NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. – Naval Station Mayport welcomed the Navy’s newest commissioned warship Thursday as the USS Cleveland arrived in Jacksonville following its commissioning ceremony in Ohio last month.
For the crew members and their families, the homecoming was more than a military milestone — it was deeply personal.
Navy wife Jacqueline Martinez had been waiting months for this moment. She and her husband, Sailor Phillip Martinez, welcomed a baby girl, Juliette, on Feb. 22 — but Phillip had yet to meet her.
“We had Juliette on February 22nd,” Jacqueline Martinez said. “This will be his first time finally getting to meet Julia.”
For four months, Phillip Martinez watched his daughter grow through photos and videos. Thursday, he finally got to hold her.
“I feel like I don’t even know her, but know her at the same time,” Phillip Martinez said. “I can’t be more thankful for everything she’s been doing while we’ve been gone.”
The families of the USS Cleveland have been gradually relocating to Jacksonville for years. Some sailors received orders as far back as 2021, while others arrived within the past year — all waiting for the ship to make its way south.
Among those waiting was Kassandra Hallett, whose husband commands the vessel.
“We do! He’s very special. He is with Dad, and he’s the captain of the USS Cleveland,” Kassandra Hallett said.
The USS Cleveland was commissioned in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 16, before making the journey to Jacksonville — its permanent home.
Capt. Bruce Hallett, the ship’s commanding officer, said the crew has been working toward this moment for months.
“It’s fantastic to be able to finally bring the final Freedom-class LCS home to Mayport, where we can be ready to go out and do whatever the nation needs us to do,” Capt. Hallett said.
“We moved aboard the ship a little over four months ago,” he added. “The crew’s been working hard with the end goal of ultimately coming back here, reuniting with families, so everyone’s just elated to be here.”
Kassandra Hallett said the family is looking forward to growing the USS Cleveland community in Jacksonville.
“We’re excited to welcome all the families that will be serving on the USS Cleveland now, and in the future,” she said. “We just want to welcome them and make them a part of the Mayport family and the USS Cleveland family.”
Now that the USS Cleveland and its crew are home, training for future operations begins — and the families can start rebuilding life together in Jacksonville.