thedrifter
10-09-08, 07:58 AM
500 Marines returning to N.C. today
The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Oct 9, 2008 7:37:33 EDT
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Members of a Marine reconnaissance battalion are returning to their North Carolina base from a seven-month deployment in Iraq where some of its members battled oil smugglers.
About 500 Marines from the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion are scheduled to return to Camp Lejeune throughout the day Thursday. The rest of the 800 Marines will return later in the week.
The battalion’s Web site said Marines from Delta Company were assigned to intercept oil smugglers in Anbar province. They detained one smuggler and several trucks. Marines also engaged in firefights with insurgents and were attacked with roadside bombs.
The battalion is part of the Lejeune-headquartered 2nd Marine Division.
Ellie
thedrifter
10-09-08, 07:28 PM
Marines Return to eastern NC
Eastern NC - 10/9/2008
Hundreds of marines returned to Camp Lejeune Thursday, after a seven-month deployment in Iraq.
The men and women from the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion arrived throughout the day. The rest of the 800 marines will return later in the week.
Aboard MCAS Cherry Point, approximately 175 marines from Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 3 also returned home from Iraq Thursday. The unit supports six marine Prowlers who also returned home with the troops. Families came from as far away as Pennsylvania and California to welcome loved ones home, running out to greet one another with hugs and kisses.
"I am so proud of him," said Fern Beavens, whose son returned home Thursday. "He misses his wife and kids, but he is doing what he loves to do."
"As much as leaving is the worst feeling, seeing them is the best," said Maj. Jeremy Beavens. "It doesn't get any better."
The squadron was originally scheduled to go on a three-month deployment to Japan, but were reassigned to help in Iraq for seven months.
Ellie
thedrifter
10-10-08, 04:37 AM
Marines return from deployment to Anbar
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October 10, 2008 - 12:46AM
JENNIFER HLAD
Cpl. Stephan Silvers missed the birth of his son by about two weeks. Thursday, he met Tristan for the first time.
"They say it tends to get easier, but it really doesn't," said Silvers' wife, Vanessa. "This time was the hardest. He missed everything."
Silvers returned to Camp Lejeune after a roughly seven-month deployment to Iraq's Anbar province, one of 500 Marines from 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion to return home Thursday. The deployment was Silvers' third.
During the unit's time in Iraq, the Marines saw considerable improvements in the region, said Lt. Col. Stuart Harness, executive officer of 2nd LAR. The situation in Anbar province also had improved dramatically since the unit was deployed there in 2006, he said.
Lance Cpl. Jason Gerringer said the deployment was "a lot more boring" than last time, partly because there was less for the Marines to do.
The Iraqis are more involved now, he said, so "it was like we're just there in case they need us," he said.
The reunion with family and friends was delayed several hours, which was difficult for the waiting loved ones. Tiffany Padgett, waiting for her boyfriend, Lance Cpl. Matt Quillen, was having a hard time being patient.
"You wait for this moment, and then it lasts forever," Padgett said. "We've been down here all day ... My heart can't take it."
The deployment was the third for Katie Chandler's husband, Sgt. Sean Chandler. Katie went and stayed with her mother in Arkansas during the deployment, and said she stayed busy taking care of her 3-year-old son and 1οΎ½-year-old daughter.
Theres a lot of rough spots without daddy, she said. But we learn to deal.
While the whole family missed Sean Chandler, it is especially hard on the kids, said Chandlers mother, Marilyn Chandler.
They miss him, she said.
The deployment was the first for corporals Nathan Klink and Zach Malone.
Im glad I went so nobody else had to go, Klink said.
Malone, whose family traveled from Kentucky to welcome him home, said the thing he missed the most when he was gone was his momma.
Klink said it was just the little, everyday things, like his car and his phone. Malone added taking a shower to the list.
It was an experience, Malone said. I wouldnt want to do it again.
Contact interactive content editor and military reporter Jennifer Hlad at jhlad@freedomenc.com or 910-219-8467. Visit www.jdnews.com to comment on this report.
Ellie