00:00Well, to the USS Bahad, welcome home.
00:10It is an absolute honor to be in your presence today.
00:14I'm humbled to be in your presence.
00:17In the presence of warriors who stood to watch, I see the sign out there for 331 days.
00:24An extraordinary amount of time for a naval deployment.
00:28I recognize that the President of the United States recognizes that, and that's why we're here today.
00:35From all of the Empire Strikes Group to recognize your skill, your proficiency, your dedication, and your heroism.
00:44Thank you for serving your nation and serving your nation well.
00:48Thank you for representing us here at home and in far-flung places.
00:53I'm sure you already know this, but I learned today what the amount of ocean you sailed was equivalent to
00:59three times around the world.
01:03You have represented America in every corner of the globe.
01:07It went to Europe, and then you were called to the Caribbean.
01:11And when you were in the Caribbean, you were part of a historic mission, Southern Spear, and ensuring that Nicolas
01:18Maduro was brought to justice and absolute resolve.
01:22And then you were called yet again, and extended yet again, to the Middle East, to be a part of
01:29ensuring that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon.
01:31A historic mission that we will finish.
01:34If you started, it will be finished.
01:36But what this ship did, what this strength group did, was help project American power in historic ways.
01:45To the families, thank you for supporting your sailors.
01:49Thank you for being there every day.
01:52Thank you for being there every day.
01:56There's something especially American about a day like this.
02:00It's extraordinarily American about this.
02:03About families and communities that put it all on the line and send their best, their men and women, across
02:10the globe to defend this freedom we find that is so precious.
02:14It's a combination of the families and the sailors.
02:17I had a chance to share Thanksgiving, my wife Jennifer and I, on the fort, alongside, near, adjacent to many
02:26of you.
02:27You thought that was probably nearing the end of the deployment, and then it went on, and it went on.
02:31But your dedication never wavered.
02:34And we never had a doubt that it would.
02:37And you were a part of something historic.
02:38I know you'll never forget it for the rest of your lives, nor should you.
02:42Your kids, you will talk about it.
02:44Your kids will talk about it.
02:46And it's because you made history, and it's because you were so dedicated, that today, it is my honor, on
02:52behalf of the President of the United States, and the Navy, to bestow a historic award on this carrier strike
03:01group.
03:01It normally takes a couple of years to do this, but because of what was done over these 331 days,
03:08this was a no-brainer.
03:10And so today, it's my honor to present from the President of the United States, the Presidential Unit Citation, to
03:20the USS Gerald R-4 Carrier Strike Group, the Carrier Strike Group 12.
03:27The USS Mahan, DDG-72, presented the Presidential Unit Citation.
03:34Congratulations, Godspeed, and welcome home.
03:42I was proud to give the Presidential Unit Citation to them for their 330-day deployment all the way around
03:49the globe.
03:50Absolute resolve, epic fury.
03:52It's an incredible story, and the only story that should be told today is of the heroism and the skill
03:57and the professionalism of these sailors who went three times around the globe to defend that flag right there, which
04:03can only do what this strike group does.
04:06So it's a beautiful day.
04:07We're going to let the sailors get off the ship, and thank you for coming to showcase it.
04:10I hope you'll showcase in its entirety the human aspect of this commitment of service to our country.
04:16It's beautiful, and I'm grateful for you guys coming out to watch it.
04:19Thank you very much.
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