THEY'RE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS...SAILORS GREETED WITH TEARS AND CHEERS AS USS COLE RETURNS TO HOME PORT

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Hundreds of sailors and their loved ones got an early Christmas present when the USS Cole docked at its home port in Norfolk, Virginia, after seven months at sea.

The ship was greeted at Naval Station Norfolk on Monday with cheering from a crowd bundled in coats and blankets. They shed tears of gratitude and shared long embraces as sailors hugged beaming children. Some held flower bouquets and signs bearing family members' names and photos. MORE AT Sailors greeted with tears and cheers as USS Cole returns to home port ahead of Christmas