JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 The USS Cooperstown returned to Naval Station Mayport following a four-month deployment to secure America\u2019s southern border.<\/p>\n
As the ship pulled into the port, families waited in anticipation, excitement, and nervousness as their loved ones prepared to come back home.<\/p>\n
Among the families was the wife, sisters, and mother of ENS-Mark Daniel Bailey. Bailey looked out from the Littoral Combat Ship as his family \u2014especially his wife and sister \u2014couldn\u2019t wait to embarrass him, in a loving way. <\/p>\n
\u201cOh imma show him this,\u201d said Mark\u2019s sister, holding up a giant cardboard cutout of his head.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really excited; this is the longest we\u2019ve ever been apart, so very excited of emotions,\u201d said Mika Bailey, Mark\u2019s wife.<\/p>\n
Rhonda Griffith patiently awaited her daughter, Service Warfare Officer Brittney Griffith\u2019s arrival.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen she first told me she was going into the Navy. I was scared and didn\u2019t want her to do it, but you know she\u2019s made her choice and she\u2019s fulfilling her dreams and I\u2019m happy for her,\u201d said Griffith. <\/p>\n
Brittney and Mark eventually reunited with their families. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt feels good to be back home. It was a long four or five months, so it feels good to have my family on the pair,\u201d said Mark. <\/p>\n
As for what Brittney thinks about when she\u2019s at sea, she says, \u201cknow that it\u2019s for a bigger purpose, bigger purpose every single day that I\u2019m out there,\u201d said Brittney. <\/p>\n
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