Behind every sailor securing a dark corridor of the ocean and every pilot flying a combat air patrol over a volatile strait, there is a kitchen table back in Connecticut with an empty chair. As May marks Military Appreciation Month, this RED Friday (Remember Everyone Deployed) edition delivers the vital operational briefing on our troops’ frontline achievements, while honoring the deep resilience of the Blue Star Families who stand strong right alongside them. When a service member deploys, their family carries that heavy burden of vigilance at home, ensuring our heroes have an unwavering foundation to return to. We never falter in our mission: keeping our focus entirely on supporting our deployed personnel and ensuring those over the horizon are always remembered.

The Long Return: USS Texas (SSN 775) Comes Home to New London

The intense reality of deployment was vividly on display on 1 May 2026, when the Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Texas (SSN 775) slipped back into Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut. Assigned to Submarine Squadron 12, the vessel concluded a demanding six-month deployment to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility.
The crew covered more than 21,200 nautical miles conducting high-stakes maritime security operations and theater security cooperation tactics. For the families waiting on the pier, the day marked the end of half a year of missed birthdays, milestones, and silent worry. The homecoming was underscored by a milestone of professional excellence: 34 sailors earned their coveted silver and gold “dolphins,” marking their full qualification in submarine warfare. The return of the USS Texas serves as a powerful reminder of the unseen, under-ice vigils kept by Connecticut sailors to preserve global stability.

• Official Documentation: U.S. Fleet Forces Command / Submarine Squadron 12 Press Release

Operation Project Freedom: Securing the Strait of Hormuz

While some celebrate a reunion, thousands more have just entered the gauntlet. On Monday, 4 May 2026, under direct presidential orders, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) officially launched Operation Project Freedom to forcefully dismantle the hostile blockade choking the Strait of Hormuz. The massive joint-force operation has rapidly massed 15,000 service members, a defensive umbrella of over 100 combat aircraft, and a surface vanguard of guided-missile destroyers to establish a secure international transit corridor.
The urgency of this deployment became instantly clear during the operation’s opening hours on Monday. Hostile regional forces attempted a coordinated swarm maneuver to intercept commercial merchant shipping. Operating under intense pressure, U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopters and U.S. Navy MH-60 Seahawk maritime strike helicopters intercepted the threat, executing precision defensive strikes that destroyed six hostile fast-attack craft. Simultaneously, Navy surface combatants successfully neutralized multiple incoming cruise missiles and loitering drones launched from hostile positions across Iraq, Yemen, and Iran. No U.S. personnel were injured, and no naval assets sustained damage.

• Official Launch Press Release: U.S. Central Command Project Freedom Operations Announcement
• Official Engagement Transcript: CENTCOM Commander ADM Brad Cooper Media Briefing

Theater Security Update:

The operational momentum has not wavered. Since the sharp engagements of Monday, Carrier Strike Group 12 assets alongside international coalition partners have fortified the maritime corridor. Through Tuesday, 5 May 2026, and continuing into Wednesday, 6 May 2026, naval escorts successfully shepherded an additional twelve commercial tankers through the critical choke point. Round-the-clock combat air patrols and electronic warfare assets remain fixed over the Gulf, suppressing land-based anti-ship missile batteries and safeguarding civilian mariners.

Why We Stand with Our Blue Star Families

The rapid escalations in the Middle East reinforce why RED Friday is a sacred obligation. The pilots flying those Seahawks and Apaches, the crews loading the vertical launch cells on our destroyers, and the support personnel working the flight decks are our neighbors, sons, daughters, and spouses.
While they hold the line abroad, their families in Connecticut navigate the unique stress of wartime deployments. Blue Star Families manage households, comfort anxious children, and scan the news for updates from the Strait of Hormuz, all while maintaining a resilient exterior. Supporting our deployed service members means actively supporting the families they left behind.
As long as Connecticut residents are in harm’s way, the Connecticut Veterans Bulletin will amplify their service, preserve the absolute truth of their achievements, and remind our community that freedom is paid for daily by families right down the street.

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES!!