USS Tornado back home at Naval Station Mayport

After helping to get drugs off the streets of the U.S. the crew of The USS Tornado returned back home to Naval Station Mayport Thursday filled with pride. 39 sailors were deployed for about 75 days mainly around Central and South America as a part of Operation Martillo. The ships’ Commanding Officer Brian Stueber says while on deployment they were able to seize about $75 Million worth of contraband, cocaine, and marijuana from entering the U.S. illegally.

“Oh we were fired up. It was great, slapping hands having a good time.” Stueber says.

The crew seized about 5,000 lbs. of Cocaine and 6,000 lbs. of marijuana. Stueber says this deployment was a record-breaking one for Patrol Crafts as they had had three successful drug busts over the course of their deployment. We’re told the previous record was one.

Now that the USS Tornado is back, that means 39 Sailors have been reunited with family and friends. With flowers and signs in hand, family and friends welcomed home the 39 Sailors and mother of one of them Connie Knowles was there. She says her son was on the ship during deployment and she’s glad he’s back.

“Coming home is just the best thing.” Knowles says.

She says her son doesn’t share a lot about what happens when he’s deployed but Knowles says what he does is dangerous. Knowles says the thing she is most looking forward to now that her son is back is giving him a hug, a kiss and sending him home with a plate full of Chocolate Chip and Peanut Butter Cookies for him, his wife and their children.