thedrifter
03-28-08, 07:00 AM
March 28, 2008
Area Marines get heroes' welcome . . . home
Stretch limo, firetruck, families greet Iraq War veterans
By LARRY HIGGS
COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU
Perhaps the biggest surprise for six Marines who returned from active duty Thursday morning was how they got to the Armed Forces Reserve Center.
Instead of a military vehicle or charter bus, the six Marines from the 6th Motor Transport Battalion of Red Bank rolled up in a white Lincoln stretch limo to be reunited with their loved ones .
"I didn't know it was for us," Lance Cpl. Travis Harper, 22, of Sayreville said when he
saw the limo at the airport. "It felt good."
The only thing that might top that ride was the one waiting for Lance Cpl. Neil Moran, 23, of West Long Branch — a firetruck from the West Long Branch Fire Company. The only decision was whether to ride in the fire engine or be escorted by it back home.
"He can ride wherever he wants," said one West Long Branch firefighter.
The six Marines were the last of a group that returned from a deployment in Iraq on
Saturday. The group had been mobilized and left Middletown on Memorial Day and were in Iraq by August.
"To be finally home is great," said Neil Moran, as he shared photos on his cell phone with younger brother, Alec.
And what are the Moran family's plans?
"I'm going to make him a home-cooked meal — roast chicken, mashed potatoes and all the fixings," said his mother, Joan Moran. "He just wants to mellow out and relax."
The relief and happiness could be measured in smiles and bear hugs.
"I am so thrilled, maybe I can watch the news again. I didn't while he was away," his
mother said.
The family found outlast Friday that Neil was coming home, said his father, Terry Moran.
"We're just going to get back to being brothers. I really missed him," Alec Moran said.
What was missed the most, besides Mom's home cooking?
"To be in civilian clothes," said Neil Moran, who was wearing a T-shirt, jeans and
athletic shoes.
Lt. Col. Paul "Dutch" Bertholf, active duty adviser to the 6th Motor Transport Battalion,
briefly addressed the returning Marines and the crowd, telling them they made a difference in the province in Iraq where they were stationed.
"What was going on there then and today is different due to a huge investment of Marines like yourself," Bertholf said. "We're glad to have you home in one piece."
Harper said he missed his family the most while on duty. The feeling was mutual, said his parents, Horace and Joan Harper of Sayreville.
"The holidays were the hardest," his mother said. "We've been waiting for this. I'm so
glad he made it back."
Lance Cpl. Thomas Cartwright of Cranford said he missed "everything we take for granted."
"Your own room, your own bed, your own shower, going out on the town with friends, having your own car," said Cartwright, 24.
His aunt Margorie Woolf of Jackson said while they heard from him regularly by e-mail and phone, his absence was felt by the family.
"We just missed having him with us. The holidays were empty without him," she said. "We just worried about him every day."
His friend Chris DePasquale came for the reunion and plans to help Cartwright catch up on the music he's missed.
"It is amazing, I'm so happy he's back — all his friends are," said DePasquale of New Milford.
Both are country music fans. They met at the Colorado Cafe in Watchung three years ago and became friends, DePasquale said.
"It is crazy going to the store and seeing all the (music and) things in there and being
told that's seven months old," Cartwright said.
Helping the families to welcome the Marines home were several support groups, including American Reserve Military Service of Red Bank, the Red Bank Elks and the Marine Corps League. Officers from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2226 in the Oakhurst section of Ocean Township also were there; they wanted to give these Marines the homecoming they said they never got.
"As a Korean War vet, nobody was there to greet me," said past Post Commander Manuel Almeida, who served in the Army. "It's the best thing in the world to show our men we're behind them 150 percent."
Post Commander Craig "Doc" Branigan and Peter Murphy, both Vietnam veterans, said being there was important to show support.
"We're here to show these young men and women how proud we are," said Brannigan, who served in the Navy. "It's unlike when we came home."
Ellie
Area Marines get heroes' welcome . . . home
Stretch limo, firetruck, families greet Iraq War veterans
By LARRY HIGGS
COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU
Perhaps the biggest surprise for six Marines who returned from active duty Thursday morning was how they got to the Armed Forces Reserve Center.
Instead of a military vehicle or charter bus, the six Marines from the 6th Motor Transport Battalion of Red Bank rolled up in a white Lincoln stretch limo to be reunited with their loved ones .
"I didn't know it was for us," Lance Cpl. Travis Harper, 22, of Sayreville said when he
saw the limo at the airport. "It felt good."
The only thing that might top that ride was the one waiting for Lance Cpl. Neil Moran, 23, of West Long Branch — a firetruck from the West Long Branch Fire Company. The only decision was whether to ride in the fire engine or be escorted by it back home.
"He can ride wherever he wants," said one West Long Branch firefighter.
The six Marines were the last of a group that returned from a deployment in Iraq on
Saturday. The group had been mobilized and left Middletown on Memorial Day and were in Iraq by August.
"To be finally home is great," said Neil Moran, as he shared photos on his cell phone with younger brother, Alec.
And what are the Moran family's plans?
"I'm going to make him a home-cooked meal — roast chicken, mashed potatoes and all the fixings," said his mother, Joan Moran. "He just wants to mellow out and relax."
The relief and happiness could be measured in smiles and bear hugs.
"I am so thrilled, maybe I can watch the news again. I didn't while he was away," his
mother said.
The family found outlast Friday that Neil was coming home, said his father, Terry Moran.
"We're just going to get back to being brothers. I really missed him," Alec Moran said.
What was missed the most, besides Mom's home cooking?
"To be in civilian clothes," said Neil Moran, who was wearing a T-shirt, jeans and
athletic shoes.
Lt. Col. Paul "Dutch" Bertholf, active duty adviser to the 6th Motor Transport Battalion,
briefly addressed the returning Marines and the crowd, telling them they made a difference in the province in Iraq where they were stationed.
"What was going on there then and today is different due to a huge investment of Marines like yourself," Bertholf said. "We're glad to have you home in one piece."
Harper said he missed his family the most while on duty. The feeling was mutual, said his parents, Horace and Joan Harper of Sayreville.
"The holidays were the hardest," his mother said. "We've been waiting for this. I'm so
glad he made it back."
Lance Cpl. Thomas Cartwright of Cranford said he missed "everything we take for granted."
"Your own room, your own bed, your own shower, going out on the town with friends, having your own car," said Cartwright, 24.
His aunt Margorie Woolf of Jackson said while they heard from him regularly by e-mail and phone, his absence was felt by the family.
"We just missed having him with us. The holidays were empty without him," she said. "We just worried about him every day."
His friend Chris DePasquale came for the reunion and plans to help Cartwright catch up on the music he's missed.
"It is amazing, I'm so happy he's back — all his friends are," said DePasquale of New Milford.
Both are country music fans. They met at the Colorado Cafe in Watchung three years ago and became friends, DePasquale said.
"It is crazy going to the store and seeing all the (music and) things in there and being
told that's seven months old," Cartwright said.
Helping the families to welcome the Marines home were several support groups, including American Reserve Military Service of Red Bank, the Red Bank Elks and the Marine Corps League. Officers from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2226 in the Oakhurst section of Ocean Township also were there; they wanted to give these Marines the homecoming they said they never got.
"As a Korean War vet, nobody was there to greet me," said past Post Commander Manuel Almeida, who served in the Army. "It's the best thing in the world to show our men we're behind them 150 percent."
Post Commander Craig "Doc" Branigan and Peter Murphy, both Vietnam veterans, said being there was important to show support.
"We're here to show these young men and women how proud we are," said Brannigan, who served in the Navy. "It's unlike when we came home."
Ellie