naval Station Norfolk as part of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (BAT ARG) homecoming in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the Europe and the Middle East. BAT ARG includes Commander, Amphibious Squadron 8, USS Bataan (LHD 5), USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) and 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin E. Yarborough)
After returning home from a 9-month deployment, a paratrooper, assigned to 1st Brigade Comb at Team, 82nd Airborne Division, embraces a loved one on Jan. 8, 2018, at Fort Bragg, N.C. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Alleea Oliver, 49th Public Affairs Detachment)
