Thankful that "both men and ship will heal," family and friends welcomed home the USS Samuel B. Roberts, heavily damaged when it struck an Iranian mine in the Persian Gulf three months ago.
The guided-missile frigate was towed into port at the Newport Naval Complex Sunday where it was met by family and about 100 members of the crew who arrived ahead of the ship.Wives of the 30 sailors aboard wore roses during a brief ceremony featuring a Navy band. "It's been very difficult, very lonely," said one woman. "You never know when something is going to happen."