Marines begin arriving home

[thedrifter]

Marines begin arriving home
MEU, other units return after deployments
January 29, 2008 - 12:35PM
Havelock News

More than 300 Marines and sailors from various units based at Cherry Point returned home Monday and Tuesday after recent deployments.

Members of Marine Attack Squadron 223 assigned to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived at Cherry Point Tuesday after six months away.

The squadron’s six AV-8B Harriers flew 68 missions into Iraq in three weeks from September to October, providing support to ground units by reporting suspicious vehicles and keeping an eye on areas of operation from the sky, according to a release from the military.

“The Harrier missions flown in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom are a testament to the flexibility of a Marine Expeditionary Unit,” Col. Doug Stilwell, commanding officer of the 22nd MEU, said in the release. “The fact that we can support forces over a broad geographic area, even while most of the MEU is training elsewhere, really highlights the MEU’s capabilities as a war-fighting organization.”

Two weeks later, the Harriers were called on again, this time to fly combat missions over Afghanistan. From Oct. 26 to Oct. 30, the Harriers acted as convoy escorts and fired weapons at enemy targets to support ground forces in battle, according to the release.

“This is what we train to do, and we did it well,” said Lt. Col. James G. Flynn, commanding officer of Marine Helicopter Squadron 261, which has command of the Harriers. “Our pilots were ready for anything, and it’s good to know that we were able to directly support those ground forces when they needed it the most.”

Also returning home to Cherry Point were Marines and sailors from Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2, Marine Air Control Group 28, Marine Air Control Squadron 2 and Marine Wing Control Squadron 28. Those units had been deployed to Iraq.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

22nd MEU return special
KEVIN FORSYTHE
January 30, 2008 - 12:52AM
DAILY NEWS STAFF
A contingent of Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit came home Tuesday after a six-month deployment.

Marines from Light Armored Reconnaissance Platoon, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment. were greeted by wives, children, parents and other loved ones as they arrived on Onslow Beach by way of amphibious landing craft.

It was a particularly special homecoming for Lance Cpl. Joshua Johnson, who got to hold his 3 -month-old son for the first time.

"I'm a bit overwhelmed right now, almost numb. I really can't put into words how happy I am right now," Johnson said.

A scout with the platoon, Johnson said that along with some R&R, he and his wife Jessica will be kept busy during the coming weeks looking for a new apartment - one that has a nursery.

Staff Sgt. Terre Franklin's mother, Tamee Hinton, made the trip from Orlando, Fla., to join his wife and children in welcoming him home. And to make her son one of his favorite meals - lasagna.

Franklin's wife, Jeanette, said her husband told her recently he just wanted to get home and play with the kids. "He also is looking to have a hot meal at home," she said.

An excited Alison Huffman, 8, whose father, Sgt. Aaron Huffman, was only moments from seeing her again, said she spent the past several days making not one, but two welcome home banners for her father.

While deployed, the 22nd MEU conducted various operations in 14 countries.

"It's amazing when you think about it," said Capt. Clark Carpenter, of the 22nd MEU Public Affairs Office. "MEUs are able to respond quickly and support many types of missions."

Operating from three U.S. Navy ships, the unit has the capability to execute raids, perform non-combatant evacuations, conduct humanitarian assistance operations and operate in combat scenarios.

Along with combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, the unit supported a major humanitarian relief effort in Bangladesh, supported a regional security summit in Bahrain, provided a contingency response force for a major air show in the Middle East and supported President Bush's visit to Israel.

The 22nd MEU consists of its ground combat element, the 3rd Battalion 8th Marine Regiment; aviation combat element, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron-261; logistics combat element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; and its command element.

Among the combat missions by the 22nd MEU were 68 sorties flown into Iraq by its six AV-8B Harriers.

"The Harrier missions flown in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom are a testament to the flexibility of a Marine Expeditionary Unit," said Col. Doug Stilwell, commanding officer of the 22nd MEU.

While some Marines and sailors arriving home from their deployment may have big plans for the days ahead, one Marine wife had a different perspective on this special time.

"We really don't have any big plans for now," said Megan Harvey, whose husband, Sgt. Chris Harvey, was among Tuesday's group returning home. "Besides, it's lots of small things that really add up to make being together a big thing."



Contact Kevin Forsythe at kforsythe@freedomenc.com or 910-219-8449.

Ellie