Thirteen-year-old Brendan Flynn hugs his father, Cmdr. Paul Flynn, captain of the Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous, while Paul's wife, Elizabeth, holds 11-month-old Regina. (Photo by Noah Addis)

CAPE MAY, N.J. — Standing on a pier in the harbor, 3-year-old Aidan Perkins knew the Vigorous was heading out to sea even before the Coast Guard cutter started moving.

"Daddy, the boat is leaving," said Aidan, his voice barely audible above the engine.

"I'll be back in a little bit," called his father, Mark Perkins, chief machine technician on the Vigorous, as he leaned against the ship's side rail.

Nearby, Aidan's brother couldn't hold back the tears. At age 10, Gage Perkins knows what "a little bit" means. It would be almost eight weeks before his dad would come home again.

Gage has gone through it all: the missed birthdays, the unopened Christmas presents.

Along the dock, on a melancholy morning in late April, a handful of other families bid farewell, waving silently as the ship sailed toward the ocean.