USS Carl Vinson Returns Home

The ship was deployed for nearly 7 months

It has been an action-packed seven months at sea for sailors aboard the USS Carl Vinson -- which included the historic sea burial of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. On Wednesday morning, the carrier returned home.

The Carl Vinson has not been to its Coronado homeport since November 30, 2010, when it left for the Persian Gulf.

During its deployment, the USS Carl Vinson dealt with pirates, a jet engine that caught fire, and, most prominently, a historic event when bin Laden's body was placed on the ship before his burial at sea.

On Tuesday, three fighter jet squadrons from the Carl Vinson returned home to Central California after their mission in the Middle East.

It was an emotional reunion as family members greeted their loved ones after a long deployment.

"Whether you are the one that stays home or whether you're the one that's going, it takes a team effort no matter what," said Amy Tomlinson, wife of a crewmember.

The carrier won't be in port very long; it's scheduled to head back out to sea on its next mission before the end of the year.

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