It was a Veterans Day welcome home for the nearly 300 sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer Bulkeley, which returned to Naval Station Norfolk after a seven-month deployment that included a lengthy tour of the North Atlantic and Arctic Circle.

Bulkeley departed Norfolk on April 11, deploying initially as part of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group. But instead of returning to Virginia with the flattop for a five-week “working port visit” in July, it remained with the Florida-based destroyer Farragut in the 6th Fleet’s waters.

The Farragut returned home to Naval Station Mayport on Saturday.

“We knew that was happening and when we found out that was happening, we knew it was a unique situation as the first dynamic deployment that the Harry S. Truman employed,” Cmdr. John Lucas, Bulkeley’s commanding officer, said after his warship tied up.

“We stayed out and let our people know the goods and bads of that as some units came home and reset and saw their families, and then as they had to re-deploy and say goodbye to their families again.”

Lucas said that once the plan was explained to them, the crew of the Arleigh Burke-class warship happily shouldered the watch in the 6th Fleet area of responsibility, pushing through with what once was the traditional deployment for strike groups.

“The opportunity to stay gone, as you will, put our sailors at ease and they were proud to continue the watch on station,” Lucas said. "Now the tables are turned and we’re now proud to represent them, returning home today. And we’re also proud of them, too, as they’re out there continuing the mission that needs to be done.”

While deployed, Bulkeley operated extensively above the Arctic Circle, netting many of their sailors a hard-earned Navy Arctic Service Ribbon.

With the ribbon also comes the honor of becoming a “Blue Nose,” a sailor who has crossed the line into the Arctic Circle and entered the “Northern Domain of the Polar Bear.”

That’s a milestone for a sailor, similar to becoming a “Shellback” after crossing the Equator or an “Emerald Shellback” for a shipmate venturing past the Greenwich Meridian.

“It’s awesome to now be a Blue Nose , but I’ll tell you it’s not something I was really aware of before we went on deployment,” Lucas said. “Now that we’re back at home in beautiful Norfolk, Virginia, it kind of feels like we’re still in the Arctic, based on the temperatures today. “

Lucas said that his crew “absolutely” had a ceremony commemorating the crossing into the Arctic Circle, but didn’t give any further details — other than to say it was “re-run a few times as the ship passed in and out.”

“High sea state is something we had to contend with on a few occasions that aren’t fun to deal with, and for some of our sailors establishing or re-establishing their sea legs in that environment was a bit of a challenge,” Lucas said.

“Our crew powered through, whether seasick or not, and showed what being naval warriors is all about. They truly earned that Blue Nose and the legs that came with it.“

Mark D. Faram is a former reporter for Navy Times. He was a senior writer covering personnel, cultural and historical issues. A nine-year active duty Navy veteran, Faram served from 1978 to 1987 as a Navy Diver and photographer.

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