USS Ronald Reagan Returns to Coronado Homeport After One Year Away

The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan returned to its homeport Thursday following

The 1,092-foot vessel and its crew of 2,500 spent 14 months at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility. Many of the sailors brought their families with them to Washington state, but about a quarter left their loved ones behind in Coronado and San Diego.

“We're absolutely thrilled to be going back to Southern California,” said Capt. Thom Burke, the ship's commanding officer. “Our crew has put in a significant amount of effort over the last year to ensure this ship is ready and able to do our nation's work, and they are definitely ready to head home.”

Aircraft carriers generally undergo major maintenance every eight to 10 years. The captain said the work ensures that the vessels complete their planned 50-year lifespan.

The Reagan was launched in 2001.

"There's a lot of work and a lot of planning that goes into maintaining these combat vessels, and the last year was a major step in ensuring we're ready to successfully operate at sea when our country calls upon us," Burke said.

It could be a while before the Reagan goes out on deployment because of federal budget cuts, NBC7/39 reported. The last time the ship deployed, it responded to the earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan two years ago.

That aid also resulted in a lawsuit from some Reagan sailors who say they have suffered health setbacks as a result of exposure to radiation.

– City News Service