thedrifter
06-03-08, 06:34 AM
Returning to greetings and first-time meetings
2,200 Marines and sailors back from seven-month deployment
By Jeff Ristine
STAFF WRITER
June 3, 2008
CAMP PENDLETON – Lance Cpl. Dennis Burgos returned to Camp Pendleton with about 2,200 Marines and sailors yesterday after a seven-month deployment to the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf.
But it was just the start of a memorable week. Waiting for him on the base were his father, a high school friend and his fiancee, Celia Frausto.
When is the big day?
Frausto began laughing. “Thursday,” she said, explaining that she and Burgos set the date moments earlier.
Burgos was part of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which spent its time overseas doing training, making port visits and providing humanitarian assistance.
Joining them were members of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. More than 250 Marines and sailors from that unit also came home yesterday to Miramar Marine Corps Air Station. About 200 more troops from the aircraft wing are expected to arrive today.
On the Navy side, a helicopter detachment returned yesterday to North Island Naval Air Station.
And today, some of the ships that carried the service members during their deployment will reach their home ports in San Diego and Coronado. These vessels and their sailors belong to the Nimitz and Tarawa strike groups.
Back at Camp Pendleton, families gathered early in the morning in the San Mateo section with “Welcome Back” signs, balloons and stuffed animals.
Among the newborns present was Ava Clark, a 5-month-old who dozed off in her father's arms a few minutes after they looked into each other's eyes for the first time.
“She's beautiful,” said Lance Cpl. Samuel Clark of Louisville, Ky. “I didn't know what to say at first.”
Clark and others who deployed with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit left San Diego in November. Their deployment took them to places such as Djibouti in the Horn of Africa, for amphibious, arms and patrol exercises, and Kuwait, where they conducted live-fire training.
In December, some of the service members traveled to Bangladesh as part of a relief mission in the aftermath of a devastating cyclone. They delivered food and provided medical treatment.
There also were port calls in Australia, Singapore, Guam and the Maldives.
Yesterday, Lance Cpl. David Perez was greeted in the San Mateo area by 10 family members – from a grandmother to a 4-month-old nephew.
His mother, Michelle Perez of Riverside, expressed thanks that combat wasn't a part of the deployment. “We're happy they didn't have to be called for anything serious,” she said.
At midmorning, Lance Cpl. Daniel Villalobos' family was still waiting by their vehicle. His 4-month-old son, also named Daniel, was wearing a camouflage cap and a white bodysuit displaying the Marine emblem and the message “Welcome home, daddy! It's nice to meet you.”
Jeff Ristine: (760) 737-7578; jeff.ristine@uniontrib.com
Ellie
2,200 Marines and sailors back from seven-month deployment
By Jeff Ristine
STAFF WRITER
June 3, 2008
CAMP PENDLETON – Lance Cpl. Dennis Burgos returned to Camp Pendleton with about 2,200 Marines and sailors yesterday after a seven-month deployment to the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf.
But it was just the start of a memorable week. Waiting for him on the base were his father, a high school friend and his fiancee, Celia Frausto.
When is the big day?
Frausto began laughing. “Thursday,” she said, explaining that she and Burgos set the date moments earlier.
Burgos was part of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which spent its time overseas doing training, making port visits and providing humanitarian assistance.
Joining them were members of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. More than 250 Marines and sailors from that unit also came home yesterday to Miramar Marine Corps Air Station. About 200 more troops from the aircraft wing are expected to arrive today.
On the Navy side, a helicopter detachment returned yesterday to North Island Naval Air Station.
And today, some of the ships that carried the service members during their deployment will reach their home ports in San Diego and Coronado. These vessels and their sailors belong to the Nimitz and Tarawa strike groups.
Back at Camp Pendleton, families gathered early in the morning in the San Mateo section with “Welcome Back” signs, balloons and stuffed animals.
Among the newborns present was Ava Clark, a 5-month-old who dozed off in her father's arms a few minutes after they looked into each other's eyes for the first time.
“She's beautiful,” said Lance Cpl. Samuel Clark of Louisville, Ky. “I didn't know what to say at first.”
Clark and others who deployed with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit left San Diego in November. Their deployment took them to places such as Djibouti in the Horn of Africa, for amphibious, arms and patrol exercises, and Kuwait, where they conducted live-fire training.
In December, some of the service members traveled to Bangladesh as part of a relief mission in the aftermath of a devastating cyclone. They delivered food and provided medical treatment.
There also were port calls in Australia, Singapore, Guam and the Maldives.
Yesterday, Lance Cpl. David Perez was greeted in the San Mateo area by 10 family members – from a grandmother to a 4-month-old nephew.
His mother, Michelle Perez of Riverside, expressed thanks that combat wasn't a part of the deployment. “We're happy they didn't have to be called for anything serious,” she said.
At midmorning, Lance Cpl. Daniel Villalobos' family was still waiting by their vehicle. His 4-month-old son, also named Daniel, was wearing a camouflage cap and a white bodysuit displaying the Marine emblem and the message “Welcome home, daddy! It's nice to meet you.”
Jeff Ristine: (760) 737-7578; jeff.ristine@uniontrib.com
Ellie