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USS Carter Hall

The USS Carter Hall left Tuesday morning to return to the War of Terror. They’re headed to what the military calls the Fifth Fleet area of responsibility. They’ll travel from the Suez Canal, through the Red Sea, around the horn of Africa, into the Arabian Sea, and possibly up to the Persian Gulf.

The 400 crew members of the USS Carter Hall said goodbye to their family and friends at Little Creek Amphibious Base around 10 a.m. Tuesday.

"It's hard to leave the family, as you know, you get accustomed to being at home. But, you join the military, and that's what we're here to do, do our time and come back," said Yeoman 1st class Eric Hill.

The amphibious dock landing ship is bound first for the Mediterannean Sea, ultimately for the Middle East. There, they'll conduct vital maritime security operations, working to keep the global sea lanes free of terrorist activity, and of pirates.

It's something the Navy has always done, but a mission that's gotten much more attention in the days since September 11, 2001.

"We'll be doing engagement operations with our coalition partners and gulf cooperation council states,” said Commander James McGovern. “We'll be conducting visit, board, search and seizure. We'll be conducting the spectrum, from humanitarian operations, all the way to combat operations."