thedrifter
01-31-07, 12:48 PM
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Loved ones greet Marines
Families brave rain at Camp Pendleton for early-morning reunion.
By VIK JOLLY
The Orange County Register
CAMP PENDLETON – About 200 Marines and sailors were welcomed home early today by cheering family members, who braved the rain and chilly winds that buffeted a giant Stars and Stripes erected for the homecoming at the U.S. Marine base.
By midnight Tuesday, families already were standing under makeshift blue canopies eagerly awaiting the arrival of their loved ones, most of whom served a year in Fallujah, a city in the volatile Anbar province, a Sunni insurgent stronghold about 40 miles west of Baghdad.
The Marines from Regimental Combat Team 5 belong to the most decorated regiment – the 5th Marines – in history, officials said. About 5,000 serve with the battalions in the regiment. Most are being rotated out from Iraq duty and replaced with Marines from Camp Lejeune, N.C., over a period of several months.
Standing under one of the canopies was the Frank family from Anaheim, waiting for Marine Cpl. Timothy Frank, who turned 21 while he was on his second tour of duty to Iraq.
"I am just so glad to have him home," said Lenore Frank, a mortgage loan officer, while waiting for her son. Each time she heard news of Marines injured or killed in combat, she prayed.
"I hope it is not Tim," she would say to herself, and then realize what that meant. "Oh, it's somebody else's kid. You feel guilty."
But this morning, she was soon to embrace her son, who was attached to the regiment's supply and logistics unit, and her excitement in the cold night air was palpable.
At 1:30 a.m., nearly a week after leaving Iraq, via Kuwait, the Marines and sailors arrived home with a band leading them onto grounds dwarfed by the roughly 50-foot flag.
"Please let them break formation before you attack them. I know it's hard," said an announcer over the loudspeaker as the families roared with anticipation.
The atmosphere was electric. The rain paused just long enough for the troops to come close to where their loved ones waited.
"Semper Fi!" yelled one man in the crowd. "It's OK to look at the girls now. We're on America's soil now."
Then came the much-awaited word over the loudspeaker: "Dismiss." And with a loud cheer the families rushed forth to embrace, kiss and cajole their loved ones.
The Franks will have a second Christmas dinner this weekend – ham and trimmings and even Christmas cookies – to make up for the one Timothy missed while he was in Iraq. An artificial Christmas tree with gifts awaited him at home.
Contact the writer: For a fuller version of this story and to read about other families, see Thursday's Orange County Register. 949-465-5424 or vjolly@ocregister.com
Ellie
Loved ones greet Marines
Families brave rain at Camp Pendleton for early-morning reunion.
By VIK JOLLY
The Orange County Register
CAMP PENDLETON – About 200 Marines and sailors were welcomed home early today by cheering family members, who braved the rain and chilly winds that buffeted a giant Stars and Stripes erected for the homecoming at the U.S. Marine base.
By midnight Tuesday, families already were standing under makeshift blue canopies eagerly awaiting the arrival of their loved ones, most of whom served a year in Fallujah, a city in the volatile Anbar province, a Sunni insurgent stronghold about 40 miles west of Baghdad.
The Marines from Regimental Combat Team 5 belong to the most decorated regiment – the 5th Marines – in history, officials said. About 5,000 serve with the battalions in the regiment. Most are being rotated out from Iraq duty and replaced with Marines from Camp Lejeune, N.C., over a period of several months.
Standing under one of the canopies was the Frank family from Anaheim, waiting for Marine Cpl. Timothy Frank, who turned 21 while he was on his second tour of duty to Iraq.
"I am just so glad to have him home," said Lenore Frank, a mortgage loan officer, while waiting for her son. Each time she heard news of Marines injured or killed in combat, she prayed.
"I hope it is not Tim," she would say to herself, and then realize what that meant. "Oh, it's somebody else's kid. You feel guilty."
But this morning, she was soon to embrace her son, who was attached to the regiment's supply and logistics unit, and her excitement in the cold night air was palpable.
At 1:30 a.m., nearly a week after leaving Iraq, via Kuwait, the Marines and sailors arrived home with a band leading them onto grounds dwarfed by the roughly 50-foot flag.
"Please let them break formation before you attack them. I know it's hard," said an announcer over the loudspeaker as the families roared with anticipation.
The atmosphere was electric. The rain paused just long enough for the troops to come close to where their loved ones waited.
"Semper Fi!" yelled one man in the crowd. "It's OK to look at the girls now. We're on America's soil now."
Then came the much-awaited word over the loudspeaker: "Dismiss." And with a loud cheer the families rushed forth to embrace, kiss and cajole their loved ones.
The Franks will have a second Christmas dinner this weekend – ham and trimmings and even Christmas cookies – to make up for the one Timothy missed while he was in Iraq. An artificial Christmas tree with gifts awaited him at home.
Contact the writer: For a fuller version of this story and to read about other families, see Thursday's Orange County Register. 949-465-5424 or vjolly@ocregister.com
Ellie