A sailor surprised her three children at Neptune Beach Elementary School on Wednesday after 10 months apart.

Roughly 300 sailors aboard the USS Philippine Sea and its helicopter strike squadron returned home to Naval Station Mayport on Wednesday morning after a 10-month deployment.

Two U.S. Navy warships operating in the Mideast have been affected by the coronavirus, authorities said Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, with one already at port in Bahrain and another heading to port. Navy, via AP)DUBAI – Two warships U.S. Navy warships operating in the Mideast have been struck by coronavirus outbreaks, authorities said Friday, with both returning to port in Bahrain. A dozen troops aboard the USS San Diego, an amphibious transport dock, tested positive for COVID-19, said Cmdr. More than 1,000 sailors tested positive and one died. AdEarlier this month, three sailors tested positive as the aircraft carrier was conducting operations in the Pacific.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The captain of the USS Philippine Sea, a guided missile cruiser based at Naval Station Mayport, was relieved of command Monday. Erica Hoffman was removed from her post due to a “loss of confidence in her ability to command,” but no additional details were provided. A Navy spokeswoman said in an email Tuesday that a command investigation was conducted prior to Hoffman’s removal but noted the investigation was under review. “It is inappropriate to comment on the details of the investigation at this time,” the Navy spokeswoman said. Robert Thompson will take over for Hoffman as commanding officer of the Philippine Sea until the Navy names a permanent replacement.

MAYPORT, Fla. – The U.S. Navy will be sending ships from Naval Station Mayport out to sea ahead of Hurricane Irma. It's the biggest sortie of ships from Mayport ahead of a hurricane since 1999. In September of that year, the carrier JFK and 12 other ships left the base ahead of Hurricane Floyd. At sea is a better place for them to be," said Steve Millican, emergency manager for Naval Station Mayport. Plans are also in the works at Naval Station Mayport to make sure that all personnel and base resources are safe as Irma approaches.