Hawaii-based warship returns home after record 10-month deployment on frontlines of Iran war

News admin September 29, 2026 0 Comments

Hawaii-based warship returns home after record 10-month deployment on frontlines of Iran war

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Cheers and cow bells welcomed the guided-missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. as she made her way into the Pearl Harbor channel to her home port.

She’s a little worn from the war, like the sailors on deck, relieved and excited to see loved ones waiting on shore.

Tears, hugs and kisses filled the pier, as families reunited after 10 grueling months on a record deployment. This was not your typical homecoming.

The Petersen left Hawaii after Thanksgiving last year for operations in the South China Sea but was redirected in January to fight in the Middle East as part of the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group.

That new mission was scary for families, especially as reports surfaced of supply issues and mental health concerns.

“I was worried at times, but he always let me know they’re OK, so that’s all I really could go on and you know we just try to throw out positive energy to him all the time and let him know we love him and we’re doing OK, so just do his job well,” said Alysha Nishikawa, who waited for husband Max with their children Ace and Mia.

Capt. Casey Mahon, commanding officer of the USS Frank E. Petersen Jr., said the destroyer defended the strike group against 100 missiles during Operation Epic Fury and sailed through the Strait of Hormuz to ensure it was safe and open.

“We did combat operations for 40 days there in the Northern Arabian Sea, 6 months in a combat zone, defended dozens of warships against a number of different types of missiles and drones,” he said. “I’ll say that that the systems we have proved very effective at that adaptability.”

Mahon said none of the eight suicide attempts reported by the U.S. Navy across the strike group were on the Petersen, but acknowledged some sailors needed extra care.

“People would get together in groups and just talk about how they felt, you know, no rank, none of that,” he added.

Sailors said this was by far the toughest deployment, three times longer than usual.

“When we out there all we can do is try to go day by day. I know we got an end point to get home, but we’re fighting a war there. We know we’re gonna get home though,” said sailor Ryhean Tucker.

“It was challenging, especially because we have two little ones and coming to Hawaii from Virginia, it was a big jump, but we did it. We did it,” said his wife Taylor.

“Really the biggest heroes today are the crew members on board,” Mahon said. “They showed resilience. They showed professionalism, they showed adaptability, and it really goes to show that the U.S. Navy, our greatest advantage is that U.S. Navy sailor.”