thedrifter
05-12-03, 10:28 AM
Posted on Sat, May. 10, 2003
S.C. troops returning from Iraq
Families gather to greet soldiers
The Associated Press
BEAUFORT MARINE CORPS AIR STATION - After months overseas flying in the skies over Iraq, 11 F/A-18 jets from Fighter Attack Squadron 533 roared across the coast.
Then, after making a final pass in a diamond formation over the Marine Corps Air Station, the pilots landed Thursday to be greeted with hugs and kisses.
About 150 family members and friends turned out to greet the fliers.
"It's about them, it's not about us," said Niki Schoeman, who is pregnant and was awaiting the return of her husband. Capt. Scott Schoeman got the news the couple was expecting two weeks after deploying.
The squadron left in February for Kuwait and began training for missions in the war.
"Back in January, we thought we'd be there until September or October," Marine Maj. Jay Frey said after his plane touched down. "But once we got to flying over Baghdad and Tikrit every day, we knew it would be over soon."
"I flew 27 missions in the 25 critical days that defined the war," said Frey, a weapons system officer. He said he hit targets in front of the 1st Marine Division as it advanced on Baghdad.
"We expected them to be gone a lot longer," said Frey's wife, Jennifer, as she waited with her son.
With the fighting in Iraq over, the pace of military personnel returning to S.C. bases has picked up.
Roughly 150 Marines are coming back to Beaufort this weekend as ordinance specialists and technicians return. Twelve fighters from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251 and their support personnel return next week.
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115, which deployed aboard the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman in December, is expected to return later this month.
Members of the S.C. Air National Guard's 169th Fighter Wing stationed at McEntire Air National Guard Station near Eastover were to return Friday.
Also Friday, about 270 members of the 20th Maintenance Group and 77th Fighter Squadron were to return to Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter.
Sempers,
Roger
S.C. troops returning from Iraq
Families gather to greet soldiers
The Associated Press
BEAUFORT MARINE CORPS AIR STATION - After months overseas flying in the skies over Iraq, 11 F/A-18 jets from Fighter Attack Squadron 533 roared across the coast.
Then, after making a final pass in a diamond formation over the Marine Corps Air Station, the pilots landed Thursday to be greeted with hugs and kisses.
About 150 family members and friends turned out to greet the fliers.
"It's about them, it's not about us," said Niki Schoeman, who is pregnant and was awaiting the return of her husband. Capt. Scott Schoeman got the news the couple was expecting two weeks after deploying.
The squadron left in February for Kuwait and began training for missions in the war.
"Back in January, we thought we'd be there until September or October," Marine Maj. Jay Frey said after his plane touched down. "But once we got to flying over Baghdad and Tikrit every day, we knew it would be over soon."
"I flew 27 missions in the 25 critical days that defined the war," said Frey, a weapons system officer. He said he hit targets in front of the 1st Marine Division as it advanced on Baghdad.
"We expected them to be gone a lot longer," said Frey's wife, Jennifer, as she waited with her son.
With the fighting in Iraq over, the pace of military personnel returning to S.C. bases has picked up.
Roughly 150 Marines are coming back to Beaufort this weekend as ordinance specialists and technicians return. Twelve fighters from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251 and their support personnel return next week.
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115, which deployed aboard the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman in December, is expected to return later this month.
Members of the S.C. Air National Guard's 169th Fighter Wing stationed at McEntire Air National Guard Station near Eastover were to return Friday.
Also Friday, about 270 members of the 20th Maintenance Group and 77th Fighter Squadron were to return to Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter.
Sempers,
Roger