EVERETT – They brandished “welcome home” signs, wore kilts and waved American flags.
Scores of folks gathered on a Naval Station Everett pier Tuesday morning to greet a ship and give its 220 sailors a joyous homecoming.
The USS Rodney M. Davis, which deployed Nov. 28 for the Central American and Caribbean regions, returned to its home port after patrolling for drug smugglers. Members of the crew also volunteered to help with local improvement projects during port visits.
“I missed his blue eyes and his smile,” said Sharon Nadeau of Everett about her boyfriend, Petty Officer 1st Class Matthew Short.
Nadeau and several members of a group calling itself the Gregor Clan wore Scottish garb. The men wore kilts for the homecoming.
“I made two kilts for (Short). He took one when he left and I sent him one,” Nadeau said. Her boyfriend, an 18-year Navy veteran, wore the kilts while he was off duty during deployment, she said.
Signs hoisted by two women welcomed Lt. j.g. Travis Ervin. The women were his wife, Erin Ervin, and her mother, Joy Chapman of Albuquerque, N.M.
“This is my first homecoming,” Erin Ervin said as she squinted at the ship’s rails in search of her husband.
Another young Navy wife, Krysta Kenfield, said she kept herself busy with school and working in a child learning center. She wants to become a teacher, but first on her agenda was greeting her husband Lt. j.g. Matt Kenfield.
The couple, Colorado natives, were childhood sweethearts and were married a few weeks before the Davis’ deployment.
Elsewhere, Gabrielle Turner, 13, and her 5-year-old brother, Aaron, were waiting for their father’s return. Petty Officer 1st Class Tony Turner has been in the Navy 16 years, and has been on many long deployments.
Young Aaron was particularly anxious to see his dad.
“We’ll play video games,” he said.
Rose Reynolds of Everett plans on taking a vacation soon with her fiance to see his family and hers. She was waiting for Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Rivera.
Her brother also is on the ship. He’s the one who introduced the pair.
The separation was tough on her, Reynolds said. She’s used to talking with Rivera every day and couldn’t while the ship was at sea. She sometimes couldn’t even send him e-mails because the ship’s e-mail system didn’t always work, she said.
“I’m just glad he’s home,” Reynolds said.
A Navy tradition is a drawing for someone to get a “first kiss,” affording some lucky crewmember the chance to be the first to get off a homecoming ship, kiss a loved one and begin leave.
Petty Officer 1st Class Coy Bozeman and his wife, Tina Bozeman, had that honor Tuesday. He appeared at the stairs, produced a pair of handcuffs and joined himself with her before the ceremonial kiss.
Kaitlyn Towne of Everett originally won the first-kiss drawing, but gave up her spot because her husband came home early because of a death in his family.
Another tradition is to allow new fathers to be among the first off the ship. In this case, Petty Officer 2nd Class Matt Singleton had the first glimpse of his 2-month-old son, Jack William Singleton.
He and his wife, Stacey, now have three children under the age of 3.
“That’s definitely an adventure,” Stacey Singleton said. The kids kept her plenty busy while dad was away.
As for the newborn, “It’s so good to be home and see this guy,” Matt Singleton said. “He’s so handsome.”
Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or haley@heraldnet.com.
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