thedrifter
02-10-06, 06:55 AM
Troops arrive home from Iraq
February 10,2006
Chris Mazzolini
FREEDOM ENC
Marine Air Group 26 was deployed for 13 months
JACKSONVILLE — Katlyn Painter won the only golden ticket. Unlike Charlie from the children’s story, however, her ticket wasn’t actually golden, and it didn’t award the 5-year-old her own chocolate factory.
It gave her something better: Her dad, Naval officer Aaron Painter, was coming home — and she would get to see him first.
While more than 100 Marines and sailors with Marine Air Group 26 arrived Thursday morning to New River Air Station, returning troops are a norm there. But those hosting the homecoming decided to add a wrinkle, perhaps inspired by Valentine’s Day.
They sold “First Kiss” raffle tickets at a small table, flanked by a blown-up copy of the famous World War II photo depicting a service member dipping and kissing his sweetheart on a city street.
The raffle gave the lucky winner the chance to be the first to see their loved one when the troops stepped off the bus. Katlyn’s number was called, so when the families were taken outside to greet the arriving Marines, the Painters got a front-row seat to welcome home the dad and husband who had been gone for six months.
The raffle — along with the signs, the balloons and the food — was simply a side note to what families were truly waiting for: the return of their Marine or sailor to America, individual pieces of the roughly 13,000 troops that are coming home from Iraq.
The MAG was deployed for 13 months. While not all of the troops were away that long, even a few months in war-torn Iraq is enough to set a family’s nerves on edge.
“It’s hard,” said Ron Cardin, who came from Massachusetts with his wife, Robin, to see their son, Cpl. Michael Cardin, home. “You don’t know what to think. You read the papers, watch the news and wait for a call.”
Lillian Knight came from San Diego to welcome home her brother, Gunnery Sgt. Tony Yepes. Yepes had fought in the first Gulf War, but Knight said this time has been much harder on her family.
“We were more worried this time,” she said. “It’s been in the media so much more. (For the first Gulf War) it was like he went then came right back. It’s been a little more nerve-racking.”
Eva Painter, Katlyn’s mother, said that even though her husband has been in the Navy for 13 years and deployed many times, this was the hardest.
“This deployment was harder than the others because the girls were old enough to realize he was gone for six months,” she said.
While she was already excited to welcome her husband home, Painter said winning the raffle was icing on the cake for her daughters: Katlyn, Charity and Anna.
“They being able to greet not only their dad but everyone else is a special treat for them,” she said.
“(Katlyn) just knew her daddy was coming home first,” said Anna.
After the bus arrived, when all the troops were formed up in ranks, Aaron Painter burst from his line and ran towards his family, who waited with arms open.
“I was completely shocked,” said Painter, who was told his family won the raffle as they approached. “Out of all the deployments this is the first time I’ve got to do something like this.
“It sure did melt six months away really quick,” he said.
Chris Mazzolini can be reached at cmazzolini@freedomenc.com or 353-1171, ext. 229.
Ellie
February 10,2006
Chris Mazzolini
FREEDOM ENC
Marine Air Group 26 was deployed for 13 months
JACKSONVILLE — Katlyn Painter won the only golden ticket. Unlike Charlie from the children’s story, however, her ticket wasn’t actually golden, and it didn’t award the 5-year-old her own chocolate factory.
It gave her something better: Her dad, Naval officer Aaron Painter, was coming home — and she would get to see him first.
While more than 100 Marines and sailors with Marine Air Group 26 arrived Thursday morning to New River Air Station, returning troops are a norm there. But those hosting the homecoming decided to add a wrinkle, perhaps inspired by Valentine’s Day.
They sold “First Kiss” raffle tickets at a small table, flanked by a blown-up copy of the famous World War II photo depicting a service member dipping and kissing his sweetheart on a city street.
The raffle gave the lucky winner the chance to be the first to see their loved one when the troops stepped off the bus. Katlyn’s number was called, so when the families were taken outside to greet the arriving Marines, the Painters got a front-row seat to welcome home the dad and husband who had been gone for six months.
The raffle — along with the signs, the balloons and the food — was simply a side note to what families were truly waiting for: the return of their Marine or sailor to America, individual pieces of the roughly 13,000 troops that are coming home from Iraq.
The MAG was deployed for 13 months. While not all of the troops were away that long, even a few months in war-torn Iraq is enough to set a family’s nerves on edge.
“It’s hard,” said Ron Cardin, who came from Massachusetts with his wife, Robin, to see their son, Cpl. Michael Cardin, home. “You don’t know what to think. You read the papers, watch the news and wait for a call.”
Lillian Knight came from San Diego to welcome home her brother, Gunnery Sgt. Tony Yepes. Yepes had fought in the first Gulf War, but Knight said this time has been much harder on her family.
“We were more worried this time,” she said. “It’s been in the media so much more. (For the first Gulf War) it was like he went then came right back. It’s been a little more nerve-racking.”
Eva Painter, Katlyn’s mother, said that even though her husband has been in the Navy for 13 years and deployed many times, this was the hardest.
“This deployment was harder than the others because the girls were old enough to realize he was gone for six months,” she said.
While she was already excited to welcome her husband home, Painter said winning the raffle was icing on the cake for her daughters: Katlyn, Charity and Anna.
“They being able to greet not only their dad but everyone else is a special treat for them,” she said.
“(Katlyn) just knew her daddy was coming home first,” said Anna.
After the bus arrived, when all the troops were formed up in ranks, Aaron Painter burst from his line and ran towards his family, who waited with arms open.
“I was completely shocked,” said Painter, who was told his family won the raffle as they approached. “Out of all the deployments this is the first time I’ve got to do something like this.
“It sure did melt six months away really quick,” he said.
Chris Mazzolini can be reached at cmazzolini@freedomenc.com or 353-1171, ext. 229.
Ellie